Instant Pot Arm Roast

The Instant Pot makes quick work of arm roast, so quick in fact that you’ll be enjoying tender, flavorful shredded beef in less than 2 hours (including prep and cook time!). This Instant Pot Beef Arm Roast is quite the time-saver, resulting in tender shredded bits of beef that you’ll swear has been simmering away all day in a slow cooker. 

I don’t consider myself a meal prepper. But I am a protein prepper of sorts because busy weeks mean my Instant Pot is coming out along with plans of cooking a few pounds of meat. Like this Instant Pot Beef Arm Roast. I like to hit it with an all-purpose seasoning before cooking to maximize its versatility throughout the week. And a protein that has big flavor like beef needs that all-purpose goodness to bring mad flavor with such a short cooking time. 

But wait, what is an arm roast anyway? 

Jump to:

• What is an Arm Roast?
• How to Make Instant Pot Arm Roast - Ingredients
• Making Arm Roast in the Instant Pot - Instructions
• Instant Pot Arm Roast Ingredient Substitutions
• Spicy Instant Pot Shredded Beef Variation
• Equipment
• Storage
• Top Tip for Tender Results
• FAQ
• Related to Instant Pot Arm Roast
• Perfect Pairing for Shredded Beef
• Instant Pot Arm Roast

What is an Arm Roast?

Arm roast is similar to chuck roast, which people tend to be more familiar with. An arm roast comes right from a cow’s shoulder, whereas a chuck roast is taken closer to the area where the shoulder and neck meet on a cow. The arm roast usually contains a round bone surrounded by lean meat. Because a cow’s shoulder gets exercised, it tends to contain more connective tissues, making it tougher in texture when compared to a chuck roast. 

You may have also heard it called an arm chuck roast or an arm pot roast. 

And what does the term “roast” usually indicate when it’s in the name of a cut of beef? That’s right! It means the best cooking to transform that connective tissue into tender, shredded beef is slow cooking. Or, thanks to the Instant Pot, high-pressure cooking that yields tender results in a fraction of the time. 

How to Make Instant Pot Arm Roast - Ingredients

This Instant Pot Beef Arm Roast recipe uses simple ingredients to yield tender shredded beef that has great flavor but is versatile enough to be used for everything from sandwiches to tacos. The resulting flavor is so rich and comforting; tender shredded beef gets transformed into an umami bomb thanks to Worcestershire sauce and all-purpose seasoning. Plus adding fresh garlic and onion - which pretty much just disintegrate into deliciousness during cooking - add further flavorful dimensions.

I’m drooling just thinking about how good this shredded arm roast is on a bun with garlic aioli and banana peppers...

I always tend to reach for an all-purpose seasoning for this Instant Pot Beef Arm Roast recipe, because, hello easy button. I like to use my own special recipe for Adobo Seasoning, but use what you like/have on hand. Or check out my all-purpose seasoning recommendations that are available for purchase online (after the ingredient list below). 

• arm roast trimmed, bone removed*, cut into large chunks
• white or yellow onion, sliced (optional)
• all-purpose seasoning, like this homemade Adobo Seasoning**
• beer (I used Alaskan Amber) 
• apple cider vinegar 
• garlic cloves, roughly chopped (optional) 
• Worcestershire sauce

*Toss that bone into the Instant Pot while it cooks for an even more beefy flavor. 

**Other fantastic all-purpose seasonings that would be good for this Instant Pot Arm Roast recipe:

• Flavor God Everything Seasoning Mix
• Badia 14 Spices All-Purpose Seasoning
• Newman’s Own Paul’s All-Purpose Seasoning
• Old Bay Seasoning

Making Arm Roast in the Instant Pot - Instructions

If you opt for a quick release, I can’t promise the meat will be as tender as this rapid air expulsion tends to dry meat out. This will take around 20 minutes. The steam release valve will fall when the pressure has naturally dissipated.

Transfer the cooked beef to a large bowl and use two forks to shred it into smaller pieces. Toss the bone if you used it during cooking.

I like to add some of the liquid remaining in the Instant Pot back to the shredded meat to keep it juicy - 2-3 tablespoons - and then save the rest of the liquid for another use.

Use the shredded beef for tacos, sandwiches, and more! The flavor is neutral enough for many different applications.

Instant Pot Arm Roast Ingredient Substitutions

Here are some substitutions you can make in a pinch. This is a pretty versatile recipe, so you can make several smart substitutions and still wind up with delicious results.

• Apple cider vinegar - you can use regular vinegar or red wine vinegar if you’d prefer. The addition of vinegar is more about its tenderizing qualities, not flavor. 
• Beer - Use beef stock or a soda like Coke or Dr. Pepper instead. Just make sure whatever liquid you choose is complimentary to the beef.
• All-purpose seasoning - 
• Flavor God Everything Seasoning Mix
• Badia 14 Spices All-Purpose Seasoning
• Newman’s Own Paul’s All-Purpose Seasoning
• Old Bay Seasoning

Spicy Instant Pot Shredded Beef Variation

This Instant Pot Arm Roast recipe isn’t spicy at all, but if you want to add some zing here are a few ingredients to add to the mix. My advice would be to add ¼-1/2 teaspoon of the dry spices, 1-2 tablespoons of the sauces, and 1-2 fresh peppers if you want the heat present but agreeable to most palates.

• Cayenne pepper 
• Hot Hungarian paprika
• Chili powder
• Chipotle chili powder
• Chipotle en adobo sauce
• Hot sauce (like Tabasco)
• Jalapenos, serranos, or other fresh hot pepper

Equipment

I have an 8-quart Instant Pot, this exact model. This recipe also works with 6-quart Instant Pot models.

Storage

As someone who cooks for two, I LOVE having leftovers! Store leftover Instant Pot Beef Arm Roast in a lidded container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Or freeze in an airtight container for 3-6 months.

FAQ

Related to Instant Pot Arm Roast

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Perfect Pairing for Shredded Beef

These are my favorite dishes to serve with Instant Pot Arm Roast:

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