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–+ servings

Easy Instant Pot Tender Beef Recipe

Fall-apart tender beef shoulder steak pressure cooked in a sweet-savory garlic sauce. Minimal prep, maximum flavor — weeknight dinner perfection in 75 minutes.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

Sauce
  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 cup beef broth
Main
  • 2 lbs beef shoulder steak
  • 1 large yellow onion sliced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • salt and black pepper generous, to taste

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Pat beef shoulder steaks dry with paper towels. Season both sides very generously with salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
  2. Set Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Add olive oil and sliced onion. Cook 4–5 minutes until softened and golden at the edges.
  3. Push onions to the side. Add seasoned beef and sear for 2 full minutes per side without moving. This builds enormous depth of flavor — do not skip!
  4. Stir together the garlic, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and beef broth. Pour the sauce over the beef and onions.
  5. Secure the lid, set valve to Sealing, and pressure cook on High for 60 minutes. Allow a natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then carefully quick-release the rest.
  6. Remove beef and shred with two forks — it should pull apart effortlessly. Return to the pot and stir to coat in the sauce. Serve over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or rice.

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