Recipes That'll Make the Most of Your Instant Pot - MyRecipes (2024)

Credit: Daniel Agee

Just because you're well-versed in how easyyour trusty Instant Pot can make weeknight dinners doesn't mean you've taken adventage of every feature. The 7-in-1 appliance can tackle a number of kitchen conundrums, from tenderizing the toughest of meats to rehydrating dried beans in record time. These recipes will help you learn how to use your Instant Pot as well as learn all its capabilities. There's a lot more to your Instant Pot than you think.

mr-Instant Pot Salted Caramel-Pecan Cheesecake image

Instant Pot Salted Caramel-Pecan Cheesecake Recipe

Rich, creamy, and smooth, this cheesecake "bakes" surprisingly well right in the Instant Pot. Drizzle your remaining caramel sauce on top after the dessertcoolsto make this showstoppingcake look as amazing as it tastes.

Instant Pot Black Beans image

Instant Pot Black Beans Recipe

Replace canned black beans (and the preservatives) easily with some help from your Instant Pot, no soaking required.

Instant Pot Oxtails

Instant Pot Oxtails Recipe

Oxtails might be considered a “tough” cut of beef, but when they're stewed at a gentle simmer for hours, the meat melts right off of the bones. In other words, braised oxtails are a perfect hearty comfort food to warm you during the cooler months. And thanks to the Instant Pot, you can pressure cook and enjoy this meaty, succulent dish within an hour (as opposed to the 2-3 hours typically required). The touch of molasses serves to deepen the color of the gravy and balance the earthiness of the spices and herbs. The tomato, tomato paste, and starchy cannellini beans combine to help to create a thick, rich gravy that’s best served over rice (in our opinion). With the speedy power of the Instant Pot, oxtails can now be an approachable everyday dinner.

Nut-Seed-Beer Loaf

Nut-Seed-Beer Loaf Recipe

Mornings can be so hectic. We know that. Let your slow cooker relieve the pressure of cooking breakfast with this overnightInstant Pot recipe.

Instant Pot Peanut Brittle image

Instant Pot Peanut Brittle Recipe

This Instant Pot candy recipe delivers a classic candy shop treat with no intimidation factor. In fact, you don’t even need a candy thermometer to make this perfectly porous and crisp brittle. While it makes a scrumptious treat any time of year, our Instant Pot Peanut Brittle is especially awesome to make during the holiday season. Being that the recipe produces a generous yield of candy, it’s an excellent goody for gifting. A key factor in candy cooking is making sure you sugar granules are completely dissolved. If you want to give your brittle a little test as it cooks, take your wooden spoon or rubber spatula (whatever you’re using to stir the mixture) to scoop a small amount of the melted sugar mixture and spread a thin layer onto a paper plate. This allows you to see any sugar crystals that may still be in the mixture, as well as observe how the mixture hardens as it cools. If the mixture hardens like glass and cracks easily, you know it’s ready.

Easy Pressure Cooker Chicken Pho image

Easy Pressure Cooker Chicken Pho Recipe

For pho, it's legitimately all about the intensely deliciousbroth. And thanks to the flavor-concentratingpower of thepressure cooker, we were able to make a robust and dynamic chickenbroth—using shallots, fresh ginger and cilantro, and a fewspices—in a matter of minutes. Thus, this restaurant favorite can now be a comforting, go-to weeknight dinner.

Instant Pot Whole-Milk Yogurt image

Instant Pot Whole-Milk Yogurt Recipe

Making your own batch of versatile, nutritious, probiotic-rich yogurt has never been easier. We all know the Instant Pot is awesome acting as both a slow cooker and a pressure cooker, but if you’ve ever wondered about the other claim on the box—Wait, can I really make yogurt in my Instant Pot?—trust us, we tried it out and it’s actually super simple using the Instant Pot’s “Yogurt” setting. All you need is whole milk and a few tablespoons of plain yogurt (you need just a little bit that’s already made to act as a “starter” for your yogurt). Once you’ve made your first batch, be sure to save a few tablespoons of yogurt to start your next batch when your supply is low. Use your homemade yogurt for nutrient-rich smoothies, as a tangy topper for soups and tacos,to make rich sauces and dips, and more. If you want to simply enjoy a bowl for breakfast, top your yogurt as desired with fresh fruit, honey, granola, chopped nuts, etc. You can also stir in a little vanilla extract to taste in order to make vanilla yogurt.

Chocolate-Espresso Pudding Cake image

Chocolate-Espresso Pudding Cake Recipe

You no longer need an oven to bake a cake; you just need your InstantPot. This recipe requires just under 30 minutes from start to finish. The result? A warm, gooey pudding cake withirresistable flavor combination that is coffee and chocolate.

Instant Pot Rice

Instant Pot Rice Recipe

This easy Instant Pot Rice recipe yields the perfect pot of fluffy white rice—i.e. the ideal blank dinner canvas. To amp the flavor up a bit, upgrade your pot toInstant Pot Coconut Rice, Instant Pot Green Rice, or Instant Pot Saffron Rice.

Instant Pot Chicken Wings image

Instant Pot Chicken Wings Recipe

Make homemade wings in minutes with some help from your Instant Pot. Everyone's favorite pressure cookerget your chicken wings cooked through quickly, while the broiler crisps them up. Serve with crunchy veggie sticks and the sauce of your choosing.

Instant Pot Roasted Garlic image

Instant Pot Roasted Garlic Recipe

Enjoy the richly aromatic, delicately sweet flavors of roasted garlic in half the time thanks to the Instant Pot. While this method does not produce as much browning on the garlic cloves, they are perfectly tender and ready to be served on an antipasto platter, mashed into a compound butter, or pureed into sauces, salad dressing, and spreads. There’s no shortage of ways to harness the flavor bomb potential of this Instant Pot “roasted” garlic.

instant pot breakfast ratatouille

Instant Pot Breakfast Ratatouille Recipe

The Instant Pot brings this sweet and briny dish to life. Tomatoes, eggplant, and zucchini get cozy in an olive oil bath with onion and garlic. Aside from the magic that is how quickly the Instant Pot cooks vegetables, the best part of breakfast ratatouille is that you can make massive batches of the meal and freeze individual portions.

Instant Pot Eye-of-Round Roast Beef image

Instant Pot Eye of Round Roast Beef Recipe

This easy Instant Pot recipe transforms what’s typically considered a less-desirable cut of meat into succulent, perfectly rare roast beef with a richly savory jus. You can serve it simply over a bed or fluffy rice, or layer the tender beef onto warm rolls and serve with the luscious jus for dipping. Salting the beef and allowing it to sit, uncovered, in the refrigerator (for at least one hour, but longer if you can) is key to achieving supreme flavor. This step allows the meat to to release surface-level moisture, which makes for optimal exterior browning, and gives the salt time to really make its way into the meat.

Steel Cut Oatmeal with Apples image

Steel Cut Oatmeal with Apples Recipe

Wake up to the smell of oats, subtle coconut, warm spices, and Granny Smith apples. All you have to do is letyour slow cooker or Instant Pot to make breakfast. What could be better than that? This recipe serves 10 and is gluten-free, so it's perfect for serving family and friends during the holidays.

Instant Pot Risotto with Seared Scallops image

Instant Pot Risotto with Seared Scallops Recipe

Elegant date night worthy dinner out of your Instant Pot? Oh yes you can. This Instant Pot risotto is ready in half the time as the classic stovetop method. Just be sure the grains are well coated in oil before adding your liquid in order to prevent clumping. Using this easy technique, the richly creamy rice dish makes a perfect blank canvas for experimenting with all of your favorite add-ins, such as green peas or butternut squash. If you’re not feeling scallops, shrimp would be equally delicious in this elegant yet effortless seafood dinner.

Instant Pot Lasagna image

Instant Pot Lasagna Recipe

Weeknight dinner doesn't get easier than this—we're talking cheesy, gooey, and ready in a flash. The next time the craving for hearty, comfort food strikes, just remember, Instant Pot Lasagna has your back.

mr-Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce

Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce Recipe

This powerful cranberry-apple sauce carries enough flavors to make it go far. Keep it traditional and serve with turkey, or think outside the box and use a dollop on thisInstant Pot Pumpkin Soup.Although it's quick and easy to make, we'd suggest preppingit a few days in advance—this Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce only gets better with time.

Instant Pot Butter Chicken image

Instant Pot Butter Chicken Recipe

If you say you don't like Indian food, you've probably never tried butter chicken. This easy dishis mild on spice (unless you don't want it to be) and big on flavor - perfect for a weeknight dinner.

Instant Pot Sunday Sauce and Meatballs image

Instant Pot Sunday Sauce and Meatballs Recipe

Sure the idea of “Sunday sauce” is great, but the reality is, you’re not always going to have the flexibility to start a pot of sauce in the morning and stay home while it cooks throughout the day—even on the weekend. However, thanks to the ever-handy Instant Pot you can enjoy the robust flavor of a slow-simmered tomato sauce in less than an hour. Serve the sauce and meatballs over your favorite hot, cooked pasta for a hearty, highly comforting meal.

Brunswick Stew; Photographer: Daniel Agee; Food Stylist: Robin Bashinsky; Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis

Pressure Cooker Chicken and Black Pepper Dumplings Recipe

Just a touch of fresh lemon and tarragon add a subtle touch of sophistication to an otherwise classic and wholly comforting pot of chicken and dumplings. Done in just 30 minutes, this dish is perfect for any night of the week. While we went with a super simple drop biscuit for the dumplings, feel free to try using canned biscuit dough or your own favorite dumpling recipe here.