Beef Shawarma And Rice

Instant Pot Ground Beef Shawarma and Rice is a one pot rice dinner made with lean ground beef, basmati rice, shawarma spice, onions, garlic, shredded cabbage, and water or broth. It’s quick and works well for a family-friendly weeknight dinner when you want bold shawarma flavor without extra prep. Unlike traditional shawarma recipes that use marinated meat cooked on a spit or in chunks, this version uses ground beef and cooks the rice and spices together in the Instant Pot for an easy dump-and-cook meal.

Instant Pot Ground Beef Shawarma and Rice combines ground beef and rice with spices to create a new twist on comfort food in your pressure cooker . - 2

Why You’ll Love This Easy Instant Pot Meal

One-Pot Meal . Both the beef and rice cook together in the Instant Pot, making cleanup quick and easy.
Family Approved . A hearty, filling dish that appeals to both adventurous eaters and those who prefer comforting flavors.
Customizable . Easily adjust the spice level, swap rice for cauliflower rice, or add vegetables for a healthier twist.

It really was just time for some plain comfort food.

I had ground beef, a package of shredded cabbage and cole slaw, the odd onion, and a few slivers of garlic, and of course, I always have rice and spices in my house (Asian girl syndrome).

So I decided to just throw what I had into the Instant Pot , and decided if it didn’t work, there was also Pizza on call.

Everyone had been moving, driving, hauling boxes, etc. all day, and we were all tired and just needed some comfort food before we went to bed.

Some of us may or may not have eaten 3 servings of the rice and meat before crawling into bed. As a matter of fact, this recipe has even become a favorite of my readers .

I served this with a side of kale, and we had Vietnamese Yogurt for dessert. The whole thing took 20 minutes from start to finish. It doesn’t get easier than this.

What Is Shawarma?

Okay let’s be specific–this is not really a shawarma. A Shawarma can be either one of those loaf of meat, not unlike my Gyro recipe a or it can be chunks of spiced chicken, like in my Chicken Shawarma recipe . Or if you’re like me and like to play around with food traditions, you can make Shawarma green beans.

Shawarma typically looks like this hunka grilled meat. Long slices are cut off and inserted between pillowy pieces of pita bread, with a little tzatziki on it, and off you go, with one of the tastiest sandwiches you’ve ever had.

But when it come to chicken shawarma, usually it’s chunks of meat. So why am I calling this Ground Beef Shawarma then?

I’m doing that because it actually tastes a lot like the Chicken Shawarma recipe I created, and it has the same spice mixes.

Ingredients You’ll Need

1 tablespoon Vegetable Oil - Used to sauté the onions and garlic, helping release their flavors while preventing the ground beef from sticking to the pot.
1 cup Onions - Provides a savory-sweet base, adding depth and aroma to the dish while complementing the warm spices.
5 cloves Garlic - Brings bold, pungent flavor that enhances the richness of the beef and ties together the shawarma spice blend.
1 pound Lean Ground Beef - The main protein, offering hearty texture and flavor. Using lean beef helps balance richness while keeping the dish lighter.
1.5 cups Water or Broth - Acts as the cooking liquid for the rice and helps infuse the beef with additional flavor. Broth makes the dish richer, while water keeps it lighter.
1.5 cups Basmati Rice - A fragrant, long-grain rice that cooks up fluffy and aromatic, soaking up the spices and juices from the beef.
4 cups Shredded Cabbage - Adds bulk, nutrition, and subtle sweetness, while blending seamlessly into the rice for extra texture and balance.
4 tablespoons Shawarma Spice - The key seasoning blend, typically made with cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon, and cloves. It delivers the bold, warm, and aromatic Middle Eastern flavors that define shawarma.
1 teaspoon Salt - Enhances all the flavors in the dish and ensures the rice and beef are well seasoned.
1/4 cup Chopped Cilantro - Adds a pop of freshness and color, balancing the richness of the beef and the warmth of the spices.

How To Make Beef Shawarma And Rice

Prepare the Pot. Turn your Instant Pot onto Sauté on high. When the display reads HOT, add oil. When the oil is hot and shimmering, add the minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds.
Saute. Add onions and ground beef. Stir while breaking up the ground beef clumps. Don’t worry about cooking the beef at this stage, just break it up well. Note, if you have ANYTHING sticking to the bottom of the Instant Pot, pour in 1/4 cup of water and thoroughly deglaze the bottom of your pot.
Add remaining ingredients. Add rice, water, cabbage, salt, and shawarma spice .
Pressure Cook. Cook on High Pressure for 5 minutes, and allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes. Release remaining pressure.

Tips And Tricks

Instant Pot Beef Shawarma with rice is a flavorful, one-pot dish that combines Middle Eastern spices with tender beef and fluffy basmati rice. To make sure it turns out perfectly every time, here are some helpful tips and tricks:

Rinse the Rice Well . Wash the basmati rice until the water runs clear to remove excess starch. This keeps the grains separate and prevents a mushy texture.
Sauté for Flavor . Take a few extra minutes to sauté the onions, garlic, and ground beef before pressure cooking. This step deepens the flavor and builds a rich base.
Use Broth Instead of Water . Cooking the rice in chicken or beef broth instead of water enhances the savory flavor and complements the shawarma spices.

Variations

Instant Pot Ground Beef and Rice Shawarma is delicious on its own, but it’s also easy to customize with different proteins, flavors, and add-ins to keep things exciting. Here are some tasty variations you can try:

Chicken - Swap ground beef for ground chicken or diced chicken thighs. The lighter protein pairs beautifully with shawarma spices.
Lamb - Use ground lamb for a richer, more traditional Middle Eastern flavor that makes the dish extra hearty.
Vegetarian - Replace the meat with chickpeas, lentils, or crumbled tofu for a plant-based version that’s still full of flavor.

What To Eat With Beef Shawarma And Rice

Instant Pot Ground Beef and Rice Shawarma is hearty and flavorful on its own, but pairing it with the right sides and extras can turn it into a complete Middle Eastern–inspired meal. Here are some great options:

Raita - A cooling yogurt sauce with cucumber, garlic, and mint that balances the warm spices.
Hummus - Creamy, protein-rich, and a perfect pairing with rice dishes.
Baba Ganoush - Smoky roasted eggplant dip that adds depth to the meal.

How Long Does It Last?

Instant Pot ground beef and rice shawarma will stay fresh in the refrigerator for about 3 to 4 days when stored in an airtight container.

The spices tend to deepen as the dish sits, so the flavors may actually taste even richer the next day.

Can You Freeze It?

For longer storage, you can freeze it for up to 2 to 3 months. To freeze, let the dish cool completely, portion it into freezer-safe containers or bags, and store with as little air inside as possible to prevent freezer burn.

When reheating, thaw overnight in the fridge if frozen, then warm gently on the stovetop or in the microwave with a splash of broth or water to restore the rice’s soft, fluffy texture.

To prevent a burn notice on Instant Pot beef shawarma or a one pot Instant Pot ground beef and rice shawarma, fully sauté and break up the beef, then deglaze the pot well with broth or water by scraping up every browned bit from the bottom before pressure cooking. After deglazing, make sure you have enough thin liquid for the cook time. If you still get a warning, stop, quick release, scrape the bottom clean, add a splash more liquid, and restart so the Instant Pot beef shawarma cooks without scorching.

If you want maximum control over flavor, salt, and heat for Instant Pot beef shawarma or Instant Pot ground beef and rice shawarma, my homemade shawarma spice blend is better because you can tune cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon, and allspice to taste. Store bought shawarma seasoning is the fastest option for a quick weeknight dinner, but brands vary a lot in saltiness and intensity, so you may need to reduce added salt and adjust with lemon or garlic sauce. A good middle ground is to keep a reliable store blend on hand and boost it with a little extra cumin and coriander plus fresh garlic and lemon for more street style shawarma flavor.

For Instant Pot ground beef and rice shawarma and other shawarma rice bowls, basmati usually works best because its long grains stay separate and fluffy, which matches the warm spices in shawarma seasoning and helps avoid a sticky texture in a one pot Instant Pot recipe. Jasmine rice is slightly stickier and more fragrant, so it can still work if you prefer softer rice, but you may need to rinse it well and watch the liquid ratio to prevent clumping. If your goal is street style shawarma bowls with clean, distinct grains, choose basmati rice.

For shawarma bowls, the most authentic sauces are garlic sauce called toum and a simple tahini sauce, and the best choice depends on the style of beef shawarma you are aiming for. Toum gives that classic punchy garlic flavor common with street style shawarma, while tahini sauce adds a nutty sesame finish that is also traditional, especially alongside pickles and salad. For Instant Pot beef shawarma or Instant Pot ground beef and rice shawarma, serving toum or tahini sauce with lemon, cucumber, tomato, and pickled onions delivers the most authentic shawarma bowl experience.

Want More Beef Recipes?

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Indian Beef Curry - Done in less than an hour and so good you’ll wonder why you haven’t made it before!