Cooking with an Instant Pot can feel tricky at first, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re new to cooking or just new to the Instant Pot, these 25 simple recipes will help you get comfortable in the kitchen. With easy-to-follow steps, you’ll be making tasty meals without the fuss. These are perfect for busy days or when you just want something quick.
Tomato Basil Bisque. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.
Chicken Paprikash
This flavorful chicken dish becomes a breeze with the Instant Pot, delivering rich, smoky flavors without the hassle. Paprika adds depth, while the pressure cooker creates tender, juicy chicken in much less time. Beginners will love how this recipe shows you can make hearty, home-cooked meals with minimal effort.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Paprikash
Chicken Curry
Chicken Curry is a great beginner-friendly Instant Pot recipe that’s packed with warm, aromatic spices. The pressure cooker simplifies the process, turning a traditionally complex dish into an easy weeknight dinner. New cooks will appreciate how quickly it comes together without sacrificing bold flavor.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Curry
Tomato Soup
This simple tomato soup is perfect for beginners looking for a quick, comforting meal. The Instant Pot takes basic ingredients like tomatoes and broth and turns them into a flavorful, creamy dish in no time. It’s a great way to see how pressure cooking makes even classic recipes easier and faster to prepare.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Soup
Pulled Pork
Pulled pork is a classic that’s made even simpler with the Instant Pot. The pressure cooker gives you tender, juicy pork in a fraction of the time, making it perfect for busy weeknights. This is a delicious, easy-to-make recipe that beginners will find both satisfying and hassle-free.
Get the Recipe: Pulled Pork
Shredded BBQ Chicken
Shredded BBQ chicken is a beginner-friendly recipe that’s quick, easy, and full of flavor. The Instant Pot locks in the BBQ sauce, making the chicken tender and juicy in no time. This recipe is perfect for those looking to make a crowd-pleasing dish without spending all day in the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Shredded BBQ Chicken
Tomato Basil Bisque
This creamy tomato basil bisque comes together fast in the Instant Pot, tasting like it’s been slow-cooked for hours. It’s a great way to see how easy it is to make rich, satisfying meals with just a few basic ingredients. Beginners will appreciate how quickly this classic recipe turns into a comforting dish.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Basil Bisque
Honey Bourbon Chicken
Honey Bourbon Chicken is a sweet and savory dish that comes together effortlessly in the Instant Pot. The pressure cooker reduces cooking time while keeping the flavors bold and the chicken tender. This recipe is perfect for beginners who want a flavorful dish without putting in a lot of effort.
Get the Recipe: Honey Bourbon Chicken
Potato Corn Chowder
This creamy potato corn chowder is hearty and filling, perfect for a quick meal. The Instant Pot does most of the work, turning basic ingredients into a flavorful, comforting dish in less time. Beginners will appreciate how easy it is to create something so delicious without spending hours in the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Potato Corn Chowder
French Onion Soup
French onion soup is a classic that usually takes hours, but the Instant Pot cuts down the cooking time while keeping all the rich, savory flavors. Caramelized onions and beef broth come together quickly, making this a great recipe for new cooks. Beginners can enjoy a complex-tasting dish with very little effort.
Get the Recipe: French Onion Soup
Creamy Chickpea Tomato Soup
This creamy chickpea and tomato soup is a perfect introduction to the Instant Pot, showing how easily pantry staples can turn into a hearty meal. The pressure cooker blends the ingredients together in no time, creating a flavorful dish that feels like it took hours. It’s a great beginner recipe for those looking to make something quick and satisfying.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Chickpea Tomato Soup
Cinnamon Apples
Cinnamon apples are a simple, sweet treat made even easier with the Instant Pot. The pressure cooker tenderizes the apples while infusing them with warm cinnamon flavor, making it a perfect dessert or breakfast topping. Beginners will find this recipe quick, easy, and perfect for satisfying a sweet tooth with little effort.
Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Apples
Beer Cheese Soup
This beer cheese soup is creamy and packed with flavor, and the Instant Pot makes it come together fast. The pressure cooker melts the cheese perfectly, blending it with beer and other ingredients for a rich, satisfying soup. It’s an ideal recipe for beginners looking to create a comforting meal without much fuss.
Get the Recipe: Beer Cheese Soup
Chicken Tikka Masala
Chicken Tikka Masala may seem complicated, but the Instant Pot makes this flavorful dish surprisingly easy. The pressure cooker blends the spices and tenderizes the chicken in a fraction of the usual time. It’s a great recipe for beginners who want to experience bold, restaurant-style flavors without the extra work.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tikka Masala
Chicken and Rice Soup
Chicken and Rice Soup is a comforting, hearty meal that’s easy to prepare with the Instant Pot. The pressure cooker cooks the chicken and rice together, cutting down on time while keeping all the flavors intact. Beginners will love how this recipe combines ease and comfort into one simple dish.
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Rice Soup
Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Broccoli cheddar soup is rich, cheesy, and perfect for a quick meal. The Instant Pot helps melt the cheese and cook the broccoli in minutes, delivering a comforting dish with minimal effort. This is a great choice for beginners who want a simple, flavorful recipe that comes together without any hassle.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Chicken tortilla soup is a filling, flavorful dish that’s made easily with the Instant Pot. The pressure cooker blends chicken, beans, and spices into a quick, satisfying meal that’s perfect for beginners. This recipe proves you can make a delicious dinner with very little work and time.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tortilla Soup
Tomato Lime Chicken
Tomato lime chicken is a simple, flavorful dish that’s perfect for new Instant Pot users. The pressure cooker brings out the citrusy, savory flavors of the chicken, making it tender and juicy in less time. This is a great beginner recipe for those looking to create a bright, flavorful meal without much effort.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Lime Chicken
Instant Pot Baked Potato Soup
Baked potato soup is a comforting dish that’s even easier to make with the Instant Pot. The pressure cooker helps turn simple ingredients like potatoes, bacon, and cheese into a rich, hearty meal in no time. Beginners will love how fast and easy this classic recipe is to prepare without sacrificing flavor.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Baked Potato Soup
Meatballs and Sauce
Making meatballs from scratch becomes easy with the Instant Pot, which locks in flavor and tenderness. This recipe turns a time-consuming process into a quick, satisfying meal, perfect for busy nights. Beginners will appreciate how effortlessly the pressure cooker creates homemade meatballs without a lot of work.
Get the Recipe: Meatballs and Sauce
Instant Pot Lentil Soup
Lentil soup is both healthy and satisfying, and the Instant Pot makes it even easier to prepare. The pressure cooker softens the lentils quickly, blending them with spices for a rich, hearty soup. This recipe is perfect for beginners who want a quick, flavorful meal that requires little prep work.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Lentil Soup
Instant Pot Chicken Stock
Homemade chicken stock is simple and fast when made in the Instant Pot, cutting down the usual hours-long process to just a fraction of the time. The pressure cooker extracts deep, rich flavors from the chicken bones, giving you a flavorful broth with minimal effort. Beginners will love how this recipe shows that making your own stock doesn’t have to be difficult.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Stock
Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are light, fluffy, and quick to make with the Instant Pot. The pressure cooker takes the guesswork out of getting smooth, creamy potatoes every time. This beginner-friendly recipe is perfect for anyone looking to make a classic side dish with minimal effort and great results.
Get the Recipe: Mashed Potatoes
Carnitas
Carnitas are tender, juicy, and full of flavor, and the Instant Pot makes them easier to prepare than ever. The pressure cooker cuts down the usual hours of cooking, giving you delicious, restaurant-quality carnitas in much less time. This is a perfect recipe for beginners looking to make a flavorful meal with minimal hassle.
Get the Recipe: Carnitas
Risotto with Peas and Lemon
Risotto can be time-consuming, but the Instant Pot takes the hard work out of it, turning this creamy dish into a quick, simple meal. The pressure cooker cooks the rice to perfection without the need for constant stirring, making it ideal for new cooks. Beginners will appreciate how easy it is to create a restaurant-quality dish at home.
Get the Recipe: Risotto with Peas and Lemon
Lemon Garlic Chicken
Lemon garlic chicken is a simple yet flavorful dish that’s made easily with the Instant Pot. The pressure cooker brings out the bright citrus and savory garlic flavors while keeping the chicken juicy and tender. This beginner-friendly recipe is a great way to make a balanced, delicious meal with very little effort.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Garlic Chicken