50 Easy Instant Pot Recipes to Make the Most Out of Your Appliance
It's a true one-pot wonder for weeknight dinners!
Small appliances are great supplements to any kitchen. Switch them on when you don’t want to heat up the whole oven or when you have a specific task that’s just easier with an appliance, like cooking rice in a rice cooker. While air fryers and toaster ovens are key for crispy food without excess oil, there’s nothing that beats the speed and versatility of a pressure cooker. Instant Pot recipes can be faster than their oven-cooked counterparts — pork shoulder can shred in 35 minutes, soups don’t need to simmer for hours, and grains can be whipped up in a flash for a speedy side dish. Short ribs taste like they’ve been on the stovetop all day, carnitas turn out restaurant-worthy and dried lentils or beans can be cooked quickly from scratch, no soaking required.
The multi-cooker can also make more than just savory meals. It can churn out yogurt, quick breads, brownies and more. The pros in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliance and Innovation Lab tested over 50 different multi-cookers to find the best Instant Pots you can buy. Better yet, these winning appliances can also steam, sauté, make rice and more (some can even air-fry!). The versatile tool can also replace your slow cooker, so we included a few slow-cook recipes on this list too.
Still have questions? Learn what an Instant Pot is, how to clean your pressure cooker and get more reviews on the best multi-cookers out there.
Instant Pot Risotto
Make enough risotto for the whole family with our minimal-stir method made entirely in your multi-cooker.
Get the Instant Pot Risotto recipe.
RELATED: 75 Easy Family Dinner Ideas for Any Day of the Week
Instant Pot Marinated Beets
Sweet, tangy marinated beets make a nutritious side dish — and they're done in a fraction of the time compared to cooking them in the oven.
Get the Marinated Beets recipe.
Instant Pot Pulled Pork Nachos
Game day just got so much easier: Prep all your toppings while the pork cooks so everything's ready by kickoff.
Get the Instant Pot Pulled Pork Nachos recipe.
RELATED: 37 Easy Game Day Foods for the Ultimate Football Party This Season
Instant Pot Beef Curry
Thai red curry paste brings powerhouse flavor without the need for a ton of additional ingredients.
Get the Instant Pot Beef Curry recipe.
Instant Pot Hoppin' John
Make a savory ham hock broth and creamy black-eyed peas in your Instant Pot for a New Year's Day (or anytime!) feast in half the time.
Get the Instant Pot Hoppin' John recipe.
RELATED: 50 Best New Year’s Eve Dinner Recipes to Welcome in 2024
Instant Pot Pork Ragu
Instead of roasting for hours in the oven, pork shoulder cooks in the Instant Pot for just 35 minutes (yes, you read that right).
Get the Instant Pot Pork Ragu recipe.
Instant Pot Short Ribs With Creamy Polenta
Need an effortless holiday dinner idea? Look no further than these tender braised short ribs.
Instant Pot Risotto With Parmesan
Customize your toppings on this creamy no-stir dish — we recommend a fried egg and pesto, baby spinach and scallions or lemon, peas, basil and pea shoots.
Instant Pot Chicken Soup
Cozy, soothing chicken soup, homemade in 30 minutes? This should be on the menu all winter long!
Get the Instant Pot Chicken Soup recipe.
Instant Pot Pho With Chicken
Shave hours off of this homemade broth with your Instant Pot for a flavor-packed Vietnamese-inspired soup.
Get the Instant Pot Pho With Chicken recipe.
Instant Pot Carnitas Tacos
Prep the ingredients the night before, then brown the meat and toss it all in the Instant Pot in the morning. Best tacos ever.
Get the Instant Pot Carnitas Tacos recipe.
Instant Pot Beef and Barley Stew
Butternut squash adds a subtle sweetness to this crowd-pleasing winter comfort food.
Get the Instant Pot Beef and Barley Stew recipe.
RELATED: 32 Easy Butternut Squash Recipes Perfect for Cozy Fall Dinners
Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
Pro tip: An immersion blender will get your squash super smooth and creamy. Serve with crusty bread to savor every last drop!
Slow Cooker Vegan Black Bean Soup
Slow and steady wins the race — at least when it comes to this protein-packed soup.
Get the Slow Cooker Vegan Black Bean Soup recipe.
RELATED: 85 Best Vegan Recipes for Lunch, Dinner and Beyond
Instant Pot Spicy Sesame Rice Bowls
Serve Korean BBQ-inspired cuisine in the comfort of your own home with this sweet and spicy rice bowl.
Get the Spicy Sesame Rice Bowls recipe.
RELATED: 20 Rice Bowl Recipes That Make Any Weeknight Meal a Breeze
Instant Pot Chicken With Walnut-Herb Sauce
Who needs a store-bought rotisserie chicken anyway?! Just pop a whole chicken in the pressure cooker and flavor it with a puréed herb sauce.
Get the Instant Pot Chicken with Walnut-Herb Sauce recipe.
RELATED: 60 Best Chicken Breast Recipes for a Winning Dinner Every Night
Instant Pot Tuscan Ragu Pasta
Finally, a pasta dish made for meat lovers! And yes, this sausage and pork sauce can totally be cooked on a weeknight.
Get the Instant Pot Tuscan Ragu Pasta recipe.
Instant Pot Vegetarian Chipotle Lentil Chili
This vegetarian-friendly chili is a hearty meal that can be enjoyed year-round. We love to dive in with plenty of tortilla chips.
Get the Instant Pot Vegetarian Chipotle Lentil Chili recipe.
RELATED: 55 Healthy Vegetarian Recipes You’ll Absolutely Love
Slow-Cooker Teriyaki Ribs
Get your napkins ready! Fill up on these sweet and tender teriyaki ribs before diving into the colorful side slaw.
Get the Slow-Cooker Teriyaki Ribs recipe.
Instant Pot Pork Lettuce Wraps
Ditch tortillas and try fresh lettuce wraps instead. But let's be real: The Sriracha-soy glazed pork is the real showstopper.
Samantha (she/her) is an Assistant Editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, where she writes about tasty recipes, must-try food products and top-tested secrets for home cooking success. She has taste-tasted hundreds of products and recipes since joining GH in 2020 (tough job!). A graduate of Fordham University, she considers the kitchen to be her happiest place.
Watch Next
How to Make the Most of Your Farmers' Market Haul
40 Amazing Fall Soup Recipes to Try Now
60 Healthy Side Dishes for Any Occasion
Dinner Ideas Your Kids Will Love
