27 Tasty Instant Pot Recipes
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In case you haven't worked with one before, the Instant Pot is essentially the crock pot's cool older sister with better taste in music — a one-stop shop for getting dinner on the table during busy weeknights. Many folks know it as an electric pressure cooker, but it's actually a 7-in-1 appliance that also serves as a rice cooker, roaster, and air fryer — among other functions. Slow cooking is just one of the seven tricks this little guy can do, but any way you use it, "set it and forget it" is the name of the game.
There's probably a good chance that you already own an Instant Pot and know all about its time-saving superpowers. The Instant Pot Community Facebook group has 3.2 million members. The kitchen gadget has more than 133,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, with users praising its ease and versatility. One commenter writes that it "has changed the way we eat," and many other reviews express the same (dare we say "life-altering"?) sentiment. That's why we've rounded up 27 of our favorite Instant Pot recipes to continue making dinnertime simpler. Prepare to be instantly inspired.
1. Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin
Pork tenderloin may be an entrée, but with just two minutes of prep time and 25 minutes of cook time, this is one of the simplest Instant Pot recipes for main courses in our lineup. The two pork tenderloins yield eight servings — enough meat to feed a houseful of hungry mouths.
Since pork tenderloin is also a common component in other dishes, this recipe can be a killer make-ahead meal prep option. Just pop that cooked tenderloin in the fridge and slice it up throughout the week for lo mein or pulled pork sandwiches. Plus, it only requires ingredients that are likely already in your pantry: butter, beef broth, balsamic vinegar, garlic, and a handful of spices. Be sure not to miss the finishing sauce — made from the leftover cooking liquid mixed with a slurry.
Recipe: Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin
2. Instant Pot Salsa Chicken
If you're craving moist, ready-in-minutes chicken, this is the recipe you've been waiting for. What makes it special is that the chicken breasts cook in the salsa, creating a super-tender bite. And all you need are boneless chicken breasts, garlic powder, taco seasoning, lime juice, and a jar of chunky salsa.
Perhaps the best part of this recipe is its customizability: You can use any salsa you like. For a spicier bite, opt for a more fuego salsa or add fruity flair with a mild peach salsa. It's a healthy dinner ready in less than half an hour — or, for later use, it'll keep in the fridge for up to five days. You can add the shredded chicken to tacos, enchiladas, nachos, or even salads to pack for lunch throughout the week.
Recipe: Instant Pot Salsa Chicken
3. Easy Instant Pot Rice
Pretty much every home cook probably has an epic rice-making fail story. Cooking rice to moist, steamy perfection in a saucepan with a lid can be as delicate (and potentially catastrophic) as defusing a bomb. All of the factors (timing, water-to-rice ratio, and heat) have to align perfectly for the rice to end up on your plate and not in the garbage can.
Luckily, there's a tool for soft, fluffy rice that turns out perfectly every time. (Spoiler alert: It's the Instant Pot.) The recipe, which yields eight servings, only takes about 15 minutes to reach your plate, which is a shorter duration than what many standard rice cookers need.
Recipe: Easy Instant Pot Rice
4. Instant Pot Chana Masala
Buckle your seatbelt for this 100% vegan Instant Pot meal. It features sautéed chickpeas in a spicy sauce loaded with cumin seeds, mustard seeds, diced serrano pepper, garam masala, turmeric, cayenne pepper, and fire-roasted tomatoes. Highly aromatic ingredients like these are sure to fill your kitchen with tantalizing scents. Don't be surprised to find your family members or roommates magnetized to the dinner table once they catch a whiff.
Not only is it a quick and low-effort dinner, but chana masala offers some impressive health benefits as well. It's an immune-system booster with anti-inflammatory properties. Serve this warming, nutritious dish over rice and top with cilantro. You could even hit it with a drizzle of lemon juice for a citrusy kick.
Recipe: Instant Pot Chana Masala
5. Quick & Easy Instant Pot Cassoulet
In case you've never tried it before, cassoulet is a traditional French duck and white bean stew, and it's killer. Julia Child herself made cassoulet on her show "The French Chef." When prepared the conventional way, it usually takes three full days to make. But, with an Instant Pot, it's ready in just an hour.
There's a reason why the dish typically demands such a seemingly excessive cook time: It's about as hearty a stew as they come — packed with duck confit, garlic sausage, and salt pork. Luckily, if you don't have three days to find out what cassoulet is all about (and, frankly, who does?), then this recipe has come to your emotional rescue.
6. Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
As chef Anthony Bourdain once said of the often-cryptic, often-puzzling entity that is chili: "You don't ask what's in it, you don't ask how it's made. You just enjoy it" (via the Cincinnati Enquirer). But this Instant Pot chili recipe is as straightforward as it is wholesome, making your next tailgate a lot simpler. Cream cheese and chicken broth form a milky sea in which reside shredded chicken, green bell pepper, cannellini beans, black beans, corn, and Rotel tomatoes. It's never been more convenient to whip up chili for chilly days. (Pun intended.) Dare we say it, football season will never be the same.
Ladle this protein-packed chili into bowls, mugs, or even emptied-out chip bags to make walking tacos (aka Frito pies), an unlikely culinary staple of the sports entertainment world. Serve with cornbread or tortilla chips for a meal that'll keep you full and satisfied.
Recipe: Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
7. Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto
In the same way that Instant Pots double as first-class rice cookers, they also make a mean risotto. Forget the rotary cuff torture: Whip out your good old Instant Pot and all that marathon risotto-stirring is a thing of the past.
If mushrooms aren't your thing, rest assured, there are other options to suit your palate. Recipe developer and registered dietitian nutritionist Kristen Carli, MS, RD, recommends substituting the fungi with diced leeks, peas, and artichoke hearts. But you might not even notice the divisive ingredient under the dish's cheesy conclusion: a generous helping of grated Parmesan.
Recipe: Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto
8. Instant Pot Tofu Miso Soup
If you think you know miso soup, think again. This uncomplicated, unapologetic recipe features highly aromatic ingredients like garlic and fresh ginger. Cubed tofu, shiitake mushrooms, and baby kale combine to make an astonishingly nutrient-dense meal. Plus, it's ready in 30 minutes.
The Tasting Table Test Kitchen recommends using the miso-ginger broth from Trader Joe's, which costs $1.99 for a 32-ounce carton, per Kitchn. If you're unable to find it during a visit to the budget-friendly grocer, it can also be found on Amazon.
Recipe: Instant Pot Tofu Miso Soup
9. Instant Pot Hummus
For a taste of the Middle East in minutes, bust out a quick batch of homemade hummus. All it takes is salt, tahini, cumin, fresh garlic, a few lemons, olive oil, chickpeas, and a food processor or blender.
In this recipe, dry chickpeas are softened before blending. It's a multi-step process: Soak the garbanzo beans and garlic cloves in water, cook, then blend. But according to recipe developer Ting Dalton, the extra steps are well worth it because using dried chickpeas instead of canned ones increases the flavor intensity of your finished hummus. But don't take our word for it — find out for yourself and serve that hummus with grape tomatoes, celery, carrots, cucumbers, or pita slices.
Recipe: Instant Pot Hummus
10. Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes
There are few traditions so universally sacred or observed in the food world as Sunday dinner. NBC News sings the praises of the family meal as a social necessity. First Lady Michelle Obama loves Sunday dinner. Even artist and musician Billy Childish says he partakes in the tradition: "I make sure I make a painting — that's my job. And I cook the Sunday dinner." When most folks say they're cooking Sunday dinner, they're usually making some variation of a cozy comfort food dish. Enter: chicken and potatoes.
In this Instant Pot recipe, you simply cook the chicken and potatoes together right in the same pot. (Yes, really.) Just add the two main ingredients to your pot with a little water or stock for a super-succulent meal that takes around 30 minutes to make. Plus, you can use any type of potato for this recipe — Russets, Yukon Golds, fingerlings — it doesn't matter. Toss 'em in. You can add other vegetables to the pot too. Recipe developer Susan Olayinka recommends using firmer root veggies like carrots or parsnips so they don't get soggy during cooking.
Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes
11. Instant Pot Vegan Red Beans and Rice
According to Visit New Orleans, red beans and rice, a Louisiana staple, are traditionally made on Mondays — when they're simmered all day long while folks are doing housework. "Set it and forget it" was the dish's original inspiration, making it a natural fit for Instant Pot translation.
Don't let the "vegan" label fool you: This meal is nothing short of hearty. It's loaded with green pepper, onion, celery, beans, rice, meatless sausage, and lots of herbs and spices. The best part? Almost everything gets cooked in the Pot for easy assembly. The rice is cooked separately, but the Easy Instant Pot Rice recipe we shared earlier can make that a breeze.
12. Instant Pot Spaghetti
It's no secret that spaghetti is a go-to simple dinner for home cooks. According to a Tasting Table survey, our readers have named spaghetti as the best pasta shape. (In fact, it drew more than 25% of the vote.) It's the safeguard of a busy weeknight. But have you ever whipped up a pot of spaghetti in less than 30 minutes? Now you can.
In this recipe, ground beef, pasta, and tomato passata all get cooked together in the Pot, along with diced shallot, basil, chopped tomatoes, and chicken stock. Spaghetti Night can happen at whiplash-inducing speed, and there's only one dish to wash.
Recipe: Instant Pot Spaghetti
13. Instant Pot Applesauce
Few kid-approved snacks share as substantial an adult fanbase as applesauce. This Instant Pot recipe uses a mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples for an elevated take on a childhood classic. The only other ingredients are cinnamon, lemon zest, water, and a pinch of salt. All the sweetness in this recipe comes from the apples — no sugar added.
This recipe makes a slightly chunky applesauce, but if you prefer a silky smooth version, feel free to blend it post-cook. Keep it in the fridge for a healthy lunchbox addition or a quick snack. You can even use it to top a batch of latkes or potato pancakes.
Recipe: Instant Pot Applesauce
14. Instant Pot Gumbo
For a spicy, warming comfort meal, whip up this staple of Creole cooking in just 10 minutes of prep time and about 30 minutes of cooking time. If you've ever made gumbo before, then you know it requires more than a few ingredients. Sausage, onion, garlic, celery, tomatoes, okra, and red and green bell peppers are packed in there. But, believe it or not, they all fit nicely inside the Instant Pot and come together to make a tender, cohesive dish.
Recipe developer Miriam Hahn recommends using a plant-based sausage to alter the dish for meatless dining. For an even quicker meal afterward, any leftovers will keep in the freezer for up to two months for last-minute reheating.
Recipe: Instant Pot Gumbo
15. Trader Joe's Instant Pot Meatballs
We could employ some teeth-pulling literary conventions and describe them as "beef spheres" or "carnivore orbs." But these comparisons are as unnecessary as they are unflattering. Meatballs need no further introduction.
Friend to children and ally to home cooks, meatballs are the proverbial bread and butter of a budget-friendly weeknight dinner — and now you can make them even faster by using an Instant Pot. Ground beef, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, diced onion, an egg, and a myriad of herbs and spices combine to make these meatballs, which you can toss on top of a pile of the Instant Pot Spaghetti mentioned previously.
16. Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
As the winter months drag on, this chicken tortilla soup can be a fun, refreshing way to (literally) spice up soup season. It's also light enough to satisfy during the summertime. The chicken breasts cook in an ultra-moist combination of salsa, chicken broth, beans, and a can of tomatoes. Warming spices like cumin, chili powder, and garlic powder crank up the heat.
Devout soup fans know that one of the best things about it is its vast potential for customization, and this recipe is no exception. The frijoles are free-flowing: Black or pinto beans both work, whichever you prefer. You can stir a can of corn into the mix to thicken up the texture. For the protein element, ground beef or turkey can fit the bill. Just keep in mind that you'll need to adjust the cook times to fit whichever meat you choose.
17. One-Pot Instant Pot Refried Beans
The perfect accouterment to a sizzling plate of enchiladas. Your burrito's BFF. You know 'em, you love 'em — we're talking about refried beans. They're a fundamental element of Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisines for a reason.
To make them in your Instant Pot, all it takes is dried pinto beans, onion, garlic cloves, and some spices. Plus, you can skip the prep work; with the Instant Pot, there's no need to soak those beans overnight. Simply combine all the ingredients in the Pot, cook, then insert an immersion blender to finish the job. Serve alongside Mexican rice and a dollop of sour cream or guac. You could even grab a bag of tortilla chips and scoop those refried beans straight out of the Pot.
18. Instant Pot Chicken Stock
Open up a cookbook (any cookbook) to a random recipe (any recipe) and there's probably a good chance that one of the necessary ingredients will be chicken stock. A 32-ounce carton of chicken stock costs $1.99 at Target, but it's just as easy to whip up a pot of the liquid for later use. Sealed, it'll keep in the refrigerator for up to a week.
To make a quick batch of homemade chicken stock in your Instant Pot, simply combine chicken, water, a few carrots, celery stalks, black peppercorns, parsley, thyme, and a yellow onion. Cook the batch over high pressure for 25 minutes, and voila – stock for all. Plus, by the end of this recipe, you'll get eight cups of chicken stock and a boiled four-pound chicken to boot.
Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Stock
19. Creamy Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
The side dish to end all side dishes has never been easier. Julia Child might have made her mashed potatoes with an absurd amount of garlic, but we're making them with an Instant Pot.
These creamy mashed potatoes call for butter, Parmesan, sour cream, chicken broth, garlic granules, and an unexpected secret ingredient: mayonnaise. According to recipe developer Miriam Hahn, it "adds a little zing" and creates an especially silky texture. You can have these mashed potatoes on the dinner table in less than 20 minutes. Or, if you're saving them for later use, they'll keep in the fridge for five days and reheat nicely in the microwave or oven.
20. Instant Pot Fish Stew
Fish is having a moment right now. Whole fish dominated restaurant menus in 2022. Entire walls of canned fish brands can be found in many grocery stores. A select demographic of eccentric pizza fans swear by anchovies as a topping. But this French-inspired fish stew is about as timeless as it gets, and you can make it with an Instant Pot in under an hour.
To make it, combine onion, garlic, chicken stock, tomato purée, green olives (with brine), Russet potatoes, and a head of fennel. Once tender, remove the vegetables from the Pot and lightly place pieces of Alaskan cod fillet into the remaining liquid. Once the cod is cooked through, fill a bowl with the fish, veggies, and broth, then slice up a lemon — and your fish stew is ready to serve.
Recipe: Instant Pot Fish Stew
21. Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie Soup
The value of a good chicken pot pie cannot be overstated. It's ready to warm up your innards on a cold day. Bring out this dish at a dinner party or holiday gathering and your guests are liable to start frothing at the mouth. But it isn't just for social purposes. On bad days, chicken pot pie shows brooding foodies the true meaning of "comfort food." Whether you're gearing up to entertain or prepping for a proper self-care night, the Instant Pot makes achieving that signature chicken pot pie flavor easier than ever with a soup version of the classic.
Chicken, potatoes, yellow onion, carrots, celery, and butter dwell harmoniously in a thick, creamy broth — and it can all be made in the Pot. To nail the mouthfeel of the original, this recipe even includes a square of puff pastry. Granted, this side gets made on a baking sheet in the oven, but enthusiasts of chicken pot pie might argue that the extra step is well worth it.
Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie Soup
22. Instant Pot Prime Rib
Your stomach just called: It says you want prime rib. You could dress up and make the jaunt to your local steakhouse. Or you could kick off your shoes and whip out the ol' reliable Instant Pot.
Since it's a cut of meat that turns out better the less you handle it, prime rib is a "prime" candidate for successful cooking in an Instant Pot. The total cook time is an hour and 15 minutes but only five minutes of prep time are needed. The steps are a little more numerous than many of our other "just walk away" Instant Pot recipes. Your prime rib will need closer monitoring and frequent internal temperature checks with a meat thermometer, but the kitchen appliance still offers a major shortcut for cranking out a standing rib roast that'll feed eight people.
Recipe: Instant Pot Prime Rib
23. Sweet Coconut Rice
The side-dish scene may be dominated by savory rice pilafs and zesty Spanish rice, but with this Instant Pot recipe, it's sweet coconut rice's time to shine. To make it, basmati rice is cooked in water, coconut milk, and a little salt and sugar — that's it. The entire job is done in 15 minutes from start to finish.
Coconut rice is popular in Indian, Thai, and Caribbean cooking. It pairs well alongside flavors like curry, a convenient fit considering that coconut milk can help curb spiciness. Try plating your next fire-hot vindaloo or laal maas with a scoop of this recipe. For vegan foodies, sweet coconut rice would make an excellent bed for steamed tofu cubes or crispy fried chickpeas. You could even add a few slices of fresh mango and pair it with seafood like buttery king crab legs or lemon-pepper-crusted tilapia.
Recipe: Sweet Coconut Rice
24. Instant Pot Celery Soup
Even the most seasoned foodies may have a tough time describing exactly what celery is supposed to taste like. Naysayers might even be tempted to ask the same question that some folks ask about bay leaves: "Why do we even use it at all?" But don't get it twisted. There's a reason why you should start giving celery the respect it deserves. It's one of the foundational ingredients in a mirepoix, which makes many of the soups and chowders you love possible. The vegetable also has a bevy of health benefits. Celery is packed with antioxidants and compounds that reduce inflammation and also aids in digestion, per Healthline. (Take that, celery haters.)
This celery soup recipe is bulked up with onion, garlic, Yukon Golds, and a punch of herbs and spices. There are a few other ingredients in there too, but the main thing you need to know is that they all get tossed into the Instant Pot and cooked together for a one-pot fix-it-and-forget-it soup straight out of a busy home cook's dreams. For textural dimensionality, hit half the batch with an immersion blender and top it all with crunchy croutons.
Recipe: Instant Pot Celery Soup
25. Instant Pot Roast
How many ways can you cook a four-pound pot roast in an hour? Not that many. But here comes the Instant Pot.
For best results, sear that meat first before slam-dunking it into the Pot. It'll add a golden-brown crisp and stave off sogginess. Tomato paste, carrots, celery, and onion make this recipe as classic as a well-worn denim shirt. But porcini mushrooms and thyme make the pot roast as aromatic and impressive as it is (believe it or not) straightforward.
Recipe: Instant Pot Roast
26. Instant Pot Braised Pork
Here at Tasting Table, good cuts of pork always "make the cut" in our book. But today, we're not talking about pancetta or decadent pork belly. Today, the oft-overlooked pork shoulder is the cut on our minds. Fresh ginger, kaffir lime, coconut milk, and lemongrass add major fragrance points to this Instant Pot Braised Pork.
This recipe showcases the range of functions an Instant Pot can perform. You sear the pork shoulder in the Pot, sauté the veggies in the Pot, and cook all the ingredients together in — you guessed it — the Pot. (Appliance purveyors: You should probably start using this recipe in public demonstrations.)
Recipe: Instant Pot Braised Pork
27. Lamb and Yogurt Stew (Shakriyeh)
When you think about traditional Syrian cuisine, dishes like labneh, baklava, kebabs, or stuffed grape leaves might come to mind. But if you've never tried it before, shakriyeh is a hearty stew perfect for fueling your evening.
Shakriyeh is a Syrian lamb and yogurt stew. You can use your Instant Pot to boil the lamb chunks and skim off the impurities. While the lamb cooks, a yogurt sauce is prepared separately in a blender and transferred to a saucepan to simmer. The lamb and yogurt are combined at the end, then garnished with toasted pine nuts to serve.
Recipe: Lamb And Yogurt Stew (Shakriyeh)