Instant Pot Pho Recipe

Introduction

A bowl of steaming, aromatic Pho can transform any meal into a special occasion. This Instant Pot Pho recipe brings together intense flavors—fragrant spices, tender meat, and a savory broth—achieved in a fraction of the usual simmering time. With the convenience of the Instant Pot, you can enjoy a Vietnamese classic at home, perfect for weeknight dinners or when you crave comfort food with minimal fuss.

Why This Instant Pot Pho Recipe is a Must-Try

Traditional Pho demands hours of simmering, but this recipe delivers exceptional depth of flavor in under an hour thanks to the power of pressure cooking. The rich, soul-warming broth, fresh toppings, and customizable proteins mean this is a surefire crowd pleaser—great for family meals or casual entertaining.

Crafting a Flavorful Pho Broth with Your Instant Pot

Start by charring your aromatics (onion and ginger) and toasting spices directly in the Instant Pot. This extra step develops a remarkable depth in the broth. Add beef bones, brisket, spices, and water, then let the Instant Pot work its magic—extracting all the richness in less time. Skimming the broth after cooking ensures a clean, clear base.

Choosing Proteins and Pho Toppings

While classic Pho uses beef bones and brisket, you can adapt with chicken, tofu, or even a seafood blend. The finishing touch: a vibrant plate of fresh herbs, crunchy bean sprouts, lime wedges, and chili slices. Let everyone customize their bowls to their liking!

Serving Suggestions for Show-Stopping Instant Pot Pho

Serve the finished Pho with rice noodles, tender slices of meat, and a generous topping tray featuring Thai basil, cilantro, green onions, jalapeños, lime wedges, and crunchy sprouts. Offer hoisin and sriracha on the side for personalized flavor boosts. Pair with a crisp salad or Vietnamese spring rolls for an authentic meal.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields 4 generous servings. Each bowl, including noodles, brisket, and a mix of herbs, is about 400-500 calories—high in protein and packed with nourishing flavor, making it a balanced, fulfilling meal.

Instant Pot Pho (Recap)

This Instant Pot Pho recipe offers all the comfort and complexity of traditional Vietnamese noodle soup, made simple and speedy—perfect for satisfying dinners that don’t keep you tied to the stove.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to instantly generate a detailed, organized shopping list for your week. CookifyAI helps you shop efficiently by sorting all ingredients by store section, making meal prep a breeze!

Instructions

1. Turn your Instant Pot to sauté mode. Add the onion and ginger, cut side down, and char until browned (about 4 minutes). Remove.
2. Add star anise, cloves, cinnamon stick, and coriander seeds to the pot. Toast for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Add beef bones and brisket to the pot along with charred onion and ginger. Fill with water to the max line (about 10-12 cups). Add fish sauce, sugar, and a pinch of salt.
4. Close the lid, set to pressure cook (manual, high) for 45 minutes.
5. When finished, allow a 15-minute natural pressure release, then quick release any remaining pressure. Carefully strain the broth and skim off excess fat for clarity. Taste and adjust seasoning with more fish sauce or salt if needed.
6. Meanwhile, cook rice noodles according to package instructions. Slice brisket thinly across the grain.
7. To serve, divide noodles into bowls. Top with brisket and/or other cooked proteins. Ladle the hot broth over everything.
8. Set the table with a platter of toppings: sprouts, basil, cilantro, green onions, lime, jalapeños, hoisin, and sriracha. Let everyone build their perfect bowl!

Weekly Meal Planning

Pho quickly becomes a family favorite, and it’s a fantastic addition to your weekly meal rotation. Save and schedule this recipe to map out meals for the week and use CookifyAI to generate master shopping lists that combine all needed ingredients for every planned dish.

Planning Benefits:

– Automatically totals ingredients for all scheduled recipes
– Consolidates your grocery list by store section (produce, meats, pantry, etc.)
– Makes busy weeknights smoother with planned, prepped meals
– Minimizes food waste and avoids duplicate buys

Pro tip: Planning to make Pho and a stir fry? CookifyAI will recalculate how many bunches of cilantro or limes you’ll truly need!

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes (pressure cooking)
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Enjoy this fuss-free, flavor-packed Instant Pot Pho for home-cooked comfort any night of the week—with some help from streamlined meal planning and CookifyAI!