15 Instant Pot Dinners That Save My Weeknights

Hands-off recipes for chili, chicken and rice, paella, and more.

Simply Recipes

Instant Pot White Chicken Chili

When you think Instant Pot recipes, you might not think weeknight-friendly dinners, but I'm here to change that. With the right recipes, your Instant Pot can do all the hard work for you in pulling together a meal in under an hour, leaving you free to multitask your way around your to-do list, knowing dinner is in the works.

From a cozy batch of chili or meatballs to shredded taco meat to use as your heart desires (including for another meal later in the week), these recipes are ready to put on repeat. So if your Instant Pot is hiding in the upper kitchen cabinets, now's the time to dig it out!

And remember that it’s easy to save any of these to MyRecipes to keep them handy. Click through to the recipes, than tap on the heart icon next to the recipe title to get started.

Read More: How to Use an Instant Pot: A First-Timer's Guide

01 of 15

Instant Pot Beef Chili

Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

Get Recipe: Instant Pot Beef Chili

"One of the best parts about chili is all the ways you can top your bowl! Cheese, sliced green onions, crushed tortilla chips, and a dollop of sour cream are all great options."—Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

02 of 15

Instant Pot Chicken and Rice

Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

Get Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken and Rice

"This recipe is total comfort food, a simple meal for chilly fall and winter nights. It's really a complete meal by itself—you don’t need to serve anything else alongside! It makes four generous servings, and is easily doubled for a larger crowd."—Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

03 of 15

How To Cook Chicken in the Instant Pot

Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

Get Recipe: How To Cook Chicken in the Instant Pot

"The cooked chicken can be used in any recipe that calls for precooked chicken. Shred, slice, or cube it as needed, then use it however you like. Tuck a few slices of chicken into a sourdough sandwich, or top a salad to make a light lunch. Toss cubed chicken into a soup or pasta dish. Mix shredded chicken with BBQ sauce or hot sauce for sliders or tacos."—Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

04 of 15

Instant Pot Paella with Chicken and Sausage

Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

Get Recipe: Instant Pot Paella with Chicken and Sausage

"After cooking, you may see a crust of dark caramelization and crunchy rice at the bottom of the pan—this is ok! This is called "socarrat" and is traditional for paella. Just mix it in and enjoy."—Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

05 of 15

Instant Pot Shepherd's Pie

Simply Recipes / Emma Christensen

Get Recipe: Instant Pot Shepherd's Pie

"The only reason I don't make shepherd's pie more often is because (let's be honest here) it's kind of a production to make. As in, an afternoon-consuming production that leaves my kitchen looking rather storm-tossed by the end. Some weekends, I enjoy this production. Others, not so much. Enter my new favorite recipe: this Pressure Cooker Shepherd's Pie."—Emma Christensen, Former General Manager

06 of 15

Instant Pot Porcupine Meatballs

Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

Get Recipe: Instant Pot Porcupine Meatballs

"My favorite way to serve these porcupine meatballs is with mixed steamed vegetables on the side. You know that classic frozen mix of carrots, corn, peas, green beans and lima beans? I microwave a big bowl of them while the meatballs are cooking, so everything is done at the same time."—Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

07 of 15

Instant Pot Chipotle Chicken and Rice Bowls

Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

Get Recipe: Instant Pot Chipotle Chicken and Rice Bowls

"Any long-grain white rice will work well for this recipe. I've also had success with quick-cooking brown rice (Trader Joe's brand). You can also cook the rice separately on the stovetop while the chicken is cooking in the pressure cooker, if you prefer."—Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

08 of 15

Instant Pot Saag Tofu (Indian Spinach and Tofu)

Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

Get Recipe: Pressure Cooker Saag Tofu (Indian Spinach and Tofu)

"When shopping for frozen spinach, look for the chopped loosely-packed variety that comes in a bag. If all you can find is spinach frozen in a solid block, make sure to defrost it before adding it to the pot."—Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

09 of 15

Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

Get Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

"This soup is easy to make any time of day and have ready by dinnertime. Sauté onions and garlic, and then everything else goes into the pot, including raw chicken—no searing required! When you’re ready to eat, the boneless chicken tenders or thighs are easy to shred up and stir back in just before serving."—Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

10 of 15

Pressure Cooker Shredded Chicken Taco Meat

Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

Get Recipe: Pressure Cooker Shredded Chicken Taco Meat

"If you’re using a larger pressure cooker (larger than 6-qt), add an extra can of pineapple juice so there’s enough liquid."—Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

11 of 15

Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup

Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

Get Recipe: Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup

"Love really thick butternut squash soup?! Add just half of the recommended amount of broth, puree, and then stir in additional broth as needed until you reach the consistency you prefer."—Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

12 of 15

Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings

Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

Get Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings

"Chicken and dumplings are a meal all to themselves—you don’t have to make any other side dishes if you’re serving them. If, however, you really want to add a variety of sides to the table, a batch of collard greens, some cabbage, or a big green salad are all good options."—Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

13 of 15

Instant Pot Chicken Adobo and Rice

Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

Get Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Adobo and Rice

"My friend Nancy likes to use rice vinegar in her adobo for its milder flavor. I tried it with both rice vinegar and white vinegar and decided that I like the tanginess of white vinegar the best. If you like a more mild flavor, though, try it Nancy's way!"—Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

14 of 15

Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto

Simply Recipes / Alison Bickle

Get Recipe: Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto

"A pressure cooker takes the work—and guesswork—out of making risotto. The results are nearly identical to the classic, futzy stir-stir-stir method, but there’s about 95% less stirring. You also add the stock all at once, without having to bring it to a simmer."—Sara Bir, Former Senior Editor

15 of 15

Instant Pot White Chicken Chili

Simply Recipes

Instant Pot White Chicken Chili

Get Recipe: Instant Pot White Chicken Chili

"This chili is good served on its own, but you can also jazz it up with some toppings if you like! Some of my go-to’s are a sprinkle of sharp cheddar cheese, crumbled corn chips, diced yellow onions, chopped fresh cilantro, and sliced jalapeños."—Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

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