Southern Corned Beef And Cabbage In The Instant Pot
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Southern corned beef and cabbage is a comfort food classic that brings hearty, soul-satisfying flavor to the table. Traditionally simmered low and slow, this dish becomes weeknight-friendly with the Instant Pot, cutting the cooking time way down while still delivering tender corned beef, buttery cabbage, and savory seasoning in every bite.
It’s a Southern twist on a beloved staple, easy enough for beginners, quick enough for busy cooks, and flavorful enough to taste like it’s been simmering all day!
Instant Pot corned beef and cabbage
Making Southern corned beef and cabbage in the Instant Pot has two big benefits… Speed and flavor. What normally takes over 3 hours in the oven becomes fall-apart tender in half the time in the Instant Pot, with the pressure cooking locking in all the rich, savory juices!
The beef stays succulent, while the cabbage soaks up buttery, seasoned broth, creating layers of flavor with every bite. It’s the same soul-warming taste you’d expect from an all-day simmer, just made easier, quicker, and more reliable. This is why Instant Pot corned beef is the first choice over stovetop or crockpot slow cooker corned beef recipes.
Why is it called corned beef?
Corned beef dates back to the 17th century, when the word “corned” referred to the large grains of salt used to cure the meat. In the South, it’s often paired with tender cabbage, slow-simmered (or pressure-cooked) until the flavors mingle into a savory, soul-satisfying dish that feels both historic and deeply comforting.
Ingredients
This classic one-pot meal comes together with simple, hearty ingredients that layer flavor as they cook under pressure.
- Corned beef brisket: Choose a size (2–3 pounds) that fits comfortably inside the Instant Pot.
- Spice pack: The magic’s in the spice! That little packet of corned beef pickling spice is what makes every bite taste so unique and unforgettable! Use the one included with your brisket, or make your own with my homemade version in the recipe card below.
- Beef broth: Infuses flavor into the beef and keeps it tender and moist.
- Garlic: Adds a bold, savory kick.
- Cabbage: Sweet and buttery, the perfect partner for corned beef.
- Onions, carrots, and red potatoes: Chopped vegetables that add flavor, color, and texture to the dish.
How to make corned beef and cabbage in the Instant Pot
At a glance, here’s how this comforting Southern corned beef and cabbage comes together in the Instant Pot.
- Rinse and season the corned beef: rinse under cool water to remove excess salt. (Don’t worry, the curing process has already locked in all the flavor.)
- Pressure cook: place the meat on the trivet in the Instant Pot, seasoned-side up and fatty-side down.
- Cook the cabbage: add cabbage, carrots, onions, and potatoes, and pressure cook again. Then baste, slice, serve, and enjoy!
How long does it take to cook in the Instant Pot?
It takes just 90 minutes to pressure cook the corned beef, plus only 4 more minutes to cook the cabbage and vegetables in the Instant Pot
How to know when Instant Pot corned beef is done
If you have a meat thermometer, that’s a bonus! Corned beef is ready when it reaches 145 degrees F. No thermometer? No worries! Just test the meat with a fork or knife. If it slides in easily, it’s done!
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Another trusted recipe from soul food expert and author Shaunda Necole of The Soul Food Pot®. *These AI tools are independent third-party services. Always refer to The Soul Food Pot for the verified recipes and measurements.
Equipment
- Instant Pot electric pressure cooker
- Instant Pot trivet rack (comes with the Instant Pot)
Ingredients
Ingredients for the corned beef
- 2-3 pound corned beef brisket
- 3 cups beef broth
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- ¼ head green cabbage chopped
- ½ cup onion chopped
- ½ cup carrots chopped
- 1 cup small red potatoes chopped
- 1 pack pickling spice (usually comes with the corned beef)
Ingredients for homemade pickling spice (if your corned beef doesn't come with a spice packet)
- ½ teaspoon yellow mustard seeds
- ½ teaspoon brown mustard seeds
- ½ teaspoon coriander seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon dill weed
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 2 bay leaves crushed
- ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Remove the corned beef brisket from the packaging and rinse well.
- If using the spice packet that comes with the brisket, rub the mixture all over the top, non-fatty side of the corned beef. If your corned beef doesn't come with a spice packet: Mix the seasonings in a small mixing bowl if you make your seasoning per the pickling spices ingredients above (yellow mustard seeds, brown mustard seeds, coriander seeds, dill weed, allspice, cloves, crushed bay leaves, red chili flakes, salt, and pepper). Then rub the mixture all over the top, non-fatty side of the corned beef.
- Place the Instant Pot steamer trivet rack on the kitchen counter and put the seasoned brisket on top, seasoned-side up and fatty-side down.
- Open the Instant Pot lid and pour the beef broth and the garlic into the stainless steel inner pot.
- Then, using the trivet rack handles, place the brisket inside the inner pot.
- Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 90 minutes.
- When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 15 minutes.
- To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release the remaining pressure.
- Add the cabbage, onion, carrots, and potatoes to the inner pot with the corned beef, sinking the vegetables into the beef broth.
- Place the lid back on the Instant Pot (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 4 minutes.
- When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 2 minutes.
- To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure.
- Baste the corned beef by spooning the beef broth in the pot over the top of the brisket, then carefully remove the meat using the trivet rack handles.
- Place the corned beef on a cutting board, slide out the trivet rack underneath it, and then slice the meat. Then, serve with the tender veggies and broth, and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
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I never thought you can cook Corned Beef this way.
Yes! Corned beef the Southern way is the best – and we can thank Instant Pot for making this iconic recipe so easy!