50 Instant Pot Lunch Recipes You Have to Try
Updated: Jan. 05, 2022These incredibly easy Instant Pot lunch recipes make effortless meals that always taste fantastic.
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Pressure-Cooker Char Siu Pork
I based this juicy pork on Asian influence in Hawaii. It's tasty as is, in a bun or over rice. Use leftovers with fried rice, ramen and salads. —Karen Naihe, Kamuela, HawaiiJust getting started? Try these easy Instant Pot recipes for beginners.
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Pressure-Cooker Vegetable Wild Rice Soup
This thick and hearty soup is packed with colorful vegetables. It's wonderful for lunch alongside a healthy salad or a light sandwich. —Thomas Faglon, Somerset, New Jersey
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Pressure-Cooker Shredded Chicken Gyros
Our family has no links of any kind to Greece, but we always have such a marvelous time at the annual Salt Lake City Greek Festival. One of my favorite parts is all the awesome food. This meal is a good way to mix up our menu, and my kids are big fans. —Camille Beckstrand, Layton, UtahYou’ll also like these make-ahead meals for your busy family.
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Pressure-Cooker Mediterranean Chicken Orzo
Orzo pasta with chicken, olives and herbes de Provence has the bright flavors of Mediterranean cuisine. Here’s a bonus: Leftovers reheat well. —Thomas Faglon, Somerset, New JerseyFree up your weekend by making these easy family dinners for Sunday nights.
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Pressure-Cooker Mexican Beef Soup
My family loves this stew, and I'm happy to make it since it's so simple! Serve the dish with cornbread to make the meal even more filling. —Angela Lively, Conroe, Texas
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Pressure-Cooker Risotto with Shrimp and Asparagus
This speedy method of making risotto works every time! —Kim Gray, Davie, FloridaAnd for breakfast, try these make-ahead breakfast recipes to avoid morning mayhem.
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Pressure-Cooker Asian Wraps
This recipe is similar to other Asian wraps but it's packed with even more deliciously healthy flavor. Instead of ordering Chinese, why not try making these yourself? —Melissa Hansen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Pressure-Cooker Beef Burritos with Green Chiles
Here's a family favorite that gets mouths watering simply with its heavenly aroma! Hearty and flavorful, it's quick comfort food. —Sally Pahler, Palisade, ColoradoCheck out these dinner recipes every working mom needs to know.
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Pressure-Cooker Cuban Pulled Pork Sandwiches
I lived in Florida for a while and loved the pork served there, so I went about making it for myself! The flavorful meat makes amazing Cuban sandwiches, but you can use it in traditional pulled pork sandwiches and tacos, too. —Lacie Griffin, Austin, Texas
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Pressure-Cooker Turkey Vegetable Soup
Our family is big on soup. This favorite is quick to make and very tasty, giving me plenty of time to have fun with the family. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
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Pressure-Cooker Pork Satay with Rice Noodles
I love the addition of peanuts to savory recipes. Intensify the flavor by sprinkling with minced fresh cilantro and chopped peanuts for that restaurant-quality look and taste. —Stephanie Anderson, South Gardiner, Maine
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Pressure-Cooker Fabulous Fajitas
When friends call to ask for new recipes to try, suggest these tasty fajitas. Top as you like to add healthy color and extra flavor. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Pressure-Cooker Eggs in Purgatory
Tomatoes and red pepper flakes add spicy zing to these saucy eggs. Serve them with toasted bread or sauteed polenta rounds for an unforgettable morning meal. —Nick Iverson, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Lora's Pressure-Cooker Red Beans & Rice
My dear mother-in-law passed this simple recipe to me. With meats, beans and savory veggies, it's tasty, easy and economical, too! —Carol Simms, Madison, Mississippi
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Pressure Cooker Rigatoni with Sausage & Peas
With a tomato-y meat sauce and tangy goat cheese, this weeknight wonder is my version of comfort food. You want to have bowl after bowl. —Lizzie Munro, Brooklyn, New York
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Pressure-Cooker Chicken Thighs in Wine Sauce
I love this recipe for its incredible flavor—and it seems everyone who tries it does, too. For an easy pairing, try mashed potatoes and peas.—Heike Annucci, Hudson, North Carolina
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Pressure-Cooker Tandoori Chicken Panini
The tandoori-style spices in this chicken give it a bold flavor that’s so hard to resist. It tastes incredible tucked between pieces of naan, then grilled for Indian-inspired panini sandwiches. —Yasmin Arif, Manassas, Virginia
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Pressure-Cooker English Pub Split Pea Soup
This family favorite is the same recipe my grandmother used. Now with the magic of today's appliances, I can spend 15 minutes putting it together, walk away for a bit and then it's "soup's on!" Finish it with more milk if you like your soup a bit thinner. —Judy Batson, Tampa, Florida
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Pressure-Cooker Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches
Melt-in-your-mouth delicious! For this steak and cheese recipe, I like to saute extra onions and green pepper just until they are al dente to add to the top of the meat before melting the cheese. —Kimberly Wallace, Dennison, Ohio
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Instant Pot Chili con Carne
Although multicookers can’t replace every tool in the kitchen, they sure are coming close. Chili con carne is one of our favorite dishes to re-create in them. This cooks up fast but tastes like it simmered all day! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Pressure-Cooker Sweet 'n' Sour Pork
Even though a co-worker gave me this recipe more than 20 years ago, my family still enjoys it today.—Martha Nickerson, Hancock, Maine
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Pressure-Cooker Carolina-Style Vinegar BBQ Chicken
I live in Georgia but I appreciate the tangy, sweet and slightly spicy taste of Carolina vinegar chicken. —Ramona Parris, Acworth, Georgia
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Pressure Cooker Hearty Pork & Black Bean Nachos
My husband and I are both graduate students right now, so we don't have a lot of time to cook dinner. Our family loves coming home to this incredible nacho platter, and I love how easy it is to prepare. —Faith Stokes, Chickamauga, Georgia
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Pressure-Cooker Chickpea Tagine
While traveling through Morocco, my wife and I fell in love with the complex flavors of the many tagines we tried, so we came up with this no-fuss dish. It's great alongside grilled fish, or add shredded cooked chicken in the last 10 minutes for a change-of-pace entree. —Raymond Wyatt, West St. Paul, Minnesota
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Pressure-Cooker Italian Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Enjoy all the flavors of Italian sausage sandwiches with this healthier alternative. —Lia Dellario, Middleport, New York
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Pressure-Cooker Beef Carnitas
I came up with this pressure-cooker beef carnitas recipe while cleaning out my refrigerator, and trying to figure out what I could do with a pot roast that had been in the freezer. I LOVE how easy this is. —Ann Piscitelli, Nokomis, Florida
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Pressure-Cooker Lemon Chicken with Basil
No matter when I eat it, this tangy chicken dish always reminds me of summer meals with friends and family. The recipe produces a lot of lovely sauce; serve it as is or spoon it over some lightly herbed couscous. —Deborah Posey, Virginia Beach, Virginia
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Pressure-Cooker Black Bean Soup
Life can get really crazy with young children, but I never want to compromise when it comes to cooking. This recipe is healthy and so easy thanks to my one-pot cooker! —Angela Lemoine, Howell, New Jersey
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Pressure-Cooker Easy Pork Posole
Looking for a meal in a bowl? Sit down to a Mexican classic full of cubed pork, sliced sausage. hominy and more. It all goes into the pressure cooker, so you can come home at night and dinner is ready in a flash. —Greg Fontenot, The Woodlands, TX
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Pressure-Cooker Curried Chicken Meatball Wraps
My strategy to get picky kids to eat healthy: Let everyone assemble their dinner at the table. We love these easy meatball wraps topped with crunchy veggies and peanuts, sweet raisins and a creamy dollop of yogurt. —Jennifer Beckman, Falls Church, Virginia
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Pressure-Cooker Lentil Pumpkin Soup
Plenty of herbs and spices brighten up my hearty pumpkin soup. It?s just the thing we need on nippy days and nights. —Laura Magee, Houlton, WI
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Pressure-Cooker Mini Teriyaki Turkey Sandwiches
Preparing the pulled turkey in a delicious teriyaki sauce for these snack-size sandwiches is a breeze using a pressure cooker. Serving them on lightly-toasted sweet dinner rolls is a finishing touch.—Amanda Hoop, Seaman, Ohio
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Pressure-Cooker Lamb Pitas with Yogurt Sauce
The spiced lamb in these stuffed pita pockets goes perfectly with cool cucumber and yogurt. It's like having your own Greek gyro stand in the kitchen! —Angela Leinenbach, Mechanicsville, Virginia
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Pressure-Cooker Pork Tacos with Mango Salsa
I've made quite a few tacos in my day, but you can't beat the tender filling made in a pressure cooker. These are by far the best pork tacos we've had—and we've tried plenty. Make the mango salsa from scratch if you have time! —Amber Massey, Argyle, Texas
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Pressure-Cooker Cajun Chicken Alfredo
This recipe is a true comfort food! Cajun spice adds a nice heat to the creamy Alfredo sauce. Add more or less seasoning depending on your preferred spice level. And nothing beats having to clean only one pot. The dish would also be tasty with shrimp or smoked sausage. —Jennifer Stowell, Deep River, Iowa
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Pressure-Cooker Smoky White Beans and Ham
I had never made or even eaten this dish before meeting my husband. Now I make it at least once a week. I serve it with some homemade sweet cornbread. Delicious! —Christine Duffy, Sturgis, Kentucky
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Pressure-Cooker Beef and Veggie Sloppy Joes
Because I’m always looking for ways to serve my family healthy and delicious food, I started experimenting with my go-to veggies and ground beef. I came up with this favorite that my kids actually request! —Megan Niebuhr, Yakima WA
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Pressure-Cooker Italian Sausage & Kale Soup
The first time I made this colorful soup, our home smelled wonderful. We knew it was a keeper to see us through cold winter days. —Sarah Stombaugh, Chicago, Illinois
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Pressure-Cooker Stuffed Peppers
Here's a good-for-you dinner that's also a meal-in-one classic. Add a salad and, in just moments, call everyone to the table. —Michelle Gurnsey, Lincoln, Nebraska
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Pressure Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup
What's the quickest and tastiest way to bring the flavor to your favorite chicken tortilla soup? Instant Pot! This soup delivers a big bowl of fresh comfort—just ask my husband. Toppings like avocado, sour cream and tortilla strips are a must. —Heather Sewell, Harrisonville, Missouri
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Pressure-Cooker Creamy Cauliflower Soup
I love indulgent cream soups but not the fat that goes along with them. The velvety texture of this healthier cauliflower soup makes it feel so rich, and the spicy kick warms you from the inside out. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan
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Pressure Cooker Shredded Beef Burrito Filling
Create a taco or burrito bar! For a variation, I make beef and bean burritos by mixing a can of refried beans into 3 or 4 cups of cooked beef filling.—Hope Wasylenki, Gahanna, Ohio
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Pressure-Cooker Black Bean Chicken Nachos
One of my favorite local restaurants, Zeppelins, has the best chicken nachos. Its famous dish inspired me to create my own, with the added convenience of using the pressure cooker. I recommend fresh cilantro because it makes the dish pop with flavor. —Natalie Hess, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
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Pressure-Cooker Buffalo Shrimp Mac & Cheese
For a rich, creamy and slightly spicy shrimp and pasta recipe, you can't beat this crowd-pleasing dish. It's a nice new twist on popular Buffalo chicken dishes.—Robin Haas, Cranston, Rhode Island
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Pressure Cooker Beer-Braised Pulled Ham
To jazz up leftover ham, I cooked it with a beer sauce. Buns loaded with ham, pickles and mustard are irresistible. —Ann Sheehy, Lawrence, Massachusetts
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Pressure-Cooker Beef and Rice Cabbage Rolls
My family can't wait for dinner when I serve my tasty cabbage rolls. The dish comes together in a pinch and always satisfies. —Lynn Bowen, Geraldine, Alabama
Originally Published: November 19, 2019
