A pressure cooker is a great investment for any kitchen. These little appliances use the power of steam to cook food faster. And in case you were wondering, yes, an Instant Pot is a pressure cooker. The only difference between a pressure cooker vs Instant Pot is that the Instant Pot can also slow cook, sauté and keep food warm. There are so many great pressure cooker recipes out there, but these 25 are some of the best.
25 Best Pressure Cooker Recipes to Make in Your Instant Pot
1. Chicken and Rice
Simple yet delicious and nutritious. This pressure cooker recipe for chicken and rice will easily become a staple in your diet. You’ll cook a whole chicken and pair it with delicious, seasoned rice. I serve this with steamed broccoli, but you can use any veggie you like.
2. Instant Pot Pho
Here’s a recipe I prefer to make on a lazy weekend when I have more time. It’s so worth the effort, and you can’t beat the flavor of the homemade broth. You’ll need some star anise for this recipe, and I highly recommend using an Instant Pot (not a regular pressure cooker) for this one. It will save you time.
3. Osso Buco
A classic Northern Italian dish of veal shanks braised in tomatoes and wine (yum!). This dish is a labor of love, but your guests will be impressed. Serve it with freshly made gremolata (parsley, garlic and lemon zest).
Related: 27+ Fancy Dinner Recipes That Are Incredibly Easy to Make
4. Beef Bourguignon
I love it when people take classic recipes and transform them into pressure cooker recipes. This one takes the famous recipe from Julia Child and modifies it for the Instant Pot. From start to finish, it will only take you an hour to make this dish, which features tender beef, a rich wine gravy and vegetables.
5. Instant Pot Tuscan Chicken
You’ll love this family-friendly meal because it takes less than 30 minutes to cook. This recipe features tender chicken, sundried tomatoes, a garlic-infused cream sauce and spinach. I prefer to serve it with rice, but you can also pair it with pasta if you wish.
6. Instant Pot Butter Chicken
A super easy recipe that’s bursting with flavor. Chicken thighs are simmered in a tomato curry sauce loaded with spices like garam masala, smoked paprika and ground ginger. You can serve it with rice or as-is if you’re looking for a low-carb dish.
7. Beef Stew
A hearty beef stew recipe loaded with potatoes, carrots, celery, onion and a few special ingredients, like Worcestershire sauce, chili sauce and red wine. The whole thing comes together in about an hour.
8. Zuppa Toscana
An Instant Pot is perfect for making savory soups in less time than with the traditional stovetop method. This recipe is a take on the Olive Garden favorite, with flavorful Italian sausage, bacon, potatoes, kale and spices. We love to make this soup on cool fall days and serve it with crusty bread.
9. Chicken Fricassee
A classic French stew made in just 40 minutes with an Instant Pot. This stew pairs seared chicken thighs with a deliciously creamy mushroom sauce. Wine and mustard give this sauce its rich flavor. I recommend using a good chardonnay.
10. Mexican Rice
Looking for a new way to make rice? This Mexican rice dish is perfect. You’ll never want to cook rice on the stovetop again after you make this. And the ingredients couldn’t be simpler: rice, broth, tomato sauce and spices. In just 12 minutes, you’ll be ready to devour this dish. We like to serve it with chicken and peppers.
11. Chicken and Noodles
A simple but delicious recipe and the ultimate in comfort food. Everyone will love this dish – trust me. Build layers of chicken, broth and cream of chicken soup (do not stir) and cook in your Instant Pot for 15 minutes. Shred the chicken and then cook with frozen egg noodles for five minutes. A quick and flavorful meal that’s perfect for weeknights.
12. Lemon Risotto
One of our family’s favorite pressure cooker recipes. A zesty risotto with Parmesan cheese, oregano, white wine, lemon juice and frozen peas. In total, it takes 20 minutes to make this delicious risotto. Serve with just a small portion of meat or a light vegetable.
13. Red Beans and Rice
A classic Louisiana dish that’s hearty and full of flavor, thanks to the Andouille sausage and ham hock. You’ll need several spices for this recipe, including creole seasoning and smoked paprika. The rice is cooked separately from the beans and can be made any way you like.
14. General Tso’s Chicken
Skip the takeout and make this famous dish at home right in your Instant Pot. Chicken thighs are coated and sauteed in a tangy sauce and served with rice. You’ll need quite a few ingredients, some of which you may not have in your pantry, like hoisin sauce and rice vinegar. Top with sesame seeds and sliced green onions.
15. Beef and Broccoli
Beef and broccoli pressure cooker recipes come out really well if you spend time finding the right cut of flank steak or chuck roast – whichever you prefer. You’ll use the sauté function on your Instant Pot to brown the meat before stirring in your garlic, soy sauce, brown sugar and beef broth.
You’ll also sauté your broccoli towards the end of the recipe.
I appreciate that the recipe has instructions for fresh and frozen broccoli so that you know exactly how long you need to sauté everything.
Related: 25+ Healthy Make Ahead Dinners for Busy Weeknights
16. Kung Pao Chicken
Foodies will appreciate this Asian-inspired recipe. You’ll need chicken, garlic, ginger, peanuts, Chinese red chilies, avocado oil and scallions. And, this doesn’t even account for the marinade.
You’ll also make the Kung Pao sauce from scratch using:
- Brown sugar
- Hoisin sauce
- Red wine
- Balsamic vinegar
- Sriracha sauce
- Light soy sauce
- Sesame oil
- Dark soy sauce
Cornstarch will be used as a thicker, so be sure to grab some, too.
17. Pot Roast
Don’t be intimidated by this pot roast recipe because the author added a ton of steps. But, if you go through them, it takes all but 10 minutes to prep everything. You’ll need a good chuck roast along with:
- Worcestershire sauce
- Cajun seasoning
- Red wine
- Browned and all purpose flour
- Beef stock
- Veggies
- Spices
If you follow the recipe, you’ll be shocked by how juicy and tender the meat is.
18. Hibachi Chicken
Little Sunny Kitchen offers this recipe that is filled with flavor from soy sauce, zucchini, mushroom and rice. You’ll need a pound and a half of chicken breast and toasted sesame seeds. For the most part, you’ll just be adding ingredients into your pressure cooker without any chopping or prep necessary.
19. Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes
Pressure cooker recipes can be hearty and also really good for you. You’ll want to start with peeling and washing your potatoes before cutting them into one-inch chunks. Combine in a bowl with onion, milk, eggs, oats, salt and pepper, garlic powder and onion powder.
And, you’ll then add your ground beef mixture into your pressure cooker on high for just 25 minutes.
It’s a delightful and easy recipe to follow.
20. Apple Pork Chops
Pork chops bring back some memories, and with the taste of apples, nutmeg, cinnamon, brown sugar and apple, it will taste like you’re eating a hearty dessert. You can even add pecans and small potatoes.
21. Slow Cooked Artichokes
Do you love artichokes as much as I do? You can easily cook them in your pressure cooker with this delightful recipe that’s easy to follow. Add some lemon, butter and garlic to enhance the taste even further.
Related: 25 Delicious Dinner Meal Prep Ideas That Make It Easy to Prepare Ahead of Time
22. Minestrone Soup
Inspired by Olive Garden, you’ll put your cutting board to work with this recipe that adds sweet onion, carrots, celery, zucchini, garlic and fresh basil with vegetable broth, multiple varieties of beans, spinach and herbs.
23. Tortellini Soup
A rich soup like this will satisfy you and fuel the rest of your day. Cook time is five hours, but you only need to spend ten minutes of your time to cook this dish. You’ll need tortellini, onion, garlic, chicken broth, diced tomatoes, Italian sausage, spinach, parmesan cheese, whipping cream, salt and pepper.
24. Instant Pot Baked Feta Pasta
Baked feta pasta is always delicious and it’s also so simple to make. If you have five minutes to prep and 30 to cook, keep reading. You’ll need a cast-iron dish or baking dish, and the ingredients are so simple: dried pasta, olive oil, cherry tomatoes, garlic, basil, feta cheese and a few herbs and spices.
25. Mexican Black Beans
Mexican black beans are easy to make and you don’t even need to soak them overnight. Prep is just 10 minutes and all this dish needs is 50 minutes to cook. Each serving is under 140 calories and the recipe calls for black beans, onions, jalapeno pepper, cloves, garlic, bay leaf, lime juice, oil and a few spices.
