How to Easily Cook Meat in an Instant Pot

Cooking meat in the Instant Pot is super easy and delicious. It is actually one of the quickest ways to end up with a perfectly cooked meat center for dinner. Because the meat is cooked under pressure, the cooking time is drastically reduced. Also, when it is cooked this way, you end up with tender and juicy meat.

No matter what type of meats you love, cooking them in the Instant Pot is one of the best ways to go. In addition, the beauty of the Instant Pot or electronic pressure cooker is that you can use frozen meat in it. Therefore, if you have a busy schedule, and want a quick and easy dinner, using the Instant Pot is the perfect option.

I have been using the Instant Pot for the past 5 years and can say with certainty that it is my favorite way to cook any type of meat in it. Usually, I have dinner ready in about 30 minutes. My family loves Instant Pot meals, and it is also a great way to rotate between your weekly menus. In my kitchen, I have well over 100 Instant Pot recipes, that you can pick from. They are all delicious and easy to make, especially for busy families.

In this post, I will share with you how to cook meat in the Instant Pot -frozen pork tenderloin. This is an ideal dinner idea for busy families, and I hope you will enjoy it just as much as I do.

What is an Instant Pot?

An Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker is a multi-functional cooker that does the job of a slow cooker, electric pressure cooker, steamer, and yogurt maker. It is a great kitchen gadget to have as you can cook pretty much anything in it. Also, you can steam veggies or cook desserts, such as cheesecakes in the Instant Pot.

The main benefit of it is that you can cook meals at a fraction of the time compared to the traditional, stovetop or oven method. Because the meals are cooked under HIGH pressure, the cooking time is drastically reduced!

What meats can you cook in the Instant Pot?

You can cook basically any meat in it. Also, as stated above, feel free to cook frozen meat. All you have to do is simply increase the time a bit, depending on how much you are trying to cook. The most important thing to remember when cooking meats in it is to use thicker cuts and avoid thinly sliced cuts. This way you will be rewarded with juicy and tender meat. The best meats to cook are:

Pork Chops – One of my favorite ways to cook the chops is in the Instant Pot. They are tender and mouth-watering.  Also, you can cook loin, ribs, tenderloin, or pork roast.

Chicken – You can cook fresh or frozen chicken. Similarly, you can cook any cuts as well. Whether you are craving drumsticks, breasts, or even looking to cook a whole chicken in the Instant Pot, it is easily doable.

Beef – Similar to pork, beef is the perfect meat to cook. You can cook anything from the beef roast, corned beef, all the way to short ribs.

Lamb – A great way to end up with a tender lamb meal is by cooking it in the Instant Pot. Lamb stew is a great recipe because the meat ends up tender and super flavorful. Also, it is a great dish to make for St. Patrick’s Day or Easter.

How to cook frozen pork tenderloin in the Instant Pot?

Now that you have your Instant Pot ready, I will share with you a super easy, yet delicious pork tenderloin recipe. The beauty of this recipe is that you can cook it fresh or frozen. The main difference would be to adjust the time by a few minutes.

To cook pork tenderloin in the Instant Pot, you will need the following ingredients:

• About 1-2lbs pork tenderloin
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 3 bay leaves

For the Honey Garlic Sauce:

• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup soy sauce, low sodium
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon minced ginger root
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

Once you have the ingredients ready, the rest is pretty simple.

1. Start by adding 2 cups of chicken broth and bay leaves to the pressure cooker pot.
2. Then, insert the trivet inside the pot, and add the fresh or frozen tenderloin piece. If the tenderloin is too large, you can cut it in two separate pieces.
3. Next, close the lid and cook on HGH pressure. The cooking time should be 20 minutes per pound for fresh tenderloin or 30 minutes per pound for frozen tenderloin.
4. Once cooked, let the pressure to release naturally.
5. Open the lid and remove the tenderloin.
6. Then, prepare the sauce, and brush it over the tenderloin.
7. Lastly, I like to broil the meat for a few minutes to give it a nice golden color.
8. Garnish with freshly chopped green onion, and serve warm over some rice or mashed potatoes.