Working parents often struggle to cook meals every day. Some resort to takeout, while others opt to heat TV dinners and call it a day! However, you often compromise on nutrition and flavor this way. But it doesn’t have to be this way anymore.
Enter instant pots, which can change the game in your favor. And that’s exactly what we will help you with. We are sharing some instant pot dinner recipes that are tasty and nutritious. So, let’s get cooking!
- Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
Ingredients
- 2 cups white rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 Pound boneless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Steps
- Add rice and chicken broth to your instant pot.
- Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper and the other seasonings.
- Brown your chicken for 2 minutes on each side and set it aside in a plate.
- Next, place your chicken on top of the rice using a steam rack.
- Close the lid and cook (10 minutes) on high pressure.
- Let pressure drop and release the remaining pressure.
- Remove cooked chicken, slice it, and serve over rice. And that’s how your delicious instant pot chicken and rice is ready to eat!
- Instant Pot Beef Stew
Ingredients
- 2 pounds of beef stew meat (cubes)
- 1 chopped onion
- 3 sliced carrots
- 3 diced potatoes
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme and rosemary
- Salt and pepper to taste
Steps
- Turn on the Instant Pot and heat it.
- Put a little oil in.
- When the oil is hot, put in the chopped onion.
- Cook until the onion turns almost clear.
- Add the beef chunks.
- Cook until beef chunks are brown.
- Next, add carrots and potatoes along with thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper.
- Pour beef broth until everything is submerged.
- Close the pot and cook for about 35 minutes on high pressure.
- After 35 minutes, allow for a brief wait (around 10-15 minutes) for the pressure to naturally release. Then, carefully open the lid and sprinkle fresh parsley over the stew. Enjoy!
- Instant Pot Mac & Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 2 cups water or chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt and black pepper
- 1 can of evaporated milk
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
Steps
- Add elbow macaroni to your Instant Pot.
- Pour water or chicken broth into the pot until all the macaroni is covered.
- Close the Instant Pot lid and set the vent knob to “Sealing.”
- Cook manually on high pressure for 3 minutes.
- When it is cooked, let the steam release naturally for 5-10 minutes.
- Then, take off the lid. Add seasonings like garlic and onion powder, salt, paprika, and black pepper according to your taste preferences.
- Stir it well before adding cheese in the pot.
- Add the milk and cheese gradually and keep stirring and repeating until it’s according to your desired consistency.
- Instant Pot Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce
- 3 cups water
- 8 ounces spaghetti noodles
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Grated Parmesan cheese
Steps
- Turn on your Instant Pot and wait for it to get hot.
- Put one pound of ground beef and cook it until it is brown. Break it into small pieces as it cooks.
- Add some seasoning like salt, garlic powder, and pepper to make it tasty after the beef is cooked.
- Now, add spaghetti to the Instant Pot. Break the spaghetti in half so it fits.
- Pour marinara sauce over the spaghetti.
- Add water and put the lid on the Instant Pot. Make sure the vent knob is set to “Sealing.”
- Cook on high pressure for 8 minutes.
- When it is done, release the pressure quickly by moving the vent knob.
- Stir your spaghetti well and let it sit for a few minutes to thicken.
- Put shredded Parmesan cheese on top if you like.
- Instant Pot Lentil Soup
Ingredients
- 1 chopped onion
- 2 chopped carrots
- 2 chopped celery ribs
- 2 minced cloves of garlic
- 1 cup dried lentils, rinsed and drained
- 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon thyme and oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
Steps
- Sauté onions and garlic in the Instant Pot until they’re soft.
- Then add your dried lentils. Add carrots, tomatoes, and celery.
- Add seasonings like thyme, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Pour vegetable broth (or chicken broth if preferred) until everything is covered in liquid.
- Put on the lid and seal it. And set it on high pressure for 25 minutes.
- Before you open the lid, let the pressure naturally release.
- Give it a quick stir and taste. Add more additional seasonings according to your taste.
- Serve it with chopped fresh parsley and enjoy!
- Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 finely chopped onion
- 2 minced cloves of garlic
- 8 oz (about 225g) mushrooms, sliced (you can use any variety you like)
- 1 1/2 cups Arborio rice
- 1/2 cup dry white wine (optional)
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Steps
- Add olive oil with chopped onion into the Instant Pot.
- Cook until onions get a brown color, then add mushrooms.
- Mix well and cook until mushrooms are nicely browned.
- Add garlic, black pepper, and salt.
- Pour dry white wine on top and mix well.
- Add Arborio rice, then vegetable (or chicken) broth.
- Mix until everything is covered in liquid.
- Set to cook for 7 minutes on high pressure.
- After cooking, do a quick pressure release.
- Add grated Parmesan cheese and stir it well until it melts.
- Top with parsley or thyme for enhanced flavor.
- Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound chicken breasts
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 8 ounces fettuccine pasta
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Steps
- Add oil and chicken breasts in the Instant Pot.
- Cook the chicken. Add salt and pepper.
- Optionally, add more seasonings like garlic powder or oregano to taste.
- Mix well and then add chicken broth.
- Add pasta and ensure it’s covered with broth.
- Close the lid and set to high pressure for 5 minutes.
- Once done, do an instant pressure release.
- Add cream and grated cheese until you reach the desired consistency for the sauce.
- Season with more salt and pepper or fresh parsley as desired.
Wrapping It Up
After all, being a busy parent, it gets hard to deal with making dinners that might take a lot of time and effort. So, you can always choose convenience, and that’s precisely what Instant Pot dinners offer. We have shared a few recipes above that are not only nutritious but also keep your taste buds satisfied!
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