This list of 40 easy instant pot recipes includes the perfect recipes for your teenager to cook!
They include minimal steps, minimal ingredients, and super easy-to-follow directions to help you (or your child) get cookin’!
The instant pot is truly the greatest invention since white rice and every kitchen should certainly have one!
There comes a time in every parent’s life where they decide that their children need to learn to cook. So, we have gathered up forty of the easiest and quickest recipes for them to start with.
From one-pot, instant pot dinners to a super moist chocolate cake, the list below covers all the courses of your next meal.
What side dishes can I make in an instant pot?
Electric pressure cookers can really cut down the cooking times of anything, making most recipes quick and easy! So, when deciding on what recipes to pressure cook on busy nights, always consider those that take the longest.
Send your partner out to grill some chicken breasts while you get busy making one of these sides:
Tada! Now, you have an easy weeknight meal without heating the kitchen!
You could even throw a main dish into your slow cooker, instead. Then, right before dinner, make up a side or two from the list above.
Can I put aluminum foil in an instant pot?
You can absolutely put aluminum foil in an instant pot. However, I’d ask why you want to…
I realize that many of us grew up watching our Moms put it around the traditional comfort food: potatoes. However, many of us didn’t actually pay that much attention to her, so now we are Googling “can I put aluminum foil in an instant pot”. LOL!
The foil is wrapped around a potato AFTER cooking to finish the cooking process and keep the potato piping hot. So, you would cook it without the foil, inside the electric pressure cooker, so that moisture can enter the potato and keep the cooking process quick.
Then, you could remove the potatoes and wrap them in aluminum foil to keep them while you finish your instant pot meal.
Everything below cooks up in one pot for easy meals that even your child can do!
Plus, with tried-and-true ingredients, the pickiest of eaters will actually enjoy the recipes!
We have included main dish, side, dish, and dessert recipes for your instant pot! Enjoy!
Easy Instant Pot Recipes
When I think of "easy", I think minimal ingredients and minimal work! To me an easy recipe is something that someone with little to no cooking experience can re-create. So, that is what this list is! So easy, my teenage son can do it.
Just dump the 6 ingredients into your instant pot and wait 30 minutes. Tender, juicy, delicious dinner is served!
Don't panic! The steps seem overwhelming, but that is because each tiny detail is broken down to make it a cinch to follow!
This is the easiest Instant Pot Layered Chocolate Cake with the most perfect, moist crumb you’ll ever enjoy.
Use this recipe for your store-bought tilapia and I promise, you’ll love this recipe. This simple taco recipe tastes great and is my favorite fish taco recipe to make.
These insanely delicious, ridiculously EASY Carolina-Style Instant Pot Shredded BBQ Chicken Sandwiches are inspired by beach vacations along the Eastern Carolina shore!
This recipe takes just minutes to prep, and is a total snap in your pressure cooker!
Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas are such an easy weeknight meal.
Add the chicken and the delightful spice mix, top with the peppers and onion, and let the Instant Pot do the rest of the work.
Looking for a simple and comforting side dish you can quickly whip up for as a side for any meal?
This dump and start garlic butter Instant Pot Red Potatoes ticks all the boxes and is ready in less than 25 minutes!
This Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Breast recipe is the healthy cooking hack you’ve been waiting for!
Cooking frozen chicken breasts, Instant Pot style is incredibly easy and turns out perfectly moist and tender every time.
This super easy instant pot macaroni and cheese is the best version you’ll ever eat! It’s delicious and can be made healthier by adding vegetables and ham.
Kids and adults love it – your children will be begging for this yummy instant pot mac and cheese for dinner every night.
You get the flavors of chicken enchiladas, with much less effort (and way less carbs!). Be sure to top the soup with tortilla chips, cilantro, lime, and avocado!
4 ingredients (or 3 if you're feeling lazy), a true dump and start recipe that is super versatile.
It takes just 20 minutes to cook the perfect Tortellini in the Instant Pot.
This Creamy Tortellini is a perfect one-pot weeknight dinner that the whole family will love!
This Buffalo Chicken Soup is such an easy Instant Pot soup recipe to make.
Not only is it loaded down with tasty pieces of chicken breast, but it’s also hearty due to the added onion, carrot, and celery.
In less than 30 minutes of time, you’ll have a large pot of tasty soup, ready to eat.
These Buffalo Chicken Sliders are perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or when you’re hosting a crowd at home.
You won’t believe how easy they are to make and they taste better than take out!
Instant Pot Root Beer Pulled Pork is fall-apart tender and only needs 4- ingredients to make.
Perfect for a quick and easy pulled pork sandwich family dinner or to top nachos, a salad, or more.
Dump-and-go recipe you can make in only 15 minutes. Serve the Mongolian beef with jasmine rice or over broccoli for a complete meal.
This instant pot breakfast potato recipe is ideal for an easy quick family breakfast. Loaded with potatoes, onion, chorizo, and cheese, this will become a family favorite.
Instant Pot Bacon Mac and Cheese is a quick and easy dinner that the whole family will devour. Creamy, cheesy comfort food in just 10 minutes!
Making Chinese food doesn’t have to be super complicated.
Just throw these ingredients in your Instant Pot and you have a tasty and protein-packed dish!
Instant Pot Polenta Recipe: A Quick and Easy Method to Cook Cornmeal
This instant pot polenta is a super simple meal you can make in 20 minutes.
Simply leave cornmeal, butter, cheese, milk, and seasonings to cook for 15 minutes. Add heavy cream, stir, and serve!
A delicious pasta dish with tender chicken and a creamy Italian sauce. An Instant Pot “dump and start” recipe.
It really doesn’t get easier than this Hawaiian teriyaki meatball recipe. You just need frozen meatballs, canned pineapple, and your favorite teriyaki sauce.
It’s crazy easy and perfect for kids and adults.
These Instant Pot Chicken Taco Bowls are super easy to make and full of taco flavor!
Top with your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Enjoy a Chinese takeout dinner without leaving the house! This Instant Pot “dump and go” Lo Mein recipe is super flavorful and can be made with or without meat.
It doesn't get any easier than this delicious Instant Pot Salsa Chicken. Leftovers are so versatile with this recipe too.
Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs | Easy homemade cheap eats!
Bold Asian flavors are pressure cooked deep into these chicken thighs, and you crisp up the skin with a quick bake under the broiler.
Instant Pot Chicken Tacos are easy to make with only 3 ingredients in a pressure cooker.
Check out how easy it is to make this Instant Pot Strawberry Dump Cake.
This Instant Pot Pork Carnitas recipe is full of wonderful flavors including orange, lime, chili, paprika, cumin, oregano, and garlic.
Carnitas are the Mexican version of pulled pork, but have the amazing combo of being tender, juicy, and full of flavor and having crispy edges too!
Red Beans and Rice is classic Cajun comfort food. This easy Instant Pot recipe is not only a breeze to prepare, but is ready so much faster than stove top.
Let your Instant Pot do all the cooking to infuse your chicken with flavor from French onion and cream of mushroom soup.
Old fashioned comfort food taste in a fraction of the time!
Are you craving a hearty and flavorful soup? Check out this delicious Instant Pot Ham and Potato Soup!
It’s a quick ham and potato soup recipe that will show your family love in a tasty and fast way!
This is one delicious recipe that is packed full of so many great flavors!
This elevated salt potato recipe is simple and fast to make thanks to the Instant Pot or any electric pressure cooker.
This Instant Pot sausage and peppers recipe is versatile, easy to make, and comes out perfect every time.
By mastering this one simple recipe, you’ll be able to create a plethora of other meals to use throughout the week.
Looking for a filling yet quick meal idea for the family? This savory instant pot ham recipe with potatoes and carrots is an easy and delicious weeknight meal idea.
This instant pot vegetable beef soup is the perfect healthy soup recipe! This one-pot meal is packed with savory flavor and is ready in 30 minutes!
Cheesy and creamy instant pot baked ziti made in under 10 minutes!
No need to drain the pasta! Cook it all in one pot, even the bacon!
This Indian-inspired quinoa vegetable soup is one of my favorites! This hearty soup is packed with nutritious ingredients and bright fresh flavors.
A healthy soup made in instant pot under 30 minutes (from prep to finish).
Fresh cilantro and lime juice combine with chili powder, garlic and chicken for a kickin' good flavor that cooks in just minutes in your instant pot.
This is the BEST Instant Pot vegan chili recipe I’ve ever made! Full of robust and hearty flavor, this vegan chili is a crowd-pleaser for all eaters, and protein-packed!
More Instant Pot Recipes:
These might not be the easiest, but they still come together in about 30 minutes!
Kelli, thanks so much for sharing with us at the TFT party! I’m featuring you today at the party. Congratulations!