If you love Indian food, you know that oftentimes it can be heavy in carbs. Make this Indian Kheema recipe and enjoy all of those flavors you've been craving without the carb overload.

Why This Is One Of Our Best Beef Recipes
- Family-Friendly - uses ingredients your whole family will love.
- Keto - Only 4 net carbs per serving.
- Gluten-Free - Great for families with food allergies.
- Fast - Ready to eat in under 30 minutes.
- Easy - Just saute the veggies and meat in your Instant Pot and cook under pressure.
This is a great Instant Pot ground beef recipe that is quite different from the usual meatloaf recipes and taco recipes you probably see all over the web. Try this pressure cooker kheema and you may well have a new favorite!
I love making this super quick Instant Pot Indian Khema in under 30 minutes. I'm not usually a fan of mixing sweet spices like cinnamon and cardamom with savory meats, but I've made this Keto Indian Kheema without it, and it's just not the same.
You won't taste the sweetness when it's all said and done, just a wonderfully complex flavor that's hard to believe took you less than 30 minutes to make.
Although peas are traditional in Indian Kheema, you'll probably want to omit them if you're trying to reduce your carbs, although I'd consider cutting them in half before deleting them altogether.
What Is Kheema?
Kheema is another word for minced meat. In India, this dish is often made with ground lamb or goat. But you can make your Indian Kheema recipe with chicken or even turkey if you prefer that. While the dish traditionally includes peas you can omit them for a lower carb dish.
Really the only thing I'd suggest that you're careful about is the quality of garam masala you use. I'd highly recommend making your own Garam Masala recipe, but if you'd rather purchase it, my FAQs on Indian Butter Chicken will help you decide what brand you might want.
What Do You Eat Mince Meat With?
As I mentioned above, minced meat isn't referring to the type of mincemeat you are used to if you live outside of South Asia. This is just another name for ground or finely chopped meat. Here are some other (keto and not so low carb) options:
- Meat hand pies
- Samosas
- Wontons
- Biryani
This recipe makes a great dish for Ramadan! You can find more great Instant Pot Ramadan recipes in my 15 Instant Pot Ramadan Recipes post.
How To Make This Indian Kheema Recipe
- Lightly sauté the vegetables in your Instant Pot liner with the sauté function.
- Break up the beef, add spices and water
- Cook for 5 minutes under High Pressure
- Allow pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes

Tips And Tricks
Here are some helpful tips and tricks to ensure your Instant Pot Beef Kheema turns out flavorful, tender, and perfectly seasoned every time.
- Sauté the aromatics thoroughly. Take your time browning the onions, garlic, and ginger on Sauté mode. This step builds deep flavor and ensures the kheema doesn’t taste flat.
- Use lean or regular ground beef strategically. Lean beef keeps the dish lighter, while 80/20 adds richer flavor. If using fattier meat, drain excess grease after browning to prevent a greasy texture.
- Adjust consistency with sauté mode. If your kheema is too loose after pressure cooking, simmer on Sauté for a few minutes until it thickens to your liking.
Variations
Here are several delicious variations to help you customize your Instant Pot Beef Kheema, whether you want to change the flavor profile, adjust the heat, or adapt it to different dietary needs.
- Chicken Kheema- Swap ground beef for ground chicken or turkey. Reduce the cooking time to 3 minutes on high pressure since poultry cooks faster.
- Aloo Kheema- Stir in 1–2 small diced potatoes before pressure cooking. The potatoes absorb flavor and make the dish heartier.
- Spinach or Kale Kheema- Add 2 cups chopped spinach or kale after pressure cooking and simmer until wilted. This boosts nutrients and adds freshness.
What To Eat With Kheema
Here are some delicious ways to serve beef kheema so you can turn this flavorful dish into a complete and satisfying meal.
- Basmati Rice- The light, fluffy grains soak up the spiced kheema beautifully, making it a classic pairing.
- Naan or Roti- Soft, warm flatbreads are perfect for scooping up the savory meat mixture.
- Cauliflower Rice- A low-carb option that still provides a great base for the richly seasoned kheema.
How Long Does It Last?
Beef kheema stores very well, making it a great option for meal prep. Once cooked and cooled, it will last 3–4 days in the refrigerator when kept in an airtight container. The spices actually deepen in flavor over time, so leftovers often taste even better the next day.
Can You Freeze It?
If you want to store it longer, beef kheema also freezes beautifully. You can freeze it for up to 3 months without losing much flavor or texture.
When reheating, warm it gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of water or broth if needed to loosen the consistency.
Low Carb Ground Beef Recipes
- Keto Big Mac Salad- A favorite for the whole family because of my copycat sauce recipe taste just like the real thing!
- Low Carb Beef Stroganoff- Comfort food and Keto? Yes, it's true!
- Low Carb Beef Shawarma- An easy weeknight dinner option you'll want to make again and again!
- Ethiopian Beef Stew- You won't believe how much flavor is packed into such a simple dish.
- Beef Rendang- Fall apart tender meat in less than an hour!
- Kheema Meatloaf- The perfect solution for the days you're craving Indian food but are short on ingredients.
- Kimchi Beef Stew- An easy pour and cook recipe full of umami flavors.
- Bulgogi Burgers- Put your air fryer to work with this fun twist on burgers!
- Corned Beef and Cabbage- A classic done in a fraction of the time.
- Indian Beef Curry- Done in less than an hour and so good you'll wonder why you haven't made it before!
If you enjoy this Indian Kheema recipe as much as I do, make sure you share it on Facebook and Pinterest so that your friends can try it too.

Ingredients
- 1 cup (145 g) Frozen Peas, (optional, omit for keto)
- 1 cup (160 g) onions, chopped
- 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) Minced Ginger
- 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) Garlic
- 3-4 pieces (3 pieces) Cinnamon
- 4 pods (4 pods) Cardamom Pods
- 1 pound (453.59 g) Lean Ground Beef
- 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) Garam Masala
- 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) Kosher Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) Turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) Cayenne Pepper, (adjust to preferred spice level)
- 1/2 teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) Ground Coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) Ground Cumin
- 1/4 cup (62.5 g) Water
Instructions
For the Instant Pot
- Set the cup of frozen peas out to thaw (omit for keto)
- Turn your Instant Pot onto Sauté on high. When the display reads HOT, add your ghee or oil. When the ghee is hot and shimmering, add the cinnamon sticks and the cardamom and let them sizzle for 10 seconds.
- Add onions, garlic and ginger and let them cook for 3-5 minutes.
- Add in the ground beef and sauté long enough to break up clumps, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add in spices and water, and close your Instant Pot.
- Cook on High Pressure for 5 minutes, and allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes. Release remaining pressure.
- Mix in the peas if using, and let them heat through and serve.
For Stovetop
- Set the cup of frozen peas out to thaw (omit for keto)
- Turn your Instant Pot onto Sauté on high. When the display reads HOT, add your ghee or oil. When the ghee is hot and shimmering, add the cinnamon sticks and the cardamom and let them sizzle for 10 seconds.
- Add onions, garlic and ginger and let them cook until the onions are lightly browned at the edges, about 5-10 minutes.
- Add in the ground beef and sauté until the beef is browned.
- Add in spices and water, and cover the saucepan, letting it simmer until the meat has cooked through.
- Mix in the peas if using, and let them heat through and serve.
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Nutrition
Don't forget to check out my other Keto cookbooks.
Keto Instant Pot, Keto Fat Bombs, Sweets, & Treats, and Easy keto in 30 minutes.

















Elizabeth
I’ve never cooked Indian Cuisine recipes s befor, so I’m a little clueless about the spices. Do you use green cardamom pods or black?
judith
Love this recipe! I made it from your instapot Indian cookbook. I have made so many recipes from the cookbook that was so delicious I have ordered more of your cookbooks! Only change I make is using a little less red pepper. Love all the aromatic spices in this recipe.
Harold Burton
Mine would say Life is Grand! We spend a lot of time at Grand Lake during the summer, and the Drink Inks would be a fun addition to all the get togethers.
Harold Burton
Asim
Your recipe doesn’t specify the water or oil amount??? Estimated 1/4 cup each.
TwoSleevers
The recipe card reads 1/4 cup of water, so you're spot on there! I'll add the ghee or oil. It's just enough to saute your cinnamon and cardamom before adding the other ingredients. Between one and two tbsp is generally plenty.
Christine
This is fast, easy, but most importantly, delicious!
Louise
I’ve made this recipe many times. This has joined the ranks of comfort food in my family. The spices give it a warmth that’s perfect for a cold, rainy day.
Karen
Hi there
I really want to make this! I have an 8 quart, so my understanding is that I need to have 2 cups of liquid in it...but even if I double your recipe, it’s only half a cup. I am concerned that I will get burn???
URVASHI PITRE
No it should not. The meat and onions release a lot of water, so you do need liquid, but not all of it needs to come from the tap. I've covered this in some depth in all of my Instant Pot cookbooks, if you happen to have one.
Nathan
I love this dish! I’m going to try it soon with red lentils instead of ground beef just to see how it comes out.
FYI, I think you’re missing one ingredient (which most people probably have though), oil/ghee.