19 Easy (Real Food) Instant Pot Recipes for Hesitant Beginners (2024)

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19 easy instant pot recipes for beginners using all real food ingredients. Now you have no more excuse – go forth and become an instant pot expert! I believe in you!

19 Easy (Real Food) Instant Pot Recipes for Hesitant Beginners (1)

It’s the last week of Instant Pot July, and it’s been an awesome month of talking shop about our favourite new tool: the magical Instant Pot. In the months leading up to this, I really fell hard for my IP, and now declare it to be my most valuable small appliance in my kitchen. It’s just so darn convenient!

Since I get asked so frequently, here are the models thatI recommend:

The one I have: Instant Pot Duo80 7-in-1 8qt for families of four or more, especially if you like to batch cook, or even just cook once and eat leftovers for a few days. (My sanity is 100% reliant on tactics such as this.)

The smaller, 6qt version if you have 3 or less people in the household, or if you hate leftovers: Instant Pot Duo60 7-in-1 6qt.

But friends – I’ve had my Instant Pot for seven months now. If there’s one thing I’ve heard over and over again from others in regards to their IP, it’s the fear of getting started! If you’re a newbie who’s hesitant about taking the plunge, welcome to your official hand-holding as you finally dive in.

The Instant Pot can seem intimidating, to be sure. It’s big and scary, and unless you’re already used to a stovetop pressure cooker, using it will mean learning a brand new cooking technique. I know how overwhelming that can feel.

Which is why it’s a darn good thing it’s pretty much idiot-proof.

And I say that with as much love as possible. If *I* could figure it out, anyone can! (Says the creative-minded writer with ZERO natural ability in the concrete/hands-on/kinesthetic/technology world. And yes, a kitchen appliance with buttons counts as technology, ha!)

Whetheryou just got an Instant Pot recently, or you’ve had it sitting there for months staring at you intimidatingly, or even if you’re already on your way to IP expert status, here is a compilation of some of the best basic recipes that are super easy to make in your shiny Instant Pot BFF. (Or soon-to-be BFF, anyway.)

First, a few words of advice fromothers. Go read these articles, and then come back and pick a recipe from the list that sounds good to you.

THEN MAKE IT. Today. Like, now.

I know you can do it – I believe in you. *Insert motivational cat poster, sappy believe-in-yourself pop ballads, and my best cheerleader impression.* (And apologies for that last one. It was obviously unhelpful, and I should have predicted that.)

Best Tips & Tricks Articles:

4 Things I Learned About My Instant Pot in the First 6 Months | Red & Honey

So Your Instant Pot is Still in the Box… How to Get Over the Hump and Finally Cook Something| Traditional Cooking School

Instant Pot Tips and Tricks 101 | Once a Month Meals

10 Basic Instant Pot Techniques | Kitchen Stewardship

Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash | Attainable Sustainable

Instant Pot Cauliflower Rice | Kitchen Stewardship

Instant Pot Sweet Potato Chili | The Humbled Homemaker

Instant Pot Shredded BBQ Chicken| Red & Honey (right here!)

Instant Pot Lemon Pudding Cups | Traditional Cooking School

Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup | Dr. Karen S. Lee

Instant Pot Apple-Cranberry Steel Cut Oats | Kitchen Stewardship

Instant Pot Rice Pudding | Traditional Cooking School

Instant Pot Bone Broth Tutorial | Phoenix Helix

Instant Pot Baked Potatoes | Make Real Food

Instant Pot Best Ever Chili| Red & Honey (right here!)

Instant Pot Italian Lentil Dinner | Kitchen Stewardship

19 Easy (Real Food) Instant Pot Recipes for Hesitant Beginners (2)

Instant Pot Potato Salad with Magical Bacon Superpowers| Red & Honey (right here!)

Instant Pot Mac n’ Cheese | Kitchen Stewardship

Instant Pot Applesauce | Don’t Mess With Mama

How to Cook a Frozen Whole Chicken in the Instant Pot | Red & Honey (right here!)

Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs | The Prairie Homestead

How to Cook Frozen Ground Beef in the Instant Pot | Kitchen Stewardship

Instant Pot Herb Chicken Lunchmeat| Red & Honey (right here!)

Umami Instant Pot Pot Roast | Pressure Cook Recipes

Instant Pot Yogurt | Kitchen Stewardship

There you have it! 19 super easy Instant Pot recipes for beginners that you can easily add to your repertoire to start feeling like an IP rockstar. After this, you’ll be well on your way to Instant Pot expert.

Now – go forth and fall in love with your Instant Pot. It’ll love you right back and you’ll both live happily ever after.

Related: Quick Healthy Meals Ultimate Guide (101 Tips, Recipes, and Strategies)

Happy cooking!

19 Easy (Real Food) Instant Pot Recipes for Hesitant Beginners (3)

19 Easy (Real Food) Instant Pot Recipes for Hesitant Beginners (2024)

FAQs

What do you cook for the first time in an Instant Pot? ›

Try making staples like eggs, sweet potatoes, rice, or lentils using just the pressure cooker function. Then move on to a recipe that uses both the sauté and pressure cooker functions, like Kalua pork, or spaghetti with meat sauce (hands down my favorite Instant Pot recipe).

What is best cooked in an Instant Pot? ›

71 Of Our Best Instant Pot Recipes That Are Total Game Changers
  1. Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup. ...
  2. Instant Pot Chicken Bone Broth. ...
  3. Tangy Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs. ...
  4. Instant Pot Carnitas. ...
  5. Instant Pot Pasta Primavera. ...
  6. Instant Pot Cinnamon Rolls. ...
  7. Instant Pot Baby Potatoes. ...
  8. Vegan Instant Pot Tacos with Smoky Lentils and Rice.
Dec 13, 2023

Is there anything you can't cook in an Instant Pot? ›

Among them are dairy and fried foods, as well as burgers and steaks. These foods are not Instant-Pot-friendly for a multitude of reasons. And while Instant Pots are a useful tool when baking cheesecake, custard, or mousse, it's definitely not the best method for other types of desserts.

Why is Instant Pot food bland? ›

Second, you're generally cooking faster, so there's not as much time for flavors to absorb into what you're cooking. Third, while conventional cooking forms intensify flavors by boiling off water, the pressure cooker keeps moisture in, which means your flavors can get diluted.

Are Instant Pots 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.

What should never be cooked in a pressure cooker? ›

Here are six things you should always avoid cooking in a pressure cooker.
  1. Dairy products. Foods containing dairy, like milk, cream, or yogurt, should not be pressure-cooked. ...
  2. Fried foods. Cooking fried foods is a strict no no, when it comes to pressure cookers. ...
  3. Quick cooking vegetables. ...
  4. Cakes and bakes. ...
  5. Eggs in the shell.
Jul 23, 2023

Why shouldn't potatoes be cooked in a pressure cooker? ›

Mostly we boil potatoes in a pressure cooker, but like rice, potatoes also contain a lot of starch. This is the reason why boiling or cooking in this pressure cooker is not considered good for health. If you still plan to use cooker for the same, add a lot of water and wash them thoroughly post cooking.

Does chicken need to be submerged in a pressure cooker? ›

chicken requires 18 minutes of high pressure cooking. Add 6 minutes of cooking time per additional pound. Note: You can submerge your chicken directly in the cooking liquid, especially if you want to make chicken stock. However, the steamer basket method ensures crispy skin and won't wash away the seasoning.

Why does pressure-cooked food taste bland? ›

Water can leach out flavor, and pressure cooking requires a lot of water. You could do pressure steaming in a smaller container set on a rack above the water, or you could use a flavorful broth that will add, not extract, flavor. Overcooking can cause loss of flavor, particularly with vegetables.

How do I get more flavor in my pressure cooker? ›

1- To enhance flavors, sauté aromatic vegetables like onions, celery, and bell peppers in some oil in the pressure cooker (always with the lid off!) over medium heat before adding the other ingredients and securing the lid.

Why does my food taste bland when I cook? ›

When someone says food is bland, it generally means the food is either under-seasoned, particularly with salt, and/or missing acidity (which, as the kids might say, means it's basic). Before serving, it is essential to taste your food and analyze both of these tastes and to adjust, as needed.

Does pressure cooking improve flavor? ›

As steam builds, pressure increases, driving the boiling point of water past 212°F (100°C). In general, this higher temperature shortens cooking times and, due to a lack of evaporation, extracts flavor more efficiently from foods.

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