What is an Instant Pot?
Instant Pots are pressure cookers that are essentially multi-purpose tools. Meaning instead of having 12 different apparatuses taking up space in your cabinets, you can have just one. Instant Pots can be used as a slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, steamer…you name it; it does it. You can even sauté food, create impressive desserts and warm up leftovers in your Instant Pot.
How to Use an Instant Pot
An Instant Pot is an electronic multicooker, so the first step to using it is to plug it in. After that, it’s basically buttons all the way! Another reason everyone loves the Instant Pot is because it’s super user friendly. With the press of a food icon on a screen, your timing is set and you’re able to go about your day. At least most of the newer models function that way, but your Instant Pot user guide should outline how to use the control panel on yours, how to use the pressure valve for quick or natural release and everything else you need to know about it. This trusty time-saving device is a must for making Instant Pot chicken, rice, hard-boiled eggs—and all of these 14 best Instant Pot recipes below!
Best Instant Pot Recipes
Instant Pot Stuffed Cinnamon Walnut Apples
The aroma of these warm, sweet apples stuffed with walnuts and raisins is the very essence of autumn and winter holiday fare. And these chef-level Instant Pot Stuffed Cinnamon Walnut Apples basically make themselves! Get the recipe
Sheri Castle’s Instant Pot Mediterranean-Style Greens
The best way to cook leafy greens? In an Instant Pot! After only two minutes, they emerge bright green, pliant, and just tender enough. And unlike greens sautéed in a skillet on the stovetop, they don’t lose their volume and shrink away to nothing. Get the recipe
Instant Pot Lamb
Leg of lamb is an Easter and Passover classic, and preparing it in an Instant Pot or other pressure cooker yields fast, succulent results. This recipe is perfect for a holiday feast; it’s also easy enough to pull into your Sunday night supper rotation the rest of the year. Get the recipe
Instant Pot Fish Taco Bowls
This recipe looks complicated, but you probably have most of the spices on hand. You can make the slaw and aioli ahead of time. Also, instead of grating your own cabbage and peeling a carrot, pick up a bag of coleslaw mix; it’s the same thing. There is also broccoli slaw available for a twist. Get the recipe
Instant Pot Sweet Potato Nachos
Heavy, salty tailgate fare doesn’t have to wreck your healthy eating goals. Swap your go-to chip and dip with this nutritious twist, ready in less than 30 minutes thanks to the pressure cooker’s speedy cook time. Get the recipe
Instant Pot Bengali Red Lentil, Potato, Pea, and Cauliflower Risotto
A new favorite Instant Pot recipe for dinner! It’s ridiculously easy, takes 35 minutes from start to finish and is over-the-top tasty. But don’t worry, only 10 of those minutes are hands on time. This fragrant one-pot meal is a sneak peak into Rinku Bhattacharya’s new book, Instant Indian: Classic Foods from Every Region of Indian Made Easy in the Instant Pot. Get the recipe
Instant Pot Scalloped Potatoes
Boxed scalloped potatoes are full of preservatives and chemical thickening ingredients that wreak havoc on your diet. Your body doesn’t know how to process these fake ingredients, so skip the fake (and high-calorie) stuff and go all-natural with this skinny version. Get the recipe
Instant Pot Cuban Garlic Pork with Mojo Sauce
Spend any time in the official Instant Pot Community Facebook group (1.5 million members and counting), and you’ll soon start seeing links to recipes on This Old Gal’s blog. This Old Gal has won legions of fans with her crowd-pleasing pressure cooker recipes, like this one for Cuban Garlic Pork with Mojo Sauce (Lechon Asado), plus tips for how to cook rice in the Instant Pot. Get the recipe
Instant Pot Shepherd’s Pie
This shepherd’s pie is a bit different from the traditional. For one thing, it uses cauliflower instead of potatoes as a topping, making it lower in carbs. And it incorporates lean protein and tons of veggies instead of lamb, all the while maintaining the comfort touch of the original. Get the recipe
Autumn Instant Pot Creamy Red Lentil Soup
When it’s chilly in the evenings, that sets the scene for soups. There’s something soothing about coming home from work and sitting down to a steaming bowl of Creamy Red Lentil Soup. Add in a hunk of whole grain bread and you’ve got a complete meal. Get the recipe
Pomegranate Brussels Sprouts
These tender Brussels sprouts tossed in a maple glaze and topped with bright red pomegranate seeds and a sprinkling of hazelnuts will add a blast of color to your holiday table. The key to success with Brussels sprouts is to not overcook them; make sure to remove them from the Instant Pot as soon as the cooking cycle is complete and pressure is released. Get the recipe
Instant Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
“If you like wild rice, you will love this soup!” says Cooking from Frozen in Your Instant Pot author Kristy Bernardo. “It was originally my mom’s recipe but I made some tweaks for personal preference and to make it more Instant Pot-friendly. Get the recipe
Melissa Clark’s Instant Pot Pork Stew with Red Wine and Olives
“Instant Pot Pork Stew With Red Wine and Olives is a cozy warming stew that’s perfect for cool weather, inspired not so much by a particular dish but by all wintery stews I’ve ever made,” explains New York Times food columnist and recipe writer, Melissa Clark. Get the recipe
Instant Pot Sun-Dried Tomato Orzo Pasta
This simple pasta salad is perfect for weeknight dinners because you can make it all in your Instant Pot, without the need for a separate skillet for sautéing. It can be enjoyed hot, cold or at room temperature, so you won’t have to time it perfectly if everyone is arriving home at different times. It’s also a great choice for a potluck or a holiday party. Get the recipe
