Our 25 Best Instant Pot Recipes

Here is a collection of our 25 Best Instant Pot Recipes (Easy Pressure Cooker Recipes) from around the globe! These “reader favorites” are fast, healthy, and full of flavor! The best thing about these Instant Pot recipes is they can be made in one pot, with little fuss and even less clean-up!  Authentic global flavors will delight the palate! 

Whether you are looking for Vegetarian or Vegan Instant Pot Recipes, or Instant pot recipes made with chicken, beef or lamb, we’ve got you covered! But first, you may be wondering…

What is an Instant Pot?

In a nutshell, an Instant Pot is a “modernized” electric pressure cooker. They work by creating high heat under a very tight seal which creates pressure, helping food cook much more quickly than on the stove or in the oven. They work particularly well with longer cooking items like beans, legumes, rice and tough cuts of meat.

For busy households, using an Instant Pot (or pressure cooker) to make weeknights dinner a little simpler, can be a total lifesaver. Not only do they make cooking FAST AND EASY, but clean up is soooooo much easier too!

With the use of fragrant spices and herbs from around the globe, dinner need not ever be bland or boring. And keep in mind, leftovers often taste better the next day, allowing flavors to meld – perfect for easy delicious lunches! For more, here is our whole list of Instant Pot Recipe Index!

The difference between a pressure cooker and an Instant Pot is that the Instant pot is electric and is self-contained, whereas a pressure cooker is manually heated on the stovetop.

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VEGETARIAN INSTANT POT RECIPES!

Here are a few of our plant-based Instant Pot Recipes and Easy Pressure Cooker Meals. Many are vegan-adaptable!

Cozy up with a comforting bowl of Butternut Risotto with Leeks and Spinach made with very little fuss, in your Instant Pot pressure cooker. Vegan-adaptable and Gluten-free.

Instant Pot Wild Rice Soup with mushrooms and spinach– a healthy vegetarian soup recipe that is easy, fast and vegan adaptable!

A simple vegan recipe for Cuban Black Bean Soup that can be made in an Instant Pot with Dry Beans! Vegan and delicious!

Instant Pot Mushroom Stroganoff-  a Russian-inspired, instant pot dinner recipe that is so easy, yet hearty and full of delicious depth and flavor!  Vegan Adaptable! One of my favorites!

 Simple Borscht Recipe – an incredible vegetarian recipe for Russian-style Borscht- a healthy, vegan adaptable, beet and cabbage soup that can be made in an Instant Pot or on the stovetop. Warming and nourishing, Borscht is full of flavor and nutrients!

Instant Pot Coconut Lentil Curry can also be made on the stovetop. Infused with fragrant Indian spices, this Instant Pot recipe is not only delicious, it is vegan and gluten-free! Topped with toasted turmeric coconut!

Smoky Tomato White Bean Soup that can be made in your Instant Pot or on the stovetop using dry beans. Smoked paprika and optional Harissa paste give it a delicious flavor that will have you coming back for seconds.  Low in calories, high in fiber, this soup is vegan and gluten-free.

 Instant Pot Mujadra  – a comforting and healthy Instant Pot recipe that is made with lentils and rice, and fragrant Moroccan spices, served with caramelized shallots, fresh veggies, pine nuts and optional yogurt. Gluten-free and Vegan adaptable. Think of this as Moroccan comfort food!

 

This Instant Pot recipe for  Moroccan Red Lentil Quinoa Soup is made with very simple pantry ingredients you probably have on hand, plus it’s easy to make and full of really delicious flavor! Make this in an Instant Pot or stovetop. Great for weekday lunches too!

This authentic Chana Masala Recipe can be made in an Instant pot or on the stovetop. A quick and easy Vegetarian dinner recipe that is full of amazing Indian flavor! #chanamasala #chana #vegetariandinner

Vegan White Bean Chili with Jackfruit that can be made in an Instant Pot or on the stovetop. Vegan and gluten-free, this fast and easy instant pot dinner recipe can be made in 30 minutes!

 Instant Pot Minestrone Soup – a Tuscan-style recipe that can be made ahead and portioned out for midweek meals. Loaded up with healthy veggies, 2 kinds of beans and pasta, this version is vegan and gluten-free adaptable. But it’s the fennel bulb that makes this Minestrone Soup special – giving it a unique and delicious complexity, really elevating it!

Instant Pot Pinto Bean Stew using dry beans with corn, yams, and poblanos. A vegan-adaptable soup that only takes 15 minutes of hands-on time.

 Instant Pot Polenta – a simple Italian recipe and delicious base or side dish, perfect for oven-roasted veggies,  sautéed mushrooms, Ratatouille, smoked mushrooms, or braised meats like short ribs or lamb shanks.

Make-Life Simple, Instant Pot Lentil Soup- w/ healthy veggies and Middle Eastern spices – vegan and gluten-free, this soup cooks in just 12 minutes!

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Chicken Instant Pot Recipes

 Instant Pot Mexican Chicken Tortilla Soup –  probably our reader’s favorite Instant Pot Recipe on the blog with just 25 minutes of pressure cooking and dinner is done! Simple and flavorful, this healthy dinner full of veggies and flavor and will make your tastes buds so happy! Garnish with avocado, lime and cilantro! Yum. Keto-friendly.

 

 Instant Pot Arroz con Pollo – made in a fraction of the time! This Spanish version is infused with saffron and smoked paprika and full of amazing flavor! A simple delicious Instant Pot recipe!

 

Authentic Tom Kha Gai Soup (Thai Coconut Chicken Soup) – a healthy, delicious and easy dinner recipe that can be made in an Instant Pot or on the stovetop. Vegan Adaptable! One of my favorites!

Chicken Carnitas– Make it in the Instant Pot,  stovetop, or in the oven with only 15 minutes of hands-on time. Make-ahead on Sunday then turn this into tacos, quesadillas, burrito bowls or nachos during the workweek!

This French-inspired Instant Pot Chicken Artichoke Soup with Wild Rice – a light, healthy and brothy soup with vegetables, wild rice and artichoke hearts with only 15 minutes of hands-on time! A quick and easy Instant Pot dinner recipe!

 

Hearty flavorful, Instant Pot Mexican Chicken Pozole – made with dried Mexican chiles and hominy. A healthy, delicious, Mexican-inspired weeknight dinner that can be made in 30 minutes! Gluten-free!

 Instant Pot Indian Tikka Masala, made with your choice chicken or chickpeas and veggies. Serve over basmati rice, or, for a low-carb, paleo version, serve it over a bowl of baby spinach!

 

 Instant Pot Thai Curry Chicken –that can also be made on the stovetop! This flavorful pressure cooker meal is full of healthy seasonal veggies and can be made in 25 minutes!  Serve it over rice, quinoa or rice noodles – and save the amazing leftovers for lunch!

 

 

A simple easy recipe for Shredded chicken that can be made in an Instant pot or on the stovetop. Use breasts or thighs, great for meal prep!

 

 Instant Pot Peanut Chicken  (that can also be made on the stovetop). This delicious recipe hails from Bali, and is perfect for the busy work week! Leftovers make tasty lunches! It is intentionally extra saucy for the rice and veggies you serve with it.

Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken can be made in under 30 minutes! Cube it for rice bowls, or shred it for Asian tacos. An easy, healthy and versatile recipe!

Instant Pot Chicken, White Bean & Rosemary Soup – a healthy, delicious French-style, “country” stew that is simple, easy and flavorful. Lean and clean, it’s low in fat and calories while keeping you energized and satisfied all day long. One of my husband’s favorites!

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Beef and Lamb Instant Pot Recipes

An authentic recipe for Instant Pot Birria, a flavorful Mexican Stew made with beef or lamb that can be made in an Instant Pot, Dutch Oven or Slow Cooker. Serve this in a big bowl with flavorful toppings or make Birria Tacos – the best!

 

Get warm and cozy with this Instant Pot Beef Stew with Root Veggies- a hearty, comforting one-pot meal made in the pressure cooker, that is keto-friendly, easy to make and full of depth and flavor.

 

 

This Instant Pot Middle Eastern Lamb Stew is one of the TOP lamb recipes on the blog. It always turns out. 😉 Made with chickpeas and fragrant spices- it is a flavorful wholesome meal. Serve over quinoa, basmati rice or cauliflower “rice”.  One of my favorite pressure cooker recipes on the blog- super tasty and easy. (Can be made with beef as well.)

 

 Instant Pot Chili with Dry Beans. A simple easy recipe that can be made with no fuss in an Instant Pot. Super flavorful!

Seafood Instant Pot Recipes

 Instant Pot Jambalaya! Delicious and easy, this flavorful jambalaya recipe can be made in an Instant Pot or on the Stove Top. You will love the depth of flavor here….super tasty!

What are the BEST things to cook in an instant pot?

1. beans and legumes
2. meaty stews
3. brothy soups
4. chicken
5. lamb
6. beef or tough cuts of meat
7. mashed potatoes
8. side dishes
9. pot roast
10. longer cooking veggies: beets, butternut squash, artichokes, etc.
11. rice dishes
12. curries
13. potato soup
14. chili!

What is the point of an Instant Pot?

• The speed in which the Instant Pot can cook dry beans and tougher cuts of meat is much faster than traditional cooking methods.
• The handy “saute” function allows you to brown the onions/garlic before throwing everything else in the pot – creating a more flavorful dish.
• The slow cooker and steam function.
• Easy cleanup. It’s just one stainless pot that needs cleaning. Fast and Easy.

Hope you enjoy a few of these Instant Pot Recipes this week! Let me know your favorites below! xoxo

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