20+ Ridiculously Easy Instant Pot Recipes for Busy School Nights - Mama Cheaps® (2024)

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Raise your hand if you have ever fallen victim to the drive-thru window or some other form of take-out food on a busy school night. C’mon, raise those hands! I won’t judge you. I have most definitely done the same thing. Because it can be so hard to juggle all of the kids’ activities AND get a home-cooked meal on the table for dinner. (Some of us don’t even get the chance to sit down as a family to eat dinner at least one night during the week because we are en route from one activity to another over the dinner hour.)

Easy Instant Pot Recipes

A couple of years ago, I finally gave in to Pinterest pressure (haha is that really a real thing?) and bought myself an Instant Pot. I figured I would use it here and there to speed up meals when I had forgotten to defrost meat in time for dinner. I can tell you with confidence that my Instant Pot has quickly risen to the rank of Kitchen All-Star and gets used at least 2 times a week, bare minimum. We have taken our IP camping and I use it for weekly lunch prep. It’s a really convenient time saving tool (pressure cooker) and cooks up savory meals in a fraction of the time that my slow cooker is capable of. Between the Instant Pot and our air fryer, I am finding it so much easier to get delicious dinner on the table, even when our nights are super busy.

Besides cooking meals, you can even use this multi-function cooker for things like cooking hardboiled eggs and making yogurt!

Did you just get an Instant Pot? Here’s a great starter post:You Just Got An Instant Pot. Now What? Tips for Using Your New Instant Pot.

Did you know you canaccessorize your Instant Pot?

In addition to the dinner ideas you will find below, I now have several other Instant Pot recipe roundups on the blog. Check them out:

  • 37 Easy Easter Instant Pot Recipes (Entrees, Apps, Sides, Dessert Ideas)
  • Easiest Way to Make Hard Boiled Eggs in the Instant Pot
  • 20 of the Best Instant Pot Breakfast Recipes
  • 21 Must-Try Weight Watchers Instant Pot Recipes
  • 21 Delicious Paleo Instant Pot Recipes
  • 45 of the Greatest Game Day and Tailgating Instant Pot Recipes
  • 21 Decadent Desserts You Can Make in Your Instant Pot
  • 21 Easy Instant Pot Recipes to Make in Your RV
  • Easy Pressure Cooker Pot Roast Recipe
  • 13 Perfectly PUMPKIN Instant Pot Recipes
  • 12 Totally APPLE Instant Pot Recipes
  • 20 Savory Instant Pot Sides for Your Next BBQ
  • How to Cook Pork Tenderloin in the Instant Pot
  • Easy Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
  • Perfect Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
  • Easy Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Legs
  • Creamy Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

I scoured the interwebs for some really super easy Instant Pot recipes using common ingredients so that you can join me in trying to cut out some of the fast food dinner purchases this year!

Instant Pot Dinner Recipes

1. Instant Pot Pot Roast

2. Instant Pot Buttery Lemon Chicken from Mama Instincts

3. Instant Pot Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes from You Wash I’ll Dry

4. Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas

5. Easy Pulled Pork Instant Pot Recipe from Slick Housewives

6. Instant Pot Buttery Ranch Pork Chops from Eating on a Dime

7. Beef and Broccoli Pressure Cooker Recipe from I Save A to Z

8. Instant Pot Spaghetti

OR! Make spaghetti on the stove and use your IP to make thisEasy Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce Recipe!

9. Instant Pot Cajun Chicken and Rice from Leelalicious

10. Instant Pot Mac and Cheese from Six Sisters Stuff

11. Instant Pot Goulash from I Don’t Have Time for That

12. Instant Pot Chicken and Vegetables

13. Instant Pot Honey Glazed Ham from Dana Vento

14. Instant Pot Lasagna from My Crazy Good Life

15. Instant Pot Orange Chicken from A Fork’s Tale

16. Coca Cola BBQ Ribs Instant Pot Recipe

17. Pressure Cooker Shrimp Paella from My Forking Life

18. Instant Pot Butter Chicken from The Typical Mom

19. Instant Pot Cheesy Ranch Chicken from Passion for Savings

20. Instant Pot Italian Sausage Penne from One Hangry Mama

21. Easy Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Legs

22. How to Cook Pork Tenderloin in the Instant Pot

23. 30 Minute Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

24. Instant Pot Lasagna Soup

Make sure you PIN Easy Instant Pot Recipes!!

20+ Ridiculously Easy Instant Pot Recipes for Busy School Nights - Mama Cheaps® (14)
20+ Ridiculously Easy Instant Pot Recipes for Busy School Nights - Mama Cheaps® (2024)

FAQs

What to make when you have no time to cook? ›

13 Emergency Dinners for When You Don't Have Time to Cook
  1. 01 of 14. Broiled Tilapia Parmesan. ...
  2. 02 of 14. Asian Beef with Snow Peas. ...
  3. 03 of 14. Vegetarian Chickpea Tacos. ...
  4. 04 of 14. Sicilian Spaghetti. ...
  5. 05 of 14. Waffle Pizzas. ...
  6. 06 of 14. Shrimp and Peanut Butter Noodles. ...
  7. 07 of 14. Mexi-Chicken Avocado Cups. ...
  8. 08 of 14.
Jul 26, 2021

What cooks good in an Instant Pot? ›

Whether you're short on time, hungry, or just impatient, these recipes are for you.
  • Instant Pot Chicken Bone Broth. tasty.co. ...
  • Instant Pot Lasagna. ...
  • Instant Pot Mac & Cheese. ...
  • Instant Pot Chicken Biryani. ...
  • Instant Pot Summer Corn and Bacon Soup. ...
  • Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup. ...
  • Instant Pot Pulled Chicken. ...
  • Instant Pot Beef Chili.
Dec 13, 2023

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.

Can you make everything in an Instant Pot? ›

In general, Instant Pots do so much more than just pressure cooking and can be used as a rice cooker, slow cooker, steamer yogurt maker, sauté pan, and a meal warmer.

How do you cook if you're lazy? ›

7 Easy Cooking Tips for Lazy People
  1. Stock your pantry with the basics. ...
  2. Stock up on frozen ingredients. ...
  3. Cook an extra batch of food. ...
  4. Have freezer-friendly containers and bags handy. ...
  5. Master a few one-pot meals. ...
  6. Roast your meals. ...
  7. Invest in the right kitchen helper. ...
  8. 6 Beginner's Recipes you can make with a Kitchen Machine.

What to make when you're hungry and have no food? ›

15 Delicious Things to Throw Together When You're Pressed for Food Options
  • Buttery, gooey grilled cheese.
  • PB&J because duh.
  • Tuna melt tostadas.
  • Pancakes! Pancakes!
  • Scrambled eggs.
  • Waffles.
  • A Hagrid-size bowl of cereal.
  • Spaghetti carbonara.
Apr 28, 2020

What cannot be cooked in 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.

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.

What is the most popular Instant Pot? ›

In general, the Instant Pot Duo seems to be the most popular, because it offers excellent value — it's the most affordable model but still cooks seven ways and has basic, intuitive controls. The Duo also offers the Duo Crisp model that can also air fry.

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.

What is the newest Instant Pot model? ›

Released in June of 2022, the Instant Pot Rio is listed on Amazon as the Instant Pot “formerly known as the Duo.” For now, you can still buy both, though we're not sure why you would get a 6-quart Duo when the more energy-efficient 6-quart Rio has the same price tag and the same seven cooking functions, all packaged in ...

What size Instant Pot for 2 people? ›

The Bottom Line. The 3 quart is right for you If you're short on space and only cooking for 1 or 2 people or you want an extra Instant Pot. The 6 quart is best if you're cooking for 5 people or fewer or you want to be able to follow online recipes without having to modify them too much.

What's the first thing I should cook in my 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 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.

Can you put frozen chicken in an Instant Pot? ›

Meat, like chicken or salmon, can go straight from the freezer into the Instant Pot. The reason? A pressure cooker, like the Instant Pot, quickly brings food to a safe temperature. This is different from a slow cooker, which can allow frozen foods to sit at an unsafe temperature for prolonged periods of time.

What can I cook in 5 minutes? ›

25 healthy recipes you can cook in 5 minutes or less
  • Pea and broad bean couscous.
  • Fast home-made baked beans.
  • Porridge.
  • Pasta with cherry tomatoes and rocket.
  • Home-made hummus.
  • Smashed avocado and wilted spinach.
  • Cucumber (or potato) raitha.
  • Quick pitta pizzas.

What can I prepare without cooking? ›

You can eat raw fruits and dry fruits , veggies like cucumber, greens like lettuces , roots like carrot , radishes , jicama , beetroot and seeds like watermelon , sunflower , muskmelon , pumpkin etc . we dont need to cook these , they are complete whole food on its own .

How do I eat healthy when I don't have time to cook? ›

Ways to Eat Healthy Without Having to Cook
  1. Precooked Whole Grains. 1/13. ...
  2. Frozen Veggies. 2/13. ...
  3. Precooked Chicken Strips. 3/13. ...
  4. That's a Wrap. 4/13. ...
  5. Deli Chicken. 5/13. ...
  6. Lower-Sodium Soups. 6/13. ...
  7. Canned Salmon. 7/13. ...
  8. Ready-to-Eat Boiled Eggs. 8/13.
Aug 28, 2023

What can you cook in 3 minutes? ›

Three-Minute Meals
  • Mushroom Toast. 1 piece whole-grain toast. ...
  • Spring Salad with Shrimp and Brown Rice. ...
  • Italian-Style Ratatouille with Chicken Sausage. ...
  • Quick Vegetarian Tacos. ...
  • Mediterranean-Style Loaded Baked Potato. ...
  • Breakfast for Dinner: Vegetarian Omelette. ...
  • Asian-Inspired Stir Fry. ...
  • Whole Grain Flatbread Pizza and Salad.
Jun 7, 2017

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