See my guide on how to use an Instant Pot.

The best Instant Pot recipes for easy weeknight dinners! This recipe collection includes chicken, ground beef, pasta and vegetarian instant pot recipes, and more. With these easy Instant Pot recipes you’ll be making delicious meals that the whole family will enjoy.

Collage of 8 instant pot recipe photos with text overlay.

Best Instant Pot Recipes

Instant Pot recipes can help you to get healthy meals on your table without a lot of effort. I use my Instant Pot many times per week, to cook dinner, to make Instant Pot oatmeal for breakfast, or to cook perfect Instant Pot hard boiled eggs.

When I shared this list of healthy Instant Pot recipes, I never imagined how popular they would become. Today I’m sharing more of the best Instant Pot recipes to give you even more easy meal ideas. These recipes are perfect for beginners and anyone who loves good food.

What is an Instant Pot?

An Instant Pot is an electric pressure cooker. It’s a multi-cooker, which means that it has many cooking functions. You can sautĂ© in the Instant Pot or use it as a slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer or yogurt maker. I use the Pressure Cook/Manual and SautĂ© buttons on my Instant Pot most often.

If you are a new Instant Pot user, I’ve written a beginner’s guide to get you started: How to use an Instant Pot. These top 10 Instant Pot accessories can help you to do things such as cook pot in pot rice and chicken at the same time.

Why Instant Pot Recipes?

  • Flavor! The number one reason why I love to cook with an Instant Pot is FLAVOR. Something magical happens with pressure cooking: the best flavors develop and meats become incredibly tender. If you need more convincing, try my recipes for Instant Pot chili or cook a rotisserie chicken in your Instant Pot. Both are unbelievably tasty.
  • Hands-off cooking. Another huge benefit of Instant Pot cooking is that most of the cook time is hands-off. Once you get your ingredients in the pot and set it to pressure cook, you won’t have to do anything else until the cook time has finished. There’s no stirring a pot on the stove or checking on food in the oven.
  • Easy Instant Pot recipes. One of the best things about Instant Pot recipes is that they help to take the guesswork out of cooking. When you follow a good recipe, with tested cook times and methods, it should produce foolproof results. My advice is to experiment with different recipes until you find your favorites. With pressure cooking, your meals can turn out perfect every time.

Instant Pot Chicken Recipes

These easy Instant Pot Chicken Thighs are one of the best Instant Pot recipes for a quick dinner. They cook up perfectly moist and juicy and you can make an easy gravy from the juices in the pot. Cook them from fresh or frozen!

Instant Pot chicken thighs on a serving plate with lemon wedges and parsley.

Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup is warm and comforting, perfect for enjoying at the end of a long day.

Chicken noodle soup in an instant pot with a ladle.

This Instant Pot BBQ Chicken is one of our most popular Instant Pot recipes, and it’s easy to see why. This recipe takes just 10 minutes to prep and the Instant Pot does the rest. The whole family will love these BBQ chicken sandwiches!

Bbq chicken sandwich with instant pot in background.

This Instant Pot Whole Chicken recipe is the easiest way to cook a whole chicken! This recipe is foolproof – the chicken turns out moist, juicy and flavorful every time.

Whole chicken with instant pot in background.

Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings is one of the best comfort foods. A flavorful chicken and vegetable soup is topped with tender dumplings, all cooked together in the Instant Pot.

Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings in a white bowl with a spoon.

Honey Garlic Instant Pot Chicken Breasts are a quick and easy meal! Serve them over rice or quinoa, with veggies for a wholesome dinner.

Instant pot honey garlic chicken breast served with rice and broccoli.

Instant Pot Butter Chicken has tender bites of chicken in a delicious curry sauce. This recipe has the option to cook pot in pot rice to serve with the chicken and sauce.

Butter chicken with drizzle of coconut milk, served with rice.

This delicious Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup is an easy one pot meal. Load it up with your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Bowl of instant pot chicken tortilla soup topped with sour cream, avocado and tortilla chips.

This Instant Pot Chicken and Mushrooms features juicy chicken thighs, mushrooms and orzo pasta. This must-make Instant Pot recipe is always met with rave reviews.

Instant Pot Chicken and Mushrooms after cooking, in an Instant Pot.

This Instant Pot Chicken and Rice has chicken, vegetables and brown rice. It’s easy to make and won’t take you long to prep.

Chicken and rice with carrots and peas in instant pot.

With just 5 ingredients and 10 minutes of prep time, these Instant Pot Chicken Tacos are one of the easiest Instant Pot dinner recipes. Serve the shredded salsa chicken in soft tortillas with your favorite taco toppings.

Close up of Instant Pot chicken tacos, with salsa chicken, lettuce, cheese and avocado.

This Instant Pot Orange Chicken has the best sticky-sweet orange sauce. You can even cook the rice at the same time in the Instant Pot!

Instant pot orange chicken served over white rice, topped with green onions.

This Instant Pot Shredded Chicken is one of the best Instant Pot recipes for meal prep. Cook your chicken from fresh or frozen, and use it in your favorite recipes throughout the week.

Instant pot shredded chicken in a white bowl.

Learn how to cook frozen chicken breasts in your Instant Pot. This Instant Pot Frozen Chicken cooks up moist and juicy.

Chicken cooked from frozen in the instant pot.

Instant Pot Pasta Recipes

This Instant Pot Spaghetti is one of the best Instant Pot recipes for beginners. It’s incredibly easy to make and perfect for weeknight dinners. The pasta absorbs some of the sauce as it cooks, making it so flavorful!

Bowl of instant pot spaghetti sprinkled with parmesan and fresh basil.

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese is a creamy, cheesy family favorite meal. This one pot recipe has a quick 10 minute prep time.

Mac and cheese on a wood serving spoon held over an instant pot.

In this Instant Pot Pasta recipe, penne pasta, Italian sausage and veggies all cook together in marinara sauce in your Instant Pot. It’s one of the best Instant Pot recipes for busy weeknights!

Pasta with sausage in instant pot.

You’ll be amazed at how you can make a delicious Instant Pot Lasagna that cooks right in the Instant Pot inner pot (no special pan needed). This easy Instant Pot recipe is the best way to make lasagna from scratch on a weeknight.

Cooked lasagna in instant pot.

I created this Instant Pot Taco Pasta recipe as a faster version of our favorite Slow Cooker Taco Pasta. Seasoned with taco seasoning and salsa, you’ll love this flavorful twist on pasta with ground beef.

Close up of cheesy taco pasta with beef on a serving spoon.

Instant Pot Ground Beef Recipes

If you haven’t tried Instant Pot Chili, you are missing out! This pressure cooker beef chili is one of our favorite Instant Pot recipes. It’s richly flavored and so comforting on a cold day.

Instant pot chili served with cheese and sour cream.

In this Instant Pot Meatloaf recipe, meatloaf and mashed potatoes cook together in the Instant Pot for a hearty one pot meal. Save this recipe for when you’re craving comfort food!

Two slices of instant pot meatloaf served with meatloaf sauce and mashed potatoes.

When you need a family-friendly Instant Pot recipe for dinner, look no further than this Instant Pot Goulash recipe. It’s an easy one pot meal made with ground beef, macaroni pasta and cheese in a flavorful tomato-based sauce.

Instant pot goulash in a bowl garnished with parsley.

This Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff is a quick and easy one pot meal. Made with ground beef, noodles and mushrooms, this recipe is a comfort food favorite.

Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff served on a plate.

These Instant Pot Meatballs cook up nice and tender thanks to the Instant Pot pressure cooker. The meatballs cook in a simple homemade marinara sauce, perfect for serving with pasta.

Meatballs and marinara sauce in a serving bowl with a spoon.

Classic stuffed peppers cooked in the Instant Pot? Yes, please! Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers are one of our favorite quick Instant Pot recipes.

Stuffed peppers in an instant pot.

More Instant Pot Dinner Recipes

Instant Pot Pot Roast is perfect for Sunday dinner. The Instant Pot makes the best pot roast, with tender meat, vegetables and gravy!

Pot roast with potatoes and carrots served on a plate, with instant pot in background.

Make the most amazing pulled pork sandwiches with this Instant Pot Pulled Pork. The meat is fall apart tender after cooking in the Instant Pot.

BBQ pulled pork sandwich with shredded pressure cooker pork.

You’ll love these Instant Pot Pork Chops with a delicious honey garlic sauce. My kids can’t get enough of these!

Honey garlic pork chop on a plate with broccoli.

This Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin cooks in a honey garlic sauce and is delicious served with potatoes or rice. It’s perfect for quick dinners.

Spooning honey garlic sauce onto sliced instant pot pork tenderloin.

This Instant Pot Beef Stew is a quick and easy version of the classic recipe, with all of the same rich flavors.

Beef stew after thickening in an Instant Pot.

Looking for taco Tuesday Instant Pot recipes? These Instant Pot Carnitas are sure to be a winning dinner recipe. This Mexican pulled pork is irresistibly tender and juicy with delicious crispy edges.

Instant pot carnitas served in corn tortillas with jalapeno, avocado, red onion and cilantro.

These Instant Pot Ribs are so tender they practically fall of the bone!

Instant pot ribs brushed with bbq sauce.

This Instant Pot Beef and Barley Soup is a warm and cozy meal, perfect for the coldest of days. Tender chunks of beef, vegetables and barley make this soup both hearty and nourishing.

Ladle full of beef and barley soup held over instant pot.

Instant Pot Pork Loin is one of our favorite Instant Pot recipes for Sunday dinner. The pork is seasoned and then browned in the Instant Pot before pressure cooking. The best part is the incredible sauce to drizzle over the pork.

Partially sliced instant pot pork loin drizzled with gravy.

Vegetarian Instant Pot Recipes

This Instant Pot Pinto Beans recipe is an easy way to cook dry pinto beans. Serve them as a side dish, wrap them in tortillas, or use them in any recipe that calls for cooked pinto beans.

Cooked pinto beans in instant pot.

This Instant Pot Minestrone Soup is sure to become one of your favorite Instant Pot recipes during soup season. It’s richly flavored and perfect for serving with a loaf of crusty bread.

Minestrone in a serving bowl with instant pot behind.

This Instant Pot Potato Soup is creamy and so comforting. This easy soup recipe is made with wholesome ingredients. Load it up with your favorite toppings!

Bowl of instant pot potato soup topped with cheese, bacon and green onions.

If you’re looking for vegetarian Instant Pot recipes for dinner, these Instant Pot Lentil Sloppy Joes fit the bill. These flavorful lentil sloppy joes are easy to make and delicious served on toasted brioche buns.

Lentil sloppy joe sandwich with red onion.

This Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup is so rich and creamy, you won’t believe it’s made without cream. It’s my favorite butternut squash soup recipe!

Instant pot butternut squash soup in a bowl with a spoon.

These Instant Pot Black Beans are so much better than canned beans. It’s easy to cook dry beans from scratch in your Instant Pot!

Black beans on spoon held over bowl with instant pot in background.

Healthy Instant Pot Lentil Soup is a favorite for lunch and dinner. Packed full of nourishing lentils, vegetables and spices, this warming soup is so delicious.

Close up of lentil soup topped with parmesan with instant pot in background.

Making homemade vegetable soup is so easy in the Instant Pot! This Instant Pot Vegetable Soup is a cozy meal that’s sure to satisfy. Serve it with biscuits or yeast rolls and enjoy.

Vegetable soup served in a bowl with instant pot in the background.

You’ll Love these Easy Instant Pot Recipes

These Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs peel so easily – the shells practically fall off! This is my favorite way to cook hard boiled eggs because it’s so hands-off.

Instant Pot hard boiled eggs with the shells falling off and one cooked egg cut in half.

The creamiest, fluffiest mashed potatoes are Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes. They’re so easy to make, and perfect every time!

Mashed potatoes in instant pot with wood serving spoon.

You’ll love this foolproof recipe for Instant Pot Baked Potatoes. It’s easy to cook perfect baked potatoes in your Instant Pot.

Instant pot baked potato topped with sour cream and chives.

This Instant Pot Rice cooks in just four minutes! Cooking white rice in an Instant Pot is an easy, hands-off way to make perfect fluffy rice.

Cooked white rice in an Instant Pot pressure cooker, with a wooden spoon.

This Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats recipe is the easiest, most hands-off way to cook steel cut oatmeal. It’s a true set it and forget it recipe! You can make a big batch to reheat for quick breakfasts during the week.

Steel cut oats in instant pot with drizzle of maple syrup and serving spoon.

Perfect Instant Pot Brown Rice is a healthy side dish for your favorite meals. The instructions are easy to follow so you can make the best brown rice.

Cooked brown rice in an instant pot with a wooden spoon.

This easy recipe for Instant Pot Corn on the Cob cooks sweet corn until it’s perfectly tender.

Cooked corn on the cob with instant pot in background.

This Instant Pot Cheesecake is the best cheesecake I’ve ever eaten. It’s creamy, luscious and flavored with a touch of vanilla. You’ll be amazed at how easy this Instant Pot dessert is, too!

Instant pot cheesecake topped with whipped cream and berries.
Pot roast in an instant pot is one of the best instant pot recipes.
5 from 4 ratings

Best Instant Pot Recipes: Pot Roast

Servings: 8 servings
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Inactive Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
The best Instant Pot recipes for easy dinners! This collection of recipes includes chicken, beef and vegetarian recipes, plus more dinner ideas. Start with this comforting Instant Pot Pot Roast recipe.
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Ingredients

  • 3 pound boneless beef chuck roast
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, coarsely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 ½ cups low sodium beef broth
  • 4 sprigs fresh thyme, or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 6 medium carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 ½ pounds whole baby potatoes
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch, optional, for thickening gravy
  • 2 tablespoons water, optional, for thickening gravy

Instructions
 

  • Cut the beef roast in half.
  • Season the beef on all sides with the salt and pepper.
  • Heat the oil in the Instant Pot using the sautĂ© function until hot.
  • Place the beef in the pot and brown, 3-4 minutes per side. Transfer to a clean plate.
  • Add the onion to the pot. Cook until softened and lightly browned, stirring often, about 4 minutes. Stir in the garlic and turn off the Instant Pot.
  • Add the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce and beef broth. Stir well and scrape up any browned bits that are stuck to the bottom of the pot.
  • Put the beef back in the pot. Add the fresh thyme sprigs or dried thyme.
  • Close the Instant Pot lid and move the steam release valve to the sealing position. Pressure cook on high pressure for 60 minutes. When the cook time ends, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes and then quick release any remaining pressure by moving the valve to the venting position.
  • Open the Instant Pot lid and add the carrots and potatoes on top of the beef. Close the lid, seal the pot, and pressure cook for 5 more minutes on high pressure. Then let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes. Quick release any remaining pressure.
  • Remove the beef and vegetables from the pot, leaving the juices in the pot. Discard the fresh thyme stems. Use two forks to shred the roast into chunks.
  • Thicken the juices in the pot (optional): Turn on sautĂ©. Stir together 2 tablespoons each of cornstarch and water and then stir into the liquid in the Instant Pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until gravy has thickened slightly.

Notes

  • If your roast is larger than 3 pounds, add 10 minutes per pound to the pressure cook time.
  • To cook pot roast from frozen, skip the step of browning the meat. Pressure cook a frozen 3 pound beef chuck roast for 90 minutes, followed by a 10 minute natural pressure release. Then add your potatoes and carrots and pressure cook for 5 minutes more, plus 10 minutes natural release. If your roast is larger than 3 pounds, add 10 minutes per pound to the first pressure cooking time.
Calories: 428kcal, Carbohydrates: 24g, Protein: 36g, Fat: 22g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 11g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 117mg, Sodium: 592mg, Potassium: 1227mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 7724IU, Vitamin C: 22mg, Calcium: 66mg, Iron: 5mg
Nutrition information is an estimate.
Cuisine: American
Course: Main Course
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