Learn how to cook frozen ground beef in the pressure cooker in just 25 minutes and make dinner stress-free.

Cook frozen ground beef in the Instant Pot so you never have to worry if you forget to thaw meat before dinner.

I plan meals ahead most weeks, but sometimes life interferes and the beef I intended to use is still frozen. If you’ve ever stood in front of the fridge wondering what to make, this Instant Pot method is a lifesaver. The Instant Pot can cook frozen foods safely and quickly, but you do need to treat a frozen block of ground beef differently than thawed meat.

You can’t simply toss a frozen package into a pot with all your ingredients and expect everything to cook evenly. Instead, cook the frozen ground beef separately in the pressure cooker, then continue with your recipe. The good news: cooking and crumbling a block of frozen hamburger in the Instant Pot takes only a few minutes and reliably rescues dinner on busy nights.

Favorite Instant Pot Ground Beef Recipes:

• Delicious Pressure Cooker Chili
• Instant Pot Beef Enchilada Pasta
• Instant Pot Hamburger Soup
• Easy Instant Pot Cheeseburger Macaroni
• Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna

Instant Pot Frozen Ground Beef

Ground beef is versatile and a weekly staple for many households. Most recipes begin with browned beef, but when the meat is frozen, conventional thawing methods can be uneven or unsafe. Microwaving often leaves edges overcooked and a frozen center. Slow cookers can keep meat at unsafe temperatures too long. Pressure cooking, however, heats the block evenly and quickly when done correctly.

Follow the simple technique below to turn a frozen package of ground beef into tender, crumbled meat ready for tacos, pasta, soups, casseroles, and more.

How to Cook Frozen Ground Beef in the Pressure Cooker

This method is fast, predictable, and uses only two ingredients.

Ingredients You’ll Need:

• 1 cup water
• 1 lb frozen ground beef (packaging removed)

How to Make It:

(Full printable recipe details appear below)

1. Remove packaging. Take the frozen ground beef from the freezer and remove all packaging and absorbent pads. If the packaging is stuck, briefly run the package under cold water until it peels away.

2. Cook the beef in the Instant Pot. Pour 1 cup of water into the bottom of the Instant Pot insert and place a trivet inside. Set the frozen block of ground beef on the trivet. Close and seal the lid, then cook at high pressure for 20 minutes. Allow a 5-minute natural pressure release, then finish with a quick release.

3. Check for doneness. After releasing the remaining pressure, open the lid and check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. Ground beef should reach at least 160°F (71°C). If some areas are still undercooked or very pink, you can either brown the crumbled beef using the Saute function or return the lid and pressure cook for an additional 2–3 minutes.

4. Break apart the cooked beef. Carefully lift out the trivet and drain the cooking liquid. Return the cooked block to the pot and use a wooden spoon or potato masher to crumble the meat. Season and combine with the rest of your recipe as you would with browned ground beef.

Can I Add Seasonings to the Frozen Beef Before Cooking?

It’s best to wait to season the meat until after cooking because you will usually discard the cooking liquid, which contains grease and will dilute seasonings. If you’re making a soup or stew and plan to use the cooking liquid, you can add seasonings before cooking, but for most recipes add spices and sauces after the beef is crumbled.

Notes and Adaptations:

• If your frozen meat is a thicker block or shaped differently than a roughly 1-inch rectangular package, increase the cook time since thicker shapes take longer to reach temperature.
• While a quick release is possible after pressure cooking, a short natural release of at least 5 minutes helps reduce the shock of sudden temperature change and can preserve meat texture. If you have time, a full natural release is fine.
• This technique also works for a pound of frozen ground turkey or ground chicken; adjust internal temperature checks as recommended for those meats.
• Even if the thermometer reads 160°F, some pink areas can remain with frozen-to-cooked transitions. Drain liquids and use Saute to finish browning, or reseal and pressure cook for a couple more minutes if needed.

Yield: 6 servings

How to Cook Frozen Ground Beef in the Instant Pot

It’s simple to cook frozen ground beef in the Instant Pot with this easy technique.

Prep Time
2 minutes

Cook Time
20 minutes

Additional Time
15 minutes

Total Time
37 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 1 lb frozen ground beef

Instructions

1. Add water to the insert pot of your Instant Pot and set the trivet in place.
2. Remove all packaging from the frozen ground beef. If needed, rinse the frozen beef under cold water to loosen any packaging.
3. Place the ground beef on the trivet. Close lid and set the vent to sealed.
4. Select high pressure and cook for 20 minutes. Allow a 5-minute natural release, then quick release any remaining pressure. A full natural release is also acceptable.
5. Check the internal temperature—ground beef should reach at least 160°F. If needed, seal and cook 2 more minutes.
6. Lift out the trivet, discard the cooking liquid, return the meat to the pot, and break it apart with a potato masher or wooden spoon. Season as desired and proceed with your recipe.

Notes

• Thicker or oddly shaped frozen blocks may require longer cooking times.
• Some pink areas may remain even at the correct temperature; finish browning using Saute or a short additional pressure cycle if desired.
• Allowing at least a 5-minute natural release helps maintain meat texture; a full natural release is best when time permits.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 206
Total Fat: 13g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Trans Fat: 1g
Unsaturated Fat: 6g
Cholesterol: 67mg
Sodium: 70mg
Carbohydrates: 0g
Fiber: 0g
Sugar: 0g
Protein: 20g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and is not guaranteed for accuracy.