If you’re just getting started with an Instant Pot, finding easy recipes can make all the difference. These 29 simple recipes are quick, tasty, and don’t require complicated steps or lots of ingredients. The Instant Pot can handle meals from soups to main dishes and sides with minimal effort. This collection is full of options that are satisfying, flavorful, and easy to make anytime.
Broccoli Cheddar Soup. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.
Pulled Pork
Turn pork into tender, shreddable meat without spending hours in the kitchen or needing extra tools. The Instant Pot locks in all the flavor while cooking the pork quickly, so it stays juicy and rich. This recipe shows how the pressure cooker can make versatile, ready-to-use meat perfect for tacos, sliders, or bowls.
Get the Recipe: Pulled Pork
Risotto with Peas and Lemon
Make creamy risotto without standing over the stove or worrying about texture. The Instant Pot cooks the rice evenly while keeping peas tender and the lemon bright for a balanced dish. This recipe proves the pressure cooker can handle dishes that normally take forever while keeping them simple.
Get the Recipe: Risotto with Peas and Lemon
Chicken Paprikash
Add smoky, peppery flavor to chicken without extra steps or constant stirring. The Instant Pot cooks the meat while thickening the sauce into a rich base in minutes. This recipe shows how the pressure cooker can make a comforting, hearty meal fast.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Paprikash
French Onion Soup
Create rich, deeply flavored French onion soup without long simmering or constant attention. The Instant Pot caramelizes the onions and blends the broth into a smooth, savory base quickly. This recipe highlights how the pressure cooker can make an impressive dish without extra effort.
Get the Recipe: French Onion Soup
Beer Cheese Soup
Make creamy, cheesy soup with a hint of beer without standing over the stove. The Instant Pot melts the cheese and combines the flavors evenly for smooth, rich results. This recipe shows how easy it is to make a comforting, full-flavored meal in minutes.
Get the Recipe: Beer Cheese Soup
Tomato Lime Chicken
Give chicken a bright, tangy flavor with tomato and lime without spending too much time cooking. The Instant Pot cooks the meat evenly while blending the sauce for juicy, flavorful bites. This recipe shows how simple it is to make a fresh, satisfying meal in one pot.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Lime Chicken
Chicken Tikka Masala
Make creamy, spiced chicken with bold flavor without a long, complicated recipe. The Instant Pot keeps the meat tender while blending the sauce perfectly in minutes. This recipe proves the pressure cooker can create restaurant-style flavor without the extra work.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tikka Masala
Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Make cheesy, creamy soup with tender broccoli in every spoonful without juggling multiple pots. The Instant Pot softens the vegetables and melts the cheese evenly for smooth results. This recipe shows how quick it is to get a warm, comforting meal with minimal effort.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Cinnamon Apples
Turn fresh apples into a soft, sweet treat without extra pots or hands-on time. The Instant Pot softens the fruit evenly and brings out its natural flavor in minutes. This recipe shows how the pressure cooker can make a fast, homemade dessert anyone can enjoy.
Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Apples
Lentil Soup
Make a thick, hearty lentil soup full of flavor without extra prep or long cooking times. The Instant Pot cooks the lentils evenly while blending spices into a rich, satisfying mix. This recipe shows how pantry ingredients can become a filling, flavorful meal in very little time.
Get the Recipe: Lentil Soup
Meatballs and Sauce
Roll tender meatballs and let them cook in a flavorful sauce without juggling multiple pans. The Instant Pot keeps everything together while letting the flavors mix perfectly. This shows how easy it is to make a hearty, home-style meal without extra cleanup.
Get the Recipe: Meatballs and Sauce
Lemon Garlic Chicken
Get juicy chicken infused with garlic and a fresh lemon punch without long cooking times. The Instant Pot locks in moisture while blending the flavors evenly for a bright, flavorful result. It’s a simple way to make a meal that tastes carefully prepared with very little effort.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Garlic Chicken
Potato Corn Chowder
Spoon up a thick, creamy chowder filled with tender potatoes and sweet corn without standing over the stove. The Instant Pot blends the flavors quickly and cooks everything evenly for a rich, satisfying texture. This proves a cozy, full-flavored soup can be ready fast and easy in one pot.
Get the Recipe: Potato Corn Chowder
Chicken Curry
Make a warm, spiced chicken curry without long prep or complex steps. The Instant Pot blends the spices and cooks the meat perfectly while keeping it tender and juicy. This recipe shows how simple it is to get bold, flavorful results in less time than expected.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Curry
Baked Potato Soup
Cook a creamy potato soup loaded with soft potato chunks and flavor without juggling multiple pots. The Instant Pot softens the potatoes and blends everything smoothly for a thick, comforting texture. It’s a clear example of how the pressure cooker can make comfort food simple and satisfying.
Get the Recipe: Baked Potato Soup
Shredded BBQ Chicken
Make juicy BBQ chicken without firing up the grill or standing over the stove. The Instant Pot locks in moisture while soaking the meat in sauce, so it’s ready for sandwiches, bowls, or wraps. This shows how fast it is to get rich, slow-cooked flavor with minimal effort.
Get the Recipe: Shredded BBQ Chicken
Chicken and Rice Soup
Keep it simple with a comforting chicken and rice soup ready in minutes. The Instant Pot cooks the chicken and rice together without turning anything mushy while keeping the broth rich. It demonstrates how easy it is to make a homemade-feeling meal without extra work.
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Rice Soup
Tomato Soup
Pour a bowl of smooth, creamy tomato soup without multiple pots or extra stirring. The Instant Pot blends the tomatoes evenly and brings the flavors together quickly. This proves that a simple, classic soup can taste fresh and homemade without a long process.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Soup
Mashed Potatoes
Get smooth, fluffy mashed potatoes without boiling water or juggling several pots. The Instant Pot cooks the potatoes evenly and makes mashing easy while keeping the texture perfect. This shows how even a simple side can become a standout dish with very little effort.
Get the Recipe: Mashed Potatoes
Chicken Noodle Soup
Keep it classic with chicken and noodles cooked perfectly without extra effort. The Instant Pot makes sure the broth stays flavorful while the chicken and noodles are tender but not overcooked. It’s a clear example of how comforting meals can come together fast and fuss-free.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken Stock
Use leftover bones and vegetables to make a rich, flavorful stock without standing over the stove for hours. The pressure cooker extracts deep flavor in minutes while keeping everything simple and hands-off. This shows how an Instant Pot can turn scraps into a useful, flavor-packed base that makes other meals taste better.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Stock
Honey Bourbon Chicken
Combine sweet bourbon with savory spices to make chicken that’s juicy and full of flavor without extra steps. The sauce thickens naturally while the chicken cooks evenly, so every bite is balanced and rich. This recipe proves it’s easy to get a restaurant-style dish ready fast with the Instant Pot.
Get the Recipe: Honey Bourbon Chicken
Tomato Basil Bisque
Create a smooth, creamy bisque bursting with tomato and basil flavor without juggling multiple pots. The flavors meld together quickly while keeping the texture silky and satisfying. This shows how an Instant Pot can turn simple ingredients into a soup that tastes like it simmered all day.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Basil Bisque
Chickpea Tomato Soup
Make a hearty, filling soup with chickpeas and tomatoes without extra stirring or constant checking. The flavors blend while everything cooks evenly, creating a rich and satisfying meal. This recipe demonstrates how the Instant Pot can make a quick, meatless dish that feels like it took hours to make.
Get the Recipe: Chickpea Tomato Soup
Carnitas
Get tender, shreddable pork packed with flavor without spending hours in the kitchen. The meat cooks fast but stays juicy and ready for tacos, bowls, or sandwiches. This shows how an Instant Pot can deliver slow-cooked taste in a fraction of the usual time.
Get the Recipe: Carnitas
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Combine chicken, beans, and spices into a bold, flavorful soup without standing over the stove. The ingredients cook together quickly while keeping the texture and taste balanced. This recipe proves it’s simple to make a hearty, filling soup that feels home-cooked with minimal effort.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tortilla Soup
Chicken Shawarma
Make savory, juicy chicken with warm spices without a long prep or complicated steps. The meat stays tender while soaking in its seasoning, making it perfect for wraps, bowls, or rice plates. This is a quick way to get restaurant-style flavor straight from the Instant Pot.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Shawarma
Instant Pot Chicken Adobo
Cook a sweet and savory Filipino chicken dish without marinating or extra tools. The meat stays moist and full of flavor, and the sauce comes together naturally while cooking. This shows how an Instant Pot can make a bold, new dish easy and approachable.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Adobo
Instant Pot Roast Beef and Gravy
Slice into tender roast beef coated in rich, savory gravy without a long cooking process. The meat stays juicy while the flavors deepen in the sauce, all without extra effort. This demonstrates how the Instant Pot can make a comforting, classic meal ready in less time than usual.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Roast Beef and Gravy