Best Instant Pot Recipes For Busy Moms

It’s been several years since I got my awesome Instant Pots (6qt. and 8qt.) and I thought I’d share the best Instant Pot recipes that I make again and again.

What’s an Instant Pot? It’s an electric pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, and so much more! I was nervous to use it at first, so I started using it just once a week, then worked up to using it EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. I’m not even kidding — it’s THAT easy to use (and clean)!

Since I like to keep things super easy, simple, and as healthy as possible in the midst of my crazy, busy life — most of the recipes I make are just that — easy, simple, & healthy! Nothing fancy and nothing that takes much preparation.

I am SO happy that I took the plunge and ordered myself an Instant Pot. It replaced my old crockpot and egg steamer!

Instant Pot Resources

Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1Instant Pot DUO Plus 8 Qt 9-in-1The Ultimate Instant Pot Cookbook: 200 Deliciously Simple Recipes Instant Pot Cookbook #2019: 550 Effortless Recipes For Beginner & Advanced Users Keto Instant Pot: 130+ Healthy Low-Carb Recipes for Your Electric Pressure Cooker or Slow CookerInstant Pot Pioneer Woman LUX60 Vintage Floral 6 Qt 6-in-1 

Best Instant Pot Recipes For Super Busy Moms

Beef OR Lamb Stew — This is a dump & go recipe that rewards you with an old-fashioned “simmered-all-day” kind of taste.

• 1-2 lbs. beef or lamb cubed stew meat in about 1-2″ cubes.
• Veggies to taste — potatoes, turnips, onions, celery, etc. If you want them to be bigger/not mush then cube them to about 1″.
• Enough liquid to fully cover everything and give you as much broth as you want, up to the MAX FILL line on the IP insert.  I use water, broth, crushed/pureed tomatoes, etc.
• Salt, pepper, herbs to taste.
• Then follow the IP instructions to close and seal the lid.
• Manual cook for 45-60 minutes (depending on how big the cubed meat is). Or, use your “stew” button.
• I do not usually do the quick release when this is done, but let it release the pressure on its own (natural release). Then I open it when it is safe to do so. I plan for about 3h from start to finish when making this.

Hard-Steamed Eggs — if you need hard boiled eggs for potato salad, egg salad, or just want to make big batches for quick & easy breakfasts or lunches as I do, then you’ll love how easy it is to make them in the IP.

• Put about 1 cup of water in the bottom of your IP cooking pot and place the steam rack in the bottom (it came with my IP).
• Then use a steam basket and fill it up with eggs (I have made up to 12 eggs at once in mine by stacking them a little) and place on rack.
• Then follow the IP instructions to close and seal the lid.
• Turn it on to “steam” and put it going for 5 minutes (this makes a very well-done egg, you might have to adjust it to make them the way you like). OR, use your “egg” button.
• Then do a quick release (according to IP instructions) and remove eggs as soon as it is safe to do so.
• Put the entire instant pot insert into your sink and fill it up with cold water to cool eggs down ASAP. They peel easier this way!

Pinto Beans — Most weeks, I make a batch of pinto beans for us to eat with our Mexican dishes. It has become so much easier since I got the IP!

• Put 4 cups of dried pinto beans soaking in water for a few hours or overnight (add a teaspoon of raw ACV to the soaking water to eliminate some of the “side effects” from eating beans).
• Drain and put the beans into the IP cooking pot.
• Cover with water (I go about 1/2 inch above beans).
• Then follow the IP instructions to close and seal lid.
• Turn it on to “manual” and put going for 45 minutes.
• I do not usually do the quick release when they are done, but let them release the pressure on their own (natural release). Then I open it when it is safe to do so. I plan for about 3h from start to finish when making these.
• Use a slotted spoon to remove beans for the meal or place them in an airtight bowl to store in the fridge. I sometimes use some of the liquid to mash the beans into a “refried” beans mixture.

Whole chicken OR rabbit — We raise and process both of these ourselves and cook them the same way as each other.

• Place the meat in the IP and pour 1+ cup(s) of liquid over it. I use water, broth, etc.
• Then put veggies around it. I use carrots, potatoes, turnips, onions, celery, etc. all cubed to about 2″.
• Sprinkle salt, pepper, and other seasonings on everything (to taste). Rosemary goes great with chicken and rabbit.
• Close the lid, seal, and hit the “poultry” button, OR pressure cook on manual for 20 minutes.
• Let natural release for 10 min, then quick release until safe to open the lid, and serve.

Spaghetti & Meat Sauce — this is an easy way to get my kids’ favorite meal done on an extra busy day. It still takes about the same time, start to finish, but the work *I* put into it is about half as traditional methods.

• Turn IP to “saute” and add 1 pound of ground meat (we usually use beef). Cook & crumble until browned.
• Break up 1 (17oz.) package of spaghetti pasta into about 4inch pieces and pour over sauteed meat, or use a package of other pasta like macaroni.
• Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and Italian seasonings.
• Dump a 28oz. can of crushed tomatoes over top and then fill that same can to about half full with water and pour that over top everything. You need 1+ cups of liquid in the IP for it to work properly.
• Close lid, seal, and set time to 10-minutes. Walk away and do all of the mom, home, farm, etc. things you need to do for about 30minutes while it builds pressure and cooks!
• Do a quick release (according to your IP instructions), remove the lid when safe to do so, mix everything, and serve.

During harvest season here on BorderLine Farm, I also make this delicious tomato soup using fresh garden tomatoes, garlic, basil, etc. 

Homemaking Resources

Homemaker’s Friend Daily Planner is my top recommendation for a physical/hard copy planner!

Proverbial Homemaker Planner & eCourse – digital Resources I recommend!