Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli (Printer-friendly)

Tender beef and crisp broccoli in savory sweet sauce, ready in 35 minutes.

# What you'll need:

→ Beef

01 - 1.5 lbs flank steak or sirloin, thinly sliced against the grain
02 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch

→ Sauce

03 - 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
04 - 1/2 cup beef broth
05 - 1/4 cup brown sugar
06 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
07 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
09 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
10 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

→ Vegetables

11 - 4 cups broccoli florets

→ Thickener

12 - 2 tablespoons cornstarch
13 - 2 tablespoons cold water

→ Garnish

14 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
15 - 2 green onions, sliced

# Method:

01 - Toss the sliced beef with 1 tablespoon cornstarch until evenly coated.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together soy sauce, beef broth, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes.
03 - Add the beef to the Instant Pot, pour the sauce mixture over, and stir to combine. Seal the lid, set valve to Sealing, and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.
04 - Quick release the pressure, open the lid, and add the broccoli florets.
05 - Reseal the lid and cook on high pressure for 1 additional minute. Quickly release the pressure again.
06 - Mix 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water to create a slurry. Stir the slurry into the beef and broccoli mixture.
07 - Turn on Sauté mode and cook, stirring, for 2-3 minutes until sauce thickens and broccoli is tender-crisp. Serve hot, garnished with sesame seeds and sliced green onions.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The beef becomes impossibly tender without hours of braising thanks to pressure cooking magic
  • You get that glossy restaurant style sauce without any mysterious ingredients
02 -
  • Natural release turns broccoli into mush, so always quick release when vegetables are involved
  • The sauce will look thin when you first add the slurry but thickens dramatically within seconds on sauté mode
03 -
  • Freeze the beef for 20 minutes before slicing to get paper thin strips effortlessly
  • Let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes before quick releasing for even more tender beef

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