These quick instant pot recipes are a life-savor! Sometimes we all need a quick meal or recipe, without a lot of hands-on time.
These 20 recipes are ready with just 15 minutes of instant pot cooking!
What’s an Instant Pot?
An instant pot is a pressure cooker and multicooker (rice cooker, slow cooker, yogurt maker, etc).
It’s primarily known and used for the quick, pressure cooking function and is a favorite of home cooks who like easy, quick meals.
It also has a sauté setting that allows you to brown meat and sautés vegetables – so it can truly be one-pot cooking.
Tips for Cooking in an Instant Pot
- Make sure to read the Instant Pot manual before using the machine.
- Make sure to cut meat and vegetables in equal sizes to ensure even cooking.
- Higher altitudes will affect cooking times in the Instant Pot.
- Don’t skimp on moisture – the easiest way to ruin your food is to use too little water, stock, or other liquid in your Instant Pot.
- There are two types of ways to release the pressure from the Instant Pot – there’s a natural release and a quick release. The quick-release blows quite a bit of steam out of the top of the pot, throw a towel over it if you are worried about getting the surrounding area wet.
- Don’t cook with the Instant Pot under your cabinets, as it will vent onto them – keep it in an open area of your kitchen.
- The Instant Pot comes with lots of fun accessories – like the Instant Pot Silicone Steamer Basket, Cheesecake and Cake Pan for Instant Pots, Sealing Rings, Accessories for Instant Pot, Indian Instant Pot Cookbook, and The Ultimate Instant Pot Cookbook.
- Join the Instant Pot community on Facebook for more recipe ideas.
20 Quick Instant Pot Recipes
If you're looking for the best thing to cook in an instant pot, check out these easy, quick recipes. They include recipes for pasta, chicken, beef, oatmeal, soups, and noodles.
Instant pot butternut squash soup is a velvety smooth soup, perfect for lunch or dinner. It’s a great winter meal with crusty bread.
Is there anything better than creamy and rich macaroni and cheese? I think not! This bacon mac and cheese is a top pick.
Packed with flavors, this Instant Pot Sweet Potato Curry is nutritious, Vegan, gluten-free, and goes very well with Rice or Naan. It gets ready in just 15 minutes and that makes it perfect for a busy weeknight meal.
You only need a few pantry staple ingredients and a few mins of hand on time to make these family favorite Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas.
You are going to love this Instant Pot Lemon Asparagus Risotto. No more sweating over the stove – this Instant Pot method is the easiest way to make risotto! Made with arborio rice, asparagus, freshly grated parmesan, and lemon, this is a delicious vegetarian meal or side dish.
Extra creamy, totally comforting, and utterly delicious creamy instant pot mac and cheese takes less than 15 minutes from start to end! Plus everything made in one pot.
Dump and start Instant Pot sesame chicken cooked in a rich honey soy sauce. This Chinese classic is made so easy in the Instant Pot, perfect for a busy mid-week dinner and definitely much better than a take out!
Instant Pot Cauliflower Curry! Tender cauliflower, butternut squash, and red lentils cooked in a coconut-creamy red curry sauce and poured over a mini-mountain of steamy rice.
Instant Pot Rosé Risotto is a unique rosé wine infused risotto that takes just 6 minutes in your Instant Pot!
Learn how to make steel-cut oats using two different cooking methods: Instant Pot (pressure cooker) and stovetop. Dig into this warm, healthy breakfast option that is perfect for meal prep and can be customized with countless topping options.
Pasta e fagioli (also commonly referred to as pasta fazool) is a traditional Italian dish made with pasta and beans for a hearty, nourishing bowl of nutritious comfort food that is perfect for chilly nights.
Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore! Braised Italian chicken in a saucy pasta-friendly form that is bright, acidic, rich, and savory. Just put everything in the Instant Pot and let it go!
This Colombian Chicken Potato Soup is hands down the best potato soup made easy in the instant pot (electric pressure cooker) or on the stove! It’s light but wholesome and filling. Simple, healthy, nutritious, delicious!
Instant Pot Tortellini is ready in just 15 minutes! Cheesy tortellini are swirled in a flavorful fire-roasted tomato cream sauce and sprinkled with parmesan and basil. Quick and delicious!
Easy 8-ingredient Instant Pot beef and broccoli cooked in 20 minutes or less! This is much healthier and better than take-outs as it’s not greasy and it’s made for just the fraction of the cost!
A paleo and Whole30 chili recipe that is so quick to prep, you’ll be excited to add it to your weekly meal plan. This chili is low carb, bean-less, full of flavor, well-balanced, and absolutely delicious!
Super easy, tasty, and healthy Instant Pot Sticky Maple Ginger Rice Noodles. This pressure cooker dish can be ready to enjoy in only about 10 minutes! This delicious noodle recipe is gluten-free, vegan and positively bursting with flavor.
Looking for the best Instant Pot chicken breast recipe? You’ve found it. This method produces flavourful, tender, perfect chicken breasts using fresh or frozen chicken. Excellent for meal prep and make-ahead meal solutions.
This vegetarian instant pot gumbo recipe is quick and easy to make. A wholesome vegan dinner that feeds a crowd. Rich in plant based protein, with the addition of lentils, this gumbo is grain free, filling, and nourishing!
Spaghetti tossed in a creamy cheese sauce loaded with mushrooms. If you love mushrooms, this creamy mushroom pasta is going to be your new favorite. Make this amazingly delicious creamy dreamy pasta in the instant pot in less than 30 minutes!
Have any other favorite, quick instant pot recipes? Leave them in the comments below!
Jenn
Sunday 12th of January 2020
Love this round up like woah! Thanks so much for sharing my easy peasy tortellini! xoxo
EW
Sunday 12th of January 2020
Of course! I love your soup :)