6 Must-Have Instant Pot Recipes for Beginners (2024)

Did you just get a new Instant Pot Pressure Cooker and you’re not sure where to begin? I’ve gathered 6 must have Instant Pot recipes for beginners like me! These are basic recipes that will simplify your meal prep and save you tons of time!

I have several friends who own and love their Instant Pots, so after much research and finding a great deal we went ahead and purchased one. If you’re hearing about the Instant Pot for the first time, I’ll give you a little overview:

The Instant Pot is a multi-functional electric pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté and more! I purchased the 6-quart Instant Pot IP-LUX60 6-in-1. The model I owndoes not have all of the functions of the 7 in 1 Instant Pot. If I were to buy this again,I would have purchased the 7 in 1 for the extra features (like yogurt making).

[As a member of Amazon and other affiliate programs, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. All images were used with permission.]

Why I Bought an Instant Pot:

TIME SAVER!

This instant pot can cook an entire chicken in just 30 minutes. White rice takes just 8 minutes and beans cook in just10-15 minutes for soaked beans or 35-40 for dry beans!

RICECOOKER

I’m terrible at making rice, I’m too impatient and my rice often turns out watery, or too starchy. I’ve been able to make perfect rice in my new Instant Pot!

SIZE

I love having a slow cooker but ours is HUGE. I hate dragging it out and I’m prone to burning food in it, likely because there is too much empty space in the large pot. The Instant Pot is a more compact size and fits in the corner of our counter easily. I can also tuck it away in the cupboard!

PRICE

I found my Instant Pot on Amazon for a great price. These go on sale often, so keep watching for a great deal! I think the Instant Pot is worth every dime, I’ve already used it 5 times since it arrived last week.

LESS MESS

With the Instant Pot I can sear my meat, sauté onions and garlic or cook ground beef right in the pot. Then I simply dump in the rest of the ingredients and cook it all in the samepot!

SAFE

When I hear “pressure cooking” I get a little freaked out, I picture an exploded pot with rice all over the walls. This electric pressure cooker has 10 safety measures that ensure that using the pot is safe!

PURCHASE YOUR Instant Pot!

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If you’re new to using your Instant Pot, like me then you’re probably looking for a place to start. Below are some easy recipes to help you get started using your Instant Pot. I’ve gathered 6 recipes to get you started today!

Oatmeal in the Instant Pot:

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For a quick breakfast, Laura from Hip PressureCooking.com has excellent clear instructions on how you can make oatmeal in your Instant Pot. She also has a handy chart to help you figure outhow to cookdifferent types of oatmeal. Once you know how to make the basic oatmeal you can try her Strawberries and Cream Rolled Oatmeal Recipesit looks delicious.

Baked Potatoes in the Instant Pot

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My husband and son love potatoes. Ever since living in Ireland for 2 years my husband is a happy man if hecan eat potatoes every single day! I love that I can bakepotatoes in the Instant Pot! Chelseafrom MakeRealFood.com shares how she cooks up Baked Potatoes in the Instant Potin no time!

Hard Boiled Eggs in the Instant Pot

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Boiled eggs are a big part of mylow-carb life and once I saw how perfect hard boiled eggs in the Instant pot turned out I was sold! Weekly meal prephas always been a bigkey to my healthy eating and this recipe is going to save me so much time and frustration! Jennifer at PreDominantlyPaleo shows you how she cooksperfect, easy to peel hard boiled eggs in the Instant Pot.

Perfect Rice in the Instant Pot

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Oh Rice! We love to eat itbut I hate cooking it. When I make rice itnever quite turns out perfect. I’m not the most patientcook and my rice either turns out too chewy, watery or is too sticky! Laura has2 great ways to cook rice in the Instant Pot, she also shares a super handy chart to help you cook the perfect pot of rice! There might be hope for me yet!

Frozen Meat in the Instant Pot

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I’m excited to try cooking frozen meat in our Instant Pot. This will be aHUGE time saver and Laura has great instructions on how cook frozen meat in the Instant Potthe right way!

Chicken Stock in the Instant Pot

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When our children were much youngerI was always boiling chicken bones on the stove. I used homemade chicken broth all of the time! I’ve since found life to be too busy and I’ve started buying canned broth or using… gasp…bullion cubes! It’s just not the same. The flavor and nutrients in homemade bone broth are hard to beat! Barbara at PressureCookingToday.com has clear and detailed instructions on how to make your own homemade chicken stock in the Instant Pot.

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Want 5 more great recipes for your Instant Pot? Check out 5 Instant Pot Recipes for Back-to-School (or just very busy nights!)

Now that you have your Instant Pot,you’ll want to add in a few accessoriesto help you make the most of your new pressure cooker. Click the image below to see my favorite accessories to use with my Instant Pot.

10 Useful Instant Pot Accessories:

It can be overwhelming when you buy a new kitchen gadget and there are hundreds of recipes online, I hope these recipes help you get started using your Instant Pot with confidence!

6 Must-Have 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 does the 6 in 1 Instant Pot do? ›

Instant Pot Lux V3 6 In 1 Programmable multi-cooker replaces 6 kitchen appliances, it combines the functions of a Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, saute, Steamer, and Warmer.

Which Instant Pot for beginners? ›

Instant Pot Duo Plus 8-Quart Multi-Use Pressure Cooker

Easy to clean and super straightforward, this appliance is suitable for beginners and pros.

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? ›

Yes, it is safe to cook frozen food in a pressure cooker or an electric pressure cooker like an Instant Pot. However, if you only have the slow cooker version of the Instant Pot, then it is not safe to cook frozen food in it.

What is the disadvantage of Instant Pot? ›

Con– The Instant Pot uses steam under pressure to cook food and not everything is meant to be cooked in the Instant Pot. I attempted a crustless quiche which turned out well but it was too wet and moist to my liking and I prefer to cook it in the oven with dry heat.

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.

Is Instant Pot better than crock pot? ›

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.

How long do instant pots last? ›

If you're using your pressure cooker on a daily basis and investing in regular maintenance, it may last you up to five years. On average, though, most pressure cookers perform well for up to three years. After that, it's time to consider investing in a replacement.

What size Instant Pot for 3 people? ›

If you're sticking to side dishes and meals for up to three people, Instant Pot recommends the 3-quart size. The 6-quart size is the most popular and recommended for feeding up to six people. The 8-quart model is the next most-popular size and is recommended for large families or to meal prep food for the week.

What do you cook in a pressure cooker for beginners? ›

Robin Shreeves joins Laurel Randolph in compiling this list.
  1. Pressure Cooker Chicken Stock. ...
  2. Instant Pot Easy-Peel Hard Boiled Eggs. ...
  3. Instant Pot Chicken. ...
  4. Instant Pot Oatmeal with Apples and Cinnamon. ...
  5. Pressure Cooker Shredded Chicken Taco Meat. ...
  6. Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto. ...
  7. Fast, No-Soak Instant Pot Beans. ...
  8. Instant Pot Rice.

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

To ensure proper pressure build-up and cooking performance, never fill your cooker more than two-thirds full, and for foods that expand during cooking like grains and rice, aim for only half full. Be careful with your liquids: Pressure cooking typically uses significantly less liquid than traditional cooking methods.

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.

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