Instant Pot Sesame Ginger Beef

Instant Pot Sesame Ginger Beef is a Korean inspired recipe with a kick of spice from sriracha. It cooks quickly and easily in a pressure cooker with pot in pot (PIP) rice, resulting in a flavorful and tender beef dinner.

Making Instant Pot Beef with Rice

This Sesame Ginger Beef in the Instant Pot is a quick and easy way to make an Asian inspired recipe with minimal effort! A little bit sweet, a touch of spice and a little bit of pepperiness result in a dish bursting with flavor.

With an Instant Pot, taking advantage of the pressurized cooking keeps the cooking time way down. It also helps tenderize the beef by breaking up the collagen in the meat’s fibers quickly. That is why you can use essentially any cut of beef for this recipe. So don’t waste your money on a nice cut of steak for this easy sesame ginger beef!

I used an affordable Sirloin Tip Steak for this Sesame Ginger Beef that cost about $4/pound. Any lean cut makes for a nice healthy dinner. I’m not a big fan of fatty cuts of meat for this Instant Pot Beef. It’s easier not having to contend with the extra fat.

Also, the handy thing about cooking beef in an Instant Pot or similar pressure cooker, is being able to cook everything in one single pot. You are able to sauté the beef, add your sauce, and top it with a bowl of rice for one convenient meal cooked in the same pot.

Not only does it making cooking super simple, it is always nice for the person responsible for cleaning everything up afterwards!

How To Avoid Making The Beef Tough In An Instant Pot

Instant Pots do work wonders for quick meals. However, it is still possible to make the beef tough and chewy if you overcook it. To avoid that happening, just make sure that you pay attention to the timer and don’t let the beef cook too long.

The pressurized cooking time is only 10 minutes, so just be sure to keep an eye on it and don’t forget about your sesame ginger beef and rice.

Cutting The Meat For Instant Pot Beef

This Sesame Ginger Beef uses thin strips of beef steak. You could compare the thin cut strips to the same time of beef you use for Steak Fajitas.

Often times you can find this type of beef pre-cut in the meat department. Cutting the beef is the most labor intensive part of this entire recipe, so if you are wanting to save time, just skip that step and buy some pre-stripped beef.

If you are cutting your own, then make sure to cut against the grain of the meat. The easy way to see which way the grain of the meat runs, press down the flat side of your knife on top of the beef. That makes seeing the grain direction a bit easier.

Cut at a 90 degree angle to whichever way the grain runs.

How to Make Instant Pot Asian Beef

After your steak is cut into thin strips, it’s time to turn your Instant Pot on to Saute-High. Add a drizzle of sesame oil and once it’s fragrant, add the beef to the pot. Cook for 2 minutes

While the beef is cooking, in a small bowl whisk together the Sesame Ginger Sauce with the following ingredients,

• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 1/3 cup beef broth
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 2 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
• 1 teaspoon sriracha, or to taste

Pour the sauce over the beef and using your wooden or silicone spoon, scrape up any bits of browned meat from the bottom of the pot.

Do I have to use sesame oil

If you don’t have sesame oil in your kitchen, I highly recommend adding it if you enjoy Asian inspired recipes. While you could theoretically substitute olive oil, you will loose a lot of flavor. Sesame oil has a strong flavor that adds to the dish. I don’t recommend skipping it.

Cooking Beef with PIP Rice

Place the included trivet with your Instant Pot over the beef. In a small oven proof glass bowl, add the following,

• 1 cup rinsed white long grain rice
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• pinch of black pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon grated ginger (optional)

Set the bowl on top of the trivet, being sure the bowl of rice sits at least 1 inch below the top of your inner pot. Do not ever try and jam your lid on the pressure cooker or have a snug fit against the bowl.

Cook the beef and rice under high pressure for 10 minutes. When the cooking time is done and your Instant Pot beeps, allow it to sit untouched for an additional 10 minutes. This is referred to as a natural pressure release.

After that additional 10 minutes, being sure not to burn yourself with steam, carefully turn the knob to vent to release any additional pressure.

How to thicken sesame sauce

Using potholders, remove the bowl of rice and set on a heatproof surface. Using kitchen tongs, remove the beef from the inner pot and place on a plate. Turn the Instant Pot to Saute-High. In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water. Add to the sauce and cook the sauce for 4-5 minutes to thicken it.

Fluff the rice with a fork and distribute among four bowls. Serve with beef and sesame ginger sauce. Garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, lime wedges and sriracha for those who like more spice.

What if I don’t want to make rice

If you want to make this Sesame Ginger Beef without any rice for a simple low carb recipe served over some steamed broccoli or sautéed green beans, you can simply skip it. Leave the rice out of the recipe and cook everything else according to the directions.

Whether you make it with or without rice, this easy beef dinner in your Instant Pot is not only a great weeknight meal, but is also fantastic for easy meal prep!

More Instant Pot Asian Inspired Recipes

These recipes are all inspired by the ingredients and cooking styles of various Asian dishes and cooking methods.

• Instant Pot Chicken Ramen with Sweet Chili Oil – Make homemade ramen in your Instant Pot that has a great kick of spice.
• Pressure Cooker Korean Beef Bowls – Ground meat and rice are cooked up in this easy dish and served with fresh pickled vegetables for so much flavor and texture.
• Instant Pot Kung Pao Chicken & Rice – Turn your favorite take-out into an easy weeknight dinner with the help of your pressure cooker.
• Instant Pot Fried Rice – Make this classic side dish in your pressure cooker to serve with any Asian inspired meat.

Print Recipe

4.48 from 21 votes

Instant Pot Sesame Ginger Beef

Instant Pot Sesame Ginger Beef is a Korean inspired recipe with a kick of spice from sriracha. It cooks quickly and easily in a pressure cooker with pot in pot (PIP) rice, resulting in a flavorful and tender beef dinner.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time27 minutes mins

Build Pressure10 minutes mins

Total Time42 minutes mins

Course: Beef Dishes

Cuisine: Asian

Keyword: asian inspired beef, instant pot asian beef, instant pot beef, instant pot beef and rice, sesame ginger beef

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 337kcal

Author: The Creative Bite

Equipment

Pyrex 2-Cup Round Glass Food Storage Dish

Set of 3 Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Strainer

Instant Pot 6 Qt Electric Pressure Cooker

Ingredients

Beef

• 1 pound top sirloin
• 1 tablespoons sesame oil

Sesame Ginger Sauce

• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 1/3 cup beef broth
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 2 tablespoon grated ginger
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon sriracha or to taste
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water

Pot in Pot Rice

• 1 cup long grain white rice*
• 1 cup water
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• pinch of black pepper
• 1 teaspoon grated ginger optional

Optional Garnishes

• sesame seeds
• green onions
• lime wedges
• sriracha

Instructions

• Slice the steak against the grain into ½” thick slices. 
• Preheat the Instant Pot on the Saute-High function. Once it is hot, add the olive oil to the pot.
• When the oil is fragrant, add the steak and cook for 2 minutes.
• In a small bowl, whisk together all the Sesame Ginger Sauce ingredients, EXCEPT the cornstarch and water. Add the sauce to the Instant Pot and stir to combine. Scraping the bottom with your wooden or silicone spoon to remove any browned on bits of meat.
• In a mesh strainer, rinse the rice until the water runs through clear. In a small (2 cup) oven proof glass bowl, add the rinsed rice, water, ginger, oil and salt. Give it a quick stir.
• Place the included Instant Pot trivet over the beef. Carefully place the bowl of rice on the trivet, ensuring it is at least 1 inch below the top of your inner liner. Do not ever try and jam your lid on the pressure cooker or have a snug fit against the bowl.
• Attach the lid and ensure the valve is in the “sealing” position. Cook on the Pressure Cook-Normal setting for 10 minutes.
• When the 10 minutes is complete, allow the pot to sit an additional 10 minutes for a natural pressure release.
• Release any remaining pressure by switching the valve to the “venting” position.. Carefully remove the bowl of rice and fluff with a fork.
• Using a slotted spoon or tongs, remove the beef to a plate. Turn the Instant Pot to Saute-High.
• In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water. Add to the sauce and cook the sauce for 4-5 minutes to thicken it. Add the beef back to the thickened sauce and serve with rice and lime wedges.

Notes

*This recipe is for white long grain rice only. If you use brown rice, it won’t be cooked in the cooking time it takes to cook the chicken. I you want to use brown rice, follow the instructions, remove the beef from the pot when the time is done. Then return the lid to the pot and cook the brown rice under pressure for an additional 10 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 337kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 1220mg | Sugar: 6g