When homework, practice, and dinner all land at the same time, the Instant Pot is the appliance that saves the night. These dinners go from pantry to plate with mostly hands-off time, so you can start dinner and step away to help with the science project. Many are dump-and-go, most make enough for leftovers, and every one of them beats another drive-through run. Keep a few of these in the rotation and busy school nights get a whole lot easier.
1) Pot Roast
A tender pot roast used to mean babysitting the oven all afternoon, but the Instant Pot gets you there in a fraction of the time. The beef comes off fork tender and delicious, with carrots and potatoes cooked right alongside. Start it when you get home and dinner is ready before homework is finished.
I love this meal. I love the tender beef, and I love the colorful carrots in there as well. You could add the potatoes in the Instant Pot, or you could mash some potatoes on the side and serve the meat on top. You could add some celery into the Instant Pot for a little greenery and crunch, or you could steam some green beans on the side to add a little greenery. You could also serve it over a bed of rice if you prefer it that way.
2) White Chicken Chili
Creamy white chicken chili is a nice change from the usual red, and it practically makes itself. Toss in chicken, beans, and green chilies, then let the pot do the work. Set out the toppings like cheese and lime and let everyone build their own bowl.
I love this one. I love the protein that you’re gonna get from the chicken and the fiber from the beans. It’s so fun for the kids to add their own toppings on top of this one. You could do cilantro, different types of cheeses, or avocado. This one is super fun and is delicious for the whole family.
3) Chicken and Rice
Let’s keep it easy and classic, I love that. This is the ultimate one-pot dinner, with the chicken and rice cooking together in the same pot. The rice soaks up all the savory flavor while the chicken stays juicy. It is a complete meal that only leaves you one pot to wash, amen to that.
I love that you can definitely add some veggies to this one. You could do some sort of salad on the side, or you could add some sort of veggie in there with it, like mushrooms. You could do a Caesar salad, a spinach salad with some cucumbers and tomatoes, some Brussels sprouts on the side, or some broccoli to give it some color and finish off that meal by giving it a veggie. Very easy, classic meal.
4) Beef Stew
Hearty beef stew is the definition of cold-weather comfort, and the pressure cooker builds that slow-simmered flavor fast. Chunks of beef turn meltingly tender while the potatoes and carrots soak up the rich broth. Serve it with crusty bread and you have a dinner that feels like a hug, specifically a hug for my mom, because we grew up eating beef stew all the time. Love this. You could put celery in there too if you like celery in your beef stew.
I love that this is a one-pot dinner all together. You’re gonna get the protein, and you’re gonna get the veggies from the carrots. We like to put potatoes in ours, so you’re gonna get everything right in there, and it just feels like a nice warm hug. This is a crowd pleaser and so delicious. It’s gonna warm you right up.
5) Chicken Tortilla Soup
Cozy, a little spicy but it doesn’t have to be, and endlessly customizable. Tortilla soup is a weeknight favorite for a good reason. Everything goes in the pot and comes out tasting like it took real effort. Pile on the crushed chips, avocado, cilantro, and cheese, and dinner is served.
So delicious. I love that it’s gonna have a lot of color in there, and it’s gonna warm you right up on any night. It doesn’t have to take forever to taste this delicious. It feels like you’re cheating.
6) Pulled Pork
A big batch of pulled pork is the gift that keeps on giving all week long. The Instant Pot turns a tough pork shoulder tender in about an hour instead of all day. Pile it on buns tonight and use the leftovers for tacos and nachos later.
I love pulled pork, especially if you’re gonna put it on a bun. Definitely make some coleslaw to have in there. It’s gonna give you some greenery, and I just love the feeling of the warm pulled pork with the cold coleslaw all together in the sandwich, with some barbecue sauce either on top or on the side for you to add as needed.
And you can do so much with those leftovers. You could throw them in a quesadilla, or tacos if your family likes tacos, with some lettuce in there on a hard shell or a soft tortilla. Throw it on nachos, absolutely, that would be so fun. Kids love just switching it up like that and having something you can quickly grab and make things with. You could throw it on a salad. That would be super delicious for even lunch leftovers the next day.
7) Chicken Noodle Soup
Nothing chases away a rough day like a bowl of chicken noodle soup, and the Instant Pot has it ready in about 30 minutes. The broth tastes like it simmered all day even though it did not. Make a big batch because everyone always comes back for seconds.
Isn’t that the truth? We love this because it is colorful and it’s a crowd pleaser, with the pasta, the chicken for your protein, and plenty of veggies from those carrots and the celery. Your whole family is gonna love this one. And if you have leftovers, you can even freeze it and use it again in a week or two if you make too much. But we go through this pretty quickly, so there’s not gonna be any leftovers.
8) Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joes are a nostalgic, kid-pleasing dinner that comes together in one pot. The sauce is savory and just a little sweet, and it all cooks up fast. Spoon it onto toasted buns and serve with a handful of chips or a side salad.
Also, for us, a crowd pleaser would be some carrot sticks on the side, because we do wanna add some color and some veggies to this meal. You could also super easily hide some mushrooms in Sloppy Joes and no one’s gonna even notice. You could chop up some onions and sneak in some hidden veggies there, or a side salad and some carrots on the side for some green color.
9) Creamy Mac and Cheese
Instant Pot mac and cheese is unbelievably creamy and ready in the time it takes to set the table. The noodles cook right in the pot and get stirred together with plenty of cheese at the end. It is a guaranteed win with even the pickiest eaters at the table.
I totally agree. This is a go-to in our family, and you can use a number of different types of noodles in this recipe if you’d like. Goodles pasta is gonna add a little bit more protein in this meal if you’d like. You could also top it off at the end with some nutritional yeast if you have a vegetarian in the family and you wanna add a little more B12. You can put that nutritional yeast right on top.
This is gonna be so fast and yummy, and you can serve it along with your protein choice for the evening. It could be some leftover pulled pork that you had, or maybe you wanna pop in some quick nuggets like the bear nuggets from Costco, those are a good choice.
Then you’re gonna wanna serve this with some sort of veggie, some carrot sticks maybe, some steamed broccoli always goes good with the cheddar of the mac and cheese, or a side salad like a Caesar or a spinach side salad. That makes this a whole balanced meal with the carb, protein, and veggies.
10) Lentil Soup
Cozy, filling, and easy on the grocery budget, lentil soup is a weeknight workhorse. The lentils cook up tender and the whole pot comes together with pantry staples. It is naturally hearty enough to stand on its own as dinner.
Lentil soup is a crowd pleaser in our house. I love that you could do so much with it. You could have plenty of veggies that come together in this. You’re gonna have lots of fiber, and you’re gonna have some protein in there.
You can have spinach in it, carrots in it. It’s gonna be a very colorful, delicious, year-round soup that you can enjoy. You could add some optional protein on the side if you’d like, some chicken or salmon, but you don’t have to. This is a complete meal in itself and it’s gonna be super delicious.
11) Beef and Broccoli
Skip the takeout and make beef and broccoli at home in less time than delivery would take. The pressure cooker makes the beef tender and coats everything in a glossy, savory sauce. You could serve it over brown or white rice and watch it disappear.
This is such a great meal because you’re gonna have the protein from the beef, and you’re gonna have some vitamin C and some fiber from that delicious broccoli. Serve it over brown or white rice to give you some carbs, and right there you have a complete meal, colorful and a crowd pleaser.
12) Pork Carnitas
Crispy, tender carnitas are a taco night dream, and the Instant Pot makes them easy. The pork turns fall-apart tender under the pressure, then crisps up under the broiler for the best of both worlds. Set out tortillas and toppings and let everyone build their own.
We love meals where we can build and get all the family involved to personalize your own taco. Do you want lettuce in it? Do you want avocado, guacamole, cilantro, some tomatoes, salsa? Do whatever you want to make this yours and involve everyone. Let everyone cater and test it out and see which is the best version of your pork carnitas. I love that.
13) Glazed Pork Chops
Juicy pork chops in a sweet and savory glaze are a fast, satisfying weeknight dinner. The pressure cooker keeps them tender instead of dry, and the glaze comes together in the same pot. You could serve them with mashed potatoes or any sort of carb that you like, polenta or pasta, and you have a Sunday-style dinner on a Tuesday.
Definitely love this, it’s a classic. You can have the pork, delicious, a good source of protein, and combine it with any carb that you like. I like the mashed potatoes. Then definitely choose a veggie for your side. You could do some Brussels sprouts, some spinach, a fresh salad if you’d like, and chop up some fruit like strawberries. You could top it off with some pistachios, almonds, or some sort of nuts if you’d like.
A lot of people like to eat apples or applesauce with their pork. So you could even make some sort of salad and chop up some apples and put that on top as a nice complement to the pork.
14) Butter Chicken
Rich, creamy butter chicken tastes like your favorite Indian restaurant made it, but it comes together at home in one pot. The sauce is mild enough for kids and deeply flavorful for the grownups. Serve it over rice or with warm naan to scoop up every bit.
There are different types of naan that you can use with this. You could use a classic or the garlicky version. You could use white rice or brown rice for a little bit more fiber. Then go ahead and add some veggies to this. Don’t be shy to add whatever your favorite veggie is with this meal, adding some color and some difference in texture.
15) Beef Barbacoa
Tender, shreddable barbacoa is packed with smoky, spicy flavor and endlessly useful. The Instant Pot does the low-and-slow work for you in about an hour. Pile it into tacos, burritos, or bowls all week long.
Yes, be resourceful with those leftovers and switch it up, finding different ways to reuse that delicious high-protein beef. I love these ideas. You could also throw it on top of a salad if you are wanting a higher vegetable content. The tacos sound amazing, putting some guacamole, avocado, cilantro, fresh tomatoes, or some fresh salsa on that as well.
You could chop up some onions and make it a whole meal and switch it up all week long. You could add it in some sort of tortilla. I like the fresh tortillas, the raw ones that you cook at home with fewer ingredients, or you could do a whole wheat tortilla if you’d like. This sounds super delicious.
16) Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Creamy broccoli cheddar soup is the kind of dinner that makes vegetables an easy sell. It comes together in one pot and turns velvety with a handful of shredded cheese. You could serve it in a bread bowl for a cozy night everyone will remember.
You could also chop up some French bread and serve it on the side to dip in there. I love this. You could serve with some protein on the side if you are aiming for more of a high-protein diet, so you can combine it with some chicken on the side. That would be super complementary to the creamy broccoli cheddar soup.
I love that you’re gonna get plenty of veggies in there from the broccoli. That’s gonna provide you with some vitamin C, and it will really fill you up as well with all the fiber in it. And if you wanted to make a grilled cheese sandwich on the side and dip that in the broccoli cheddar soup, that sounds delicious too.
17) Chickpea Curry
This budget-friendly curry is proof that meatless dinners can be just as satisfying. Chickpeas simmer in a fragrant, tomatoey sauce that only gets better as it sits. Spoon it over rice for a warming, hands-off weeknight meal.
You could also serve it with some sort of naan bread on the side. You could combine some protein on the side if you want, like some fish or chicken. This is delicious. The chickpeas are gonna give you lots of fiber and some protein. And who doesn’t love curry? So flavorful.
18) Taco Soup
Taco soup is basically taco night in a bowl, and it could not be easier. Dump in ground beef or turkey, beans, corn, and taco seasoning, and let the pot do the rest. Load it up with all your favorite taco toppings for a fun, fast dinner.
There are so many options with this one. I love that you can have the beef, or you can switch it out for ground turkey if you prefer, for that good protein. You also have the beans there for some fiber, and some corn for some fiber and carbs. You could add some slices of avocado on top, some cilantro if you’d like.
You could put some chips on top if you wanted to really add some crunch, like the taco salad always has. You could even throw in some spinach on top to give it a little bit of green. This is delicious.
19) Chicken Cacciatore
Rustic Italian chicken cacciatore feels special but comes together with pantry staples. The chicken turns tender in a rich tomato and pepper sauce right in the pot. Serve it over pasta, potatoes, or polenta to soak up all that sauce. Delish.
Yes, there are several different options you can do with the carbs here, depending on what your vibe is for that night. Switch it up: pasta, potatoes, mashed potatoes, polenta, couscous, whatever you’re feeling. This will be so delicious with that tomato and that chicken.
You’re really getting a lot of protein from the chicken, and you’re getting so much color here with the red and the green and the potatoes. It’s such a colorful, delicious meal. You have the protein, carb, and veggies, and that checks all the boxes.
20) Baby Back Ribs
Fall-off-the-bone ribs on a weeknight sound impossible until you make them in the Instant Pot. The pressure cooker gets them tender in under an hour, then a quick trip under the broiler crisps up the sauce. It is a hands-off dinner that tastes like a weekend cookout.
There are so many things you can serve with this as well. You’ve already got the protein, so why not add some carbs and some veggies? You could do some baked beans, a side salad, some mashed potatoes, or some halved baked potatoes if you’d like, or a big baked potato where you can add the toppings. Some pasta, some rice. There are so many options here. You could add some Brussels sprouts, that would be really good, or some green beans. Lots of options with this one, delicious.
21) Beef Stroganoff
Creamy beef stroganoff over egg noodles is old-school comfort the whole family loves. The Instant Pot makes the beef tender and the sauce rich in a fraction of the usual time. Stir in a little sour cream at the end and dinner is ready.
This one is also super easy to add in some veggies. You can add in some mushrooms, no one will even notice. You could also do carrots, celery, or onions, making sure to get some veggies in there, because you’ve already got the protein and the delicious egg noodles, which are gonna provide you with some carbs. So veggies are your choice, and this is gonna be a delicious crowd pleaser for the whole fam.
22) BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
Shredded barbecue chicken piled onto soft buns is a dump-and-go dinner that never disappoints. The chicken cooks up juicy and shreds in seconds, right in the pot. Top with a little coleslaw for crunch and dinner is done.
I love this, perfect. You already have the protein there with the chicken and some yummy barbecue sauce, and the bun of your choice. You could do a whole wheat bun if you’d like to get a little more fiber in there.
You could even do little Hawaiian rolls if you wanna make them little kid-sized burgers or sandwiches, that would be really fun. The coleslaw could be inside or on the side, or you could do some carrot sticks if the kids are not a fan of the coleslaw. You could add pickles, or shredded carrots inside, delish.
23) Meatloaf and Potatoes
You can cook up a whole meatloaf and potatoes dinner at once in the Instant Pot. The meatloaf stays moist while the potatoes get tender and ready to mash. It is classic comfort food without heating up the whole kitchen.
Yes, such a classic. Love that you’re gonna get plenty of protein there from your meatloaf, some mashed potatoes, and you can customize the mashed potatoes by adding some garlic, a little bit of cheese, milk, or butter, whatever you like to make those mashed potatoes your own.
Then a veggie of your choice. You could do Brussels sprouts, green beans, or some carrot sticks for an easy, cool veggie. You could do a side salad with this one, a spinach salad or a Caesar salad would go really well. You could also do some sort of broccoli salad. That would be super delicious.
24) Butternut Squash Risotto
Risotto usually means standing at the stove, stirring and stirring, but the Instant Pot makes it hands-free. The rice turns creamy and the butternut squash melts right in for a cozy, elegant dinner. A little Parmesan on top at the end makes it feel restaurant-worthy.
Love this, sneaking in the veggies there. You’ve got the risotto, that’s so delicious. You could add some protein on the side if you’re going for a high-protein meal, so you could add some sort of fish or chicken on the side if you’d like. This is so delicious with that Parmesan, especially if you get that fresh Parmesan freshly grated right on top. My goodness, chef’s kiss.
25) Honey Garlic Chicken
Sweet, sticky honey garlic chicken is a dump-and-go dinner kids ask for again and again. Everything cooks together in one pot and comes out coated in a glossy sauce. Serve it over rice with some steamed broccoli or green beans for an easy, complete meal.
You could do whatever kind of rice you wanted with this. It could be white rice, brown rice, couscous, or quinoa. Quinoa is great as well. You get that yummy honey garlic flavoring in there with that tender chicken, giving you tons of protein, and then the veggie of your choice. You could make it some sort of quick veggie, like the steamed broccoli.
That’s such a great addition, making this a complete meal, super colorful. You could do carrot sticks on the side for the kids that prefer the cold carrot sticks, or you could even do a side salad that would complement this meal as well.
26) Chicken Stew
This cozy chicken stew is everything you love about the classic, made faster. The chicken and vegetables turn tender in a savory, comforting broth. Ladle it into bowls with some crusty bread for an easy cold-weather dinner.
You could add some veggies to this. You could add some potatoes, carrots, or mushrooms. You could really make this your own with whatever veggies you’d like to add, with some bread on the side. If you wanna go the pasta route, you could do that too, or you could do some sort of rice or quinoa with it as well. Super delicious, making sure that you have the veggies in there for some fiber and some color to round out this delicious meal.
27) Herb Pork Loin
A juicy herb-crusted pork loin looks impressive, but it’s surprisingly hands-off. The Instant Pot keeps it tender and the herby crust adds big flavor with little effort. Slice it up and serve with a vegetable for a dinner that feels like a Sunday. Delish.
Again, you could add some apples if you like the combination of pork and apple together. Some applesauce in a bowl, some apple slices, or a side salad that has some diced apples on top would be super delicious, like a spinach salad with some balsamic vinaigrette. Then whatever carb you’d like. You could add some potatoes, rice, quinoa, or couscous, which would be super delicious with this herby-crusted pork loin.
28) Potato Soup
Creamy potato soup is pure comfort food in a bowl, and about as budget-friendly as dinner gets. The potatoes turn tender and the whole pot comes together with a handful of pantry staples. Load it up with whatever you want, like cheese, bacon, or green onion for a baked-potato-in-a-bowl feel.
Yes, little crispy bacon crumbles all over it, some green onions, cheese, and any sort of herbs you like to put on top. This is a super delicious addition to any weeknight menu. You could serve some extra protein on the side if you’d like, but you don’t have to. This is such a delicious, complete meal, and adding those green onions on top will give it a beautiful punch of color.
29) French Onion Soup
Deeply savory French onion soup usually takes ages, isn’t that the truth? But the pressure cooker speeds up those caramelized onions. The broth comes out rich and restaurant-worthy without the long simmer. Top with toasted bread, you have to, and the melty cheese for a toasty treat.
I love this, it complements any weeknight meal. So delicious. You could do some grilled cheese on the side. You could even add some chicken or some sliced turkey into that grilled cheese to have a little bit of protein. You could do a side salad with this if you’re going for a soup-and-salad combo, so any sort of spinach salad or spring salad. This could be your appetizer for the meal, or just the side soup for some sort of delicious family meal.
30) Enchilada Casserole
All the flavor of enchiladas without the fuss of rolling each one, oh yes. Layers of tortillas, cheese, and sauce cook up into a bubbly, crowd-pleasing casserole. You could serve this with a side salad and dinner’s done.
I definitely love the idea of putting some avocado, cilantro, tomatoes, and sour cream to give it some color. The enchiladas are gonna have some chicken in there, and you could have some beans in there for some fiber and protein.
If you’ve made enchiladas before, you know that rolling them just takes way too long. Having it in a casserole makes it so simple, and you’re still able to enjoy all the flavors of enchiladas. You just literally cut a piece out instead of having to gently remove each individually rolled enchilada.
This makes it so much easier. You could also serve with some olives so that you can be nostalgic and put the olives on each one of your fingertips. The kids always love that too.
31) Jambalaya
One-pot jambalaya brings a little Louisiana flavor to a busy weeknight. Rice and sausage cooked together with just the right amount of kick. It is a complete meal in one single pot, which means cleanup is a breeze. Thank goodness.
So you’re gonna have the chicken, the sausage, the rice, making sure you have plenty of veggies in there too. You could do any veggies that sound good in this meal. You could do some sort of carrots, or whatever sounds good to you, some potatoes, a little starchy veggie. You could have some corn in there, some celery, or you could serve a side salad if you’d like to complement this. A delicious Louisiana meal for just a change up from the regular meals, something different, some culture.
