20 Easy Instant Pot Recipes for Beginners
Use these 20 easy Instant Pot recipes for beginners to get you started with your pressure cooker. From savory to sweet, this recipe list will have you comfortable with your Instant Pot in no time!
When I first received my Instant Pot, I was timid.
No. That’s not right – I was terrified.
My husband bought it for me on a whim and when it arrived, I didn’t even open the box for days. At one point, I secretly wanted something to be wrong with it so I could send it back.
But now? I use it nearly EVERY day
What You'll Find On This Page
My Favorite Use for the Instant Pot
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing my favorite ways to use the Instant Pot (and more of my favorite easy Instant Pot recipes for beginners), but today, I’m going to share one thing I make in the Instant Pot at least twice a week.
Hard-boiled eggs (or hard-cooked eggs) are the absolute best in the Instant Pot. Each week, I use my pot and make 2-3 batches of eggs because the egg shells come off so smoothly! I’ll never – never – go back to boiling or baking hard-cooked eggs.
I’ve also made red beans and rice from dry beans and it turned out amazing. I will say I’ll be adding a bit more spice to the next batch, but I used this red beans and rice recipe for the Instant Pot and it was enjoyed by the entire family.
How to Make Hard-Boiled Eggs in the Instant Pot
- Use a trivet or steamer and add in your eggs (they can be touching).
- Add 1 cup of water to the Instant Pot. Close and lock the lid, set the valve to cook (it might take a few uses of the pot to remember to do this every time). :)
- Select the “Steam” setting for 5-6 minutes.
- When the Instant Pot beeps, quick release (turn the valve, watch out for spewing), and remove the eggs to an ice bath.
- Watch, in sheer amazement, as farm-fresh or week-old egg shells just slide right off.
Easy Instant Pot Recipes for Beginners
In order to get you cooking with confidence with your new Instant Pot pressure cooker, I’ve compiled a few tasty (and easy) Instant Pot recipes.
Instant Pot Salted Caramel Cheesecake from cookiesandcups.com
I’m starting with dessert first because I honestly didn’t think you could use an Instant Pot to make dessert. But oh, you can! Psst: she has a great tip to follow when cooking a cheesecake in the IP.
Venezuelan Shredded Beef from livingsweetmoments.com
Instant Pot Vegan Curried Spring Vegetable Potato Chaat from healthyslowcooking.com
Instant Pot Indian Potato Salad Recipe from healthyslowcooking.com
Cheesy Chili Mac (pressure Cooker/instant Pot) from chattavore.com
Instant Pot Cashew Chicken Curry from everynookandcranny.net
Vegan Instant Pot Brazilian Potato Salad from healthyslowcooking.com
An Instant Pot Rainbow Panzanella Salad from healthyslowcooking.com
Instant Pot Chicken Marsala With Spaghetti Squash from mamainstincts.com
This sweet Instant Pot Yogurt with Fruit from slapdashmom.com
No list of easy Instant Pot recipes for beginners would be complete without Instant Pot Pork Carnitas (Mexican Pulled Pork) from skinnytaste.com
Comforting Instant Pot Pressure Cooker French Dip Sandwiches from number-2-pencil.com
Instant Pot Shredded Mexican Chicken from rebootedmom.com
Tortilla Soup (instant Pot-friendly Recipe) from forageddish.com
I’m exactly like Caitlin, in that I will order tortilla soup 8 out of 10 times when dining out. This easy Instant Pot recipe for beginners is so tasty. I’ve had nothing but rave reviews from this one!
Cold-weather warming Instant Pot (pressure Cooker) Chicken And Lentil Soup from skinnytaste.com
Instant Pot Minestrone Soup Recipe {pressure Cooker, Gluten Free} from dontmesswithmama.com
A spring-time favorite Instant Pot Corned Beef from nourishtofuel.com
10-minute Make-ahead Instant Pot Gravy {grain-free & Gluten-free Too!} from traditionalcookingschool.com
Fire Hot Instant Pot Taco Bowl from adventuresofanurse.com
Comforting Beef Barley Soup (instant Pot) Recipe from littlespicejar.com
Summary
Let me know which of these 20 easy Instant Pot recipes you’re eager to try. Pin this to your Instant Pot recipes board or to your favorite quick dinner ideas board on Pinterest!
Isn’t tortilla soup just the best?! I’m going to have to make some this week I think!
Do you know if you can use these recipes in a stove top pressure cooker?
Anne, I don’t have one. I do know that some of the recipe creators (I’m a fan of most of their sites) will sometimes include instructions to adapt them for a stove-top model (also, you can find them in the comments section from VERY helpful users). I’ve even seen comments in the Instant Pot groups on Facebook with adapations!
I am hearing about the Instant Pot everywhere. I don’t understand it… is it better than a crockpot? I love my crockpot. That’s funny how it initially scared you. LOL
I would start with dessert first too… because cheesecake.
Thanks for sharing Sarah!
xoxo
It’s different than a crock pot (although it has a crock pot setting). :)
I can cook dry beans in just over an hour – no crock pot can do that. Frozen chicken made into pulled BBQ or taco-seasoned shredded chicken in 15 minutes.
I was terrified in the beginning and now I’m using it at least 3 times a week. I stopped putting it away – now it just sits on my counter! LOL