Instant Pot Meat Bread Easy Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make your own meat loaf? ›

Combine ground beef, onion, milk, bread crumbs and egg in a large bowl; season with salt and pepper. Transfer into prepared loaf pan. Mix ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard together in a small bowl until well combined; pour over meatloaf and spread it evenly over the top.

The Instant Pot is a quicker way to prepare your favorite beef dishes. You can sear, braise, stew, roast or heat your favorite beef cuts in a much shorter amount of time than would be possible on the stove or in the oven. Any cuts good for braising, stewing or sautéing are ideal for the Instant Pot.

Put meat on the bottom

It's not just pasta that should be on top – order matters with the instant pot. In general, it works out best if you put meat on the bottom. Here's why – anything that has sugars in it can burn if cooked too long.

But it might not also tell you what the internal temperature of the meatloaf should be when it's completely cooked and safe to eat: 160 degrees F. A recipe won't necessarily take into account your oven, your pan and how you shaped the loaf. This is where the trusty instant-read thermometer comes in handy.

Milk and other dairy products, like heavy cream and buttermilk, contain both water and fat, adding two types of moisture to our meatloaf. There's a long-held theory that milk can tenderize ground meat, and this is the reason often cited for cooking ground meat in milk to make a Bolognese-style ragù.

Your Instant Pot needs liquid to work. If there's not enough, your pot won't be able to create enough steam to build pressure. About 1 cup is the minimum amount of liquid, so if you're cooking a recipe that will absorb water, like rice or beans, you'll need even more.

There's lots of water in the meat too, so even 1 cup added water will result in a fair amount of liquid after cooking. No you do not have to cover it.

To prevent a chewy beef steak, you need to avoid using too much high-pressure heat. Of course, start with pressure cooking your roast (that's why you're using the Instant Pot anyway), but keep that high-pressured phase to a few minutes only.

Yes, you can sear meat in an Instant Pot using the sauté function. This allows you to brown the meat before pressure cooking, which helps enhance the flavor and texture of the meat.

Why is meat not tender in Instant Pot? ›

Why is My Roast Tough? If your roast is tough in the Instant Pot, it likely needs to be cooked longer. Chuck roast will become more tender the longer it cooks, so extra time may be needed. However, you can overcook beef in the Instant Pot, so keep an eye on it if you add extra time.

You can determine whether or not it's fully cooked by sticking an internal thermometer into the center of the loaf. If the meatloaf is over 160°F, or 165°F if you used chicken or turkey, it's fully cooked and safe to consume even if it's still pink inside.

Should I cook my meatloaf covered or uncovered? The meatloaf can be cooked uncovered. However, if you are concerned about it burning, you can cover the meatloaf with foil for the first 45 minutes and uncover it for the final 15 minutes to allow the meatloaf to brown on top.

Too Much Liquid

One of the most common reasons meatloaf is watery is an overabundance of liquid ingredients. Adding broth, milk, or eggs can enhance flavor and moisture, but too much can lead to a soupy consistency. Use these ingredients sparingly, and consider adding breadcrumbs or oats to absorb excess moisture.

In essence, it boils down to a few simple steps: Combine ground meat, eggs, breadcrumbs, and other flavorful ingredients of your choice. Put this mixture in a lightly greased loaf pan and bake it until it's cooked through.

No bells and whistles - just a few ingredients including beef, egg, bread crumbs and a simple tomato-based topping. Use a gentle touch with ground beef. Over-mixing will result in burgers, meatballs or meatloaves with a firm texture.

You can often buy meatloaf mix at the store, but if you'd rather make your own, it's simple to do. The ratio of meatloaf mix is usually 1:1:1, meaning that you'll need equal parts ground beef, ground pork, and ground veal.

Binders like eggs or breadcrumbs will certainly help to keep your meatloaf together.