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Learning how to cook frozen ground beef in the Instant Pot was life changing for me. I know that sounds a little dramatic, but there have been so many nights I’ve been ready to cook only to find that I forgot to defrost the meat. This is one of the reasons I no longer cook with a slow cooker.

Learning how to cook frozen ground beef in the Instant Pot saves you the stress of remembering to thaw ingredients for dinner. It also eliminates extra dishes and the greasy mess that cooking fresh ground beef on the stove-top creates.

top down view of instant pot with text for pinterest

If you’re looking to cook or defrost ground beef in the Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi, or any other electric pressure cooker, I’ve got tips for you.

Where’s the recipe?

Here at My Crazy Good Life, we write our recipes so that anyone can easily make them. Lots of tips, details, and even special diet information are included. If you don’t need all of the extra information, simply scroll down to the bottom of the post to view the basic ingredient list and instructions for Instant Pot frozen ground beef.

Ingredients:

  • Ground Meat: You can use this method with any ground beef. I prefer 96% lean.
  • Spices: Spices are completely optional and really depend on what you are preparing. You can keep it simple with salt and pepper, add Italian flavors with garlic and basil, or add taco seasoning for an easy dinner. At the bottom of this article in the printable recipe area, you’ll find ingredient lists for making homemade Italian seasoning, taco seasoning, BBQ seasoning, and chili seasoning.
overhead photo of frozen ground beef, water, and seasoning in clear bowls with a blue linen

How to thaw ground beef in an electric pressure cooker:

  1. Add your frozen meat to the bottom of the pot, and add the spices on top of the meat now. Add water (1/2 cup) or broth to the pot now. You won’t need the full 1-2 cups of water (depending on how many quarts your Instant Pot is) because the frozen beef will release a bit of liquid while cooking.
  2. Place the lid on your Instant Pot, lock it, and then turn the pressure valve to the sealing position. For one pound of beef, set your cooking time for 15 minutes at high pressure. For two pounds set the cooking time for 20 minutes at high pressure.
  3. Once your cook time is complete, Quick Release the pressure by gently turning the pressure valve from Sealing to Venting. Steam will come out of the valve. Once pressure has released and the float drops, remove the lid and set it to the side.
  4. Set your pot to Sauté. Use a spatula to slowly break your meat into small crumbles. Be careful when first putting your utensil into the meat, as the very inside will be less cooked and contain liquid that could shoot out if you poke it too fast. Your meat is cooked and ready when most of the liquid has evaporated and the beef is brown and no pink remains.
  5. You can use this meat to make another recipe (for suggestions, scroll down to the bottom of this post!), serve by itself, or transfer the cooked ground beef to an air tight storage container. Store in the fridge up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
collage of how to cook ground beef in the Instant Pot

Recipe Tips:

  • You can easily double this recipe and cook 2 pounds of meat. Be sure and set your cooking time for 20 minutes.
  • For meat with a higher fat content, you may need to drain the excess liquid before sautéing.
  • If you’d rather use spice blends (Italian, taco, chili) instead of single spices found in the recipe card, use 2 tablespoons per pound of meat.
  • Pressure cooking frozen meat with water can sometimes cause the seasonings to seem bland. Don’t be afraid to add extra seasoning as you’re sautéing if you feel it needs more flavor.
  • Since the Instant Pot is cooking and thawing at the same time, you won’t be able to use this meat for things like burgers or meatballs. If you want to make those, go ahead and defrost it the old fashioned way.

How to add veggies to ground beef:

  • Looking to add more veggies to your diet? Riced cauliflower blends in perfectly with ground beef, especially when it’s seasoned! Add in one bag of cooked cauliflower rice to each pound of ground beef. If you’re feeding it to a picky crowd, start with 1/2 cup of cauliflower per pound of beef and slowly work your way up.
  • If you’re trying to “hide” cauliflower rice in your ground beef, add 1/2 cup of diced onions–they’ll camouflage the veggie taste, and the rice won’t be as easily identifiable because it kind of looks like diced onions.
  • My article about how to stretch ground beef is also helpful if you don’t have enough meat in your freezer or are looking to cut back on the amount of meat you use.

Healthy Eating Plans:

  • 21 Day Fix/Ultimate Portion Fix: Lean ground beef counts as a red container (protein) on the 21 Day fix. Measure and count 1 red container for each 3/4 cup serving.
  • 2B Mindset: Ground beef is a complete protein on 2B mindset and can be consumed at any meal.
  • Weight Watchers: Points were figured using the WW recipe creator with the base recipe being 1 pound of 96% lean ground beef separated into 4 equal servings. 3 Blue Plan Points | 3 Green Plan Points | 3 Purple Plan Points
    • I use ingredients to calculate points for Weight Watchers, not nutrition information. I find that it’s more accurate that way, and it’s also what WW has recommended.
Overhead photo of cooked ground beef in the Instant Pot with taco seasoning

More Instant Pot ground beef recipes to use with this meat:

You can easily swap ground beef, ground turkey, and ground chicken in recipes! The fat content of each of these meats will impact your cooking just a bit–typically, you’ll have to drain the grease from ground beef after cooking.

More Instant Pot recipes you might love:

overhead photo of frozen ground beef in the Instant Pot
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How to Cook Frozen Ground Beef in the Instant Pot

Created by: Becca Ludlum
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Saute 15 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Approximate Serving Size: 1/4 pound (typically 3/4 cup)
Servings 4
Learn how to cook frozen ground beef in the Instant Pot and save time in the kitchen. Use this meat for tacos, chili, and more!

Equipment

  • Instant Pot 6 qt
  • Sealing Rings
  • Olive Oil Spray

Ingredients 

  • 1 lb ground beef extra lean
  • 1/2 cup water

Italian Seasoning:

  • 1 tbsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp dried oregano
  • 1 tbsp dried parsley
  • 1 tsp crushed red pepper
  • 1 tsp dried rosemary
  • 1 tsp dried thyme

Chili Seasoning:

  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp salt

BBQ Seasoning:

  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • tsp celery seed
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp dry mustard
  • 2 tbsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp salt

Taco Seasoning:

  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp oregano I love Mexican oregano
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • ¼ tsp crushed red pepper
  • ¼ tsp salt

Instructions

  • Place frozen ground beef in the bottom of your Instant Pot. 1 lb ground beef
  • Pour water into the pot. 1/2 cup water
  • Close and lock the lid and set the cooking time for 15 minutes.
  • Once the cooking time is complete, quick release the pressure and remove the lid.
  • Set your pot to saute and add any option seasonings.
  • Use a spatula to break your meat into crumbles and stir until your liquid has evaporated.
  • Serve immediately or transfer to an air tight container and store in the fridge up to 5 days.

Notes

  • You can easily double this recipe and cook 2 pounds of meat. Be sure and set your cooking time for 20 minutes.
  • For meat with a higher fat content, you may need to drain the excess liquid before sautéing.
  • If you’d rather use spice blends (Italian, taco, chili) instead of single spices found in the recipe card, use 2 tablespoons per pound of meat.
  • Pressure cooking frozen meat with water can sometimes cause the seasonings to seem bland. Don’t be afraid to add extra seasoning as you’re sautéing if you feel it needs more flavor.
  • Since the Instant Pot is cooking and thawing at the same time, you won’t be able to use this meat for things like burgers or meatballs. If you want to make those, go ahead and defrost it the old fashioned way.

Healthy Eating Plans:

  • 21 Day Fix/Ultimate Portion Fix: Lean ground beef counts as a red container (protein) on the 21 Day fix. Measure and count 1 red container for each 3/4 cup serving.
  • 2B Mindset: Ground beef is a complete protein on 2B mindset and can be consumed at any meal.
  • Weight Watchers: Points were figured using the WW recipe creator with the base recipe being 1 pound of 96% lean ground beef separated into 4 equal servings. 3 Blue Plan Points | 3 Green Plan Points | 3 Purple Plan Points
    • I use ingredients to calculate points for Weight Watchers, not nutrition information. I find that it’s more accurate that way, and it’s also what WW has recommended.

Nutrition

Calories: 200kcal | Protein: 23g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 76mg | Potassium: 364mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 3mg

Make This Recipe?

Make sure to follow on Pinterest @bludlum and on Instagram @beccaludlum

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