• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Living Well Kitchen
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Appetizer & Snacks
      • Snacks
    • Main Dish
      • Vegetarian
      • Seafood
      • Meat
      • Poultry
      • Pork
    • Specific Recipes
      • Vegetarian
        • Vegan
      • Kid Friendly
      • Gluten Free
      • Dairy Free
      • Nut Free
      • Egg Free
      • Soy Free
    • Sides
      • Vegetables
      • Beans
      • Grains
      • Potatoes
      • Bread
      • Sauce
    • Salad
    • Soup
    • Drinks
    • Dessert
    • Slow Cooker
    • Instant Pot
    • Season
      • Winter
      • Spring
      • Summer
      • Fall
  • About
    • Meet Meme
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
  • Videos
  • Easy Meals
  • Quiz
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Easy Meals
  • Main Dish
  • Quiz
  • Videos
  • Health
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Easy Meals
    • Main Dish
    • Quiz
    • Videos
    • Health
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ร—

    Home ยป Recipes ยป Special Diet ยป Dairy Free

    Instant Pot Beef Pho

    Published: Apr 9, 2018 ยท Updated: Dec 7, 2018 ยท Post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Skip the takeout and make Instant Pot Beef Pho at home. The pressure cooker saves you hours of time so you can have this comforting, spicy, flavorful soup ready in under an hour. This easy Vietnamese soup with a spicy, flavorful broth will become a comfort food staple.

    Disclosure: I might make a commission for purchases made through links in this post at no extra cost to you.

    Instant Pot Pho from Living Well Kitchen

    My friend Kate and I ordered Vietnamese every Sunday or Monday night when I lived in New Orleans.

    And it was always Beef Pho. We'd usually get a few sides like Kimchi Fries or Vietnamese Pork Tacos but always pho. Pho was the constant.

    When I moved away, I started to really miss our weekly pho night, and after a few pho takeout orders in San Diego, I decided I wanted to learn to make it myself.

    I tried a few different versions on the stove, and I always felt like they took too long. Or that the flavor was off.

    Then I got my instant pot and decided to try it in there. P.S. the Instant Pot has changed my life. I highly highly recommend you getting one if you haven't already.

    Using beef broth instead of beef bones and water really ups the flavor and cuts back on the time and effort -- which I obviously love.

    For the record, you could definitely make this on the stove. The original version I tried was on the stove, so I'll include tips for that in the recipe notes.

    So I ended up testing about 7 or 8 batches of pho to make the perfect recipe (for my tastebuds).

    To be honest, I haven't had the energy to write this post for so long because I couldn't think about anything pho... Pretty sure I ate a bowl of pho everyday for over a month, and I still have some in the freezer.

    Anywho, now that I've had a little break from pho, I decided it was time to share! Especially since it's still chilly enough in the evenings for pho.

    And honestly, I eat pho year round because I love it so much. Luckily, I don't have to order takeout or test and retest recipes since I have finally perfected it -- bonus: it takes less than an hour thanks to the use of beef broth and my beloved Instant Pot ๐Ÿ™‚

    Instant Pot Pho from Living Well Kitchen

    Instant Pot Beef Pho

    Skip the takeout and make Instant Pot Beef Pho at home. The pressure cooker saves you hours so you can have comforting, spicy soup ready in under an hour.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 21 minutes
    Total Time: 31 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Author: Meme

    Ingredients

    • 1 large onion halved
    • 1 ยฝ inch piece ginger halved
    • 1 stick cinnamon
    • 2 whole star anise
    • 3 whole cloves
    • ยพ teaspoon ground coriander
    • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns decrease for less spice
    • 4 cups unsalted beef broth
    • 4 cups water
    • โ…› teaspoon red pepper flakes omit for less spice
    • ยฝ apple
    • 1 medium carrot halved
    • 4 mushroom stems or whole mushrooms, optional
    • 2 tablespoons tamari sauce or soy sauce
    • 4 teaspoons fish sauce
    • 8 ounces beef like sirloin tip steak
    • 8 cups water
    • 4 ounces thin rice noodles

    Instructions

    • Turn the instant pot to saute, and add the onion and ginger, cut side down. Cook for 5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
    • Add the cinnamon, star anise, cloves, coriander, peppercorns, and red pepper flakes. Stir constantly for 1 minute.
    • Pour in beef broth and 4 cups water. Add in apple, carrot, mushroom stems if using, tamari sauce, and fish sauce, plus the onion and ginger. Stir.
    • Cover and turn the pressure to high for 6 minutes.
    • Meanwhile, add the beef to the freezer for 10 minutes easier slicing. Slice very thinly against the grain, set aside.
    • When done, let sit for 10 minutes before doing a quick release. Strain and return to instant pot. Taste and add additional tamari sauce or fish sauce if desired. 
    • While waiting for the soup to quick release, boil 8 cups water and pour over noodles. (Follow noodle package instructions). Drain and transfer to bowls.
    • Serve noodles in a bowl and top with sliced beef. Pour boiling broth over beef and noodles, so the beef cooks. Top with bean sprouts, chopped cilantro, lime juice, sliced jalapeños, etc. 

    Notes

    *Based on these recipes from Serious Eats and the New York Times
    *Any pressure cooker will work. I tested in an Instant Pot
    *This can also be prepared on the stove:
    Heat a large soup pot over medium-high heat.
    Follow first three steps.
    Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer, and cover. Cook for 60-90 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    Taste and cook another 30-60 minutes if needed to develop flavors.
    When soup is ready, add the beef to the freezer for 10 minutes easier slicing. Slice very thinly against the grain, set aside.
    Boil 8 cups water and pour over noodles. (Follow noodle package instructions). Drain and transfer to bowls.
    Serve noodles in a bowl and top with sliced beef. Pour boiling broth over beef and noodles, so the beef cooks. Top with bean sprouts, chopped cilantro, lime juice, sliced jalapeños, etc.
    Did you try this recipe?Be sure to leave a comment & recipe rating below. Bonus points for tagging @memeinge & #livingwellkitchen on Instagram! THANK YOU! xo

    [showhide type="post" more_text="Click here for Nutrition Facts" less_text="Clear Nutrition Facts"]
    *

    Nutrition Facts
    Instant Pot Beef Pho
    Serving Size
     
    2 cups
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    276
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    11
    g
    17
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    4
    g
    25
    %
    Cholesterol
     
    40
    mg
    13
    %
    Potassium
     
    669
    mg
    19
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    26
    g
    9
    %
    Sugar
     
    1
    g
    1
    %
    Protein
     
    16
    g
    32
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    275
    IU
    6
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    0.6
    mg
    1
    %
    Calcium
     
    40
    mg
    4
    %
    Iron
     
    1.6
    mg
    9
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    *
    [/showhide]

    What to use in this recipe:


    Meme

    Doesn't this recipe look good?! You should probably pin it for later:

    More Bloopers

    • Sautรฉed Green Beans
    • Spicy Pumpkin Deviled Eggs
    • Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Pork
    • Crawfish Dip
    2.5K shares
    • Yummly
    • Share
    • Tweet

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Leoni Davis says

      November 13, 2018 at 10:03 am

      Hi- just wondered if you could help with what type of beef to use for this recipe.

      Reply
      • Meme says

        November 13, 2018 at 11:58 pm

        Hi Leoni! I used beef sirloin tip steak for this recipe. Any type of steak like flank steak, skirt steak, sirloin, or brisket will work ๐Ÿ™‚
        Hope this helps! xo

        Reply
    2. Jess says

      January 03, 2020 at 2:16 pm

      Hi! I was reading through the recipe and wondering when the onion and ginger goes back in? I see that it says set aside but donโ€™t see what is says to do after!
      Thanks so much!

      Reply
      • Meme says

        January 03, 2020 at 2:54 pm

        Thanks for catching that! I updated the recipe to include when to add them, but you will add the onion and ginger back to the Instant Pot with the broth, apple, etc.
        Hope that helps! Enjoy!

        Reply
    3. Summer says

      February 03, 2022 at 6:16 pm

      5 stars
      Amazing! So easy and delicious. Now I can have Pho at home!

      Reply
      • Meme says

        February 05, 2022 at 12:59 pm

        YAY YAY YAY!!!! So glad you enjoyed it! Nothing beats the real thing, but it's so nice to have a homemade option ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome!

    Meme (a brunette female) is holding umbrella and spinning around in front of the Eiffel Tower wearing a denim jacket, skirt, and blue shoesHi, I'm Meme, a thirty-something registered dietitian nutritionist from Alabama living in San Diego. Here to help you enjoy food, feel better in your body at any size, and live free of diets & shame.
    Read More

    Let's Connect

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Most Popular

    pork tenderloin with gravy, mashed potatoes, and green beans on white plate with yellow and white striped napkin

    Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin

    jar of chocolate sauce with a spoon in it. empty small glass ice cream cups with a bowl of cherries on a wicker table

    Easy Chocolate Sauce

    Protein Pancakes from Living Well Kitchen

    protein pancakes

    white plate with a slice of zucchini lasagna

    Zucchini Lasagna

    spatula holding a microwave cookie

    Microwave Oatmeal Cookie

    stack of almond butter banana cookies with one cookie facing the front on wooden cutting board with a glass of milk, banana, oats, vanilla extract, and almond butter container

    Almond Butter Banana Cookies

    Gluten free Crab Cakes from Living Well Kitchen @memeinge

    Gluten free Crab Cakes

    chicken salad and a ritz cracker in a glass bowl on white table with green napkin

    No Mayo Chicken Salad

    Intuitive Eating

    brunette female holding a heart shaped pizza in a Parisian cafe

    Why Emotional Eating Isn't Bad

    hand holding an apple in front of apple trees

    Should I Eat Conventional or Organic Produce?

    havanese dog standing on arm of cream chair with a quilt in chair

    Intuitive Eating and Weight Loss

    brunette female sitting in a blanket in Versaille garden smiling and holding a container of container of food she is about to be eating

    What is Intuitive Eating

    Easy Meals

    white bowl with hominy, tomatoes, beef, and cheese on a white and blue checkered napkin with a blue pot in background

    Beef and Hominy Casserole

    white bowls with sausage kale soup with french bread and fresh kale

    Sausage Kale White Bean Soup

    two white bowls of chili, one with avocado and a spoon, the other with tortilla chips popping out. sitting on a green napkin with hot sauce and a pot of chili

    Lentil Chili

    pork tenderloin with gravy, mashed potatoes, and green beans on white plate with yellow and white striped napkin

    Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin

    Soup

    two bowl of beef soup on blue and white napkins with silver spoons and garlic bread

    Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Soup

    steak potato soup in a bowl with green onions and grated cheese with a silver spoon next to potatoes, pot of soup and block of cheese

    Steak and Potato Soup

    blue and white napkins under two bowls of pumpkin soup topped with bacon next to a small bowl of bacon

    Pumpkin Soup with Bacon

    bowl of ginger beef soup on a gold and white napkin with garlic, limes, and ginger

    Ginger Beef Soup

    As Seen On:

    As Seen On

    In Season

    stemless wine glass with strawberry gin fizzes next to fresh strawberries, bottle of gin, and an orange

    Valentine's Day Gin Fizz

    black spatula pushing Brussels sprouts around on a baking sheet with pecans, honey, and sriracha sauce

    Honey Sriracha Brussels Sprouts

    four twice baked potatoes on a plate

    Twice-Baked Potatoes

    blue pot with sausage hash, cup of tea, bowl of berries, white plate with hash

    Mushroom Sausage Hash

    Footer

    Living Well Kitchen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

    • Recipes
    • About

    Copyright © 2023

    We use cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Read More
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT
    2510 shares