Instant Pot Burgers
Instant Pot burgers are a snap to prepare and cook in the pressure cooker. If you can’t grill and don’t feel like standing over a hot pan, it’s the perfect solution.

If the grill is out of reach and you’d rather not stand over a hot skillet, the Instant Pot is a great alternative for making juicy, flavorful burgers. Just season the ground beef, wrap the patties in foil, and let the pressure cooker do the work. You’ll get hands-off burgers in just over 30 minutes from start to finish. For a flame-grilled touch, use a culinary torch or pop them under the broiler briefly after cooking.
Recipe Variations
- Use ground turkey or chicken in place of beef for a lighter option.
- Add a splash of steak sauce, BBQ sauce, or Dijon mustard to the meat mixture.
- Mix in finely chopped onions or shredded cheese before shaping the patties.
- Replace Worcestershire sauce with soy sauce for a slightly different savory note.
- Top with sliced avocado, sautéed mushrooms, or crispy bacon after cooking.
- Add seasoning blends like Montreal steak, Cajun spice, or burger seasoning.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve burgers on toasted buns with lettuce, tomato, and onion.
- Add a slice of cheddar, American, or pepper jack cheese after cooking.
- Pair with remoulade sauce, secret sauce, or chipotle aioli for an extra burst of flavor.
- Serve alongside fries, potato wedges, macaroni salad, or a green salad.
How to Store and Reheat Leftover Burgers
Refrigerate. Store leftover cooked burgers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. Keep buns and toppings separate for best texture.
Freeze. Wrap each cooked burger individually and freeze in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Reheat. Warm burgers in a skillet over medium heat, covered, with a splash of water to retain moisture. Or reheat in the microwave in short intervals at 50% power until hot throughout.
Instant Pot Burgers
Instant Pot burgers are tasty, and they’re an excellent solution when you can’t grill and don’t feel like standing over a hot pan.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Pressure Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 32 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Ground Beef, Pressure Cooker
- Method: Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef (at least 15 % fat)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Prepare the Instant Pot: Place a trivet in the Instant Pot and add 1 1/4 cups of water.
- Shape the Burgers: In a bowl, combine the ground beef with the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix well and shape into four 6-ounce burgers. Wrap each burger in a sheet of foil and place on the trivet.
- Pressure Cook: Place the wrapped burgers on the trivet, stacking as necessary. Lock the lid in place, turn the valve to the sealing position, and choose the manual or pressure cook button (high pressure). Set the time for 12 minutes. For 8-ounce burgers, set the time for 14 minutes. When the time is up, carefully turn the valve to the venting position for a quick release.
- Finish and Serve: Unwrap the burgers and enjoy with your choice of toppings and condiments.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 368
- Sugar: 0.1 g
- Sodium: 281.2 mg
- Fat: 25.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 0.5 g
- Fiber: 0.1 g
- Protein: 31.7 g