Quick Italian Comfort Food

Name: Instant Pot Beef Ragu
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 60 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 2 lbs beef chuck roast, chunked.; 2 tbsp Italian seasoning.; 2 tbsp olive oil, divided.; 1 cup onion, diced.; 1/2 cup carrots, diced.; 1/2 cup celery, diced.; 4 garlic cloves, minced.; 1/4 cup red wine.; 1 tsp kosher salt.; 1 tsp black pepper.; 1 1/2 cups beef broth.; 6 oz tomato paste.; 15 oz crushed tomatoes.; 2 sprigs fresh rosemary or thyme.

Featured in Hearty Main Courses.

Transform chuck roast into tender, flavorful ragu in your Instant Pot. This rich Italian sauce comes together in an hour instead of all day, perfect over pasta or polenta.

By Casey

Updated on Mon, 20 Jan 2025 20:07:11 GMT

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A bowl of fettuccine pasta topped with a rich savory meat sauce, featuring shredded beef and diced carrots, garnished with fresh herbs. | cookingwithcasey.com

Let me share my favorite way to make rich beef ragu in a fraction of the time - using the Instant Pot! This recipe creates that amazing slow-cooked flavor and tender meat in under an hour. I love serving it over wide pappardelle noodles or creamy polenta for the perfect Italian comfort meal.

Why This Recipe Works

What makes this ragu so special is how it captures all that deep rich flavor but in a quick weeknight-friendly way. The meat gets perfectly tender and the sauce develops amazing depth from Italian herbs rosemary and tomato paste. It tastes like it simmered all day but it's ready in under an hour!

What You'll Need

The Stars:
- Chuck roast cut for braising
- Italian seasoning blend
- Good olive oil
- Fresh aromatics: onions, carrots, celery, garlic
The Sauce Base:
- Full-bodied red wine (or extra broth)
- Quality beef broth
- Tomato paste for richness
- Crushed tomatoes
- Fresh rosemary sprigs
- Salt and pepper

Let's Make Ragu

Start with the Meat:: Season those beef chunks well, brown them until golden in your Instant Pot.
Build the Base:: Cook down your veggies until tender, add that fragrant garlic.
Layer the Flavors:: Deglaze with wine, add beef broth, tomatoes, seasonings, stir it all together.
Let it Cook:: 30 minutes under pressure, then let it rest before releasing.
Finish with Love:: Shred that tender beef, simmer until the sauce is perfect.

Ways to Enjoy

Toss with wide pappardelle pasta
Serve over creamy, cheesy polenta
Layer into amazing lasagna
Top fresh ravioli
Try with spaghetti squash for a lighter option

A bowl of pasta topped with a rich beef and tomato sauce, garnished with fresh parsley. | cookingwithcasey.com

My Best Tips

Let that sauce reduce for perfect thickness
No wine? Extra broth works great
Good broth makes quick cooking possible

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I skip the wine?: Yes, replace with additional 1/4 cup beef broth.
→ How long does this keep?: Store in fridge up to 5 days. Reheats well on stove or in microwave.
→ What should I serve this with?: Great over pappardelle pasta, cheesy polenta, or spaghetti squash.
→ Why sauté at the end?: Optional step to thicken sauce and deepen flavors.
→ What wine works best?: Use full-bodied red wine like cabernet sauvignon.