Don’t Be Intimidated by Your Instant Pot. Start with These 7 Easy Recipes.

Most cooking geeks probably had a few kitchen gadgets on their holiday wish list, but we bet we know what their number one most-wanted gift was: the Instant Pot. True to its name, this miraculous new invention can make a huge variety of meals “instantly”…or more like very, very fast. This pressure cooker flew off the shelves this holiday season and got almost entirely positive reviews all around.

But if you’re one of those luckily cooks who snagged an Instant Pot for Christmas, there’s a good chance you still don’t know how to use it. It could be that you haven’t even TRIED to use it yet, out of sheer nerves.

Don’t be intimidated by your fancy new contraption! We have seven easy, delicious recipes for you — all of which can be made in your very own Instant Pot. Start off on a good foot with your newest appliance by conquering these seven amazing dishes.

1. Mac n’ Cheese

How happy are we to see arguably the most beloved comfort food first on this list? The food is, of course, mac n’ cheese and the answer is VERY.

Yes, you can make ooey, gooey macaroni and cheese right in your shiny new Instant Pot — and trust us, it’s divine. Not only is this quick, 25-minute meal kid AND adult friendly, but it’s just about the best mac n’ cheese we’ve ever tasted.

2. Honey Soy Chicken Wings

If you have honey, soy sauce, and chicken wings, then you already have the makings of a quick, delicious dinner with unbeatable Asian flare. The only way this recipe gets better? When you can make it in your Instant Pot in under and hour.

Just in case you were wondering, that hour INCLUDES marinating time. Make this favorite finger food in mass quantities for a BBQ, party, or any get together where your guests love delicious chicken wings.

And that should be EVERY get together, for the record.

3. Perfect Mashed Potatoes

Nothing beats mashed potatoes as a side dish. They’re a favorite worldwide because of their buttery flavor, fluffy consistency, and how easy they are to make.

While you can pop a single serving of these tots in the microwave, wait five minutes, and call that dinner, nothing beats homemade mashed potatoes. The only thing is, getting that taste and consistency isn’t as easy as your mom made it look.

But thanks to your new best friend, the Instant Pot, you can get unbeatable mashed potatoes in…wait for it…only 20 minutes.

4. One Pot Pasta Bolognese

Dream dinner requirements: full of flavor, involving carbs, easy to make, and downright soul-warming. You guessed it, that just about sums up pasta bolognese. This classic Italian dish has been condensed for the Instant Pot, but that doesn’t mean it’s not coming out bursting with enough flavor to make you shed some happy tears.

Best of all, this entire dish can be made right in your Instant Pot! So after you’ve stuffed yourself full of pasta, you have minimal cleanup to worry about. (That was the fifth requirement we failed to mention.)

5. BBQ Ribs

We’re sure that barbecue enthusiasts everywhere are giving us a little bit of side eye right now. But while we understand your reservations, we only ask that you give these Instant Pot BBQ ribs a try!

It only takes about a half hour and a few ingredients to make mouthwatering, fall-off-the-bone baby back ribs. They might not be straight from your local barbecue pit, but they sure taste like the are.

6. Creamy Cauliflower Soup

For all the veggie lovers out there, this is the recipe you’ve been waiting for. One of the reasons cauliflower is so amazing is because it’s incredibly versatile; you can use cauliflower to replace grains like rice or even bread.

In this case, we’re transforming the healthy properties of this veggie into a warming soup, perfect for the wintertime! This soup may taste like it’s bad for you (it’s amazingly creamy and indulgent) but it’s made out of some ingredients that are actually great for you and your family.

Plus, this recipe only takes 20-30 minutes to make and can be done entirely in your Instant Pot. We’re only seeing the pros here, there’s not a con to be seen.

7. New York Style Cheesecake

How could we forget dessert? Once you’ve enjoyed all your savory recipes in your new Instant Pot, you’ve got to go out on a limb and try making something sweet, too. It seems a little less plausible than the rest, but we promise, it’s possible.

Not only is it possible, but it’s incredibly delicious, too! What is it, you ask? Nothing but the best for you all: New York style cheesecake…made in a pressure cooker.

For this recipe, not everything can be made in the Instant Pot. If you’ve ever made cheesecake before, you probably guessed that. But your pressure cooker will bake your compiled cheesecake to a creamy perfection, really adding flavor in the shortest span of time than we’ve ever heard of.

 

What do you think of these Instant Pot dishes? Will these simple meals help you get along with your new appliance a little better? Share your photos of your first Instant Pot meals in the comments section below!