Instant Pot Recipes To Try for Beginners!

Throughout quarantine and the pandemic this year it’s given me a great opportunity to try out some fun recipes in my Instant Pot! I bought it a couple years ago and had never really utilized it. Now I know how easy it truly is and honestly it’s a lifesaver! I started off with some pretty easy recipes that do not require a ton of ingredients and that you can have for multiple day meals.

Here’s 5 easy week night meals that you can make in about an hour or less!

Chicken + Veggies

Season chicken with spices and sauté them on medium in the Instant Pot about 2–3 minutes per side. Transfer to plate and sauté carrots, onions, and broccoli with olive oil and spices you added on the chicken for 4 minutes or until veggies start to soften a bit. Add the chicken back in, add about 1/2 cup of chicken broth or water and set your Instant Pot for 10 minutes. The pot will start to pressurize and take 5–10 minutes to heat up before cooking. After 10 minutes the timer will go off; go ahead and do the quick release — just move the valve from seal to open and steam will be let out. Once all the air is released remove the lid. Serve with rice, pasta, or a baked potato if you need some carbs!

Ingredients:

• 3–4 Boneless chicken thighs or chicken breast
• 3–4 medium carrots diced
• 2 heads of broccoli diced
• 1/2 onion diced
• 1/2 cup chicken broth/water
• Spices: salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, rosemary, any herbs you want

Juicy Bone-In Pork Chops

Make your spice rub and coat pork chops. Place Instant Pot on sauté; add butter and let melt. Sear the pork chops for about 2 minutes per side and then place aside. Add in veggies and sauté for about 3–4 minutes. Pour in chicken broth or water and the Worcestershire sauce. Be sure to scrap the bottom so you get all the spices off the bottom. Place the trivet that comes with your Instant Pot on top of the veggies and place the pork chops on top. Close the lid and set for 7 minutes. Once the 7 minutes is up let the pressure release naturally and then release lid fully. Take pork chops and veggies out — can add rice or pasta!

Ingredients:

• 3–4 bone-in pork chops
• 1 cup snap peas
• 1/2 cup diced mushrooms
• 3–4 sweet potatoes diced
• 1/2 onion diced
• 1 Tablespoon butter
• 1 Teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 cup chicken broth/water
• Spice rub: 2 Tablespoons brown sugar, 1 Teaspoon — black pepper, salt, onion powder, paprika

Pulled Chicken or Pork→ Tacos/Sliders

Season your chicken breast with your spices and just add into the Instant Pot with the chicken broth. Set for 10 minutes and let the Instant Pot do its thing! Once done, release the pressure valve. Discard about half the liquid inside. Then using two forks shred the chicken inside the pot. The chicken should pull apart pretty easily. Let the chicken soak up the juices that are leftover in the pot. Take out and place in bowl — chicken is ready to serve. You can do this recipe with pork too! While the chicken is cooking make sure to shred your lettuce and cheese, dice your tomatoes, avocados, and grill your onions! Once all is complete warm up your tortillas and enjoy fresh tacos or even make sliders! These make a ton so leftovers are always ready to go!

Ingredients:

• 3–4 chicken breast thawed
• 2 cups shredded lettuce
• 2 diced tomatoes
• 1 cup shredded cheese
• 1 diced avocado
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro
• 1/2 cup grilled onions
• 7–8 tortillas
• Sour cream
• 1/2 cup chicken broth/water
• Spices: salt, pepper, garlic powder, Italian seasoning

Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Start by making the shredded chicken by coating chicken breast with spices. Sear the chicken — 3 minutes per side in the Instant Pot and place to the side. Cook the onions and garlic for 2 minutes so it’s fragrant and then add 1/2 cup of water — make sure to get all the browned bits off the bottom. Place chicken back in pot and place trivet on top. Then add the sweet potatoes above and pressure cook for 10 minutes. Release the pressure valve and place sweet potatoes on a foil lined baking sheet. Remove the chicken and take two forks and shred to bite size pieces. Add the barbeque sauce to the pot and sauté for 8–10 minutes or until the sauce is thickened. Add the chicken back in and stir! Split the sweet potatoes in half; using tongs add the shredded barbeque chicken in the middle of the split sweet potatoes. Then add shredded cheese. Place in the oven and broil for 2–3 minutes — cheese will begin to bubble. Remove from the oven and add fresh cilantro, lime, and sour cream and enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1–2 chicken breast
• 1/2 cup onion diced
• 2 cloves garlic chopped
• 1/2 cup barbeque sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 3–4 medium sweet potatoes
• 1 cup shredded cheese
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
• 1 dollop sour cream
• lime slices/fresh squeezed lime
• Spices: salt, pepper, garlic powder

Red Wine Braised Short Ribs

Begin with the short ribs by seasoning with just a little bit of salt and pepper. Sauté and brown each in the Instant Pot — about 8–9 minutes per side and set these on a plate. Next cook celery, carrots, and garlic about 3–4 minutes then add tomato paste right into the center of the pot. let sit for a minute then stir. Add in your red wine and let simmer for about 15–20 minutes. Throw in thyme, rosemary, chicken broth, and shallots — stir. Place the ribs back in and pressure cook for 40 minutes. While cooking make mashed potatoes (I just use the instant ones). Once your Instant Pot timer goes off use tongs to move the ribs to a plate. You can either puree the broth with the carrots and celery inside or you can spoon out and place on plate. You can then add cornstarch to the gravy to thicken. Place the ribs — bones should slide right off, veggies, mashed potatoes on a plate and add the gravy!

Ingredients:

• 4 lbs beef short ribs (about 7–8 pieces)
• 3–4 medium carrots diced
• 2 medium celery stalks diced
• 2 cloves of garlic chopped
• 4 small shallots (only cut in halves)
• 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary (1–2 teaspoon dried if you do not have fresh)
• 2 sprig fresh thyme (2–3 teaspoons dried if you do not have fresh)
• 3 cups red wine
• 1 1/2 Teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup chicken broth/water
• Spices: salt, pepper, rosemary, thyme

These were great recipes to start off with and if you ever have a dinner party or just family over these can be great to show off your cooking skills without making a giant mess in the kitchen. Hopefully these make anyone’s life a little easier and help you expand upon some new and easy recipes!