20 Easy Instant Pot Recipes for Beginners (2024)

Do you own an Instant Pot? I’m still on the fence about whether or not to get one. As much as I hear my friends raving about them, I’m sure it won’t be long before I break down and give it a try.

I’ve also seen some pretty delicious looking meals people have made with their Instant Pot – from Instant Pot soups and stews, chicken and dumplings, and Philly cheese steaks, to Instant Pot tamales and shrimp scampi – so I decided to ask around and look around for recipes that would be good for an Instant Pot newbie.

I’m going to tuck these away for later because I’m pretty sure there will be an Instant Pot in my future.

If you recently got an Instant Pot or are thinking of getting one,consider some of the recipes below to get your feet wet.

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Spaghetti with Meat Sauce from The Typical Mom
Perfect place to start is with a classic recipe like spaghetti, right? This recipe looks SO EASY as you just cook the meat, throw in everything else, and walk away. Perfect for beginners like me! Definitely saving this one for later.

Mongolian Chicken from Peas and Peonies
Flavorful Mongolian chicken for dinner? Yes PLEASE! Get dinner on the table in under 30 minutes with this recipe. (I love how detailed this recipe is too – great for those just getting started with an instant pot!)

Asian Sesame Chicken from Living Sweet Moments
Sesame chicken is ready to serve in under 5 MINUTES with this recipe! I love quick recipes, especially ones as delicious as this. This would be great for busy nights when you need dinner done fast.

Apple BBQ Ribs from Aileen Cooks
BBQ food is a popular one in our house so I am definitely eyeing this for dinner once I have an instant pot! Super simple with not much prep at all. And RIBS done in under an hour?! Yes please.

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Beef Stroganoff from Bacon is Magic
This recipe looks so mouth-watering! It’s such a classic that our family loves so an easy recipe in the instant pot like this one is definitely on our radar!

Hawaiian Chicken from Pink When
Pineapple and barbecue sauce make for an incredible combo, don’t you think? This recipe is pretty close to a dump recipe as it only includes 3 ingredients. Talk about easy!

BBQ Pork Chops from Must Have Mom
If you’re not a fan of pineapple, this is another delicious recipe to try with me. BBQ pork chops make a perfect dinner idea! Add some potatoes to the dish and you’ll be set!

Chicken and Dumplings from Southern Family Lifestyle
It’s amazing that chicken and dumplings can be made in only 20 minutes. These are made with canned biscuits so the process is very easy to do! Easy dinner that is as filling as chicken and dumplings? Sounds like a perfect evening! Sounds like a great recipe for leftovers too!

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Chicken Enchilada Casserole from Wondermom Wannabe
While this can be made in the slow cooker, it looks so easy in the instant pot! Only 5 minutes of prep and have it ready to serve in 25 minutes. No fancy cooking skills required either, so that’s always a plus!

Goulash from I Don’t Have Time for That!
I love a good goulash recipe as most do so of course I need this recipe for the instant pot! This is a great recipe when you’re constantly being asked for spaghetti too. All you have to do is brown the meat and set everything to cook. Easy!

Lemon Pepper Chicken with Broccoli & Tomatoes from Reuse Grow Enjoy
You can’t go wrong with chicken and veggies! Whip up this recipe with relative ease and get dinner done in record time. It’s even a great recipe for those on whole30 or the paleo diet.

Meatball Subs from Tips from a Typical Mom
2 ingredients makes this pretty easy! Ultimate comfort food, easy to make, and it is done quickly. Perfect for busy nights or even as a fun lunch idea when the whole family is home.

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Macaroni and Cheese from CopyKat Recipes
For those afternoons when you are dreaming of a creamy bowl of mac and cheese – this is perfect. Not to mention how crazy the kids will go for this one! Happy kids and an easy recipe is the best combo.

Salmon with Chili-Lime Sauce from Savory Tooth
If you love a bit more flavor to your dishes, this salmon recipe is heavenly. The flavor is delicious, you can use frozen fish if needed, and it’s done in only 20 minutes!

Honey Sesame Chicken from Thrifty Jinxy
The prep for this recipe is so minimal it makes this the easiest recipe on this list! Mix a few things and let the instant pot do its job. I’m sure this is perfect for those just getting used to the instant pot.

Kalua Pork from Cooking with Curls
Pork that practically falls off the bone is the best. Pack it into a sandwich in the form of an easy recipe and I’m all about it. The flavors of this recipe, the simplicity of it, and the comfort food status makes it the perfect candidate for our house!

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Mexican Rice from Ginger Casa
Start easy with this Mexican rice recipe! Go about your evening cooking the main attraction and your rice will cook on the sidelines. What a great way to learn how to use your instant pot!

Shredded Mexican Chicken from Rebooted Mom
Mexican chicken would pair great with Spanish rice, don’t you think? This would be great in a burrito, in a bowl with some other ingredients, or even in a sandwich. You could really stretch this recipe for a variety of uses.

Buffalo Chicken Tacos from Kalyn’s Kitchen
These sure look like they have some kick but it sure looks flavorful! Perfect for those Taco Tuesdays that you need to mix up a bit. Leftovers of these would be pretty tasty too!

Taco Pie from By Pink
We love tacos but have so many of them that sometimes I need to get creative. This recipe looks not only simple, but so tasty! There’s quite a bit of prep but I don’t mind as long as it’s both easy and worth my time. That certainly seems to be the case here!

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20 Easy Instant Pot Recipes for Beginners (2024)

FAQs

What is the best first thing to cook in an Instant Pot? ›

Dried beans, stock, and rice are all great places to start since they only use the pressure setting, while the other recipes in this list are easy enough for beginners and will open your eyes to the possibilities of the Instant Pot.

What foods should not be cooked in an Instant Pot? ›

In fact, there are a handful of foods that just shouldn't be pressure-cooked. Among them are dairy and fried foods, as well as burgers and steaks.

What do you cook in a pressure cooker for beginners? ›

Rice: An electric pressure cooker is great for cooking rice, as it ensures the rice is cooked evenly and quickly. Beans: Dried beans can take hours to cook on the stovetop, but an electric pressure cooker can cook them in a fraction of the time. Yogurt: Yes, you can even make yogurt in an electric pressure cooker!

What size Instant Pot for a family of 2? ›

Benefits of a 3-quart Instant Pot: Last but not least, the 3-quart Instant Pot (a.k.a. the Mini), is a top pick when cooking for one or two people or if you have an especially small kitchen. Every model is available in the 6-quart size, but not all models are available in the 3- and 8-quart sizes.

Is Instapot worth it? ›

Yes, the Instant Pot is widely considered an effective and versatile pressure cooker. Many users find it worth the price due to its convenience, time-saving features, and ability to perform various cooking functions in one appliance.

Why potatoes should not be cooked in 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 is the best meat to cook in a pressure cooker? ›

You can still pressure cook leaner pieces – like eye of round and top sirloin – but these work best if they've been stuffed, shredded or rolled (with other ingredients). Best cuts of beef to use: Chuck steak, Round Roast, Shoulder, Pot roast, Ribs, Brisket, Oxtail.

What is the most common use of a pressure cooker? ›

Pressure cookers are designed to make short work of slow cook dishes. They're economical both in the amount of power they use and are also ideal for tenderising cheaper cuts of meat.

What cooks better in a pressure cooker? ›

While they are invaluable when it comes to braising, stewing and transforming tough cuts of meat, and cooking ingredients like dried pulses from scratch, pressure cookers are less successful with delicate foods like fish or green veg, as they use such a high heat.

What foods are best processed in a pressure cooker? ›

Most vegetables, soups, stews, and meat sauces are low-acid. Unless a lot of an acidic ingredient (such as vinegar) is added, low-acid foods must be processed in the higher heat of a pressure canner.

Are instant pots still popular? ›

As NPR reported, sales of “electronic multicooker devices” (a large chunk of which are Instant Pots) hit $758 million in 2020. But those numbers weren't tenable. Sales in the category dropped by half by 2022, and in the first quarter of 2023, Instant Brands' sales dropped 22 percent compared to last year.

What do I need to know before using a pressure cooker? ›

Pressure Cooker Safety Tips
  • Before Cooking, Check Your Equipment. Always check the rubber gasket (the ring of rubber that lines the lid of the cooker) to make sure it isn't dried out or cracked. ...
  • Don't Overfill the Cooker. ...
  • Use Enough Liquid. ...
  • Don't Pressure Fry. ...
  • Release Pressure in a Safe Way. ...
  • Clean the Cooker Properly.
Aug 7, 2019

Can you cook everything in a pressure cooker? ›

You can cook most food in a pressure cooker. However, most people use it to cook food that takes a long time to cook with conventional methods.

Do you need liquid to cook in pressure cooker? ›

Pressure cookers require liquid, usually water, to generate steam. “Jiggle top” cookers need a minimum of one cup of water, while valve cookers need at least half a cup. Put food in the cooker first, then add water.

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