Easy 30-Minute Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli

Introduction

If you love classic takeout but want something quicker and healthier, this Easy 30-Minute Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli will quickly become your go-to meal. Bursting with savory flavors, it’s an ideal dinner when you’re craving something delicious and fast. No need to spend an hour over the stove—this recipe brings flavorful tender beef and perfectly cooked broccoli to your table in just half an hour!

Why This Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli Is a Weeknight Winner

What makes this recipe a standout is its combination of bold flavors, tender beef strips, and crisp-tender broccoli, all cooked in one pot for minimal cleanup. A sweet and savory soy-based sauce perfectly coats each piece, bringing that signature takeout flavor to your dinner table. Plus, thanks to your Instant Pot, you get deeply marinated, melt-in-your-mouth beef in a fraction of the traditional cooking time.

Prepping the Best Beef and Broccoli in an Instant Pot

The key to this dish is using thinly sliced flank steak or sirloin, which absorbs the sauce beautifully and cooks up tender in minutes. Broccoli florets are steamed at the end to retain their vibrant color and crunch. With a sauce that combines soy sauce, garlic, ginger, brown sugar, and sesame oil, every bite is bursting with umami.

Serving Suggestions for Easy 30-Minute Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli

Serve over freshly steamed jasmine or white rice for a classic, comforting meal. For a lighter take, pair with cauliflower rice or a side of quinoa. Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions for a restaurant-quality finish. This dish is also great for meal prep, as flavors continue to deepen after a day in the fridge.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe serves 4. Each serving contains approximately 350 calories (excluding rice), offering a good balance of protein and veggies. It’s a wholesome, satisfying dish perfect for busy families or meal prepping for the week.

Easy 30-Minute Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli (Recap)

In just 30 minutes, this meal delivers on flavor, ease, and nutrition. Its quick cook time and bold, takeout-inspired taste make it a reliable winner for any busy night.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list—with all ingredients sorted by store section—for efficient grocery trips and seamless weekly meal planning.

Instructions

1. Set your Instant Pot to “Sauté” mode. Add sesame oil, then quickly brown the sliced beef in two batches, just until it’s no longer pink. Remove beef and set aside.
2. Press “Cancel.” In the pot, combine soy sauce, beef broth, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger. Stir to dissolve the sugar.
3. Return beef to the pot, toss to coat, and secure the lid. Set to “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” on high for 10 minutes.
4. While the beef cooks, mix cornstarch and water in a small bowl to create a slurry.
5. Once cooking is complete, quick-release the pressure. Open the lid and select “Sauté” mode again. Stir in the cornstarch slurry. Allow the sauce to simmer and thicken, about 2 minutes.
6. Add the broccoli florets on top (do not stir in). Close the lid and let the residual heat steam the broccoli for 3-5 minutes for crisp-tender results.
7. Open the pot, give everything a gentle stir, and serve hot over rice, garnished with sesame seeds and green onions if desired.

Weekly Meal Planning

This dish is perfect for meal prep—simply reheat leftovers for delicious lunches or dinners throughout the week. Save and schedule this recipe as part of your weekly meal plan and generate smart shopping lists that consolidate ingredients from all planned meals.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically calculates total ingredient quantities across multiple recipes
• Organizes shopping lists by grocery store sections
• Prevents duplicate purchases and forgotten ingredients
• Makes weekly meal prep more efficient and organized

Pro tip: When prepping multiple recipes, schedule everything together—if this and another meal both use garlic or beef, your list tallies total amounts, saving you time and avoiding repeat shopping trips.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes