Instant Pot Tri-Tip Roast makes an easy, hearty meal for even the busiest family. The recipe includes with and without gravy instructions and works for any type of roast you have for your dinner goals. It is versatile and easy to make your own so the entire family will be satisfied.

If you’ve never heard of a Tri-Tip roast, it’s a cut of meat from the bottom of the sirloin that has a triangular shape. It is a beefy, lean cut but if cooked properly it will be tender and juicy. You may have to ask for it at your grocery store or local butchery.

Instant Pot Tri-Tip Roast Recipe Seasonings

Seasonings are key to determining how you want your tri-tip roast to taste. For a Southwestern flavor, you would use spicy flavorings like chipotle, smoked paprika, and cumin.

For a Southern flavor, you would use salt, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and bay leaves.

My Northern friends use salt, red pepper, bay leaf, thyme, and sage in the seasonings for their roast.

My relatives in South Louisiana use cayenne pepper, salt, smoked paprika, black pepper, garlic, onions, rosemary, cumin, and bay leaf.

So only your imagination can limit the seasonings of your tri-tip roast. Use the seasonings you know your family enjoys and the amounts that you know will suit their taste buds for a delicious meal.

This makes the Instant Pot tri-tip roast recipe versatile and easy to make something your entire family will enjoy.

Why Use an Instant Pot to Cook A Roast

Using an Instant Pot for cooking a roast has several advantages.

• It cuts down on the amount of time required for cooking which always a welcome help to the busy wife and mother.
• It is programmable so there is a hot, homecooked meal ready when your family is.
• The keep warm feature is an easy way to help you make sure everyone gets a hot meal no matter what changes in your busy schedule.

Tips for Cooking Instant Pot Pot Roast

1. Remember, the Instant Pot can take 10-15 minutes to build up pressure and begin cooking time so allow for this when planning your mealtimes.
2. This recipe calls for beef broth, but if you don’t have any (sometimes I don’t) you can use bullion, chicken broth, or just water if you prefer. I often use water because I forget to have broth on hand.
3. If you do not want to have gravy or cook vegetables with your roast. You may want to cook the meat on the Instant Pot trivet. The roast may scorch if you let it sit directly on the bottom of the pot. I’ve never had an issue with this because I have plenty of liquid in with mine.
4. If you are home and want to serve the roast as soon as it’s done, you can use the quick release method for the high pressure. This may cause some drying out of the meat but not much flavor loss.
5. A basic rule of thumb for cooking meat in the Instant Pot is to cook for 20 minutes for each pound of meat.
6. It’s best to allow 20-30 minutes for natural pressure release when cooking meat. This keeps the juices sealed into the meat keeping it moist and flavorful.

FAQ about Cooking Meat in the Instant Pot

• Can I cook frozen meat in the Instant Pot?

Yes, you can but I have found thawed meat works better. If you do start with frozen meat, use the trivet to cook it because frozen meat will stick to the bottom of the pot.

Be sure to add 15 extra minutes to the cooking time when you start with frozen meat.

• How much liquid do I add to the Instant Pot to cook a tri-tip roast?

Add 1 1/2 – 2 cups of broth, water, or other liquid to the pot for cooking any roast.

• How long do I cook a roast in the Instant Pot?

As we already mentioned, you should allow 20 minutes for every pound of meat when cooking meat in the Instant Pot. You should allow 20 – 25 minutes for natural pressure release for a tender roast.

This means a 3-pound roast would take 10-15 minutes to start cooking, 60 minutes to cook, and 20 – 25 minutes for natural pressure release. This would make a total of 90-100 minutes, approximately 1 ½ hour.

This may seem like a long time, but it takes less time than the 6-8 hours in a slow cooker or the oven. Plus, there’s the added benefit of not having to check it or watch it in the oven.

• How long will a roast last in the refrigerator?

The general rule for leftovers is 3-5 days. If in doubt, throw it out after 5 days.

• Can I freeze leftover roast and how long can it be frozen?

Yes, like most other cooked meats, you can certainly freeze leftover roast. Simply put any leftovers and enough of the liquid to cover it into a freezer-safe container. The liquid will make sure it doesn’t get freezer burnt so quickly and dry out.

It is safely frozen for 3-4 months. I’m sure we’ve all kept it longer and had no adverse effects but if in doubt, throw it out. We feed these kinds of things to the dogs, hogs, and some of them to the chickens.

• What’s the best way to reheat and reuse leftover roast?

Again, your imagination is the only limit in how to use your leftover Instant Pot roast.

I use my Instant Pot to reheat almost every leftover meal we eat. Place the leftovers in the Insert Pans. Use both or one, just depending on the amount of leftovers you have and if you want them mixed or not. I usually use the steam function for 15 minutes and sometimes the Manual function for 15 – 20 minutes just depending on the number of leftovers I have and what I’m reheating.

When the time is up, manually vent the pot and carefully remove the insert pans and serve.

I find reheating with the Instant Pot makes leftovers moist and taste freshly cooked.

You can make sandwiches with the leftover roast, pot pies, chop it up and add it to gravy to serve over biscuits, or even make tacos with it. The uses are limited only by what you like and want to make.

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Instant Pot Tri-Tip Roast Recipe

These instructions are for a 2-pound roast, use the tips and FAQ above to adjust the time for the size roast you have.

Use a 6 quart or larger Instant Pot

Ingredients

• Tri-tip or other roast the size you want
• 2 Tbs of coconut oil (or the oil you prefer) use more or less depending on the size of your roast
• Seasonings according to what you like – as discussed above – or the ones I use listed here
• 1-2 teaspoons salt
• 1 tsp Black pepper
• 2-3 tsp Garlic powder
• 1 tsp Smoked paprika
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 large onion chopped coarsely
• 2 cups of beef broth or water
• For Gravy
  • 2 Tbs Einkorn flour + ½ cup cold water (any all-purpose flour will work)
  • 1 cup sliced or chopped mushrooms (I use bella or shitake mushrooms)
  • 1 cup heavy cream or whole milk

Instructions to Make With Cream of Mushroom Gravy

1. Use the saute function set on high and let it get hot.
2. Add the oil and then sear the roast on both sides (this means brown it on both sides).
3. Remove the roast from the Instant Pot and place it on a plate.
4. Add the onions and mushrooms to the pot and saute them until they are translucent.
5. Stir in the flour and brown.
6. Add the broth, water, and cream or milk to the pot and stir well.
7. Add the seasonings to the liquid and stir well.
8. Place the roast into the liquid and place the lid on the Instant Pot and lock it in place.
9. Set the vent to sealing.
10. You have a couple of cooking options:
    •  Manual for 40 minutes of cook time and 25 minutes of natural release time for the pressure valve.
    •  Meat function for 40 minutes of cook time and 20 minutes of natural pressure release.
    •  Slow cook for 6-8 hours.

Instructions to Make Without Gravy

1. Turn the Instant Pot to saute setting on high and let it get hot.
2. Make a dry rub with the seasonings and rub evenly on both sides of the roast.
3. Add the oil and then sear both sides of the meat (this means brown it on both sides).
4. Remove the roast from the Instant Pot and place it on a plate.
5. Add the onions to the pot and saute them until they are translucent.
6. Add the broth or water to the pot and some of the same seasonings to the broth.
7. Put the trivet into the pot and place the roast on top of the trivet.
8. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and lock it in place. Set the vent to sealing.
9. You again have a couple of options for cooking the roast.
   • Manual for 40 minutes of cooking and 25 minutes of natural pressure release time.
   • Meat function for 40 minutes and 20 minutes of natural pressure release.
10. When the time is up, remove the roast and slice it for serving. It will probably fall apart when you try to slice it.

To add potatoes and carrots to the Instant Pot for a complete meal

1. If you use baby potatoes, you do not have to cut them into cubes. If you use larger potatoes, cube them up so they will cook thoroughly.
2. Set cooking time for 20 minutes and do a quick release of pressure. Be careful not to burn your hands on the hot Instant Pot. I like to use an oven mitt for this.
3. Remove the lid and add your potatoes and carrots to the liquid and stir well.
4. Replace the lid and lock in place, set the vent to sealing.
5. Reset the manual or meat function to cook for 20 minutes and when finished allow the 25 minutes of natural pressure release time.
6. If you chose the slow cook function to cook your Instant Pot tri-tip roast recipe, then you can add the potatoes and carrots half way through cooking. There is no pressure build up on this setting so it’s easy to remove the lid just be careful of steam.

Summary

As you can see this Instant Pot Tri tip roast recipe is versatile and easy to make your own. Use these foundation instructions and tips to make it just the way your family likes it.

The same principles work for any cut of roast for tender meat and great flavor.

As with any kitchen job, use common sense and caution when dealing with steam and hot surfaces.

We have other Instant Pot recipes to help make your mealtime healthier, happier, and fast.

As always, we’re here to help.