66 Best Instant Pot Recipes, From Soups To Mains To Dessert (Yes, Really!) (2024)

Spoiler alert: It can even make cheesecake.

By Mackenzie Filson
66 Best Instant Pot Recipes, From Soups To Mains To Dessert (Yes, Really!) (1)

We LOVE our small appliances here at Delish—we admit to cooking more than our fair share of meals in our air fryers, slow cookers, toaster ovens, and more. One of our favorites? Gotta be the Instant Pot. If you've been flirting with getting one of your own but have yet to take the plunge, consider this your sign. After you check out these 66 recipes for the easy-to-use multi-cooker, you'll be wanting your own in a, well, instant. We're not just talking how easy it makes dinnertime, either. We break out the Instant Pot for help with every course, from the first dip into some Instant Pot street corn queso to the last slice of Instant Pot Oreo cheesecake. We won't be surprised if you find you can cook all your meals all week long in an Instant Pot!

If you're not sure what Instant Pot is right for you, we tested all the best Instant Pots that are well worth the counter space. In general, Instant Pots do so much more than just pressure cooking and can be used as a rice cooker, slow cooker, steamer yogurt maker, sauté pan, and a meal warmer.

Aside from the tech specs, Instant Pots magically make meals that taste like they simmered all day, like our Instant Pot corned beef or our Instant Pot pot roast, but actually took a fraction of the time. And what's dinner without something sweet at the end? Yup, the Instant Pot can even make dessert, and our Instant Pot banana bread, our Instant Pot brownies, and our Instant Pot cheesecake are proof.

Want to save even more time (right now, and in your kitchen)? Check out our favorite Instant Pot appetizers, our best Instant Pot chicken recipes, and our top healthy Instant Pot recipes too.

1

Instant Pot Chicken & Rice

66 Best Instant Pot Recipes, From Soups To Mains To Dessert (Yes, Really!) (3)

If there's one thing we find magical about Instant Pots, it's how quickly and perfectly they cook chicken and rice. The rice is the perfect texture and the chicken is insanely tender. This is 100% the meal we cook in the Instant Pot the most often.

Get the Instant Pot Chicken and Rice recipe.

2

Instant Pot Potato Soup

66 Best Instant Pot Recipes, From Soups To Mains To Dessert (Yes, Really!) (4)

This potato soup is what an Instant Pot was made for—no need to boil potatoes for a long time or stand over a stove. Throwing everything in the Instant Pot will give you a delicious soup in about 40 minutes flat. 😍

Get the Instant Pot Potato Soup recipe.

3

Instant Pot Pork Puttanesca

66 Best Instant Pot Recipes, From Soups To Mains To Dessert (Yes, Really!) (5)

For this dish, we were inspired by classic Italian puttanesca, a tomato-based dish with anchovies, capers, and olives that's traditionally served over pasta. Pork makes it extra hearty, so we served it over creamy polenta, but feel free to sub in pasta, rice, or whatever else you can dream up.

Get the Instant Pot Pork Puttanesca recipe.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

4

Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

66 Best Instant Pot Recipes, From Soups To Mains To Dessert (Yes, Really!) (6)

Is there anything more comforting than a bowl of chicken noodle soup? This Instant Pot recipe makes light work of this homestyle classic.

Get the Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup recipe.

5

Instant Pot Jambalaya

66 Best Instant Pot Recipes, From Soups To Mains To Dessert (Yes, Really!) (7)

The Instant Pot is a great way to make jambalaya, a Cajun classic, in just an hour. All the rice, veggies, broth, and chicken go in the Instant Pot together and get cooked under high pressure for the perfect, fluffy jambalaya.

Get the Instant Pot Jambalaya recipe.

6

Instant Pot Copycat Bourbon Chicken

66 Best Instant Pot Recipes, From Soups To Mains To Dessert (Yes, Really!) (8)

If you were hanging out in malls in the '90s, you've likely been chased down in the food court to sample this delectable, perfectly sauced chicken thigh recipe on a toothpick. Now you can make this dish at home in your Instant Pot any time you like!

Get the Instant Pot Copycat Bourbon Chicken recipe.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

7

Instant Pot Risotto

66 Best Instant Pot Recipes, From Soups To Mains To Dessert (Yes, Really!) (9)

One of our favorite things the Instant Pot can do is make risotto—it takes all of the arm workout out it! Start with warm broth just as you would with a stovetop version, and you'll have a creamy risotto in no time.

Get the Instant Pot Risotto recipe.

8

Instant Pot Butter Chicken

66 Best Instant Pot Recipes, From Soups To Mains To Dessert (Yes, Really!) (10)

Our Instant Pot butter chicken recipe is about to become your favorite weeknight staple that you can now make faster than delivery. Chicken thighs become extremely tender under all the sauce that you'll want to soak up with plenty of naan.

Get the Instant Pot Butter Chicken recipe.

9

Instant Pot French Toast

66 Best Instant Pot Recipes, From Soups To Mains To Dessert (Yes, Really!) (11)

There's no need for your French toast casserole to take an hour to bake in the oven. You can spend half that time in the Instant Pot for a fuss-free breakfast. It's perfect topped with a little powdered sugar, fruit, and maple syrup.

Get the Instant Pot French Toast recipe.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

10

Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin

Juicy pork tenderloin seriously deserves its own spotlight. We keep the seasoning simple here: chili powder, cumin, garlic powder. If you want another flavor profile, the world is your oyster: oregano and Italian seasoning, ranch seasoning, taco seasoning, or even just salt and black pepper will do.

Get the Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin recipe.

11

Instant Pot Rice

66 Best Instant Pot Recipes, From Soups To Mains To Dessert (Yes, Really!) (13)

When cooking rice, a lot of things can go wrong. But not in this easy recipe (thanks to the Instant Pot's handy "rice" button!). Instant Pot, we 💖 you.

Get the Instant Pot Rice recipe.

12

Instant Pot Chicken Thighs

66 Best Instant Pot Recipes, From Soups To Mains To Dessert (Yes, Really!) (14)

The gravy that comes with these chicken thighs is luxuriously smooth and full of chicken flavor. Want to make it a meal? Serve these thighs up with mashed potatoes and some simple sautéed greens like this garlicky kale or this 10-minute bok choy recipe.

Get the Instant Pot Chicken Thighs recipe.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

13

Instant Pot Lentil Soup

66 Best Instant Pot Recipes, From Soups To Mains To Dessert (Yes, Really!) (15)

We love lentil soup for its versatility. For this rendition, we add onion, carrot, celery, and garlic as a base, plus canned tomatoes and fresh thyme. Simply add ingredients, set your Instant Pot to high, and press go!

Get the Instant Pot Lentil Soup recipe.

14

Instant Pot Wings

66 Best Instant Pot Recipes, From Soups To Mains To Dessert (Yes, Really!) (16)

This recipe is the perfect jumping-off point for any of your favorite types of wings. Not a fan of Buffalo sauce? Toss these wings with your favorite barbecue sauce or make a batch of sauce from our Korean fried chicken recipe instead.

Get the Instant Pot Wings recipe.

15

Instant Pot Banana Bread

66 Best Instant Pot Recipes, From Soups To Mains To Dessert (Yes, Really!) (17)

The nature of the Instant Pot is to steam things, and that's why a banana bread is so very good after being cooked in one—it gets SO perfectly moist and tender.

Get the Instant Pot Banana Bread recipe.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

16

Instant Pot Chili

66 Best Instant Pot Recipes, From Soups To Mains To Dessert (Yes, Really!) (18)

The convenience and speed of the Instant Pot is pretty unparalleled, especially for chili. No more sweating over a hot stove, forever standing and stirring, and standing and stirring...

Get the Instant Pot Chili recipe.

17

Instant Pot Sweet & Spicy Brisket

66 Best Instant Pot Recipes, From Soups To Mains To Dessert (Yes, Really!) (19)

If you're a fan of Korean flavor profiles, you'll love this recipe. The balance of sweet and spicy is perfect for any season, any day. When the meat is done cooking, reserve the broth and pour a little on top when serving—it's truly flavor central.

Get the .

18

Instant Pot Street Corn Queso

66 Best Instant Pot Recipes, From Soups To Mains To Dessert (Yes, Really!) (20)

Everyone loves a good queso dip, but we might love this Mexican street corn variety even more—it's got crunch, spice, and tons of cheese as garnish. How could you go wrong?

Get the Instant Pot Street Corn Queso recipe.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

19

Instant Pot Brownies

66 Best Instant Pot Recipes, From Soups To Mains To Dessert (Yes, Really!) (21)

We're always searching for the best way to make the fudgiest brownies, and we might have found it in the Instant Pot. This is a straightforward and easy recipe that won't heat up your kitchen during the summer. Win, win, win.

Get the Instant Pot Brownies recipe.

20

Instant Pot Beef Stew

66 Best Instant Pot Recipes, From Soups To Mains To Dessert (Yes, Really!) (22)

There's no need to wait for a large piece of meat to tenderize for hours when your Instant Pot can do it in less than an hour. This hearty beef stew can be made in a fraction of the time, and is perfect on a cold winter's night.

Get the Instant Pot Beef Stew recipe.

66 Best Instant Pot Recipes, From Soups To Mains To Dessert (Yes, Really!) (2024)

FAQs

What is the soup button on the Instant Pot? ›

The Soup setting on the Instant Pot operates by using high pressure to create a sealed cooking environment. It brings the contents of the pot to a boil, allowing flavors to infuse and ingredients to become tender. The extended cooking time helps to develop rich flavors in your soup.

Can you boil soup in Instant Pot? ›

Yes, the “Soup” setting on the Instant Pot is designed specifically for boiling soup. It provides a preset cooking time and temperature that is ideal for soup recipes. Simply select the “Soup” setting on your Instant Pot and adjust the cooking time if needed, based on your recipe's instructions.

How do you use the stew setting on an Instant Pot? ›

Instant Pot Instructions: Place everything in the Instant Pot. Select the stew/meat setting (about 35 minutes, high pressure). After it's done, let everything mellow out for about 10 minutes before releasing the steam. Technically at this point, it's done.

Why soup in a pressure cooker cooks faster? ›

At that pressure, water boils at 121°C (250°F). That means food can cook at a much higher temperature than it ever could at atmospheric pressure—and since cooking reactions speed up at higher temperatures, your food cooks faster. It also doesn't dry out, since the water stays in liquid form.

Can you use an Instapot as a Crockpot? ›

Press the "Slow Cook" button to select the slow cooking function. Set the cooking time and temperature. The Instant Pot has three temperature settings for slow cooking: low, medium, and high. Use the "Adjust" button to choose the temperature and then use the "+" and "-" buttons to adjust the cooking time.

Is Instapot worth it? ›

Is it worth buying an Instant Pot? Yes, we do think an Instant Pot is worth it, particularly for pressure cooking. There's a reason it's one of the most popular kitchen appliances out there.

Can Instapot be a slow cooker? ›

So, if you're wondering how to use an Instant Pot as a slow cooker—and are unsure if you can do so—the answer is a firm “yes!” Slow cooking is one of the cooking functions that the “multi” moniker refers to.

Is it better to cook soup in a pressure cooker? ›

Is a pressure cooker good for making soups? Yes, if you are using meat and dried beans and/or lentils as the pressure cooker cuts down on cooking time dramatically!

How long do you can soup in a pressure cooker? ›

Process:
  1. For weighted gauge pressure canners at 0-1000 feet, process at 10 pounds pressure - 60 minutes for pints and 75 minutes for quarts. ...
  2. For dial gauge pressure canners at 0-2000 feet, process at 11 pounds pressure – process 60 minutes for pints and 75 minutes for quarts.

What is the best meat for stew? ›

Go for the chuck

The most common beef used for stew is chuck steak, also known as gravy beef or braising steak. Beef chuck comes from the forequarter of the animal consisting of parts of the neck, shoulder blade and upper arm. It is easy to find and it's affordable, making it a great choice for your stew.

What is the difference between meat stew and pressure cook? ›

Meat/Stew Is a lower pressure cook and will heat evenly almost like a crockpot, so basically you can call this the crockpot setting, and the Pressure cook a microwave setting.

Why does Instapot say burn food? ›

The Instant Pot's burn message simply means that your Instant Pot has detected that its inner pot has gotten too hot. There may be a slight amount of burned food at the bottom of your pot, but not enough to ruin whatever you're cooking.

How does a slow cooker work? ›

The slow cooker cooks foods slowly at a low temperature, generally between 170 and 280 degrees F, over several hours. The combination of direct heat from the pot, lengthy cooking and steam, destroys bacteria making the slow cooker a safe process for cooking foods.

Do you vent or seal a slow cooker? ›

#1 Use the Right Lid

If you do choose to just use the standard lid that is meant to seal tightly and keep all moisture in, just make sure you open the valve to “venting” so some of the moisture and steam can escape while slow cooking or you could overcook your slow cooker recipes.

What temp is a slow cooker on high? ›

The temperature range of a Crock Pot or slow cooker on low and high settings can vary depending on the make and model. However, in general, the low setting of a Crock Pot typically cooks food at around 190-200°F (87-93°C), while the high setting cooks at around 300-350°F (149-177°C).

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Delena Feil

Last Updated:

Views: 6416

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (65 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Delena Feil

Birthday: 1998-08-29

Address: 747 Lubowitz Run, Sidmouth, HI 90646-5543

Phone: +99513241752844

Job: Design Supervisor

Hobby: Digital arts, Lacemaking, Air sports, Running, Scouting, Shooting, Puzzles

Introduction: My name is Delena Feil, I am a clean, splendid, calm, fancy, jolly, bright, faithful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.