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
Add the sliced onions and crushed garlic to the Instant Pot (optional).
Add the apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and a 12-ounce bottle of beer.
Sprinkle the adobo seasoning (or another all-purpose seasoning) all over each arm roast chunk, making sure to coat the exterior evenly. Add the seasoned beef arm roast chunks to the Instant Pot.
Put the lid on and set your Instant Pot to High Pressure for 45 minutes. The Instant Pot will take around 10-12 minutes to come to pressure. When the beef arm roast has finished cooking, let the pressure naturally release.
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.
Top Tip for Tender Results
Breaking the meat down into smaller chunks before cooking in the Instant Pot will speed up the cooking process. If you decide to leave your arm roast whole, you’ll need to cook it for at least an hour or so, depending on how large of a cut you are using.
FAQ
It sure is! The Instant Pot makes quick work of the connective tissue in arm roast, breaking it down quickly during pressure cooking. You could absolutely serve this as a pot roast, along with your favorite sides!
I know, you heard the hype about the incredibly tender results you can expect from this Instant Pot Arm Roast recipe, but then you wind up with a tough roast. What went wrong? Most likely it's undercooked. The recipe instructions were developed using a 3-4 pound arm roast (bone included), broken down into chunks for faster cooking. If you tried cooking a larger roast or didn't break down your roast before cooking you might find that you have to cook it longer.
Also, if you skip the natural release the rapid release of heat can dry out your meat. It's best to wait.
There are so many different routes you could go here! My recommendations would be to pair this with a Cheesy Potato Soup or Creamed Kale or Top Ramen Noodle Salad. Also, amazing paired with this homemade Creamy Dill Cucumber Salad.
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:
Instant Pot Arm Roast
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3-4 lb arm roast trimmed (bone removed*, cut into large chunks)
- 1 white or yellow onion sliced (optional)
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose seasoning
- 1 12 ounce bottle beer (I used Alaskan Amber)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 5-6 cloves garlic, roughly chopped (optional)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Add the sliced onions and crushed garlic to the Instant Pot (optional). Add the apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and a 12-ounce bottle of beer.
- Sprinkle the adobo seasoning (or another all-purpose seasoning) all over each arm roast chunk, making sure to coat the exterior evenly.
- Add the seasoned beef arm roast chunks to the Instant Pot.
- Put the lid on and set your Instant Pot to High Pressure for 45 minutes (I also select the Keep Warm setting). The Instant Pot will take around 10-12 minutes to come to pressure and start cooking.
- When the beef arm roast has finished cooking, let the pressure naturally release. 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.
Elisa
What is with no comments?! Everyone says it’s the best roast in ver, I cook it slightly less than the time specifies because we like to be able to slice it instead of shredding it. I think 30 min.
It caught my attention because 1) I wasn't aware of what an arm roast is and we received it in a box with other great cuts and 2) you used Alaskan Amber, out current favorite & 3) you Dont try to cook meat w/ vegetables in the instant pot. If we want potatoes, carrots or anything else we cook them on the side whether its stovetop or in the oven. (haha or sometime in the pressure cooker but not with a roast.)