Instant Pot Chuck Roast

Name: Instant Pot Chuck Roast
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 65 min
Total time: 125 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon grape seed oil; 1 tablespoon Montreal steak seasoning; 4.5 pound chuck roast; 10 whole carrots (peeled and cut in half); 6 celery stalks (washed and cut in half); 4 onions (peeled and left whole); 1-¼ cup water (divided); 3 tablespoons cornstarch

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My Instant Pot Chuck Roast with tender beef and hearty vegetables is the easiest way to enjoy a classic Sunday dinner any night of the week.

platter of pot roast with carrots and celery in front of instant pot and green bean platter.

Pot roast has always been one of my favorite comfort foods. Growing up, my mom would make it for Sunday dinners, and it became a special tradition on the first day of school, too. After my grandmother passed away, my mom inherited her cast iron skillet—the one she had cooked countless family meals in. Her siblings all agreed she should have it since she was the cook of the family, but with one condition: whenever they visited, she had to make Mom’s pot roast. She happily agreed, and more than 30 years later, that promise still stands. To this day, whenever my aunts and uncle come to visit, pot roast is on the table. So, you might be wondering why I’m talking about a cherished cast iron skillet in a post about the Instant Pot…

For years, I tried to replicate my mom’s pot roast with little success. I experimented with enameled cast iron, the oven, and even the slow cooker, but nothing quite captured the same rich flavor and tenderness of hers. That all changed when I finally turned to the Instant Pot. After a few rounds of testing, I landed on the perfect cook time and settings—and I don’t think I’ll ever go back to making pot roast any other way. The beef turns out fall-apart tender, the vegetables soak up all the flavor, and it comes pretty darn close to my mom’s recipe. The only difference? Instead of boiling potatoes with the roast, I prefer serving mine with creamy mashed potatoes on the side.

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Why this Recipe Works
Ingredients
Directions
Pot Roast FAQs
Chuck Roast Tips & Tricks
Instant Pot Chuck Roast

Why this Recipe Works

Quick and Convenient – Unlike traditional methods that require hours in the oven or slow cooker, the Instant Pot significantly reduces cooking time while still delivering tender, flavorful results. You can have a hearty, home-cooked meal in a fraction of the time.

One-Pot Meal with Minimal Cleanup – The Instant Pot allows you to sear the meat, sauté vegetables, and pressure cook everything in one pot. This means fewer dishes to wash and a streamlined cooking process.

Flavorful and Tender Results – The pressure cooking process locks in flavors, ensuring the pot roast is juicy and the vegetables are infused with rich, savory goodness. The meat turns out perfectly tender every time, making it a foolproof option for any home cook.

Ingredients

Here are all the ingredients you need to make my Instant Pot Roast recipe.

Oil – I like to use grape seed oil since it has a high smoke point. You’ll need this for
Montreal Steak Seasoning – You can find this blend in the spice aisle or you can make your own Montreal Steak Seasoning.
Chuck Roast – I typically aim for a 4-5 pound roast for my family of 4. It will shrink as it cooks yielding about half to three quarters of a pound per person.
Vegetables – I use a mix of carrots, celery and onions for my pot roast recipe. You can also add in whole mushrooms if you like mushrooms or even a can of diced tomatoes for additional flavor.
Cornstarch – I use cornstarch at the end to thicken the broth to make a delicious gravy.

Directions

Top view of an Instant Pot filled with fresh carrots, chopped celery and onions.

Add the grapeseed oil to the Instant Pot. Set the Instant Pot to the “saute” option. Season the chuck roast with Montreal Steak Seasoning on both sides. Place in the Instant Pot and sear for about 5 minutes (flipping half way through).

While the roast sears, peel carrots, cut and discard the ends, and cut the carrots in half. Rinse and clean celery stalks, cut and discard the ends and cut the celery in half. (You can prep the veggies before you start to sear the beef).

Remove the meat from the Instant Pot, and deglaze the bottom of the pot with the one cup of water. Making sure all brown bits have been scraped off the bottom.

Add the roast back to the pot and add the veggies on top. Then, cut and peel the onions and place in the Instant Pot.

Turn the Instant Pot off, place the lid on and close the steam valve. Select “manual” and set for 65 minutes. Once the chuck roast is done cooking, let it naturally rest for at least 40 minutes. Then carefully do a quick pressure release ((See notes for other tips)).

Carefully remove the vegetables and roast. Set the Instant Pot to saute and make the gravy. In a small bowl add in the cornstarch and ¼ cup of water. Whisk until a slurry is created. Add a pinch of salt and black pepper to the slurry, then begin to whisk into the broth in the Instant Pot to make the gravy. Turn the Instant Pot off once the gravy is thick.

Divided evenly among plates and top with gravy. Enjoy!

Pot Roast FAQs

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to cooking pot roast in the Instant Pot.

How many minutes per pound do you cook a roast in an Instant Pot?

For every pound of roast meat you’ll want to add 15-20 minutes. For my 4.5 pound roast I cook it for 60 minutes followed by letting it naturally release the pressure for at least 40 minutes. You can let it sit and do a natural release of 65 minutes. Yielded the same great results.

Does Pot Roast get more tender the longer you cook it?

Yes! Pot roast will get more tender the longer you cook it. That’s why it’s great to pressure cook plus let it naturally release the pressure. It will yield the most delicious tasting pot roast.

How much meat can fit in a 6 quart Instant Pot?

I can fit up to 7 pounds of meat in my 6 quart Instant Pot. For this recipe you will need at least a 6 quart Instant Pot to make this meal. DO NOT over fill past the line.

Can you freeze leftover pot roast?

Yes, you can freeze leftover pot roast. Make sure the meat is at room temperature and place in a freezer bag. Do not freeze the actual vegetables as they will be mushy when you defrost and reheat.

Chuck Roast Tips & Tricks

top view of rectangular platter of pot roast with cooked carrots and celery on blue tablecloth.

Here are all the tips and tricks I’ve learned when making pot roast in the Instant Pot.

Time: If your making this for dinner you’ll want to start this around 2:00 in the afternoon for a 5pm dinner. You really want to give yourself at least 2.5 hours. Yes–this is a long recipe not one of the shorter cooking Instant Pot recipes; however, you want the meat to be fork tender so patience is definitely a virtue with this recipe. Just think of it this way. Put together dinner and set the Instant Pot and then you can leave the house to pick up kids from school and/or run errands. You will come back to a house smelling like pot roast has been cooking for hours.
Frozen Roast – You CANNOT cook this from frozen. It will turn out so tough you’ll end up throwing the meal away (I learned this from experience).
Instant Pot – You will need to add water to the Instant Pot. This will create a delicious gravy at the end of the cooking process. Make sure you DO NOT over fill past the fill line in the Instant Pot. This includes the actual food and not just liquid. The pressure cooker needs room to pressure cook.
Deglaze – You must deglaze the pot after searing the meat to prevent burning. I deglaze with water but you can also use red wine.
Placement of Ingredients – Place roast on the bottom and veggies on top. Veggies on the bottom become to soggy and overcooked.
Leftovers – If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. See notes above about freezing leftovers. You can also reinvent the leftover roast by using it in my Instant Pot Beef & Barley Soup recipe or in vegetable beef soup!

If you have a pressure cooker and ready to give a big meal a try (like a big hunk of meat) I’m going to invite you to try my Instant Pot Chuck Roast recipe. I’m pretty sure you will never make pot roast again.

If you make this recipe, I would be honored and love for you to take the time to leave a star rating and comment! I spend hours developing and testing these recipes, and always love to hear feedback and user experience!

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