14 Instant Pot Recipes That Will Convince You To Buy This Kitchen Gadget (2024)

If you haven't jumped on the bandwagon yet, you are missing out! And I'm going to tell you why. I've got 14 Instant Pot recipes thatare beyond delicious, super easy to make, and willspeed up your prep and cook time like never before!

14 Instant Pot Recipes That Will Convince You To Buy This Kitchen Gadget (1)

If you're thinking about using an Instant Pot, also known as an electric pressure cooker, because you've heard how AMAZING it is, then you're in the right place. I went out and bought an Instant Pot shortly after they hit the shelves. I was skeptical about this modernized pressure cooker and was not overly impressed with the recipes that came with mine.

So I did my research and dove into what some of the popular food bloggers, real FOODIES, were making and saying about the recipesthey've been making. And let me tell you...I was blown away.

Instant Pot Recipes

Below you are going to find 14 irresistible recipes that you can make in your Instant Pot with the reason WHY you should make every single one of these! I guarantee you that these 14 recipes will convince you to buy one...or start using the one you have! If your an avid user one then you have to try these specific recipes.

Here's why...

1. Life Changing Beef Stew

Instant pot beef stew is simple to make. This was the first recipe I ever made in mine and after the first bite, I was SO glad I bought one! Here's why you want to make this recipe:

  • I madeMy 9 year old daughter made homemade (from scratch) beef stew in 45 minutes with only 6 ingredients on a school night thanks to this kitchen gadget.
  • This stew is FULL of wonderful beefy flavor.
  • My 7 year old who hates all things food right now loved this recipe.

Seriously, it's an amazing recipe, super fast to make, full of flavor, and my entire family loved it.

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2. Meaty Italian Pasta Dinner

This was evolved from a Beef Noodle Skillet dinner andyou know how most skillet pasta dinners require a lot of monitoring, right? Well, not when it's made using the pressure cooker. This Instant Pot pasta is FULL of flavor and the taste reminds me of a lasagna dish you would order at an authentic Italian restaurant.

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3. Pork Carnitas

If you're looking for quick and easy, you're going to love these Instant pot carnitas! When life gets too busy and you didn't have time to plan for dinner, make this Instant Pot carnitas recipe. Pressure cooking gets the pork nice and tender, and shredable, which is exactly what you want with pork carnitas.

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4. Easy Chocolate Lava Cake

So you're telling me I can make cake in this thing? Instant pot cake is actually really easy to make. This recipe has an ooey gooey center and it only takes 35 minutes to make these!

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5. Creamy Broccoli Mac and Cheese

One of my favorite foods in the entire world is mac and cheese and when I learned I could make Instant Pot macaroni and cheese, I was thrilled! The old fashioned traditional homemade macaroni and cheese recipes you will find take a lot of time and effort. And while the traditional recipes out there are absolutely delish, I typically don't have the time it requires to make it. Mac and cheese in the Instant Pot is the way to go. This recipe is creamy, cheesy, and I'm loving the added broccoli. It's also way less mess for me to clean up.

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6. Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken

If you're looking for Instant Pot chicken thigh recipes, then look no more! These only take 8 minutes to make! Juicy and fall-off-the-bone, these are made with a brown sugar garlic sauce and are pressure cooked resulting in the most tender chicken!

7. Popcorn

Yeah for popcorn! Who doesn't love popcorn! But Instant Pot popcorn is absolutely delicious and is ready in 5 minutes. That's right...5 minutes!! This popcorn recipe is made with coconut oil, popcorn kernels, butter and salt. You'll use the saute function and in 5 minutes, you'll be able to indulge in one of the best snacks out there!

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8. Baby Back Ribs

I love me some pressure cooker ribs and let me tell you, the meat literally just falls off the bone like they have been slow cooking for hours! But when you make Instant Pot BBQ ribs, the cook time is just 25 minutes. It just doesn't get much easier than that!

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9. Banana French Toast

Who would have thought you could make French Toast in a pressure cooker and it would turn out really really good? Yeah, not me. Let me go on the record to say I WAS WRONG! This French toast casserole takes 40 minutes to make from prep time to the table. It's full of flavor and the consistency is fantastic! I really enjoy this breakfast casserole on Christmas morning.

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10.Chicken Enchiladas

The chicken and the sauce that covers these Instant Pot enchiladas is robust in flavor and incredible savory. You'll use the saute feature for this dish! 40 minutes start-to-finish is all it takes until this succulent dinner is on your table and ready to serve!

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11. Greek Yogurt

Making yogurt in a pressure cooker is not complicated. You can make REALLY good yogurt in your pressure cooker! This Instant Pot yogurt recipe is easy, fun, and pretty! It only takes 2 ingredients to make and then you'll top it off with your favorite toppings! And...you'll have some left over for your yogurt starter for next time!

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12. Cheesecake Bites

Who would have thought you could make Instant Pot cheesecake? Not me...but this little pressure cooker gadget continues to blow my mind! And you're going to be amazed at how easy it is to make cheesecake bites. You'll use an egg mold to make the graham cracker crust, mix the cheesecake ingredients, and then let the it do its magic. When these are done, they're topped with cherry pie filling. I love that these are mini cheesecake bites because it helps me with portion control!

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13. Refried Beans

I typically make homemade pinto beans in my slow cooker and then smash them in a saucepan with a bit of milk and cheese to turn them into refried beans. But this is way easier! Instant Pot refried beans not only have amazing flavor, but the process is really low maintenance. I never would have thought that I could take dry pinto beans and have them cook and made into refried beans in an hour. This recipe is a huge time saver!

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14. Oatmeal

I like making a big batch of oatmeal so that I can eat on it for 2-3 days when I don't have time to cook breakfast in the mornings. And let me tell you, Instant Pot oatmeal is so much easier to make and a lot more convenient. You can even double the recipe if you want. This is actually an Instant Pot steel cut oats recipe that has a bit of pumpkin puree to pop the flavor. Who said pumpkin is only for fall? You can enjoy it year round!

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And there you have it! Guys, this is your ‘set it and forget it’ machine. If you haven't bought an yours yet, you're missing out, you still can!

Oh...and if you are looking for more recipes, check out my entire Instant Pot Recipe Collection!

I can’t wait to hear which recipes you end up making! Make sure you leave me a comment below. I love hearing from you! You can also sign up for my newsletter!

Update Notes: This post was originally published in November 2018, but was re-published with updated recipes in December 2020.

14 Instant Pot Recipes That Will Convince You To Buy This Kitchen Gadget (2024)

FAQs

What not to use in Instant Pot? ›

6 Things You Should Never Cook in an Instant Pot
  1. Creamy Sauces. If there's one food group you should avoid in the Instant Pot, it's dairy. ...
  2. Fried Chicken. The best fried chicken is crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside and perfectly golden brown. ...
  3. Cookies. ...
  4. Burgers. ...
  5. Pie. ...
  6. Steak.

Why don t chefs use Instant Pot? ›

They are most commonly used in industrial settings to quickly prepare meat or stocks. However, in most scenarios, Elite Chefs avoid using pressure cookers because they provide less control over the final dish. Chefs often prefer slow cooking techniques that accentuate and pull out the flavors of the food.

What's the big deal about Instant Pots? ›

You can do everything in it — As the Instant Pot is an all-in-one appliance, you can pretty much do all your cooking in one pot. While most cookers require you to sauté or brown in a separate pan, the Instant Pot gives you the option to sauté your onions or brown your meat in the pot to save you time.

Does the Instant Pot come with a recipe book? ›

Instant Pot comes with an owner manual and recipe book.

Why shouldn't potatoes be cooked in a pressure cooker? ›

Mostly we boil potatoes in a pressure cooker, but like rice, potatoes also contain a lot of starch. This is the reason why boiling or cooking in this pressure cooker is not considered good for health. If you still plan to use cooker for the same, add a lot of water and wash them thoroughly post cooking.

What should never be cooked in a pressure cooker? ›

Foods containing dairy, like milk, cream, or yogurt, should not be pressure-cooked. The high heat and pressure can cause dairy products to curdle or separate, ruining the texture, taste and flavour of the dish. Cooking fried foods is a strict no no, when it comes to pressure cookers.

What is the disadvantage of Instant Pot? ›

Con– The Instant Pot uses steam under pressure to cook food and not everything is meant to be cooked in the Instant Pot. I attempted a crustless quiche which turned out well but it was too wet and moist to my liking and I prefer to cook it in the oven with dry heat.

Is it unhealthy to cook in Instant Pot? ›

Even though some studies suggest that pressure cooking isn't the best way to preserve nutrients in food, no research exists to suggest that pressure cookers of any model or brand pose health risks. If you're a fan of your Instant Pot, don't worry: You can continue to safely use your appliance without worry.

Are Instapots better than air fryers? ›

Cooking times: Instant Pots can often prepare food more quickly than air fryers. Food choices: Although both small kitchen appliances can prepare a wide range of foods, Instant Pots offer more recipe options. Ease of use: Air fryers are good for beginners, while Instant Pots have a learning curve.

Are Instant Pots discontinued? ›

Instant Brands, the company that makes the Instant Pot (as well as Pyrex, Corelle, and a few other product lines), announced that it was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 2023. But that doesn't mean the company is going under, and for now it hasn't affected the availability of the Instant Pot.

Do instapots use a lot of electricity? ›

Instant Pots will draw different amounts of energy based on the setting. For pressure cooking, a standard 6-quart model will draw about 1,000 watts or one-third the energy draw of a big oven.

Are Instant Pots made in China? ›

Yes, Instant Pots are manufactured in China, though it is a Canadian company. Researching this question leads to many rabbit holes, but the Instant Pot live chat team and the branding on the packaging answer the question definitively.

What's the first thing I should cook in my Instant Pot? ›

When it comes to breaking your Instant Pot in, it's a good idea to start with some basic foods and simple meals you're already familiar with, then slowly expand your Instant Pot repertoire from there. Try making staples like eggs, sweet potatoes, rice, or lentils using just the pressure cooker function.

Can I use Pyrex bowl in Instant Pot? ›

Your Instant Pot. A trivet. A sling (you'll need aluminum foil) An oven safe dish (like Pyrex or a Springform pan)

Is Instant Pot owned by Pyrex? ›

Under different ownership after last year's bankruptcy, the popular multicooker is no longer part of the appliance conglomerate that owns Pyrex and Corelle.

Is it OK to put oil in an Instant Pot? ›

To be clear, you can use a small amount of oil (one to two tablespoons) to saute using your Instant Pot — in fact, most models even have a specific mode for that. But, under no circumstance should you ever fill your Instant Pot to the brim with cooking oil and use it as an improvised deep fryer.

Can I cook anything in an Instant Pot? ›

The Instant Pot is an electric pressure cooker but also a slow cooker, yogurt maker, rice cooker, big sauté pot, steamer, and more. We have the 6-Quart Instant Pot Duo which is what we use for all our Instant Pot recipes. They also make a 3-Quart Instant Pot Mini and a hefty 8-quart Instant Pot.

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