EASY Instant Pot Recipes

Our best Instant Pot recipes feature beef, pork, chicken, side dishes, and dessert recipes. For this special recipe collection for the Instant Pot, we’ve included our Instant Pot recipe for Apricot Chicken at the end of the post.

Featured in this post

1. The Best Instant Pot to Use
2. Instant Pot Accessories
3. Beef Instant Pot Recipes
4. Chicken Instant Pot Recipes
5. Pork Instant Pot Recipes
6. Instant Pot Side Dishes
7. An Instant Breakfast
8. Instant Pot Desserts
9. Instant Pot Apricot Chicken Recipe

The Best Instant Pot to Use

Pressure cooking in the Instant Pot is all the rage right now, and for good reason! You can cook up just about anything in a fraction of the time you can cook something on the stove or in the oven. If you are new to Instant Pot cooking there is a little bit of a learning curve, but not to worry, all of these recipes are tried-and-true reader favorites. We walk you through each recipe so you will have success right off the bat. For all of these recipes, I used a 6-quart 7-in-1 Instant Pot but you can use any 6 or 8-quart Instant Pot pressure cooker. The times and pressure will remain the same.

Instant Pot Accessories

Before we get started, for some of these recipes you may need a trivet. Most Instant Pots have one included but if for some reason you don’t have one, it may be a good idea to grab one. We love cooking with our Instant Pots. The more you use your Instant Pot, the more you are going to love it.

Beef Instant Pot Recipes

This collection of tasty and hearty beef recipes can be made in a fraction of the time in the Instant Pot. Our easy Instant Pot Sunday Pot Roast has been a huge hit with our readers. We have over 250 comments on just this one recipe alone! Who knew Sunday dinner could be so easy? Our most popular Instant Pot Recipe is our Instant Pot Meatballs recipe. You will be surprised how delicious they are and how well they stay together. You will get perfect meatballs EVERY TIME. They are well-deserving of the 5-star average review on Google!

Sunday Pot Roast

Pot Roast has always been a favorite Sunday dinner in our family. Sometimes we make it with mashed potatoes, sometimes with ingredients like carrots and potatoes cooked with the roast. Either way, it is always delicious. For this recipe, we use a boneless chuck roast but there are several different cuts of meat you can use.

Instant Pot Chili

Chili in the Instant Pot has the taste of chili that has been simmering all day, yet takes less than an hour. It really couldn’t be easier! You can do it all in one pot which means less cleanup too. The better question may be “Why NOT make chili on an Instant Pot?” 

Instant Pot Beef Pot Pie

Making pot pies with a puff pastry crust is a game changer. That right there makes it 20 times easier. Then making the filling in the Instant Pot adds an entirely new level of simplicity. You can do it all in one pot in less than an hour! 

Instant Pot Beef Goulash

The chunks of beef are so tender and flavorful in this beef goulash, that everyone will think it has been stewing all day. The gravy is nice and thick, just how gravy should be. The veggies are tender, but not TOO tender. I know that in some Instant Pot recipes, the vegetables can get too mushy. That is not the case with this recipe!

Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage

Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage can be made in a fraction of the time it usually would take to make a good, tender corned beef. Cooking corned beef in a roasting pan or slow cooker can take up to eight hours to get the same results. Thanks to the Instant Pot, you can make corned beef dinner in minutes.

Instant Pot Meatballs

Meatballs in the Instant Pot are THE way to go when it comes to meatballs. They really couldn’t be easier! When cooking meatballs in a pan they can crumble and fall apart. Baking them can dry them out. Cooking them in the Instant Pot is easier AND tastes better. By cooking them in the sauce with the tomatoes, the meaty flavor infuses the sauce and makes it so much more flavorful.

Instant Pot Beef Stew

This Instant Pot Beef Stew is a cozy meal for a chilly day. It is warm and full of comforting textures and flavors. Cooking it in the Instant Pot is a game changer. I love it because you get the flavor and tenderness of simmering the stew on the stove for hours, but you only have to cook it for 35 minutes!

Chicken Instant Pot Recipes

Whether you are a beginner or a savvy Instant Pot user, you will love these easy-to-follow, one-pot meals with chicken. You can create spectacular dishes with chicken in minutes. These chicken recipes are perfect for busy families who still want to sit down and enjoy a hot meal at the end of the day. Try our Gumbo or Chicken Enchilada Soup with a salad for a quick and easy meal. Do you need a quick-cooked chicken breast to slice onto a salad or for a recipe? See our easy step-by-step instructions for Easy Instant Pot Chicken Breasts.

Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo

Chicken Alfredo is one of my favorite meals and it has become even better now that I can make it so quickly and easily. I love being able to throw everything in the pot, walk away, and then come back to a delicious meal. I like to serve this pasta with steamed veggies or with a Caesar salad.

Instant Pot Chicken and Rice

This Instant Pot Chicken and Rice recipe comes from our Chicken in Basil Cream Sauce recipe. This is a much simpler version with the help of the Instant Pot. It can be ready to eat in about 20 minutes. Rice, chicken, and sauce are all in a tasty one-pot meal. If you haven’t tried many instant pot recipes, start here. It’s so easy, saves gobs of time and your family will devour it. One of our most popular instant pot chicken recipes for sure!

Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada Sauce

For this soup recipe, I literally dumped everything – the chicken, beans, corn, and seasonings- into the Instant Pot, set the timer, and let the machine do its thing. I topped it with some fresh herbs, and it turned out perfectly! This enchilada soup is creamy, cheesy, a little spicy, and absolutely scrumptious. This is a gluten-free soup!

Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala

The herbs and spices of Indian cuisine have this sweet and savory blend that is just so comforting to me. Some people crave sweets, but I crave this chicken tikka masala recipe ALL THE TIME. I love making it in the Instant Pot. I only have one pot to clean up at the end of dinner, but it tastes like I was in the kitchen making a big mess all day.

Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

This Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup is a great weeknight dinner, especially in the fall and winter. It is hearty, savory, and delicious. You won’t be searching for bits of noodle or shreds of chicken in this soup. Each spoonful has tender chicken, savory veggies, flavorful broth, and slurp-able noodles.

Instant Pot Gumbo

Instant Pot Gumbo is the perfect meal for a cold day. Thick and hearty with a kick of Creole spice that warms your insides. Most gumbo dishes start with a basic roux, peppers, onions, and celery. You can add a protein such as sausage, pork, chicken, or shrimp as well. I’ve tried several different varieties of gumbo over the years, but my favorite includes chicken, sausage, and shrimp.

Pork Instant Pot Recipes

When you are short on time, the Instant Pot cooks up a pork roast or pork chops so much faster than other methods. Try our Instant Pot Pulled Pork for sliders or sandwiches, or our Instant Pot Pork Chops for a fast, delicious dinner.

Instant Pot Pulled Pork

I love pulled pork, but I don’t always think ahead enough to leave it in the slow cooker for 6-8 hours. Is it possible to get the same tenderness and flavor without cooking it all day? YES. This is where the Instant Pot comes in! After cooking for ONE hour you’ve got melt in your mouth, flavor-packed pork. This is why I am obsessed with my Instant Pot!

Instant Pot Pork Chops

Pork Chops and Gravy are a comfort food classic around my house. The warm, enticing smell always whets our appetites and we look forward to gathering around the table, dishing up good food and (usually) delightful conversation. I love to make our easy Crock Pot Pork Chops but on extremely hectic days, it’s so nice to just throw ingredients into my Instant Pot and have a beautiful supper ready in a fraction of the time.

Not only is the Instant Pot a great tool for main dishes, but it can be used to cook up side dishes as well. It frees up space in the oven or on the stovetop, and gets a quick side together in no time at all. Instant Pot rice is always a great go-to, but have you tried potatoes in the Instant Pot? You can have perfectly baked potatoes in under 40 minutes and fluffy mashed potatoes in about 20 minutes (that includes potato peeling time!). You will also love these healthy instant pot recipes for homemade applesauce, artichokes, and spaghetti squash.

Instant Pot Baked Potatoes

Instant Pot Baked Potatoes come together so fast, and you don’t have to heat up your house with the oven. The potatoes come out so fluffy every time when use an Instant Pot. Plus, since you don’t wrap them in tin foil, the skins stay pretty crispy. Sometimes if we want really crispy potato skins, we will broil the baked potatoes for a few minutes with some butter, salt, and pepper rubbed on the outside.

Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

I love finding new things to cook in my Instant Pot, and these mashed potatoes are no exception. It is such an easy recipe. You can seriously drop the potatoes and water in the pot and forget about it until the timer goes off. I especially like this method because it frees up your stovetop for other things. On big holidays like Thanksgiving, I need all the stovetop space I can get.

Rice in the Instant Pot

The cooking time of rice in the Instant Pot purely depends on what variety of rice you are cooking. White rice only needs a few short minutes. This includes long-grain white rice, Jasmine, and Basmati. Short-grain white rice such as sushi rice only needs slightly more time. There is a big jump from white rice to brown rice, wild rice, red rice, and black rice. These need a lot more time or they will be crunchy. Cooking times for these types of rice varieties can vary between 23-30 minutes. See the recipe below for a cheat sheet.

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

This Instant Pot Mac and Cheese recipe is the quickest, easiest dinner that your whole family will love. It tastes a THOUSAND times better than boxed mac and cheese because it is made with real food (I don’t even want to know what that powdered “cheese” is made out of). This homemade mac and cheese only takes five ingredients to make and you probably already have them all on hand.

Instant Pot Applesauce

Making applesauce (especially in the Instant Pot) is a breeze. Just a few easy steps and you can be enjoying fresh applesauce in a matter of minutes.

An Instant Breakfast

The Instant Pot is also a magical tool for a quick breakfast. Gone are the days of wondering if your hard-boiled eggs didn’t get cooked through, or if a green ring will be around the yolk. The Instant Pot cooks the eggs perfectly every time. It is also perfect for oatmeal. You can add in fruit, cinnamon, and sugar before or after cooking.

Instant Pot Oatmeal

To be honest, I’m not a huge oatmeal fan. Well, I wasn’t a huge oatmeal fan UNTIL I tried this Oatmeal in the Instant Pot. It has the perfect, creamy texture and I can make it any flavor I want. I could not believe how easy it was to put together. I threw all the ingredients in the pot and it cooked while I did my makeup.

Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs

Making hard boiled eggs in the Instant Pot takes all the guess work out of getting smooth, fully cooked, perfectly white and golden eggs every time. No more guessing how long to let the eggs boil, or worrying about a grey ring around the hardened yolk. Using the Instant Pot saves time, and the eggs are done to perfection.

Instant Pot Desserts

We admittedly haven’t explored too much in the dessert realm for Instant Pot recipes. However, these two desserts are beyond fabulous. If you have an Instant Pot dessert recipe you love, please share it with us in the comments. We would love to give it a try.

Instant Pot Lava Cake

Instant Pot Chocolate Lava Cake comes together in just a few minutes, and made with simple ingredients. This is the best dessert to whip up when it’s late, you’re wandering around the house craving something sweet and a handful of chocolate chips from the pantry just isn’t going to cut it. It just as easily can be a centerpiece dessert after a special Valentine’s Day dinner. Super versatile, gooey, and full of chocolate flavor, this is one of my favorite chocolate cake recipes!

Instant Pot Lemon Custard Cups

There’s nothing like topping off a delicious family dinner with a luscious dessert. This lemon custard is such a refreshing way to end a meal. It’s light and fragrant oh so divine! I love to bring a tray of these adorable custard cups outside while my family relaxes on the back patio after dinner.

We hope you’ve enjoyed perusing these recipes for the Instant Pot and hope you have been inspired with ideas for using this amazing kitchen appliance in your everyday cooking. This is not a sponsored post, we just love our Instant Pots and wanted to share our favorite ways of using them.

As a bonus, we are adding an easy and delicious Instant Pot dinner idea. It is a variation of our Easy Apricot Chicken and you are going to love it!