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    Urban Bliss Life » All Recipes » Instant Pot Recipes » 20 Family Friendly Instant Pot Recipes for Busy Weeknights

    Published: June 2, 2022 / Updated: June 2, 2022 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    20 Family Friendly Instant Pot Recipes for Busy Weeknights

    153 shares
    collage of pasta, fajitas, shrimp scampi, and moroccan chicken with title text overlay.

    Busy weeknights ahead? Here are 20 Family Friendly Instant Pot Recipes to help answer the daily "what's for dinner" dilemma!

    instant pot with plate of chicken fajitas

    On the busiest of busy days, it's the Instant Pot to the rescue! Or, any electric pressure cooker, like the Ninja Foodi. These are definitely kitchen tools that have helped so many of us with hectic schedules get dinner on the table faster, with less hands-on cooking.

    We use our Instant Pot and Ninja Foodi on a regular basis. In fact, I wrote a cookbook with Ninja Foodi that includes 75 pressure cooker and air fryer recipes!

    As a full-time working mom of two, I know how challenging it can be to get dinner on the table every single night. These are some of the recipes that are in my family's regular dinner rotation. I hope you'll find some new family faves as well!

    Jump to:
    • About These Recipes
    • Family-Friendly Instant Pot Recipes
    • 20 Family Friendly Instant Pot Recipes
    • Electric Pressure Cookers
    • Instant Pot FAQs
    • More Family-Friendly Recipes

    About These Recipes

    All of these recipes can be cooked in either a 6-quart or an 8-quart Instant Pot/Ninja Foodi. If the recipe calls for any changes when using a 6-quart instead of 8-quart, you'll find those changes listed within the individual recipes.

    These 20 family-friendly Instant Pot recipes:

    • Feed families of 4 to 6, depending on the recipe.
    • Contain mostly everyday, pantry-friendly ingredients.
    • Most can be made in under 30 minutes.

    This list includes beef and lamb recipes, chicken recipes, seafood recipes, and vegan recipes. So there's something for everyone!

    These are main course recipes that you can pair with easy side dish recipes like my Instant Pot Garlic Rice, Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes, or Air Fryer Broccoli.

    I hope you'll love them, too, and that some of these recipes will make it to your regular dinner rotation.

    Family-Friendly Instant Pot Recipes

    20 Family Friendly Instant Pot Recipes

    If you have an electric pressure cooker, like an Instant Pot or Ninja Foodi, your family's dinner in just minutes away from prep to table! Try one of these winning recipes tonight, and leave a comment below to let us know what you think!

    Chicken Recipes

    If you're wondering what to make with the chicken in your fridge, try one of these satisfying Instant Pot chicken recipes!

    Healthy 30-Minute Instant Pot Moroccan Chicken

    With rave reviews, this healthy Moroccan chicken recipe is full of yummy spices, juicy chicken, and chickpeas. We make this with either quinoa or couscous - be sure to read the recipe notes. Parents have raved how even their picky eaters love this dish!

    Instant Pot Tuscan Chicken Pasta (Dairy-Free)

    We make this Instant Pot Tuscan Chicken Pasta dish a LOT. It's rich and creamy yet dairy-free and SO delicious. Try it and it might find a spot in your regular dinner rotation, too!

    Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas

    The Instant Pot is one of my favorite ways to cook chicken fajitas! Super easy and yummy.

    Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Chicken

    Classic flavors, done simply and done well. You'll love how quick and easy this lemon garlic chicken dish comes together in the pressure cooker.

    Instant Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta

    If you're looking for a rich, creamy, hearty, super yummy dinner to feed the family tonight, this Instant Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe is always a winner! You can make it as mild or as spicy as your family likes it.

    Instant Pot Filipino Chicken Adobo

    This Instant Pot Chicken Adobo recipe takes the classic Filipino dish and makes it even easier and faster to make, yet still packed with yummy adobo flavors.

    Instant Pot Salsa Chicken

    This salsa chicken is a super easy recipe that you can make on even the busiest of busy weeknights. Use it for tacos, nachos, quesadillas, tostadas, serve over rice or a salad, or as a sandwich!

    Beef Recipes

    Get tender, juicy beef dinners on the table in minutes!

    Instant Pot BBQ Ribs with Homemade BBQ Sauce

    This is our family's favorite way to cook ribs! We love how the Instant Pot infuses flavor in every single inch of rib meat. The ribs finish off under the broiler for 5 minutes for extra flavor love.

    30-Minute Instant Pot Sausage and Peppers Pasta

    Big flavors and hearty pasta. Your family will love chowing down on this dinner!

    Instant Pot Swedish Meatballs with Pasta (Dairy-Free)

    Even better than the IKEA version, this Instant Pot Swedish Meatballs recipe cooks up quickly and easily on those busy weeknights.

    Instant Pot Pulled Pork

    The Instant Pot makes it SO easy to have fork-tender pulled pork quickly. Perfect for pulled pork sandwiches, nachos, pizzas, salads, and more!

    Instant Pot Seafood

    Fish, shrimp, crab, and other seafood cook up quickly and deliciously in the Instant Pot and Ninja Foodi!

    Ninja Foodi Shrimp Scampi Linguine

    Make restaurant-quality shrimp scampi at home in under 30 minutes, thanks to the electric pressure cooker!

    Seafood Jambalaya (Ninja Foodi)

    Every big heaping bite of Seafood Jambalaya made in the Ninja Foodi or Instant Pot is full of big flavors.

    Instant Pot Soups and Stews

    Looking for comforting soups and stews to warm you up on chilly nights? Try one of these Instant Pot soup or stew recipes.

    Instant Pot Potato Corn Chowder

    Your family will devour bowl after bowl of this yummy Instant Pot Corn Chowder!

    Instant Pot Irish Lamb Stew

    Whether you're looking for a satisfying St. Patrick's Day dish or a comforting stew for cold nights, this Instant Pot Irish Lamb Stew does the trick. Full of rich lamb and nourishing vegetables, your whole family will love this!

    Instant Pot Beef Stew

    Need a winter warm-up? This hearty beef stew cooks quickly in the Instant Pot and is the ultimate comfort food!

    Instant Pot Italian Wedding Soup

    This classic Italian Wedding Soup is a fantastic nourishing soup. Pair it with a side salad and some crusty bread for a meal that's truly satisfying.

    Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

    With immunity-boosting turmeric, garlic, and ginger, this Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup is a soothing soup the whole family will love.

    Vegan Recipes

    Electric pressure cookers aren't just for cooking meat and seafood. Here are two of my favorite vegan Instant Pot recipes that are great for family dinners!

    Instant Pot Lentil Soup (Vegan)

    So rich and hearty, this Instant Pot Lentil Soup is packed with lentil protein, nutritious veggies, and is so good on a cold day.

    Instant Pot Vegan Mushroom Risotto

    Risotto made easy, thanks to the Instant Pot! This vegan risotto makes a great side dish or a meal on its own.

    Electric Pressure Cookers

    Instant Pot Pressure Cooker used for UrbanBlissLife.com recipes
    Ninja Foodi pressure cooker/air fryer and Creamette Pasta box

    There are several different appliance brands that make electric pressure cookers. Instant Pot is perhaps the most well-known brand, and hence, many of our recipes are made in the Instant Pot. We have the 8-quart Instant Pot Duo pressure cooker and love it.

    However, I wrote the meal prep cookbook with Ninja Foodi. I have the 8-quart Ninja Foodi Deluxe multicooker that we use more than our Instant Pot.

    Pros for the Ninja Foodi:

    • It has a ceramic base that is SUPER easy to clean. It cleans up a lot faster and easier than the Instant Pot stainless steel base pot.
    • It doubles as an air fryer, so if you're looking to save counter space, this is a bonus!
    • It's large: we have the 8-quart Deluxe XL Ninja Foodi multicooker and can cook a LOT of food in it.

    Instant Pot FAQs

    What size Instant Pot should I buy?

    If you have a family of 2 or 3, the 6-quart Instant Pot should work well. If you have a family of 4 to 8, go for the 8-quart Instant Pot.

    What does Natural Release and Quick Release mean?

    When the timer is done counting down, the Instant Pot will beep and recipes will call for you to either do a Natural Release or Quick Release.

    -Natural Release means leaving it alone and doing nothing for the time mentioned in the recipe. This allows the pressure to release naturally and slowly, which is usually allows starchy recipes like rice or some pasta dishes to release slowly and safely.

    -To Quick Release, very carefully turn the pressure release valve from Sealing to Venting (or Seal and Vent, depending on your unit). This allows the pressure to release quickly, which results in very HOT steam expelling from the release valve. So you should always use either oven mitts or a utensil with a long arm like a wooden spoon to safely move the valve over.

    How long does it take for the Instant Pot to come to pressure?

    While using the Instant Pot IS easy, it's not exactly "instant" cooking. After you hit Start, the unit takes a few minutes to come to pressure before it starts actually pressure cooking. Depending on the size of your Instant Pot and the contents of your dinner inside, it could take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes to come to pressure. The more food inside the Instant Pot, and the colder the ingredients are, the longer it may take to come to pressure.

    More Family-Friendly Recipes

    • big bowl of dairy-free creamy ground beef pasta
      Creamy Ground Beef Pasta
    • chopped chicken pieces in a kung pao sauce on rice in a white bowl with greens.
      Easy Kung Pao Chicken
    • cajun shrimp pasta with herbs in a white bowl.
      Cajun Shrimp Pasta Recipe
    • Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken with two dipping sauces.
      Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken

    This post was originally published on September 1, 2017. It was updated with new recipes, more helpful FAQs, and new photos on June 2, 2022.

    « Air Fryer Hash Brown Patties
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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Andrea says

        September 05, 2017 at 2:29 am

        5 stars
        This is such a brilliant round-up, I love using my instant-pot on busy days! There are so many wonderful recipes to try all winter long, thanks for sharing!

        Reply
      2. Amy says

        September 04, 2017 at 12:58 am

        I don't have an instant pot yet either, but I definitely need some good go-to ideas for these busy weeknights now that school is back in session. Maybe I should add one to my Christmas list!

        Reply
      3. Veena Azmanov says

        September 03, 2017 at 10:03 am

        Some of my absolute favorite dishes and ingredients in this round up. I don't have an instant pot but I do make a few of these in my pressure cooker or just otherwise. Sounds so yum.

        Reply
      4. Jenn says

        September 02, 2017 at 8:58 pm

        LOVING this tasty list!

        Reply
      5. Veronika says

        September 02, 2017 at 1:13 pm

        5 stars
        I love these recipes, especially chicken soup and beef stew! They're so good and perfect comfort food for the cold nights.

        Reply
      6. Hillary Harper says

        September 02, 2017 at 12:55 am

        I would LOVE an instant pot. Fall is my favorite time of year, so I'm itching to make so many soup and stew recipes!

        Reply
      7. Adriana says

        September 02, 2017 at 12:18 am

        5 stars
        wow so many great options looks like a super versatile gadget. I love cooking on pressure cooking though mine is old belonged to my grandmother. But I seem attached to it.

        Reply
      8. Magaly says

        September 01, 2017 at 9:13 pm

        5 stars
        Yum! This is perfect now that it's the busy back to school season!

        Reply
      9. Joanna @ Everyday Made Fresh says

        September 01, 2017 at 7:53 pm

        So many delicious options! I haven't gotten an Instant Pot yet...I know! :-/ It's on my Christmas list!

        Reply
      10. Eva Tweedie says

        September 01, 2017 at 6:50 pm

        Wow, it's hard to decide which one I'd want to make first! I still haven't bought an instant bought, but the ease of these recipes sure makes it even more tempting.

        Reply
      11. Gloria says

        September 01, 2017 at 6:18 pm

        5 stars
        I do not have an Instant Pot, but do have a regular pressure cooker. I gave some of these recipes a try and see how they turn out....awesome!

        Reply
      12. Meg says

        September 01, 2017 at 5:51 pm

        5 stars
        Whoa, you weren't kidding about the mouthwatering photos. Would love to make any of these recipes. This is a great roundup - thanks!

        Reply
      13. Megan Joy says

        September 01, 2017 at 5:37 pm

        5 stars
        All of these instant pot recipes look amazing and family-friendly! I'll be honest, I didn't even know an instant pot existed before this post. I use a slow cooker, but after googling "instant pot" I want one for myself :)

        Reply
      14. Pech says

        September 01, 2017 at 5:25 pm

        Oh how convenient - a friend was just talking about buying an instant pot and now look you've rounded up all these recipes I can send him!

        Reply
      15. Catherine says

        September 01, 2017 at 3:25 pm

        So many delicious suggestions...I'd love to try them all!

        Reply
      16. Zesty Olive says

        September 01, 2017 at 1:58 pm

        Wow - great list of delicious instant pot recipes! This should get me through the next month of so! Thanks!

        Reply
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      Marlynn Jayme Schotland 2021 profile pic

      Hi! If you're looking for easy, fast, delicious family-friendly recipes, wine pairings, and travel tips, you've come to the right place! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

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