Mexican Pot Roast- Instant Pot or Slow Cooker |

Our family loves Mexican cuisine, and I really loved making a delicious, slow-cooked Mexican pot roast for dinner the other night. However, I don’t own an Instant Pot yet, so I decided to try it in the Instant Pot. I loved it! (And so did my family!) I think it’s safe to say I’m a convert to the Instant Pot, and I’m thrilled to share with you a delicious and simple Mexican Pot Roast dinner that you can make in the Instant Pot.

Holding a large pot on the stove top while you’re cooking a roast is a hassle, especially if it’s done at home. It’s also a hassle if you have to keep adding water to your pot to keep the meat from drying out. But, if you have an Instant Pot or a slow cooker, all of these issues go away.

If you’ve been on the hunt for an easy dinner idea that satisfies everyone’s palette, then you’ve probably heard of the Instant Pot. If you have, then you’re probably wondering whether or not the Instant Pot can meet the needs of a Mexican Pot Roast.

There are two main methods of cooking Mexican Pot Roast in the Instant Pot. I’m not going to say which is best, because it depends on how much time you have and how important tradition is to you. I’m going to show you both methods and you can decide for yourself which you like better.

Mexican Pot Roasters are known for their meat, so I decided to share an easy recipe for traditional pot roast or Carnitas. These recipes allow you to cook the meat from the inside out. This allows for even cooking and that traditional succulent and flavorful flavor.

While the Instant Pot is a well known brand, many people may not be aware that this device comes in a slew of different models. The Instant Pot comes in two versions, the Duo and Duo Plus. The Duo Plus has a few extra features, including one that allows you to set a timer, which is useful if you are cooking for a family and want to make sure you do not leave them waiting for a long time. The Duo Plus also comes in a larger version, the Duo 8, which has all the same features of the Duo Plus, but with even more cooking space.. Read more about slow cooker mexican pot roast and let us know what you think.

This Pot Roast in Mexico has delicate beef chunks in a delicious tomato-based sauce, similar to Ropa Vieja.

Spoon holding meat and rice over bowl of meat.

Ropa Vieja is a Cuban meal made with shredded meat, usually flank steak, with rice and black beans. I use a Chuck Roast for this variation and cook it in the Instant Pot, thus the name Mexican Pot Roast. 

The ultimate product is shredded tender, delicious beef served with steaming rice and black beans.

White bowl with Black beans, shredded meat in red sauce, white rice, and sliced avocado.

Seasonings and Ingredients

Beef Chuck Roast, Tomato Sauce, Chili Powder, Garlic, Onion, Bell Pepper, and Vinegar

The taste profile is extremely close to that of Cuban Ropa Vieja, as I previously said. I also like to finish with a splash of vinegar to give some brightness.

If you prefer olives, instead of vinegar, add a few spoonful of olives and the brine towards the end. 

Uncooked Beef roast with chili powder, sliced onions, bell peppers, and garlic inside a pot.

Chili Powder- I like the sweet and smokiness of ancho chili powder, but ordinary chili powder would suffice.

Garlic- Fresh minced garlic gives the greatest taste, although granulated garlic would suffice if you don’t have any. 

Bell Peppers- I prefer to cook the red bell peppers with the meat since they melt into the sauce, but if you want more crunch, add some sliced bell peppers towards the end. 

I used a delicious yellow onion, but I’ve also tried it with sliced white onion; both work, but the yellow onion adds a touch of sweetness.

What Kind of Beef Should You Use?

Roasted Chuck This is the cut of beef I used, and I tested the recipe with it. If there’s a lot of extra fat, I cut some of it off, but I leave the majority of it on for taste and moisture. 

I tried this recipe by chopping the chuck roast into large pieces while it was still whole. 

You may leave the chuck roast whole if it weighs less than 3 pounds and fits in the pot. If not, cut it into big pieces.

White bowl with pot roast on one half, white rice and black beans on the other half. Topped with Avocado slices.

The majority of store-bought chuck roast servings weigh about 3 pounds. The cook times for the Instant Pot are shown below, along with the weight of the chuck roast. 

Weight of Chuck Roast with Instant Pot Cooking Times:

  • 3 lbs. – 65 minutes (High Pressure)
  • 70 minutes – 4 pounds (High Pressure)
  • 75 minutes if you weigh 5 pounds (High Pressure)

I turn the instant pot off when the timer goes off and let it alone for another 15 minutes. Then I turn the valve to venting over my kitchen hood using a cloth or wooden spoon.

Beef Roast, Rump Roast, Eye Round Roast, Stew Meat, or Chuck Shoulder were some of the other cuts of beef available. Because we’re boiling it for a long period to break down the tough tissue, any of these “difficult” meats will work.

Overhead view of Mexican pot roast in a white bowl with white rice and black beans on the side and sliced avocado on top.

What’s the best way to serve Mexican Pot Roast?

This delicious and tender Mexican pot roast comes out beautifully. Ropa Vieja is traditionally served with white rice and black beans, which we like. 

Tacos or Burritos—This beef is also delicious in tacos, with cilantro and chopped onion on top. You could make a bigger burrito using the Mexican Pot Roast, rice, and beans.

Salad or Bowls- A taco salad with fresh romaine or iceberg lettuce, sliced tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, and jalapenos for flavor is a wonderful nutritious choice. Cauliflower rice and avocado slices may also be used to create a low-carb dish.

White bowl with shredded mexican beef, cilantro lime cauliflower rice, and topped with sliced avocado.

The Mexican Pot Roast may be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months and tastes even better the following day.

Take a look at these recipes:

Beans in a Hurry (use the same method for black beans)

Rice from Mexico

Make a Tamale Filling using the meat.

Red shredded beef, white rice, black beans, and sliced avocado on top.

Mexican Pot Roast

Renee Fuentes is a model and actress.

This Mexican Pot Roast has delicate beef chunks in a delicious tomato-based sauce, similar to Ropa Vieja.

Time to Prepare: 10 minutes

1 hour 15 minutes to cook

1 hour 25 minutes total time

Course Description:

Mexican cuisine

Instructions 

Instructions for using the Instant Pot:

  • Toss the tomato sauce into the instant pot. Season both sides of the Chuck Roast with salt and pepper before placing it in the Instant Pot. If the Chuck Roast is too large to cover the bottom of the pot in an equal layer, chop it into pieces. 

  • Chili powder, chopped garlic, and sliced onions and bell peppers are equally distributed over the chuck roast. Set the valve to ‘Sealing’ on the Instant Pot’s lid.

  • Cook on high pressure for 3 minutes (3 lbs- 65 minutes, 4 lbs- 70 minutes, 5 lbs- 75 minutes), then naturally release pressure for 15 minutes. When you’re finished, release any residual pressure. 

  • Carefully remove the cover and shred the meat in the saucepan. Stir in the vinegar, or use olives and brine for the vinegar.

  • Serve with black beans and rice (regular or cauliflower for low carb).

Instructions for using the slow cooker are as follows:

  • Except for the vinegar, combine all ingredients in the order listed. Cook for 8 hours on low. Shred the meat in the saucepan after it’s done. Stir in the vinegar, or use olives and brine for the vinegar.

  • Serve with black beans and rice (regular or cauliflower for low carb).

Notes

I’ve never had a burn notice in my Instant Pot, but if you’re worried or receive it often, add 1 cup of water to the 1 cup of tomato sauce before adding the chuck roast.

 

I love Mexican-inspired recipes, so I was excited to learn about the Instant Pot and how it could help me to create delicious and authentic Mexican food. I decided to try an Instant Pot recipe for taco soup, since this is a dish I know I will make over and over again. I was amazed to discover that it was so easy to make my taco soup using the Instant Pot. The Instant Pot made the process so much easier and I was able to cook it in just 8 minutes.. Read more about mexican pot roast with beans and let us know what you think.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you use an instant pot as a slow cooker for a roast?

You would need to use a slow cooker that has a timer.

Why is my roast tough in instant pot?

This is most likely because the Instant Pot has not been programmed to cook a roast. You can program your Instant Pot to cook other types of food, such as vegetables and meat.

Can you overcook roast in an instant pot?

Yes, you can overcook your roast in an instant pot.

Instant Pot Mexican Pot Roast is a very simple recipe to create a very flavorful dinner, that can be done in about 10 minutes. This Instant Pot Mexican Pot Roast is an easy to make recipe, and is usually eaten with rice and a side salad. This makes it a hearty meal that can be served all week long.. Read more about mexican pot roast with beans and let us know what you think.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you use an instant pot as a slow cooker for a roast?

To cook a roast in an instant pot, you will need to put the meat in a pot or roasting pan and cover it with water. You will then set the Instant Pot on high for 10 minutes before reducing the heat to low.

Why is my roast tough in instant pot?

Instant Pot is a brand of pressure cooker. Pressure cookers are designed to cook food quickly and under high pressure, which can make the meat tough.

Can you overcook roast in an instant pot?

No, you cannot overcook a roast in an instant pot.

Related Tags

This article broadly covered the following related topics:

  • slow cooker mexican pot roast
  • instant pot mexican shredded beef
  • beef carnitas instant pot
  • mexican pot roast slow cooker
  • mexican pot roast instant pot

Una is a food website blogger motivated by her love of cooking and her passion for exploring the connection between food and culture. With an enthusiasm for creating recipes that are simple, seasonal, and international, she has been able to connect with people around the world through her website. Una's recipes are inspired by her travels across Mexico, Portugal, India, Thailand, Australia and China. In each of these countries she has experienced local dishes while learning about the culture as well as gaining insight into how food can be used as a bridge between different cultures. Her recipes are often creative combinations of traditional ingredients from various different cuisines blended together to create something new.