Looking for quick and easy instant pot recipes? We’ve got you covered! Our instant pot beginner recipes are great for busy weeknights. They include comforting classics like chicken and dumplings and flavorful dishes like tandoori-style chicken. These recipes are sure to become family favorites.
Cooking with an Instant Pot makes creating wholesome meals easy. Many recipes need just a few ingredients and take about an hour. This makes them perfect for quick family dinners. Plus, you can easily adjust recipes to fit your dietary needs, like making sesame chicken gluten-free with tamari.
Our collection has something for everyone, from cozy soups to flavorful curries and classic pasta dishes. You’ll find sweet and savory dishes like pork tenderloin with brown sugar and balsamic glaze. There are also light and zesty options like lime-flavored chicken. Try these recipes and see how quick and delicious pressure cooking can be.
Key Takeaways
- Instant Pot recipes offer a quick and easy way to create delicious, wholesome meals
- Many recipes can be prepared in around an hour, making them perfect for busy weeknights
- Instant Pot recipes are versatile and can be adapted to suit different dietary needs or preferences
- From classic comfort foods to flavorful international dishes, there’s an Instant Pot recipe for every taste
- With predominantly 5-star ratings from reviewers, these recipes are sure to be a hit with the whole family
Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
4
servings30
minutes40
minutes300
kcalA simple and quick meal with tender chicken, fluffy rice, and mixed vegetables.
Keep the screen of your device on
Ingredients
1.5 pounds 1.5 chicken breasts
1 cup 1 white rice
1.5 cups 1.5 chicken broth
1 cup 1 mixed vegetables
1 tablespoon 1 olive oil
1 teaspoon 1 salt
0.5 teaspoon 0.5 black pepper
Directions
- Set the Instant Pot to sauté mode and add olive oil. Once the oil is hot, add chicken breasts and cook until lightly browned on each side.
- Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside. Add rice and chicken broth to the pot, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
- Return the chicken to the pot, placing it on top of the rice. Add mixed vegetables, salt, and black pepper.
- Seal the Instant Pot lid and set it to pressure cook on high for 10 minutes. Once cooking is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes.
- Open the lid and fluff the rice with a fork, ensuring it is evenly mixed with chicken and vegetables before serving.
Recipe Video
Nutrition Facts
- Total number of serves: 4
- Calories: 450kcal
- Cholesterol: 80mg
- Sodium: 600mg
- Potassium: 700mg
- Sugar: 1g
- Protein: 35g
- Calcium: 20mg
- Iron: 2mg
Instant Pot Chicken Tetrazzini
4
servings30
minutes40
minutes300
kcalA creamy, comforting chicken pasta dish cooked quickly using the Instant Pot.
Keep the screen of your device on
Ingredients
1 pound 1 chicken breasts, diced
8 ounces 8 spaghetti, broken in half
4 cups 4 chicken broth
1 cup 1 heavy cream
1 cup 1 cremini mushrooms, sliced
1 cup 1 frozen peas
1 cup 1 grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons 2 olive oil
0.5 teaspoon 0.5 salt
0.5 teaspoon 0.5 black pepper
1 clove 1 garlic, minced
1 1 onion, diced
0.25 cup 0.25 fresh parsley, chopped
Directions
- Set the Instant Pot to sauté and add olive oil. Once heated, add the onions and garlic, and sauté until soft and fragrant.
- Add diced chicken, salt, and pepper. Cook until the chicken is browned on all sides but not fully cooked through.
- Pour in the chicken broth and bring it to a simmer. Scrape any bits off the bottom to avoid the burn notice.
- Break spaghetti in half and layer on top of the chicken, covering with broth. Do not stir, but press lightly to submerge.
- Close the Instant Pot lid, set the valve to sealing, and cook on high pressure for 8 minutes. Quick release the pressure once done.
- Open the lid, stir in the heavy cream, cremini mushrooms, and frozen peas. Mix well until the pasta is well-coated with the sauce.
- Select the sauté function again and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently to thicken the sauce slightly.
- Turn off the Instant Pot, stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted. Let the dish sit for 5 minutes to absorb flavors, then garnish with parsley.
Recipe Video
Nutrition Facts
- Total number of serves: 6
- Calories: 450kcal
- Cholesterol: 70mg
- Sodium: 850mg
- Potassium: 400mg
- Sugar: 4g
- Protein: 30g
- Calcium: 250mg
- Iron: 2mg
Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna
4
servings10
minutes20
minutes550
kcalA quick and easy lasagna recipe made in an Instant Pot for busy weeknights.
Keep the screen of your device on
Ingredients
1 pound 1 ground beef
1 cup 1 onion, chopped
2 cloves 2 garlic, minced
24 ounces 24 marinara sauce
8 pieces 8 no-boil lasagna noodles
1 cup 1 ricotta cheese
1.5 cups 1.5 mozzarella cheese, shredded
0.5 teaspoon 0.5 salt
0.25 teaspoon 0.25 black pepper
Directions
- Set the Instant Pot to sauté and cook the ground beef, onion, and garlic until the meat is browned. Break the meat apart as it cooks, which should take about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Once the meat is cooked, turn off the sauté function. Drain any excess fat if needed, and then add salt, pepper, and marinara sauce. Stir the mixture until thoroughly combined.
- Break lasagna noodles into pieces and layer them on top of the meat mixture. To ensure even cooking, try to spread them across as much surface area as possible.
- Spread the ricotta cheese over the noodles and mix gently to incorporate the noodles with the sauce underneath. Avoid stirring too much to prevent tearing the noodles.
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the ricotta and noodles. Close the Instant Pot lid and set the valve to seal.
- Cook on high pressure for 6 minutes, and then perform a quick release. Carefully open the lid once all the pressure has been released.
- Allow the lasagna to rest for about 5 minutes before serving. This will help the dish to set and make it easier to serve portions.
Recipe Video
Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size: 1g
- Total number of serves: 4
- Calories: 550kcal
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 12g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
- Sodium: 900mg
- Potassium: 700mg
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 4g
- Sugar: 8g
- Protein: 30g
- Vitamin A: 600IU
- Vitamin C: 6mg
- Calcium: 150mg
- Iron: 3mg
Introduction to Instant Pot Cooking
The Instant Pot has changed how we cook, offering a quick and easy way to make meals. It’s a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, and more all in one. This makes it perfect for anyone wanting to cook delicious meals without much effort.
Whether you’re new to cooking or have lots of experience, the Instant Pot is great for instant pot meal planning. It cooks meals up to 70% faster than old ways, saving you time and energy.
Benefits of Using an Instant Pot
The Instant Pot has many benefits for cooks, including:
- Faster cooking times: It cooks meals much quicker than before.
- Energy efficiency: It uses less energy because it does many things at once.
- One-pot meals: It’s easy to make full meals in just one pot, saving on cleanup.
- Versatility: It can make a wide range of dishes, from soups to yogurt.
- Healthier cooking: It keeps more nutrients in food, making it great for healthy meals.
Basic Instant Pot Functions and Settings
To use your Instant Pot best, learn its basic functions and settings. It comes in 3 sizes: 3 qt, 6 qt, and 8 qt. The 6 qt is the most popular for families.
The manual button is for pressure cooking at different levels. The Steam function is good for steaming veggies or dumplings. The Rice cycle cooks rice perfectly in 12 minutes.
The Instant Pot manual says you need at least 1 cup (8 oz) of water to start. Newer models, like the 8 qt, need more to avoid burn messages.
Other important functions include the Beans/Chili cycle (30 minutes), Yogurt cycle (8 hours), Slow Cooker, Soup cycle (15 minutes), Porridge cycle (20 minutes), Meat/Stew cycle (35 minutes), and Multigrain cycle (40 minutes).
Knowing these basics helps you make easy, affordable dinners. With practice, you’ll find many ways to save time with the Instant Pot. It’s a must-have in your kitchen.
Easy Instant Pot Recipes for Busy Weeknights
The Instant Pot is a lifesaver for quick and tasty meals. It cooks food faster than traditional methods. It’s perfect for instant pot chicken recipes, quick instant pot dinners, and family-friendly instant pot dishes.
There are many instant pot dinner ideas to try. You can make everything from comforting classics to exotic flavors. This means you can have a great dinner ready fast, even on the busiest nights.
Instant Pot Chicken Tetrazzini
This creamy pasta dish is a hit with the family. It has tender chicken, mushrooms, and spaghetti in a rich sauce. It’s ready in just minutes, making it a quick and delicious meal.
Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna
Lasagna is a classic comfort food, but it takes time. This kid-friendly instant pot recipe makes it easy. Just layer the ingredients in the Instant Pot and let it cook. You’ll have a hearty meal ready in no time.
With so many easy instant pot dinners to choose from, you’ll never run out of ideas for delicious and satisfying meals that the whole family will love.
One-Pot Instant Pot Meals
One-pot instant pot meals are perfect for busy weeknights. They offer tasty dishes with little cleanup. You can make many flavors and cuisines easily with the Instant Pot. From comforting classics to vegetarian options, these meals will quickly become favorites.
Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff
Instant Pot beef stroganoff is a classic comfort food. It’s quick and easy to make in the pressure cooker. Tender beef, mushrooms, and creamy sauce make a satisfying meal. This recipe is great for cozy nights, with minimal effort.
Instant Pot Coconut Curry
Try Instant Pot coconut curry for a flavorful meal. It’s vegetarian-friendly and customizable. The pressure cooker blends flavors quickly, making a creamy curry. Serve it over rice for a healthy meal.
Instant Pot Jambalaya
Instant Pot jambalaya brings New Orleans to your kitchen. It’s a spicy, satisfying meal with proteins, veggies, and Cajun seasonings. The Instant Pot makes it easy, without constant stirring. Enjoy this comfort food any weeknight for a hassle-free dinner.
With the Instant Pot, you can create a variety of one-pot meals. From hearty beef to vegetarian options, these quick dinners will be staples in your meal rotation.
Healthy and Delicious Instant Pot Dishes
Instant Pot cooking is quick and easy. It’s also great for making healthy, tasty meals. You can find recipes for vegetarian, vegan, and low-carb dishes. Here, we’ll look at three tasty Instant Pot recipes for healthy meals.
Instant Pot Minestrone Soup
Minestrone soup is a hearty Italian dish. This Instant Pot version has veggies, beans, and pasta in a tomato broth. You can change it to fit your taste or diet. For a vegan version, skip the cheese.
This soup is perfect for cold days or when you want a comforting meal that’s healthy.
Instant Pot Lentil Curry
This lentil curry is a great vegetarian or vegan meal. It has lentils, veggies, and Indian spices in a coconut milk sauce. It’s full of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Enjoy it over rice or with naan bread for a quick, healthy dinner.
Instant Pot Sweet Potato Soup with Sausage
Fall is the time for sweet potato soup. This Instant Pot version adds sausage and warm spices. It’s creamy and perfect for cool weather.
Using lean sausage makes it healthier. The Instant Pot mixes the flavors quickly and easily.
These recipes show how versatile the Instant Pot is. They use healthy ingredients like veggies, lean proteins, and legumes. So, when you need a quick, healthy meal, try these Instant Pot recipes.
Conclusion
The Instant Pot has changed home cooking, making it easy and fast. It lets you make a variety of easy Instant Pot recipes. With over 3.2 million members in the Instant Pot Community Facebook group and more than 133,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, it’s clear that this versatile appliance has captured the hearts of home cooks everywhere. From hearty meals like pork tenderloin and chicken chili to vegan-friendly options like chana masala and tofu miso soup, the Instant Pot makes it possible to whip up satisfying dishes in record time.
Whether you’re in the mood for a comforting bowl of minestrone soup, a protein-packed serving of white chicken chili, or a flavorful portion of mushroom risotto, the Instant Pot has you covered. With an ever-expanding collection of recipes that cater to a variety of dietary preferences and time constraints, this beloved kitchen gadget proves that quick and delicious meals are well within reach. So why not embrace the convenience and versatility of the Instant Pot and discover a world of easy, time-saving Instant Pot dishes that will make mealtime a breeze?
As you explore the endless possibilities of Instant Pot cooking, remember that these quick and delicious meals are not only satisfying but also an opportunity to spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the company of loved ones. With the Instant Pot as your trusty sidekick, you can confidently tackle even the busiest of weeknights, knowing that a warm, comforting meal is just a few simple steps away. So go ahead, unleash your inner chef, and savor the delicious results of your Instant Pot culinary adventures!
