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

Is Instant Pot worth it for students? ›

If you're looking to save counter space or don't want to spend a lot of money on separate appliances, then an Instant Pot could be worth the expense. However, if you're only going to use one or two functions of the Instant Pot, it's worth considering if separate devices would be more cost-effective.

What is a one pot wonder? ›

One-pot wonders are a culinary revelation. They are meals that can be made using just a single pot, pan, or skillet. Whether it's a hearty stew, a comforting pasta dish, or a flavorful stir-fry, one-pot wonders allow you to cook an entire meal in one go, maximizing the flavors and minimizing the mess.

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.

What food can I make quickly? ›

32 Quick and Easy Indian Recipes
  • 01 of 32. Masala Kheema - Dry Spicy Minced Meat. ...
  • 02 of 32. Basic Chicken Curry. ...
  • 03 of 32. Mint-Cucumber Raita. ...
  • 04 of 32. Baingan Aloo Ki Subji (Eggplant and Potatoes) ...
  • 05 of 32. Bhajias (Pakoras) ...
  • 06 of 32. South Indian Lemon Rice. ...
  • 07 of 32. Andey Ki (Egg Curry) ...
  • 08 of 32. Bhindi Dopiaza (Okra)
Mar 14, 2024

Why did Instapot go out of business? ›

“In particular, tightening of credit terms and higher interest rates impacted our liquidity levels and made our capital structure unsustainable,” Mr. Gadbois said. Instant Brands said in a statement on Wednesday that the new financing would allow the company to continue paying workers, vendors and suppliers.

What is the best pressure cooker for students? ›

Best sellers
  • Hawkins 3 Litre Contura Black Pressure Cooker, Hard Anodised Inner Lid Cooker, Handi Cooker, Black (CB30) ₹2,003. ...
  • Butterfly Curve Stainless Steel Outer Lid Pressure Cooker, 3 Litre. ...
  • Hawkins 3 Litre Inner Lid Pressure Cooker, Stainless Steel Cooker, Wide Design Pan Cooker, Induction Cooker, Silver (HSS3W)

What is the one pot meal trend? ›

This age-old preparation method is found among almost all ethnicities and cultures, and as its name suggests, it needs just one pot or pan. This pot may be a Dutch Oven, casserole dish, tagine, roast pan, skillet, or wok. All your vegetables, protein, and starches are mixed in just one vessel.

What is a one dish meal? ›

One-dish literally means just one pot. And one cooking dish means very little clean up during and after the meal. Saving time on clean up frees even more time to spend as you wish.

What is one pot one shot? ›

OPOS, which stands for One Pot One Shot, is a cooking style developed by B Ramakrishnan from Chennai and his mini army of followers (from across the world) on Facebook. It promises a chicken biryani in 6 minutes, a mutton biryani in 12 minutes.

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.

Can I bake in my Instapot? ›

Not only that—Instant Pots can slow cook, roast, bake, steam, air fry, and dehydrate countless ingredients, helping to create some of the most tasty and memorable dishes.

What is the most easiest thing to make? ›

Our 50 Easiest Recipes Ever For Lazy Cooks
  • 01 of 50. Shrimp and Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta. ...
  • 02 of 50. Soulful Chicken Soup. ...
  • 03 of 50. Spaghetti Casserole. ...
  • 04 of 50. Chicken Cutlets With Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce. ...
  • 05 of 50. Quick Beef Chili. ...
  • 06 of 50. Sloppy Joe Casserole. ...
  • 07 of 50. Green Chile Mac And Cheese With Chicken. ...
  • 08 of 50.
Sep 20, 2023

What is the easiest food in the world to make? ›

17 Of The Easiest Recipes Of All Time (Seriously)
  • Scrambled Egg Tacos. ...
  • Spicy Maple Glazed Salmon. ...
  • 15-Minute Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry. ...
  • Enchilada Sweet Potatoes. ...
  • One-Pot Chicken and Rice with Artichokes. ...
  • Wild Rice and Leftover Turkey Soup. ...
  • Sticky Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp. ...
  • 10-Minute Margherita Naan Pizza.
Jan 2, 2019

What is the most easiest food? ›

From noodles, stir-fries, soups and salads, you'll find something for everyone.
  • 1Kung pao chicken noodle tray bake. ...
  • 25-ingredient meatball carbonara. ...
  • 310-minute cheat's fried rice. ...
  • 4Easy beef stir-fry. ...
  • 5Easy tuna, sweetcorn and rice slice. ...
  • 6Quick fish finger burgers. ...
  • 7Japanese-style pork and soba noodle stir-fry.

How does a wonder pot work? ›

The lid of the Wonder Pot is perforated with small holes to release steam. Baking time in a Wonder Pot varies from 40 to 50 minutes. The Wonder Pot produces high and airy cakes. In addition to baking, the Wonder Pot is an effective medium for cooking vegetables, legumes, and rice in layers.

What exactly does an Instant Pot do? ›

An Instant Pot, also called a multi-cooker or electric pressure cooker, is an appliance that can do the job of a rice cooker, a yogurt maker, a steamer, a pressure cooker, a saute pan and a slow cooker (some features vary depending on the model you buy — there are several).

What is the one-pot synthetic strategy? ›

In chemistry one-pot synthesis is a technique that allows multiple chemical transformations of substrates to target molecules in single reaction flask. This strategy is considered to be an attractive approach and widely accepted reaction strategy in synthetic organic chemistry.

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