Instant Pot Flank Steak
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Instant Pot flank steak is the ultimate busy weeknight dinner. It is full of flavor, an economical cut of beef, and dinner is on the table in mere minutes.
My family loves beef, especially steak. But let’s be honest, steak is not exactly an inexpensive meal these days. Instant Pot flank steak is so easy, it is one of my favorite weeknight meals. The trick is to cook it hot and fast, making sure to finish the center of the flank steak at medium rare for tenderness and flavor.
Typically, flank steak is cooked on the grill or on the stovetop. But the hot and fast requirement for tender flank steak makes it perfect for pressure cooking. And the Instant Pot will save you lots of time in washed dishes and grill prep!
This braised flank steak recipe takes advantage of the convenience of the IP. With the time you save, you’ll be able to make your potatoes and gravy too!
Flank steak in the Instant Pot is an amazing main dish when sliced and served with your favorite veggie side dish. But it also works great for other recipes! Serve it sliced thin or shredded for tacos, fajitas, or steak sandwiches. Or grab your favorite Asian veggies — Instant Pot Flank Steak makes great stir fry.
Next time your family says they are craving steak for dinner, don’t hide your wallet. Pressure cooker flank steak is perfect for family meals. Delicious, quick, and affordable!
And if you haven’t already, try making flank steak in the air fryer or slow cooker flank steak too!
I made this recipe using my Instant Pot 6-Quart Duo Nova. It’s the perfect size for my family of four and makes releasing the steam so much easier than the standard Instant Pot.
How to Make Instant Pot Flank Steak
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Heat the Instant Pot on Sauté More mode, then add the olive oil.
STEP TWO: Season both sides of the steak with steak seasoning and sear it for a minute per side after the display reads Hot.
STEP THREE: Move the flank steak to a plate and hit Cancel on your pressure cooker.
STEP FOUR: Pour in the beef broth and deglaze the pan. Place flank steak in the Instant Pot again.
STEP FIVE: Seal the lid on the pot and cook on Manual High for 2 minutes. Do a quick pressure release, then transfer flank steak from the pressure cooker to the cutting board. Allow to rest for 5 minutes.
STEP SIX: Slice the steak against the grain and serve!
What to Serve With Flank Steak in the Instant Pot
- Air Fryer Asparagus
- Air Fryer Broccoli
- Air Fryer Baby Potatoes
- Air Fryer Green Beans
- Garlic Cheese Bread
- Baked Sweet Potato in the Air Fryer
Variations for Pressure Cooker Flank Steak
- Add extra flavor. Top your finished Instant Pot flank steak with compound butter. It is easy to make yourself — just soften your butter, add minced herbs and garlic, roll the butter in wax paper, and pop it back in the fridge. Once it is solid, slice up pieces and pop them on top of your hot flank steak from the pressure cooker.
- Use a marinade. Find a good deal at the grocery store? Grab a couple of flank steaks and pop them into gallon freezer bags with different marinades. It makes prepping for dinner really easy when the steak is flavored and ready to be cooked!
- Thinly slice your leftovers for steak quesadillas later in the week.
- Make steak sandwiches. Toast a hoagie with cheese and top with sliced pressure cooker flank steak.
What is the Best Way to Cook Flank Steak?
Grilling is the most common way to cook flank steak. But any method that minimizes cooking time is a winner! We love the instant pot for weeknight meals because it is just so darn easy. Just sear it on either side, simmer it a few minutes, and serve it medium rare for flank steak pressure cooker style.
How do you Cook Flank Steak so it’s not Chewy?
Flank steak should always be cooked to medium rare. I know you may be tempted to cook it longer, but you’ll lose that tenderness you’re looking for. Flank steak is a very lean cut of meat, which means if you cook it well done, you are not going to enjoy it as much.
Does the Instant Pot Tenderize Meat?
Your Instant Pot is a great tool for making sure your meat comes out tender and delicious. But, how you slice it matters too! Cut leaner cuts of meat like flank steak and skirt steak against the grain for a more tender mouthfeel. Look for the lines that run through the meat, then cut across them instead of parallel to them. This breaks up those tough fibers so the meat is easier to chew.
More Instant Pot Steak Recipes
- Instant Pot Sirloin Steak
- Instant Pot Tri Tip
- London Broil in the Instant Pot
- Sirloin Tip Roast in the Instant Pot
More Instant Pot Recipes
- Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
- Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks
- Instant Pot Fajitas
- Instant Pot Navy Bean Soup
- Instant Pot French Onion Chicken
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Instant Pot Flank Steak
Ingredients
- 1 pound flank steak, about 1-inch thick
- 2 teaspoons steak seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¾ cup beef broth
Instructions
- Heat the Instant Pot on SAUTE MORE mode, add the olive oil.
- Meanwhile, season the steak with the seasoning on both sides. When the display reads HOT, place the steak in the pot and sear for 1 minute per side.
- Remove the steak to a plate and press CANCEL.
- Pour in the beef broth and deglaze the pot with a wooden spoon, removing the browned bits. Return the steak to the pot.
- Secure and seal the lid, then cook on MANUAL HIGH for 2 minutes.
- When the time is up, do a quick pressure release and immediately transfer the steak to a cutting board, allowing it to rest for 5 minutes.
- Slice the steak against the grain and serve.
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
Like this? Leave a comment below!
Can you steam vegetables and potatoes at the same t>me you cook meat.
Hi Nancy, you can, but I would only cook vegetables in a steamer basket above it that require 2 minutes of cooking time, like baby potatoes, over they could end up under or overcooked.
2 minutes?! Is that a typo? Most recipes call for 30-50 mins for flank steak in the instapot.
Hi JC, The cook time numbers are accurate. The 1 lb flank steak is intended to be medium rare for serving, so it will does not need a longer cook time. I hope this helps!
I tried this and amazed at the Results! Thank you !!! My question, as likely you have experimented with various Cooking Settings on the Instapot. I note there is a ‘steam’ setting that can be set for 2 min. It seems the term (steam/pressure cook) is interchangeable in web searches. Do you know or surmise if there IS a difference in results for this cut, between the two settings? (in your Instapot) ?? Thanks SO much for your ‘seasoned’ reply,
Hi Rita, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! These two Instant Pot functions are similar, but are for different cooking applications. For pressure cooking, the food is meant to be in the liquid while it rapidly cooks. The steam function is a more gentle cooking method, meant for the food to be above the water in a steam basket, this prevents more delicate foods like seafood and some veggies from overcooking or falling apart. For this recipe, I would only use the pressure cook option. I hope this helps.
Bless Your Tender Heart, Sam !! Greatly Appreciate your perfect answer 🙂 ~R
Steak was well done and followed the recipe
exactly.
Hi Kristen, I used a 1 lb flank steak that was approximately 1 inch thick. This cut can vary a lot in size and thickness, so the cook time may change if you have a different thickness or weight.
This was delicious and my family loved it. This is the only way I will cook flank steak from now on! Thanks!
Hi Lisa, That’s fantastic! My family loves this recipe too. Enjoy!
How long should I cook this for a 2.5 steak?
Hi Kristine, That’s a thick flank steak! Follow the instructions as written and then cover with your instant pot lid. Cook on high pressure for about 8 minutes. Enjoy!
Hi, I was wondering how long to cook the steak for medium?
Hi Steve, For this recipe, the cook time is written for a 1-inch thick flank steak cooked to medium rare, which really gives you the best tenderness. Flank steak can become tough if cooked much past that, but if you prefer medium, you can add another minute. Just keep in mind the texture will be a bit firmer.