Stop Being Intimidated By Your Instant Pot. Start With These 7 Easy Recipes.

Feb 03, 2019 by apost team

It wasn't that long ago that the idea of one pot cooking involved a heavy duty cast iron pan and tons of ingredients that you needed to prep ahead of time. The genius minds who invented the Instant Pot created an easier alternative to cooking one pot meals.

This little kitchen tool is so popular that even big-time chefs now have their own versions on the market. You can choose a smaller model that is just right for two or a larger model that can feed a crowd.

Also called an electric pressure cooker, the Instant Pot is one of the few tools that any home chef can use. If you just got one as a gift, you might worry about how to use and feel nervous about trying it for the first time. You don't need to worry though because these devices are perfect for cooks of all skill levels. Instead of worrying about what to do, choose a classic recipe that you already love. Our list of the top seven Instant Pot dishes will make your family love sitting down to dinner.

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1. Mac and Cheese

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You're never too old to love mac and cheese, but you may be too old to appreciate that old blue box mac and cheese that you enjoyed as a kid. If you crave comfort foods on cold days, you can't go wrong with mac and cheese.

This Instant Pot recipe creates the smooth melted cheese and pillowy macaronic that you love. When you use your pot, you can get dinner on the table in just 25 minutes. This recipe appeals to kids and adults alike and tastes absolutely amazing.

2. Honey Soy Chicken Wings

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Making chicken wings from scratch might fill you with dread due to the amount of prep worked involved. Thanks to the Instant Pot, you can now make perfect chicken wings in under an hour, including all the prep work and marinading.

These wings offer a twist on the classic buffalo style and include delicious elements of Chinese cooking, including soy cause and honey. The next time you invite friends over or plan a last minute party, you'll want to whip out these wings.

3. Mashed Potatoes

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The only comfort foods that even comes close to mac and cheese is mashed potatoes. This delicious side dish can make any meal a little better. Instant Pots help you create thick and fluffy potatoes with the perfect taste of butter.

Though you can make a baked potato in the microwave in just a few minutes, these delicious mashed potatoes taste better and are more appealing. You can customize your potatoes to make them taste just like those that mom made. With this recipe, you can whip up yummy mashed potatoes in just 20 minutes.

4. Authentic Pasta Bolognese

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Pasta Bolognese is one of the best Italian dishes that you can make for a fun middle of the week dinner. This pasta dish practically explodes with flavor and features authentic ingredients that you might already have in your pantry.

Though the classic dish can take hours to make from start to finish, the Instant Pot significantly cuts down on your cooking time. One thing that makes this dish even better is that you can cut down on your cleaning time too. Everything you need for this dish goes right in the same pot.

5. Dripping BBQ Ribs

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Most BBQ enthusiasts have rib recipes that require cooking those ribs long and slow over low heat. Even if you think that you need to spend hours making ribs, you'll find that this recipe produces the flavor and texture that you want in much less time.

In just 30 minutes, you can make ribs in your Instant Pot that are just as tender and flavorful as those you make in a smoker or on a grill. You might even convince yourself that these ribs are better than your favorite BBQ joint makes.

6. Rich Cauliflower Soup

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Low-carb dieters and anyone who loves vegetables will want to grab an Instant Pot and make this rich and delicious cauliflower soup. Cauliflower is one of the most popular vegetables out there because it works in so many different ways. In this recipe, it takes the place of carb-heavy potatoes.

Great for dinner on a cold winter night, this soup packs all the same flavor that potato soup does but has fewer calories. Depending on the size and type of Instant Pot that you have, you can get this soup on the table in just 30 minutes or less.

7. New York Cheesecake

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While Instant Pots are great for main dishes and savory side dishes, you can also use one of these pots to make an easy dessert in the middle of the week. Though you might think it's impossible to make a classic New York style cheesecake in less than an hour, the Instant Pot makes it possible.

This recipe has everything you love about that classic dessert, including a thick and crunchy graham cracker crust and a rich and soft filling that is sweet without being too sweet. Anyone who loves cheesecake will want to try out this dessert.

As much as we love these recipes, we want to know what you think too. Did you try out one of these new Instant Pot recipes and want to share your opinions? Let us know in the comments below! Share these recipes with all your Instant Pot loving friends to see what they think too.