20 Easy Instant Pot Recipes for Beginners (2024)

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Not sure what to make in your Instant Pot? Here are my favorite easy, foolproof recipes that are perfect for beginners! They are all super simple and perfect for helping you get comfortable with using your Instant Pot before you move on to more complicated foods.

20 Easy Instant Pot Recipes for Beginners (1)

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I bought my first Instant Pot over 4 years ago and it quickly became one of my favorite kitchen tools!

I use it regularly and it has simplified meal prep for me in so many ways.

But when I first got my Instant Pot, I felt pretty intimidated by it.

I remember wondering what the best things were to cook in it. What foods could I easily make that would be forgiving as I was learning? What were some of the best ways to make the most of this appliance?

So I thought that I’d share some of my favorite easy Instant Pot recipes for beginners.

They’re all pretty much foolproof and are great recipes for helping you get used to your Instant Pot without a lot of stress or fear of ending up with a flop.

For reference, this is the Instant Pot that I have and love.

Best Beginner Instant Pot Recipes

20 Easy Instant Pot Recipes for Beginners (2)

1. Oatmeal via Longbourn Farm
Not only is making oatmeal in the Instant Pot quick and easy but if you have people eating breakfast at different times, it’s especially handy because you can use the “Keep Warm” function to keep the oatmeal hot for hours.

2. Hard Boiled Eggsvia Cooking with Curls
One of the simplest things that you can make in your Instant Pot! And you’ll love how easy it is to remove the shell. Even fresh eggs peel beautifully!

3. Yogurt via Tastes Better from Scratch
Homemade yogurt is so delicious and you’ll save money by making it too!

The recipe above is great, but because I prefer to sweeten my yogurt with sugar. So I use my homemade yogurt recipe and just adapt the instructions for the Instant Pot. The only change that I make is to stir in the sugar, gelatin and vanilla once the milk has reached 180 degrees.

4. Apple Butter via Thrifty Frugal Mom
Homemade apple butter in an hour? Yes, please!

5. Refried Beans via Thrifty Frugal Mom
These refried beans are so easy to make and are cheaper and healthier than storebought.

6. Dried Beansvia Tidbits
The absolute easiest and fastest way to cook dried beans! I love doing a potful and then freezing them to use in place of canned beans in recipes.

7. Corn on the Cobvia Kristine’s Kitchen Blog
Perfect corn on the cob, every time. Yum!

8. Carrotsvia Graceful Little Honey Bee
A simple, healthy side dish made super easy thanks to the Instant Pot.

9. Ricevia Rachel Cooks
My favorite thing to cook in my Instant Pot. It’s totally foolproof and leaves you with fluffy, perfectly cooked rice each time.

10. Spaghetti Noodlesvia Miss Wish
The simplest way to make noodles for spaghetti or other dishes!

11. Mac and Cheese via Simply Happy Foodie
Classic comfort food made extra easy thanks to your Instant Pot!

12. “Baked” Potatoes | Sweet Potatoesvia Shugary Sweets
Another Instant Pot favorite! It’s especially handy for those times when your oven is tied up with something else that is baking at a different temperature.

The recipe above only talks about potatoes but I use the same instructions for sweet potatoes.Actually, I often cook the two together since some of us like one and some the other.

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13. Mashed Potatoes via The Salty Marshmallow
These mashed potatoes arethe best. And of course, so super easy!

14. Butternut Squash via Clean Eating Kitchen
Such a simple way to cook up a squash! And it’s incredibly easy to peel once it’s cooked too.

15. Spaghetti Squash via Sweet Peas and Saffron
This method lets you cook the squash whole (no need to try to saw through that hard shell!) and makes perfect noodles that aren’t one bit soggy.

16. Pumpkinvia Noshtastic
Ilove making my own pumpkin puree and this method is super easy!

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17. Chicken Breastsvia Tastes Better from Scratch
You’ll love how juicy this chicken is!And you can even cook them from frozen if you want. So handy!

18. Chicken Stock via Easy Chicken Recipes
My favorite way to make chicken stock!And I typically do the bones a second time to get more broth from one batch!

19. Rotisserie Chickenvia A Pinch of Healthy
This makes such a juicy delicious chicken!And it only takes minutes to prep. Who needs store-bought rotisserie chicken anymore?

20. Pulled Pork via Home Made Interest
Quick, easy and creates such tender meat!

Other posts you might enjoy:

  • 25+ Easy Delicious Recipes Using Bisquick
  • 35 Meatless Meal Ideas
  • 40 Foods to Freeze to Save Money
  • 25 Simple Budget Casseroles
20 Easy Instant Pot Recipes for Beginners (7)

FREE INSTANT POT SCHOOL

Learn how to use your Instant Pot! Includes…

  • a Free Instant Pot Meal Plan
  • 4 video lessons with PDFs
  • 4 easy assignments to get you cooking

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20 Easy Instant Pot Recipes for Beginners (2024)

FAQs

What is the best first thing to cook in an Instant Pot? ›

When it comes to breaking your Instant Pot in, it's a good idea to start with some basic foods and simple meals you're already familiar with, then slowly expand your Instant Pot repertoire from there. Try making staples like eggs, sweet potatoes, rice, or lentils using just the pressure cooker function.

What foods should not be cooked in an Instant Pot? ›

6 Things You Should Never Cook in an Instant Pot
  1. Creamy Sauces. If there's one food group you should avoid in the Instant Pot, it's dairy. ...
  2. Fried Chicken. The best fried chicken is crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside and perfectly golden brown. ...
  3. Cookies. ...
  4. Burgers. ...
  5. Pie. ...
  6. Steak.

What is the easiest Instant Pot? ›

Beginner-Friendly: Instant Pot Duo Nova 7-in-1

The Duo Nova is best for: anyone who's extra cautious about cooking with pressure (or kitchen safety in general).

What is the 5 5 5 method for Instant Pot? ›

The 5-5-5 method involves the following: 5-minute cook time. 5-minute natural pressure release. 5-minute ice bath.

Can I put frozen meat in an Instant Pot? ›

Do Expect Cook Times to Vary: A frozen piece of meat will not only take longer to cook, but it will also take longer for the Instant Pot to come to pressure. Because of this, be prepared to add a few extra minutes to your overall cook time.

What should you never put in a pressure cooker? ›

Foods containing dairy, like milk, cream, or yogurt, should not be pressure-cooked. The high heat and pressure can cause dairy products to curdle or separate, ruining the texture, taste and flavour of the dish. Cooking fried foods is a strict no no, when it comes to pressure cookers.

What is the best meat to cook in a pressure cooker? ›

You can still pressure cook leaner pieces – like eye of round and top sirloin – but these work best if they've been stuffed, shredded or rolled (with other ingredients). Best cuts of beef to use: Chuck steak, Round Roast, Shoulder, Pot roast, Ribs, Brisket, Oxtail.

What is the disadvantage of Instant Pot? ›

An Instant Pot is not going to plan your meals and make everything in 9 minutes start to finish. It's really easy to over-steam your veggies and it's not any faster on THAT task. But. There are many advantages to pressure cooking that can't be beat.

Is Instant Pot better than a crockpot? ›

If you are interested primarily in slow cooking, you should buy a dedicated slow cooker. They're more reliable with a range of slow-cooker recipes than an Instant Pot. We found Instant Pot multicookers specifically could not successfully slow-cook dense, high-volume recipes such as beef stew or pot roast.

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 is the difference between an Instant Pot and a pressure cooker? ›

An instant pot and a pressure cooker are both cookers that use pressure to cook food. They are similar because they have a sealed jar with a valve that releases the tension. The main difference is that an instant pot has an added feature that allows it to be used as a slow cooker, rice cooker, and steamer.

What cooks well in a pressure cooker? ›

From ribs that fall off the bone, to stew, casserole or braised meat, a pressure cooker can achieve great results in under an hour. A risotto can be on the table in half the usual time, with very little stirring.

Which is the easiest pressure cooker to use? ›

Zavor DUO 6.3 Quart Multi-Setting Pressure Cooker

The Zavor Duo is dead simple to use, and the lid doesn't require a lot of fiddling to attach. Even novice cooks can navigate the multiple pressure settings and steam release valve.

What do I need to know before using a pressure cooker? ›

Pressure Cooker Safety Tips
  • Before Cooking, Check Your Equipment. Always check the rubber gasket (the ring of rubber that lines the lid of the cooker) to make sure it isn't dried out or cracked. ...
  • Don't Overfill the Cooker. ...
  • Use Enough Liquid. ...
  • Don't Pressure Fry. ...
  • Release Pressure in a Safe Way. ...
  • Clean the Cooker Properly.
Aug 7, 2019

What liquid to add to Instant Pot? ›

First, you must add liquid to the Instant Pot before cooking. Without sufficient liquid, pressure won't build — and you'll likely get the dreaded “burn” error. Unless otherwise specified in the recipe, you'll need just enough liquid (usually water or broth) to bring the cooker to pressure.

How do I get the most out of my Instant Pot? ›

14 Instant Pot Tips and Tricks
  1. Read up on all the functions before you start. ...
  2. Use plenty of liquid. ...
  3. Food cooks by surface area rather than volume. ...
  4. Plan before you cook. ...
  5. Don't overfill. ...
  6. Use separate sealing rings. ...
  7. Prepare ingredients in large quantities. ...
  8. Use the steaming insert for quicker cooking foods.

Can you put frozen chicken in an Instant Pot? ›

Place the frozen chicken breasts in the Instant Pot inner pot. If you are cooking more than one, make sure they are separated to achieve even cooking throughout. To separate frozen chicken breasts, place them in cool water until they have thawed enough to pull apart.

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