10 Easiest Instant Pot Recipes

Check out these 10 Easiest Instant Pot dump recipes. The ultimate list of simple weeknight meals you can make in your Instant Pot. Get easy instant pot recipes for chicken, boiled eggs, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, and more!

Finally get that Instant Pot you’ve heard everyone raving about?  Or want to get one but are afraid you’ll never use it?

Here are some of our favorite simple recipes that will help make cooking the easiest thing you’ve ever done!  (Seriously – 6 minute spaghetti?!)

Hey y’all, Tiffany here.

We got our Instant Pot several months ago when it went on sale (we hate paying full price – it keeps us from living frugally), and it was one of the best decisions that we’ve ever made!

I really hate cooking, so anything that decreases the amount of work is a necessary addition to our kitchen!  It took us a little while to get used to it, but we’ve finally got it down!

Here are some of our favorite ways to use our Instant Pot. (And if the Instant Pot feels a bit overwhelming, give these easy Air Fryer recipes for beginners a try!)

Chicken

Now, this has probably never happened in your house, but one of the most difficult things about having a monthly meal plan is remembering to take the chicken out of the freezer to defrost.

Luckily, the Instant Pot is awesome at this!  No matter what recipe you are making, if it calls for chicken (whole breast, shredded, etc.) then the Instant Pot is your best friend!

Just put in a cup of water, throw in a few frozen chicken breasts, and set on “Manual” for 10 minutes.  Voila!  Perfectly cooked chicken that you can use as a whole breast or to shred for tacos or casseroles.

• Add one cup of water
• Put in frozen chicken breasts
• “Manual” for 10 minutes

Need ideas for what to use the chicken for?  Check out these cookbooks for chicken recipes:

Spaghetti

This is a favorite meal at our house – spaghetti and meatballs.  One of the biggest things I hate about pasta dishes is the time you spend cooking the pasta, stirring over a hot stove, and then cleaning said stove because the pot always boils over.  But spaghetti in an Instant Pot is simple!

Get the recipe on our 6 Minute Instant Pot Spaghetti post.

Spaghetti is one of our favorite meals when we’re trying to live a $42 weekly grocery budget.

Want to jazz up your spaghetti with fun sauces and other additions?  Here are some great recipes:

Hard-Boiled Eggs

It’s so difficult to make hard-boiled eggs – they crack on the stove pot as they roll around in boiling water and make a mess!  It’s also impossible to get them cooked at just the right time.

And there is that one extremely embarrassing time where I put them on the stove and forgot about them.  The water boiled away, and they literally ended up exploding all over the kitchen!  (True story.)

But an Instant Pot makes things so much easier!  Put a cup of water in the bottom and place eggs on the steamer rack.  Cook at “Manual” for 5 minutes, then do a quick release and put eggs in cold water.

• 1 cup water
• Eggs on steamer rack
• “Manual” 5 minutes

Need some other ways to do hard-boiled eggs? Here are some ideas:

Mashed Potatoes easiest instant pot recipe

Wash, peel, and quarter 2.5 lbs of potatoes.  Place 1 cup of water in the Instant Pot and place potatoes on the steamer rack.  Cook on “Manual” for 8 minutes, then do a quick release.  Place the potatoes in a medium bowl.  Add 1/2 cup warmed milk and 2 Tbsp melted butter, then mash with a potato masher.

• 1 cup water
• 2.5 lbs of peeled/quartered potatoes on steamer rack
• “Manual” 8 minutes
• Put potatoes in separate bowl and add 1/2 cup warmed milk with 2 Tbsp melted butter
• Mash

Need some frugal ways to cook with mashed potatoes? Here are some ideas:

Baked Potatoes

Clean and prick 2.5 lbs potatoes.  Put 1 cup of water in the Instant Pot, and place potatoes on the steamer rack.  Cook on “Manual” for 10-12 minutes (depending on size of potatoes), then allow a slow release (which means don’t turn the vent to release the pressure at the end).  If you want your potatoes to have a crispier skin, then you can brush them with oil/salt and cook for 10 minutes at 350* in the oven.

• 1 cup water in bottom
• 2.5 lbs cleaned/pricked potatoes on steamer rack
• “Manual” 10-12 minutes

Are you a potato lover? Here you go:

Macaroni & Cheese easiest instant pot recipe

We love homemade macaroni and cheese at our house, but making the sauce always was a bit of pain.  Not anymore!

You can get the recipe for this on our post for super easy Instant Pot Mac and Cheese.

You can also jazz up this macaroni by switching out a few ingredients and making Silly Chili Macaroni.

Pot Roast

• 1 bag baby carrots (rinsed)
• 4-5 medium red potatoes (rinsed, halved)
• 4 medium yellow onions (peeled, halved)
• 1-2 lb roast
• 2-3 cups vegetable broth
• 1 packet pot roast seasoning

Put all veggies listed below in Instant Pot.  Place roast on top of veggies. Then add vegetable broth and sprinkle the seasoning on top.  Close Instant Pot and set to “Meat/Stew” mode for 30 minutes.

Chicken Fajitas easiest instant pot recipe

• 3 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (defrosted)
• 2 yellow onions (slivered)
• 2 green peppers (slivered)
• 2cups chicken broth
• 1 packet taco seasoning

Add chicken broth to Instant Pot.  Place metal grill piece (came with Instant Pot) on the bottom of your pot and place chicken on the grill in a single layer.  Empty half of the seasoning packet onto the chicken.  Use the “poultry” setting for 20 minutes.  Remove the chicken and shred it.  Then add the onions and peppers to the broth still in the Instant Pot.  Stir in the shredded chicken, along with the remaining taco seasoning.  Set the slow cooker setting for about 4 hours, then drain.  Serve with soft tortilla shells.

Cheesy Garlic Butter Spaghetti

• 2 cups vegetable stock
• 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream
• 8 oz spaghetti noodles cut in half
• 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese grated
• 1 tsp garlic purée
• 4 tbps butter cut into small cubes
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• Salt
• Black pepper

Pour the stock into the crock pot, then add the rest of the ingredients.  Set on “manual” for 6 minutes.  When finished, allow for 6 minutes natural pressure release, then flip to quick release.

Pulled Pork easiest instant pot recipe

• 2 cups Dr. Pepper
• 1 cup BBQ sauce
• 4 Pounds Pork Roast
• 1 onion
• 1Tbsp onion powder
• 1 Tbsp garlic powder
• 1 Tbsp salt

Cut your pork roast into 4-5 large chunks and coat with salt, onion powder, and garlic powder.  Chop onion and place in pot, then place pork in the pot.  Pour in Dr. Pepper soda and add BBQ sauce.  Cook on “manual high” for 50 minutes and allow natural release pressure for 10 minutes.  Remove the pork and drain the juices.  Shred with a fork and add more BBQ sauce.

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