The Best Recipes To Try In An Instant Pot

Do you know what FOMO is? Fear of missing out. I’ve been experiencing it ever since everyone under the sun got an Instant Pot for Christmas, and I did not. Anyone know where Santa’s complaints department can be reached? Whenever you’re looking to sacrifice money and cabinet space to a new appliance, you want to know that it’s going to be worth it! Follow along as we share the best recipes to make in an instant pot.

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1. Perfectly Cooked White Rice

Som it’s actually possible to make perfectly cooked rice in less than 15 minutes without a stovetop mess? Woah. WHAT?! Your Instant Pot eliminates the hassle and confusion that can sometimes come with cooking rice.

If you’re someone who seeks to meal plan on a Sunday for a week’s worth of healthy lunches, often quinoa and rice are the base to those – so why not make it easy on yourself with an Instant Pot method in record time?

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2. Drool-Worthy Artichoke and Spinach Dip

Hot and ready when you need to whip up a quick appetizer, and fast! This artichoke and spinach dip recipe from Forkly is simple and uses ingredients that you most likely already have on hand! Plus, it’s a crowd favorite that will have everyone returning for seconds.

Make sure to have a pumpernickel loaf on hand for serving. This recipe yields about 10 servings and takes just minutes to make. Life made easy, right here.

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3. Crispy Carnitas

Pork carnitas probably most favored to be served up as tacos. Because well, tacos are life. I’ve made them quite often before in a crock pot…aka a slow cooker. So making them in a “fast” cooker like the Instant Pot makes for a late in the day planned dinner still a success that evening.

Crockpots take planning…and well…we aren’t all cut out for that (don’t judge me!). Simply cook the meat in your Instant Pot, and transfer to a baking sheet if you desire that crisp up, and voila!

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4. Quick & Easy Macaroni & Cheese

Don’t you dare pull out that boxed mac! You can make a homemade Forkly version of this comfort food in an Instant Pot with the same amount of time as the boxed version takes. Actually, maybe even less. Try 4 minutes!

All you need are a few minutes to get the gourmet feel of a home-cooked dinner. Once you get a taste of the cheese and garlic powder combo, you’ll never want boxed mac and cheese again.

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5. Kung Pao Chicken

We’ve created a takeout favorite – Kung Pao Chicken – that is cooked effortlessly in the Instant Pot and in the comfort of your own home. And when we say effortlessly, we mean it! This delicious dinner comes together in just 30 minutes and with only one pot. This means easy prep, a quick cleanup, and a satisfied belly.

The recipe yields four servings and is loaded with veggies, soy sauce, and other flavorful ingredients. You also have the option of adding half a cup of unsalted peanuts for an extra crunch.

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6. Popcorn

My kids are going through this phase of homemade popcorn. No, not the microwave kind. The oil on the stovetop kind. It takes much…babysitting. Not to complain, but this way of making popcorn is much much better. It’s also super unique and gives you another reason to use the Instant Pot.

The recipe from Temecula Blogs takes less than 10 minutes to prepare. Add some salt to flavor and feel free to customize your popcorn with other ingredients like M&Ms, caramel sauce, or whatever else you’re craving.

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7. Pizza Pasta

Two popular favorites, pizza, and pasta come together to create one epic meal! This Forkly dish is saucy, comforting, and so darn delicious. This recipe is packed with shredded mozzarella, crushed tomatoes, pepperoni slices, and plenty of seasoning for a punch of flavor.

It yields about six servings and takes less than half an hour to whip up. While the recipe uses cavatappi/scoobi doo pasta, feel free to choose whatever pasta is sitting in your cupboard.

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8. Six-Inch New York Style Cheesecake

Bet you didn’t expect to see THIS on the list. But yes, yes indeed… you can make a tall, beautiful New York-style cheesecake in an Instant Pot! It’s completed in just under an hour, mostly hands-free. Simply let the pot do its thang…

It’s recommended that you let the ingredients of this dessert get to room temperature before baking. To have the best flavor, let the cheesecake sit in the fridge overnight to chill. Enjoy!

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9. Oreo-Crust Chocolate Cheesecake

If the New York-style cheesecake didn’t impress you this decadent chocolate cheesecake surely will! A crunchy Oreo crust is topped with luxurious chocolate cheesecake. It’s the perfect dessert to make to celebrate a birthday or holiday or for a loved one that needs a bit of encouragement to get through a tough week.

This Forkly recipe aims to please with its smooth texture, rich chocolatey base and fluffy cheesecake filling. It’ll definitely become a go-to recipe whenever you’re in need of a dessert!

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10. Herb Roasted Potatoes

Roasted potatoes in only 15 minutes? That’s unheard of! This recipe takes baby potatoes and transforms them into fluffy yet crisp flavorful bites of potato that will side pretty much anything you feel like making tonight. Plus, it only takes 15 minutes to make.
These potatoes are flavored with everything from dried rosemary to oregano to garlic powder and more. If you have any leftovers, they can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to three days.

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11. Instant Pot Indian Chana Masala

An Indian inspired chana masala that will warm you to the bones and allow you to cook the entire dish all in the Instant Pot. This Forkly recipe is healthy, satisfying, and easy to put together with things you probably already have in the cupboard!

Some ingredients you can expect to toss into the Instant Pot include chickpeas, tomato puree, chana masala seasoning, and baby spinach. It can be served alongside basmati rice or on its own.

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12. Cabbage Rolls

This was a childhood favorite for me. My mother worked hard to make these from scratch and we would wait as the aroma filled the house, waiting for them to be finished. That wait time gets real short, real fast with this Instant Pot recipe for them.

By following this recipe from Corrie Cooks, you can be enjoying this Polish delicacy in less than half an hour. It yields eight servings and requires just nine ingredients to whip up.

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13. Crustless Veggie Quiche

Brunch time in no time! This amazing breakfast recipe (or dinner, depending on the vibe of your day) is crust free, and cooked in only 30 minutes in the Instant Pot that can serve 6-8 people!

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14. Instant Pot Red Lentil Chili

Lentils are excellent for thickening up dishes (hello, hearty!) and are both nutritious and very inexpensive. With a little help from the Instant Pot, this cheap-yet-filling meal can be done and on the table in less than 30 minutes!

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15. Gluten-Free Beef Stroganoff

Saute and cook your ingredients right in the Instant Pot for a recipe that has minimal prep and only 25 minutes of cook time to make a tender beef stroganoff.

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16. Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Sliders

There’s nothing that screams “tasty appetizer” quite like buffalo chicken sliders. They’re easy to serve up to a large crowd and are almost guaranteed to be enjoyed by all. To make this recipe come together even more quickly, we’ve created it in an Instant Pot so that the chicken is tender and shreds beautifully!

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17. Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash

There are several ways you can cook spaghetti squash. You can cook it the traditional way, roasted in the oven, or cook it quickly in the microwave. But absolutely nothing compares to how it cooks in the Instant Pot. Once cooked enjoy it with sauce and meatballs or in one of these innovative recipes using spaghetti squash!

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18. Chicken Breasts

This is a tried and true recipe from the creator, promising a healthy meal option made in an Instant Pot that provides chicken breasts fully cooked, tender, juicy and flavorful! They’re sauteed, cooked, and rested all in less than 20 minutes.

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19. Corn On The Cob

There are a few ways to make corn on the cob. Boil, grill, microwave, and now… Instant Pot! Done in a jiffy and oh so delicious.

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20. Quick & Easy Chicken Ramen

A complex soup like this often takes a lot of time to make, but the Instant Pot takes it from a complicated and labor-intensive recipe to a 20-minute weeknight dinner. It’s better than takeout and you can make it from the comfort of your own home!

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21. Ground Beef Taco Meat From Frozen

Tacos are awesome, because all you really need to do is prep the meat, and chop some veggies for toppings. Not much cooking required. So, when the cooking you DO need to do is simplified? Well, that’s just special.

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22. Instant Pot Low Carb Taco Soup

If there’s one type of food we can all get on board with, it’s Mexican food! It’s irresistibly delicious and never fails to deliver a unique flavor. Our Low Carb Taco Soup is a great option for those who are on a low carb diet and want to still appreciate and experience the joy that comes with Mexican food.

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23. Foolproof Chicken Wings

Making a dozen wings at home just got a whole lot easier. You can have this meal ready to go in just 20 minutes. They’re simple, quick, flavorful. Everything you need on a busy night. Or when the wing cravings strike, and strike hard.

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24. Easy Instant Pot Keto BBQ Chicken Wings

Like so many foods, chicken wings are off-limits (in their most common, breaded and sauced form) if you’re in the keto diet! To help you continue to enjoy this delish dish, we created these Keto BBQ Wings, made in your Instant Pot for maximum flavor and minimum mess.

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25. Chili

Again, if it can be done in a slow cooker, it can probably be done in a lightning-fast cooker! It’s a chili you can create and cook in only 35 minutes. No longer are you getting up early to prep this dinner. Complete this hearty meal on a weeknight, even! Whodathunkit?

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26. Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes

Pillowy sweet potatoes cook effortlessly in the Instant Pot and the skin literally falls right off! Serve them mashed with butter and salt, add to a soup, or enjoy whole just like a baked potato — your choice.

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27. Instant Pot French Roast Croissant Casserole

You may be comfortable cooking savory dinners in your Instant Pot but have you tried making delicious recipes for brunch? We whipped up a French toast casserole with sweet berries and a maple syrup drizzle using another fav breakfast bread – croissants. Are you drooling yet?

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28. Apple Crisp

A warm apple crisp dessert in only 16 minutes! Perfect when you *ahem* forgot to plan a dessert and well, guests are already here! Don’t waste any time with this recipe that pulls from the cupboard all ingredients you likely have on hand.

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29. Instant Pot Butternut Squash

Our Instant Pot method for cooking butternut squash will allow you to make the squash quickly, as well as cook it in a way that separates the squash from the skin with minimal effort. You’ll never want to cook it any other way once you try this!

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30. Instant Pot Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup

This recipe took minimal prep, minimal time, and is still filled with lots of love. The reviews on it were great, and we served up many bowls of it to happy co-workers. This recipe is just enough nostalgic, with new-age twists to keep you making it again and again.

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31. Whole “Faux” Rotisserie Chicken

It’s a “faux-tisserie” because there’s no rotisserie involved here…but you’re not going to sacrifice on taste! With only 25 minutes of cooking time, you have plenty of time to whip up some sides to go along with this tasty chicken recipe. Plus the Instant Pot’s sauté function means you can still get crispy browned skin!

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32. Butter Chicken

I’ve been going through what I call a “curry phase”. It’s been about 3 years now, with no signs of relenting. It’s just so dang good, I could eat curry dishes every night. I battle between buying store-bought jars and making my own sauces.

Sometimes the amount of time and effort a homemade meal takes is just too much. So a recipe that takes the timepiece out of the equation, makes this a very very doable thing for a curry-loving-yet-busy Mama.

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33. Instant Pot Pulled Pork BBQ Tacos

Tender shredded pork is smothered in a sweet and savory BBQ sauce, piled into a corn tortilla and then topped with a creamy slaw. If you love pulled pork sammies then you will certainly love these tacos!

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34. Thai Red Curry With Chicken

I mean, while we are on the topic of curry, why not try a Thai version? Made with chicken, peppers, carrots, bamboo, onion, coconut milk, and of course – curry paste, this entire recipe is prepped in the Instant Pot with step-by-step instructions for the newbie to the gadget. Takes all the guesswork out!

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35. Instant Pot Green Bean Casserole

We have transformed an American favorite, green bean casserole into an Instant Pot recipe! Traditionally this casserole is served during Thanksgiving but it is seriously so delicious that if you share it for any occasion everyone will surely thank you!

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36. Banana French Toast

Looking for an easy, sweet, breakfast recipe the whole family will love? This recipe will surprise you with how easy and delicious it is. Topped with maple syrup and pecans, it’s cooked in only 25 minutes for an unforgettable take on french toast.

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37. Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are lovely, aren’t they? What’s not lovely is starchy boiling water going all over your stovetop because you got distracted and let it boil over, again. Not that it’s ever happened to me… Regardless, this recipe keeps things under 30 minutes from pot to table, and no boiling required on your part! huzzah!

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38. How To Cook Quinoa In The Instant Pot

Cooking quinoa on the stove-top isn’t exactly a difficult task but it does require supervision. Not with the Instant Pot! You simply set it and forget it! Enjoy it as a side dish with your favorite protein or use it in a delicious Mediterranean quinoa salad.

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39. Applesauce

Yes, applesauce at home! Something I’ve attempted once, and then never tried again. This recipe takes a bit of prep (peeling apples, basically is it) and then it’s cooked for only 5 minutes in the Instant Pot.

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40. Jambalaya

One of my all-time favorite dishes, because it truly is an all in one. Hearty, spicy and filling. This recipe takes only minutes for each step, with less than 30 minutes total for a 6 serving dinner!

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41. Quick and Easy Deconstructed Lasagna

Wrap your head around lasagna and you’ll be just smitten with this classic recipe made anew with an Instant Pot. The total time required for this recipe is about 30 minutes. That’s less than a frozen kind and you’ll feel better knowing you made it yourself!

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42. Taco Pie

Another layered dinner, with a Mexican twist – this Taco pie is made perfectly crisp and ready for serving, all inside the Instant Pot. Layered tortillas, with ground taco meat, refried beans, salsa, cheese and enchilada sauce, this recipe is not to be missed.

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43. Easy Weeknight Instant Pot Hamburger Helper

There is perhaps nothing quite as easy to whip up on a busy weeknight as Hamburger Helper. But you can clean up the ingredients and make it far tastier by creating it from scratch in your Instant Pot!

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44. Cinnamon Rolls

You can now make homemade cinnamon rolls from scratch using an instant pot, with ease! Forget the pre-made dough and go for a true winner here. Oh, you fancy like that. 

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45. Instant Pot Steak Fajitas

Turn any night of the week into a fiesta with these easy Instant Pot Steak Fajitas! This flavor-packed meal comes together in just 30 minutes and generously serves 6. Want more flavor? Be sure to marinate the steak up to 48 hours before cooking!

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46. Instant Pot Healing Chicken Soup

So often when you’re sick, you don’t want to eat much (or you simply can’t keep much down!), so you reach for a tin of store-bought soup and some crackers. But next time you or your family are feeling under the weather, whip up this Instant Pot Healing Chicken Soup. It’s full of hearty ingredients and anti-inflammatory turmeric, sickness-fighting fresh garlic, and nutrient-dense bone broth!

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47. French Onion Soup

Classicly, with a French onion soup recipe, most of the work comes from the cooking of the onions. It’s a bit of a process. Using an Instant Pot, you can dramatically cut down on production time to make this incredible soup.

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48. Easy 90-Minute Bone Broth

Our recipe for bone broth is simple and customizable and it’s a recipe that I’ve made many times in my home before putting it up here to share with the Forkly community. The biggest hack? It takes between 1 and 2 hours to make in the Instant Pot, as opposed to the 24 to 48 it takes on the stovetop or in a slow cooker. Say what?!

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49. Strawberry Jam

No more standing over the stove with bubbling sugar and berries, because it’s all done in the Instant Pot for you. Jar it when you’re done and have days of fresh jam for your toast!

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50. Instant Pot Lemon Honey Garlic Salmon Dinner

Fish is full of healthy fats, making it the perfect well-rounded dinner. The Instant Pot cooks up flakey, flavorful fish every time! This Lemon Honey Garlic Salmon Dinner is an easy and nutritious weeknight recipe that the whole family will enjoy!

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51. Hard Boiled Eggs

Forget boiling water, no time for that. This recipe makes perfect hard-boiled eggs every time using the Instant Pot. Whether you want them for an on-hand snack, or maybe because you volunteered to make deviled eggs for a potluck, you’ll be calling on this recipe for sure.

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52. Absolute Best Potato Salad

Everyone’s potluck favorite is about to get so much easier! This awesome kitchen gadget transforms this salad into a one-pot recipe! This means you can cook the potatoes and eggs together, simultaneously. If that isn’t life-changing, I don’t know what is!

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53. Absolute Best Frittata

Traditionally, a frittata is prepared on the stove-top or in the oven but today we’re making the most fluffy and delicious frittata in the Instant Pot! Its pillowy texture will seriously have you dreaming about it days after.

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54. Instant Pot Meatloaf

Yes, meatloaf. While it’s not even that big a deal to make in the oven, it’s just one of those things that if you can get it done faster, and accompanied with sides…well, why aren’t you then?

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55. Instant Pot Poached Eggs

Poached eggs are a delicious addition to your breakfast and a great way to add protein without all the extra oil of a fried egg. But have you tried poaching an egg? It can be a bit tricky but using the Instant Pot is a game-changer! These eggs come out perfectly every single time.

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56. Cooking Perfect Less-Mess beets In The Instant Pot

Beets are so messy and tend to leave stains all over your kitchen (and you!). But cooking them in the Instant Pot is a great way to reduce the mess and time. You can eat beets on their own or as a side, or add them to another dish or salad!

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57. Creamy Chicken

This recipe makes for an amazing creamy chicken dinner option, made in the Instant Pot and suggested to serve over the low-carb option of spiralized zucchini noodles (aka zoodles). It’s complete to serve in under half an hour — which makes this recipe one that we are certainly excited about trying on a weeknight especially!

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58. Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo

This creamy dreamy alfredo is made easy using the Instant Pot, so there’s no need for that jar of storebought sauce anymore! This recipe is so much better. Casual enough for a weeknight family dinner and elegant enough for a Friday night date night at home!

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59. Beans & Rice

A perfect side dish to the rest of your dinner, beans, and rice makes for a delicious option that’s so flavorful, and thankfully -won’t take you all day to make any more. Utilizing the Instant Pot for its amazing ability to cook foods fast, this recipe doesn’t even require a pre-soak of the beans!

Not only that – but it provides not just one serving, but TEN servings of this side dish. So, meal prep is super easy.

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60. Instant Pot Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Mac And Cheese

There is no comfort food like mac and cheese – the carbs and cheese are oh so delicious! Try kicking it up a notch with some sriracha and FLAMIN’ HOT CHEETOS! Who needs to shell out for takeout when you’ve got this recipe in your back pocket for the next time a cheesy craving hits?

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61. Ooey Gooey Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Bites

These banana bread bites are absolutely incredible! The best part (in my opinion, that is) is the texture of these little bites. They don’t have the crusty outside that banana bread would normally get from baking in the over. Instead, they’re very cake-like; soft and moist. They truly taste like a treat, but we won’t judge you if you eat them for breakfast.

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62. Pancakes

These little pancakes almost look like muffins, but we aren’t complaining one bit. Complimented with blueberries these pancakes are made from scratch with this simple recipe and then cooked in the Instant Pot.

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63. Starbucks Copycat Egg Bites

Starbucks’ new bites are creamy and delicious and altogether fairly healthy, but they’re also super expensive – totaling just shy of $5 for two of them! We took a look at their recipe and realized that it’s so easy to recreate them at home and with cleaner ingredients. So why not? We’re always up for a healthy, filling breakfast we can meal prep at the beginning of the week.

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64. Teriyaki Rice With Chicken

This recipe provides not only amazing meals but some tips to make your mealtime prep go even faster and smoother! All said and done, this is a satisfying meal that is ready in just 32 minutes!

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65. Vanilla Extract

Now here’s a unique one. This recipe will create enough of that magical extract to create not only a supply for your baking at home but makes for a perfect gift to bring your neighbors or friends!

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66. How To Cook Brown Rice In The Instant Pot

Rice is a staple in most people’s homes. It’s filling and the perfect complement to so many dishes, from meat and veggies to curry. With the Instant Pot, you can walk away and not have to worry about checking in on it even once!

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67. Oatmeal

Make breakfast for the whole family, served warm to comfort the soul before a full day ahead. This recipe uses steel-cut oats and takes just 5 minutes. Take that, instant oats.

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68. Instant Pot Customizable Egg Bites

Instead of getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of the morning and denying your body the nutrition it needs for the day, try these make-ahead egg bites! They can be whipped up in minutes on a Sunday night in preparation for your weekday breakfasts throughout your busy work week. Our recipe includes 3 delicious flavor combinations!

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69. Garden Salsa

Homemade salsa doesn’t need to be so intimidating. It’s easy to make with this recipe! Using fresh ingredients like ripe tomatoes, onion, bell pepper, jalapenos, lime juice and (optional) cilantro, this recipe is ready for dipping into!

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70. Roast Beef Dinner

Easy like a Sunday morning? Forget that. Easy like an ENTIRE SUNDAY with this recipe! The Instant Pot takes all the guesswork out of making a Sunday roast beef dinner and serves it up with all the juicy flavor you’re craving!

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71. 15-Minute Instant Pot Orange Chicken

With this recipe, you can have dinner served as quickly as it will take you to order take-out! This delicious orange chicken meal comes together in just 15 minutes. The sweet and tangy flavors of the orange chicken pairs perfectly atop a bed of rice or a bowl of vegetables. Your whole family will be asking for this meal every week!

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72. Chicken Pot Pie

While Chicken Pot Pie was one of my favorite meals as a child, now as an adult my busy lifestyle doesn’t accommodate labor-intensive recipes! So we set out to find a way to make this family-favorite meal easy, without sacrificing flavor. Thanks to the Instant Pot, we have the perfect solution.

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73. Citrus Beer Ribs

The Instant Pot cooked these ribs, a traditionally laborious meal, in a fraction of the time it would normally take. This means that you no longer have to save ribs for special occasions but instead can serve them on a busy weeknight! Plus, beer. Mmmmmm!

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74. Quick & Easy Tuscan Chicken Pasta

This Tuscan Chicken Pasta is creamy, filling, and absolutely packed with flavor. But best of all, it’s quick and easy to make!

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75. Better-Than-Takeout Low Carb Egg Roll in a Bowl

Egg rolls are delicious, but they’re crazy unhealthy because they’re usually deep fried in those little wrappers! They’re also a lot of work to make from scratch and I actively avoid using a deep-fryer because that’s bound to end in a trip to the hospital for me. But we’ve got a workaround here with this Egg Roll in a Bowl – essentially the filling of a traditional egg roll. It’s as delicious as it sounds and it’s quick to make with a little help from your Instant Pot.

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