10+ Easy Beginner Instant Pot Recipes

Are you new to the Instant Pot and looking for some easy recipes to get started? In this post, we’ve gathered 10+ beginner-friendly Instant Pot recipes that are perfect for those just starting out with their beloved pressure cooker.

Did you get a new instant pot? Thinking, where do I start? We often see posts about people who got a new instant pot last year or a gift on Christmas but have not opened it yet as they are scared to use a pressure cooker. Let me assure you the instant pot is not the same as the old stovetop pressure cooker you might have seen with the scary sounds.

You will love the Instant Pot! I am excited to share some easy beginner recipes with you. I will start with many basic recipes but will give you pointers to try other recipes.

But first, have you set up your instant pot and done the water test? If not, here are the resources to get you started –

• Instant Pot Beginner Quick Setup Guide
• Instant Pot Water Test

There are some basic recipes here that will get you acquainted with all the things you can do with your instant pot and also help you learn the cooking times and techniques. For more recipe ideas, check these 200+ Instant Pot Recipes.

Let’s get started with easy instant pot recipes.

1. No boil / Cold Ingredients Yogurt

This no-boil / cold ingredients yogurt is the easiest way to make yogurt in the instant pot.  Pour ultra-pasteurized milk, add the starter, and stir. Press the yogurt button and return to creamy thick yogurt after 8 hours.

Of course, you can also start with the traditional yogurt recipe in the instant pot.

2. Instant Pot Rice 

Making perfectly cooked rice has always been a challenge for me, but not anymore with the instant pot. Here you will find the foolproof recipe to cook rice in the main instant pot steel insert or make pot-in-pot rice in smaller quantities.

Related recipes: 

• Instant Pot Brown White Rice
• Instant Pot Jasmine Rice
• Instant Pot Quinoa
• Instant Pot Wild Rice
• Instant Pot Coconut Rice
• Cilantro Lime Brown Rice
• Spinach Rice

3. Perfect Boiled Eggs

After peeling the eggs boiled in the instant pot, my husband said, “Buying the instant pot is worth it only for these easy-peel eggs”. You must check the easy method to boil eggs and the no-effort peeling.

4. Oatmeal

I love a bowl of warm oatmeal to kickstart the day in the right way. Turns out this is also the best and easiest breakfast you can make in the instant pot!

5. Steamed Vegetables

Along with all of the amazing meals and desserts you can cook in the Instant Pot, there are tons of simple things you can do with it as well. Whether it be carrots, asparagus, green beans, or pumpkin, you can perfectly steam almost any vegetable in the Instant Pot!

Related recipes:

• Instant Pot Broccoli
• How to boil potatoes in the instant pot?
• Instant Pot Carrots
• Instant Pot Beets
• Instant Pot Baby Potatoes
• Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
• Instant Pot Pumpkin Puree
• Instant Pot Cauliflower
• Instant Pot Green Beans

6. Penne Pasta 

Learn the basics of making pasta in the instant pot with this easy penne pasta recipe. Bonus this is a kid-friendly recipe, and my daughter’s favorite.

Related Recipes: 

• Fajita Pasta
• Spaghetti in Pesto Sauce
• Spinach Artichoke Lasagna
• Lemon Parmesan Orzo
• Creamy Mushroom Pasta

7. Minestrone Soup

One of the best things to make in the instant pot is SOUP. Many recipes are perfect dump-and-go recipes. They are sure to make you enjoy more soups this Fall!

Related Recipes: 

• Chicken Fajita Soup
• Vegetarian Taco Soup
• Broccoli Cheddar Soup
• Creamy Tomato Soup
• Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
• Cauliflower Soup
• Butternut Squash Soup

8. Lentils (Chana Dal)

Instant Pot is a perfect gadget to cook lentils and beans quickly. If you are vegetarian or want to add more plant-based meals to your diet, check out the 20+ lentils and beans recipes.

Related Recipes: 

• Red Lentil Curry
• Spinach Dal
• Moth Bean Curry
• Healthy Lentil Soup
• Black Eyed Peas Curry
• Chickpeas Curry (Chana Masala)
• Mung Bean Dal
• Coconut Chickpea Curry

9. Chicken Curry

Have you been afraid to try curries, or do they seem to be too much work? Think again…they are a breeze with the instant pot. We have loved Indian and Thai curries made in the instant pot. Start with this easy Chicken Curry.

Related Recipes:

• Instant Pot Potato Curry
• Coconut Shrimp Curry
• Thai Green Curry
• Butter Chicken
• Coconut Chicken Curry
• Chicken Vindaloo

10. Rice pudding

I had to end the list with something sweet. Making rice pudding (or kheer) in the instant pot is a game changer. Dump all the ingredients and return to perfectly creamy pudding after 30 minutes. Doesn’t that sound wonderful? We enjoyed this pudding so much more after getting the instant pot.

Related Recipes:

• Brownie
• Banana Bread Pudding
• Applesauce

You might also like the recipe collections below:

• 25+ Easy Instant Pot Side Dishes
• 70+ Amazing Vegan Instant Pot Recipes
• 20+ Soups made in the instant pot
• 23+ Instant Pot Rice Recipes
• 11 Instant Pasta Recipes
• 20+ Instant Pot Lentil & Bean Recipes

I hope you enjoy your new Instant Pot and cook some amazing food. Comment below and tell us what you first cooked in your Instant Pot!