These Dinners Practically Make Themselves — All You Need Is an Instant Pot

Some days (most days, if you're me) when you get home from a long day of work, you just really don't feel like sweating over a stovetop to make dinner. This is truly where your Instant Pot comes in handy. It's genuinely there to make your life easier and help you cook faster. For those nights when you have better things to do than spend hours cooking, get your Instant Pot ready to do all the work for you with one of these tasty dinner recipes. We've got more than 30 options to choose from with a variety of meat choices and even some veggie options if meat's not your thing. Keep reading to see them all.

01
Pesto Chicken and Potatoes
James Stefiuk

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

02
Korean Beef
Cookies and Cups

Korean Beef

Juicy shredded beef gets a Korean spin with soy sauce, garlic, grated ginger, and apple.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot Korean beef

03
Vegetable Soup
Cookin' Canuck

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

04
Chicken Piccata
Cookies and Cups

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

05
Chicken Creole
The Curious Coconut

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

06
French Dip Sandwiches
Slow Cooker Gourmet

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

07
Vegetarian Chili
Cookin' Canuck

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

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Salsa Verde Chicken Casserole
Cookies and Cups

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

09
Butternut Squash Macaroni and Cheese
Slow Cooker Gourmet

Butternut Squash Macaroni and Cheese

You'll be blown away by how easy it is to throw the ingredients for butternut squash mac and cheese into the Instant Pot and just set it to cook.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot butternut squash mac and cheese

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Pasta and Meat Sauce
Alexandra's Kitchen

Pasta and Meat Sauce

This simple pasta recipe is a real crowd-pleaser and so easy to make.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot pasta and meat sauce

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Pot Roast
The Cookie Rookie

Pot Roast

Wow your friends with this easy recipe that requires very little effort on your part.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot pot roast

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Chicken Noodle Soup
Cooking Classy

Chicken Noodle Soup

A solid chicken noodle soup recipe is something everyone should have in their repertoire, and this one is simple to make.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot chicken noodle soup

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White Chicken Chili
POPSUGAR Photography | Hajar Larbah

White Chicken Chili

This white chicken chili recipe is so tasty, your whole family will love it.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot white chicken chili

15
Kung Pao Chicken
A Spicy Perspective

Kung Pao Chicken

Re-create this takeout favorite right in your Instant Pot in no time at all.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot kung pao chicken

16
Chicken Tikka Masala
Savory Tooth

Chicken Tikka Masala

Make this chicken tikka masala for a dinner party and your friends will never want to leave — it's that good.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot chicken tikka masala

17
Beef and Broccoli
Well Plated by Erin

Beef and Broccoli

You can make this Chinese takeout fave right in your Instant Pot, and then you have the satisfaction of making your own dinner and saving a few extra bucks.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot beef and broccoli

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Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Slow Cooker Gourmet

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

This casserole is easy to throw together in your Instant Pot and will cost you so much less than grabbing Mexican takeout twice a week.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot chicken enchilada casserole

19
Potato Corn Chowder
Damn Delicious

Potato Corn Chowder

This ultimate comfort food can be pulled together with a lot of ingredients you already have on hand in your kitchen and will hit the spot on any slow day.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot potato corn chowder

20
Beef Ragu
Whitney Bond

Beef Ragu

This pasta dish looks so much fancier than it is. You can impress any guests with it, we promise.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot beef ragu

22
Salsa Chicken Tacos
Cooking Classy

Salsa Chicken Tacos

You'll never believe how easy it is to whip up these tacos!

Get the recipe: Instant Pot salsa chicken tacos

23
Teriyaki Chicken
Well Plated by Erin

Teriyaki Chicken

This one-pot dish is perfect for busy weeknights when you don't feel like cooking.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot teriyaki chicken

24
Beef Stroganoff
Well Plated by Erin

Beef Stroganoff

Defrost a frozen sirloin and crank up the Instant Pot to get a gorgeous plate of beef stroganoff just like Grandma used to make.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot beef stroganoff

25
Creamy Shells and Beef
Spicy Southern Kitchen

Creamy Shells and Beef

Nothing says "sit back and relax" like this creamy shells and beef — a seriously upgraded version of Hamburger Helper.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot creamy shells and beef

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Persian beef stew
Platings and Pairings

Persian beef stew

Thanks to a delectable mix of spices, this Persian beef stew is the best centerpiece when basmati rice and a handful of mint and basil leaves are involved.

Get the recipe: Persian beef stew

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Garlic Chicken Soup
POPSUGAR Photography | Anna Monette Roberts and Erin Cullum

Garlic Chicken Soup

This garlic chicken soup is a warm and fun option. Added bonus: no rolls necessary.

Get the recipe: garlic chicken soup

29
Broccoli Cheese Soup
Savory Tooth

Broccoli Cheese Soup

A gloomy day calls for the perfect cup of soup — like this broccoli cheese option.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot broccoli cheese soup

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Everything but the Kitchen Sink Soup
Cotter Crunch

Everything but the Kitchen Sink Soup

This soup lives up to its name, because it includes whatever you have on hand. It comes together in no time with your Instant Pot!

Get the recipe: Everything but the Kitchen Sink Soup

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Instant Pot White Bean Chicken Chili
The Modern Proper

Instant Pot White Bean Chicken Chili

The sweet potatoes in this chili recipe really shine, thanks to the tomato base of the soup.

Get the recipe: Instant white bean chicken chili

Don't Have an Instant Pot?
amazon.com

Don't Have an Instant Pot?

You can buy an Instant Pot ($100) here!

As POPSUGAR editors, we write about stuff we love and we think you'll like too. POPSUGAR often has affiliate partnerships, so we may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

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