These Instant Pot Recipes Are Total Game Changers
An Instant Pot is magical — it slow cooks, pressure cooks, can make rice, steams, and even sautés! We rounded up some simple and time-saving Instant Pot recipes that are also absolutely delicious. Whether you're short on time, hungry, or just impatient, these recipes are for you.
1.Instant Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
If you've never cooked pasta in an Instant Pot before, you're missing out. In many recipes — like this one — the noodles cook directly in the sauce, giving you an end result that's packed with flavor from the inside out.
2.Instant Pot Pasta Primavera
Loaded with vegetables — plus an extra boost of protein from using chickpea noodles instead of traditional ones.
Recipe: Instant Pot Pasta Primavera
3.Creamy Cajun Chicken Alfredo
Dinner-wise, is there anything better than creamy, dreamy chicken Alfredo? (Nope!)
Recipe: Creamy Cajun Chicken Alfredo
4.Instant Pot Ground Beef and Pasta
This only pressure cooks for five minutes — and prep is super minimal.
Recipe: Instant Pot Ground Beef & Pasta
5.Veggie-Packed Mac 'n' Cheese
Featuring the green trinity: broccoli, spinach, and pesto.
Recipe: Veggie-Packed Mac 'n' Cheese
6.Instant Pot Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken
To upgrade the jarred sauce, you'll also toss in fresh garlic, parsley, and parm.
7.Instant Pot Beef and Potato Stew
This breaks down to just about $2 per serving — and makes enough for six.
Recipe: Instant Pot Beef & Potato Stew
8.Instant Pot Chicken and Potato Soup
To make this ring in at under $10, stick to just one type of potatoes (instead of two) and use canned corn instead of fresh.
9.Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup
High in protein and potassium.
10.Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free — and something everyone will love.
11.Instant Pot Potato Corn Chowder
Hearty and comforting — and makes for great leftovers.
Recipe: Instant Pot Potato Corn Chowder
12.Chicken Taco Soup
Top your bowl with diced jalapeño, sliced avocado, and some tortilla strips for crunch.
Recipe: Chicken Taco Soup
13.Instant Pot Pasta Soup
For those times when you can't decide between pasta and soup. 😋
Recipe: Instant Pot Pasta Soup
14.Instant Pot Coconut Chicken Curry Stew
Spinach is in season right now — and this hearty stew packs a full two cups of it.
15.Beef and Barley Soup
Cold nights call for piping hot bowls of this hearty soup loaded with tender beef, chewy barley, and lots of veggies.
Recipe: Beef and Barley Soup
16.Vegan Carrot Ginger Soup
If you recently got an Instant Pot and aren't quite sure where to begin, this super-nourishing soup is a great starting point. It's nutritious and very hands-off, letting you sit back and witness the magic of your new IP.
Recipe: Vegan Carrot Ginger Soup
17.Instant Pot Sweet Potato Soup
This has plenty of protein, fiber, and healthy fats from the sweet potato, black beans, and avocado.
Recipe: Instant Pot Sweet Potato Soup
18.Instant Pot Vegan Lasagna Soup
Lasagna! Soup! Can't think of anything more comforting, tbh. Especially when you add some garlic bread on the side.
Recipe: Instant Pot Vegan Lasagna Soup
19.Instant Pot Cashew Chicken
The simple sauce — which includes soy sauce, garlic, and ginger — comes together quickly and packs a ton of flavor.
Recipe: Instant Pot Cashew Chicken
20.Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Chicken
Works equally well with fresh or frozen chicken — and makes enough for six servings.
Recipe: Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Chicken
21.Easiest Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
Serve this piled onto your ~vessel~ of choice — like tortillas or lettuce wraps.
Recipe: Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
22.Whole30 Indian Saag Chicken
A paleo and Whole30-compliant take on saag paneer, this chicken version is super rich and satisfying.
Recipe: Whole30 Indian Saag Chicken
23.Crispy Chicken Carnitas
Just throw all the ingredients into the IP and let the juicy chicken cook itself. When it's done, toss in the oven for a few extra minutes so it gets extra brown and crispy.
Recipe: Crispy Chicken Carnitas
24.Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes
A classic crowd-pleaser, and rightfully so.
Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken & Potatoes
25.Instant Pot Ramen
Your favorite college staple, bulked up with eggs, chicken, and other goodies.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot Ramen
26.Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas
Just toss the chicken + veggies into your IP on its slow cooker setting — and load up the final product with your favorite toppings.
Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas
27.Instant Pot Carnitas
The secret to super flavorful meat here? A quick DIY spice rub — that includes chili powder, paprika, and cayenne — which you'll coat the pork in first.
Recipe: Instant Pot Carnitas
28.Six-Minute Shrimp Boil
Old Bay makes everything better.
Recipe: Six-Minute Shrimp Boil
29.Beef and Bacon Chili
This freezes really well, so feel free to make extra!
Recipe: Keto Beef & Bacon Chili
30.Cod with Tomatoes, Olives, and Capers
This works with fresh or frozen cod fillets, and the briny, Mediterranean-style broth adds a ton of flavor.
31.Stuffed Peppers
You can substitute ground beef for turkey or, if you want a meatless meal, use black beans or quinoa. Get the recipe.
32.Instant Pot Pinto Beans with Chorizo
This quick and easy recipe never disappoints.
33.French Dip Sandwiches
Sandwiches, ranked: 1. French Dips. 2. All other sandwiches.
Recipe: French Dip Sandwiches
34.Vegan Instant Pot Tacos with Smoky Lentils and Rice
The meat-free filling — of brown rice, lentils, and spices — is super versatile and also makes a great base for meal prep bowls.
35.Instant Pot Vegan Chili
This is high in protein and fiber — and freezes super well.
Recipe: Instant Pot Vegan Chili
36.Instant Pot Golden Lentil and Spinach Soup
Vegetarian and vegan-friendly — and cooks up in all of 12 minutes.
37.Vegan Chickpea Curry
Packed with protein.
Recipe: Vegan Chickpea Curry
38.Instant Pot Lentil Curry
Don’t be fooled by its modest appearance — this lentil dish is plenty vibrant, thanks to ingredients like ginger, garlic, turmeric, and curry powder.
Recipe: Instant Pot Lentil Curry
39.Vegetarian Portobello Pot Roast
A plant-based meal that even carnivores will love.
Recipe: Vegetarian Portobello Pot Roast
40.Vegetarian Tikka Masala
This version swaps out chicken for cauliflower — and tastes amazing.
Recipe: Vegetarian Tikka Masala
41.Instant Pot Vegan Gumbo
High in protein and fiber — and goes from prep to plate in about 30 minutes.
Recipe: Instant Pot Vegan Gumbo
42.Pizza Noodle Casserole
Feel free to toss in your favorite pizza toppings to customize this easy pasta recipe to fit your taste.
Recipe: Pizza Noodle Casserole
43.Five-Ingredient Mac and Cheese
Macaroni + butter + cheese + milk + spices = the easiest macaroni and cheese you'll ever make.
Recipe: Five-Ingredient Mac and Cheese
44.Chicken Pot Pie Soup
The best part about this recipe? It's super rich yet completely dairy-free, thanks to a can of coconut milk.
Recipe: Chicken Pot Pie Soup
45.Korean Chicken Meatballs
Serve these meatballs over rice, fresh greens, or quinoa for a hearty dinner that comes together in no time at all.
Recipe: Korean Chicken Meatballs
46.Honey Balsamic Chicken
Sweet, savory, and ridiculously easy to make.
Recipe: Honey Balsamic Chicken
47.Salsa Chicken
Tender chicken cooked in flavorful salsa — what could be better?
Recipe: Salsa Chicken
48.Yellow Dal
Hearty lentils over warm rice = the ultimate cold night dinner.
Recipe: Yellow Dal
49.Creamy Cajun Pasta
This recipe calls for one tablespoon (!) of Cajun seasoning, so feel free to use a bit less if spicy food isn't your thing.
Recipe: Creamy Cajun Pasta
50.Chicken Tacos
The best part about this recipe? it only takes three ingredients and 30 minutes to come together. A serious win-win.
Recipe: Chicken Tacos
51.Green Chile Chicken Chowder
A hearty base of cauliflower cream (aka cauliflower cooked in bone broth) gives this soup a rich texture without feeling heavy.
Recipe: Green Chile Chicken Chowder
52.Chicken Burrito Bowl
Load this into tortillas for a simple BYO taco night that's made entirely in the Instant Pot.
Recipe: Chicken Burrito Bowl
53.Pressure Cooker Spaghetti Sauce
All the flavor of a classic all-day sauce in a fraction of the time.
Recipe: Pressure Cooker Spaghetti Sauce
54.Slow Cooker Tortellini Soup with Sausage and Kale
The soup simmers low and slow for four hours, then the tortellini is dropped in near the end so it doesn't overcook.
55.And finally, Coconut Lime Quinoa
You'll make this using the rice cooker function. Before serving, just top with your favorite meat or veggies.
Recipe: Coconut Lime Quinoa
This article contains content from Melissa Jameson and Jesse Szewczyk. It was compiled by Kelly Rissman.
