The Instant Pot is one of the world’s most famous multicookers and one of the Best Seller products on Amazon. Its popularity is due to the many functions it brings to the table and the ease of use. It is one of those appliances that truly improve life in the kitchen and raise any home-schooled chef’s level.
While you’ll find many opinions on this multicooker, the one that’s most popular is the diversity of dishes one can prepare with it. The Instant Pot is amazing when it comes to preparing delicious meals without too much effort.
To prove just how great the entire IP series is for anyone’s kitchen, we listed five recipes that are easy to make and are beloved by almost anyone, including our little picky eaters… and if you need any more ideas, there are a wide variety of cookery books available at The Works
#1: Scrambled Eggs
As one of the most popular breakfast choices around the world, scrambled eggs are quite easy to make regardless of your cooking tools. Still, if you want fluffy and creamy eggs that simply melt in your mouth, you should try making them in an Instant Pot!
Ingredients
- 4 eggs
- 2 tbsp of butter
- 4 tbsp of milk
- salt and pepper to taste
- Feel free to add cheddar cheese or mozzarella and other toppings you enjoy
How to Cook
Use a bowl to add all the ingredients (except for the butter) and mix well (make sure the mixture is well aerated and bubbly). When the mixture is ready, set the IP on Saute and add the butter in the inner pot.
When the butter is melted, add the mixture and let it cook on one side, then flip it to the other side (maximum 3 or 4 minutes for both sides). When the eggs are cooked, put them on a plate and add your favorite topping (cheddar, fresh parsley, parmesan, and so on).
#2: Smoked Sausage with Potatoes & Green Beans
This recipe is perfect for lunch or dinner, but it requires a lot of simmering using a slow cooker (if cooked on the stove). The secret behind this tasty dish stands exactly in its lengthy cooking since the three ingredients need to bathe in each other’s flavor while the steam slowly makes everything smooth and soft.
Luckily, with an Instant Pot by your side, you won’t have to wait for hours by the side of a hot stove!
Ingredients
- Smoked sausage (preferably Kielbasa, but any type works) – diced into cubes
- Potatoes – no need to peel them, just scrubbed and diced into cubes
- Green beans – either fresh or canned
- 3/4 cup of chicken broth (you can also use water)
- 1 minced onion
- salt &paper to taste
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp basil
- 1 tsp oil
How to Cook
Set your IP to saute, add the oil and wait for it to get heated up. Then, add the sausage (diced) and the onion (minced) and let them in for about 2 or 3 minutes (keep stirring). Next, add the broth (or water), the potatoes, and the beans with the seasoning and put the lid on the multicooker.
Set it to Manual, with High Pressure, for two minutes. Once this is complete, allow the steam to be released naturally and open the cooker. Everything should be soft, delicious, and ready to serve!
If you like this dish but feel it’s a bit on the heavy side, there’s another similar recipe you can try, without the green beans and with slightly different seasoning.
#3: Meaty Pasta Casserole
This casserole dish is amazing because it can be done using the leftovers in your fridge but it looks like you put a lot of time and effort into it!
Ingredients
- 1/2lb of penne pasta (or rigatoni, your choice)
- 2/3lb ground beef
- 1 cup of shredded mozzarella
- 14.5oz of tomato puree
- 1 medium onion (chopped)
- 1 medium carrot (chopped)
- 1 tbsp of butter
- salt and pepper (to taste)
How to Cook
Set the pot to saute and add the butter, carrots, celery, and onion in the inner pot. Cook until the vegetables turn soft, then add the ground beef. Season with salt and pepper and let it cook (while stirring) for about 10 minutes.
Next, add the tomato puree, pasta, and water to cover everything. Put the lid on and choose Manual, at High Pressure, for 5 minutes. Do a quick release and transfer the mixture into a greased casserole dish. Add mozzarella topping and place in the broiler until the cheese is golden brown.
#4: Minestrone Soup
If you’re looking for a healthy soup that can help you lose weight, the Minestrone soup is a fantastic choice! I know it’s less kid friendly than our previous recipes, but in my opinion it’s worth trying.
Ingredients
- 1 onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 carrot
- 1 zucchini
- 1 cup chopped celery stalk
- 2 tsp of dried basil
- 1 tsp of dried oregano
- 1 bay leaf
- Half a tsp of dried thyme
- Canned tomatoes (32oz)
- 3 tbsp of tomato paste
- 4 cups of vegetable broth
- 2 cups of water
- A quarter cup of canned red beans
- A quarter cup of long pasta
- Half a cup of fresh parsley (chopped)
- 1 tsp of balsamic vinegar
How to Cook
Set your multicooker to saute and add the oil, onion, and garlic in the inner pot for about three minutes. Next, cancel the saute program and add the rest of the ingredients in the pot (except the past, zucchini, beans, parsley, and vinegar). Secure the lid and set the pot to Manual (high pressure) for 3 minutes.
Do a quick pressure release and add the zucchini, beans, and pasta. Set the pot on saute again and let everything cook for about 6 minutes. End by adding parsley and vinegar and stir everything.
#5: Lava Cake
I kept the best for the end! If you haven’t tried making deserts with your Instant Pot, now is the time! This chocolate cake is incredibly easy to make and the result is amazing.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of dark chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup of butter
- 3 eggs
- Half a cup of sugar
- 1/4 cup of flour
- 1 tsp vanilla
How to Cook
The chocolate chips and butter need to be microwaved for about 30 seconds to 1 minute to create a smooth and creamy mixture (you need to blend the ingredients by stirring).
Use a bowl to mix the flour, sugar, vanilla, and eggs using a whisk until smooth. Continue by adding the chocolate and butter mixture. Next, you will have to grease four ramekins and add the mixture into each of them (leave a bit of room at the top of each ramekin).
Finally, get your Instant Pot, add two cups of water at the bottom, place the steam rack at the bottom and place the ramekins on top of it. Next, seal the lid on the pot and set it to Manual (high pressure) for 8 minutes.
When the cooking is done, do a quick steam release and remove the ramekins from the pot. You now have a lava cake that can be served as is or with whipped cream, ice cream, fruits, and more.
Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.
Really useful and looks great! That lava cake looks so tempting