Chances are you've been seeing Instant Pot recipes all over the internet lately. If you're scratching your head wondering what exactly that means or if an Instant Pot is the same thing as a slow cooker, allow this beginner breakdown to help. The Instant Pot [1] is a countertop cooking tool that's like a cross between a pressure cooker, a slow cooker, and a sauté pan. According to its description, it's a "multi-cooker, capable of replacing a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker/porridge maker, sauté/browning pan, steamer, yogurt maker, and stockpot warmer."
Plenty of bloggers and cooks are fans of the Instant Pot and have figured out how to make chicken, soups, rice, and even cheesecake in the appliance. If you're curious about experimenting with an Instant Pot — and potentially replacing your slow cooker — read ahead for more recipes to start with.
Instant Pot Garlic Chicken Soup
Every garlic-lover will swoon over this soup that has 40 (yes, really) cloves of garlic. When sauteed in an Instant Pot and cooked down with broth, they become soft and tender, adding creaminess to the soup without any actual cream.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot garlic chicken soup [3]
Instant Pot Steel-Cut Oats
Steel-cut oats typically take at least 30 minutes to cook on the stovetop, so your breakfast routine will be totally transformed by this 15-minute version.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot steel-cut oats [4]
Instant Pot Pesto Chicken and Potatoes
No joke: cooking chicken in an Instant Pot takes eight to 10 minutes. Add just a few minutes to dinner prep to make the homemade pesto, and you've got a balanced meal in no time at all.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot pesto chicken and potatoes [5]
Instant Pot Korean Beef
Juicy shredded beef gets a Korean spin with soy sauce, garlic, grated ginger, and apple.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot Korean beef [6]
Instant Pot Butter Rice
This buttery brown rice is flavored with beef broth and french onion soup, and it's the perfect side dish that can be made in less than 25 minutes.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot butter rice [7]
Instant Pot Meatballs
Inspired by caprese salad, these meatballs have a surprise in the form of mini mozzarella balls inside. After just 30 minutes, you can serve these meatballs as an appetizer or over a bed of pasta for dinner.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot meatballs [8]
Instant Pot Hard-Boiled Eggs
By far the quickest and best way to make hard-boiled eggs is in the Instant Pot. The best part? They peel effortlessly with no shell residue in sight.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot hard-boiled eggs [9]
Instant Pot Chocolate Cake
Basically a giant fudge brownie, this Instant Pot chocolate cake comes together in just 30 minutes.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot chocolate cake [10]
Instant Pot 4-Ingredient Barbecue Chicken
You can cook this barbecue chicken in a slow cooker or in the Instant Pot. Bonus: the Instant Pot allows you to reduce the runny sauce on the high setting after you remove the chicken until it becomes thick and glaze-like.
Get the recipe: four-ingredient barbecue chicken [11]
Instant Pot Vegetable Soup
This easy recipe allows you to take a few shortcuts, like using frozen vegetables, for a light and comforting soup that takes little effort to make.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot vegetable soup [12]
Instant Pot Oreo Cheesecake
Did you know you can essentially pressure-cook a cheesecake? This Oreo cheesecake, loaded with cream cheese, crushed Oreos, vanilla, whipped cream, and chocolate sauce, "bakes" for about 40 minutes in an Instant Pot.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot Oreo cheesecake [13]
Instant Pot Chicken Piccata
Because of the sauté feature on an Instant Pot, you're able to brown the chicken piccata on all sides before finishing it in chicken broth and adding lemon juice and capers.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot chicken piccata [14]
Instant Pot Chicken Creole
Spicy Creole sauce and juicy shredded chicken combine for this warming dinner that you can ladle into bowls or serve over rice.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot chicken Creole [15]
Instant Pot French Dip Sandwiches
Slow-cooked beef meets buttery rolls and provolone cheese in this recipe for french dip sandwiches.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot french dip sandwiches [16]
Instant Pot Chocolate Cake
Yes, it's true: you can make a perfect chocolate cake without even preheating your oven.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot chocolate cake [17]
Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili
Instead of simmering chili in the slow cooker for up to eight hours, you can make a hearty chili in the Instant Pot in less than 30 minutes.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot vegetarian chili [18]
Instant Pot Congee
This flavorful congee, or rice porridge, only takes an hour to make in an Instant Pot with ground pork, chicken broth, short-grain rice, ginger, cabbage, and fish sauce.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot congee [19]
Instant Pot Salted Caramel Cheesecake
Whip up this Instant Pot salted caramel cheesecake for a dinner party to remember.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot salted caramel cheesecake [20]
Instant Pot Salsa Verde Chicken
Use your favorite jarred salsa verde to add loads of flavor to this easy chicken dish, which you can use to meal prep your lunches or dinners for the whole week.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot salsa verde chicken [21]
Salsa Verde Chicken Casserole
Once you make a big batch of Instant Pot salsa verde chicken, use it to make this easy salsa verde chicken casserole.
Get the recipe: salsa verde chicken casserole [22]