40+ Quick and Easy Instant Pot Weeknight Dinners
These easy weeknight Instant Pot dinner ideas are sanity-savers for busy moms!
Get your weeknight dinner game on point with these Instant Pot dinner ideas!
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Even though we eat several times each day for our entire lives–figuring out what to make for dinner is still a mystery for many of us.
Weeknights are busy, and coming up with meal ideas that are healthier than take-out and just as fast to prepare can be a challenge.
Imagine standing in the kitchen in the early morning. You’re frustrated because the kids aren’t ready yet and the bus is rolling down the road and you’re about to be late for a meeting when you realize you have nothing planned for dinner.
We’ve all been there before.
That’s why I regard my Instant Pot as one of the best tools in my kitchen!
When you get home tonight, won’t it be nice if you can do just a few minutes of prep work and then walk away to focus on something else until dinner is ready to be served? Yes, please!
Having a great list of weeknight Instant Pot meals that you can pull from makes the task of getting dinner on the table even easier. No matter what’s in the fridge or pantry, there’s a pressure cooker recipe on this list that can be on the table fast!
Making Weeknight Instant Pot Meals Fast
I keep several staples in my pantry, fridge and freezer that, in addition to these great Instant Pot dinner ideas, make getting dinner on the table possible.
Rice, pasta, chicken, and beef are the stars of many of these recipes. Mix in some fresh veggies or cheese and you can make a great meal in a hurry.
Dinner doesn’t have to be difficult or overly fancy. Chicken doesn’t have to be boring. Eating a healthy dinner doesn’t have to be a chore.
Enjoy These Instant Pot Weeknight Recipes
Weeknight cooking has never been easier or more flavorful. These easy Instant Pot dinner ideas are perfect for when you’re running short on time and low on energy!
Instant Pot Weeknight Dinners
These Instant Pot weeknight dinners will help you get a meal on the table, and fast!
Instant Pot chicken fried rice is quick, easy, and frugal, and it tastes better than takeout!
These Instant Pot Greek Chicken bowls are so easy and flavorful--this recipe will become one of your favorite weeknight meals!
Say goodbye to mediocre pork chops with these easy recipe for Instant Pot pork chops! They're juicy and tender and seasoned to perfection.
Using smoked sausage or kielbasa is a great way to add flavor to this simple dish made with rice, onions, and peppers.
Crowd-pleasing comfort food doesn't have to take all day with this recipe for Instant Pot chicken and gravy! Serve over mashed potatoes or rice for a hearty meal.
Creamy, cheesy Instant Pot pork chops and rice is a filling meal everyonen will love!
Fall-apart tender BBQ pork chops cook quickly in the Instant Pot! Serve with your favorite sides.
Simiilar to chicken and gravy, pork chops and gravy is an easy pressure cooker meal that produces tender, juicy pork chops in a flavorful gravy.
Made with onion soup mix and topped with crispy fried onions, this Instant Pot french onion chicken and rice is a creamy, southern-style casserole dish your family will love!
Korean ground beef is faster and less expensive than other cuts of beef--it's a cinch to prepare, too!
This delicious dinner is ready in under 20 minutes, thanks to canned chickpeas and your pressure cooker! Pile on fresh veggies after cooking and you've got a fantastic meal.
Using frozen meatballs means you can have dinner on the table in minutes with this easy pressure cooker Swedish meatballs recipe.
This instant pot Asian recipe for ginger garlic drumsticks is out of this world! Enjoy tender chicken in a sweet and sour sauce that’s ready in no time.
A seasoning packet plus a few fresh ingredients helps this flavor-filled dish go from Instant Pot to table in minutes!
This hearty jambalaya is made with both chicken and sausage for a filling and flavorful meal.
This deconstructed lasagna uses frozen ravioli for a quick but delicious Italian-inspired meal.
Meatless Monday may never be the same with these easy lentil sloppy joes!
Instant Pot chicken and stuffing is a quick and easy meal that satisfies your need for comfort food, but without a lot of effort!
A sweet and tangy sauce, frozen meatballs, pineapple and peppers make these Instant Pot Hawaiian meatballs a tasty dinner!
Instant Pot Pulled Pork is so hands-off and makes the perfect meal for camping, pot-lucks, busy weeknights, family get-togethers, or summer BBQs. You can feed and WOW any crowd with this meal.
What would have traditionally taken hours can now be made quickly on a weeknight! This Instant Pot Swiss steak is the ultimate comfort food.
Frozen ravioli is a versatile base for a simple dinner. Top with your favorite sauce or even just a drizzle of browned butter or olive oil!
These easy pizza joes are an Italian twist on the classic version we all love!
Instant Pot chicken and dumplings with canned biscuits is such an easy comfort food! A creamy, flavorful broth with tender chicken and veggies is the perfect match for soft dumplings made with a can of biscuits!
Skip the hassle and cook up a box of Hamburger Helper in your Instant Pot on your busiest nights.
It's a cinch to make Spanish chicken and rice in the Instant Pot! Also known as arroz con pollo, this is a flavorful and filling dish.
How To Make Cabbage Soup with Ground Beef - Crock Pot or Instant Pot
This low carb spin on a cabbage soup recipe includes ground beef and bone broth. If you want to know how to make cabbage soup that actually tastes good and satisfies, this is it.
Pineapple and peppers make these delicious tropical Sloppy Joe sandwiches!
Instant Pot hamburger and potatoes is an easy, cheesy casserole that's stick-to-your-ribs good! A hearty meal, this Instant Pot ground beef and potatoes is a filling and delicious dish!
Mississippi Chicken is a "dump and start" meal you'll love! Use the tender chicken flavored with pepperoncini to make delicious sandwiches.
Instant Pot Fajitas is a super easy and quick dinner that the whole family will love! It requires very simple ingredients and made in the Instant Pot in just 20 minutes from start to finish.
This tortellini alfredo and chicken cook up quickly in the Instant Pot, for a flavorful and saucy pasta dish!
Dinner is taken care of with this easy recipe for Instant Pot macaroni and cheese with ham! Making mac and cheese in the Instant Pot is such an easy dinner--and adding diced ham rounds out this family-friendly meal.
This tasty Instant Pot gnocchi with meat sauce is a hearty one-pot dinner. Potato gnocchi combines with ground beef, green pepper, mushrooms and spinach in a creamy tomato sauce for a simple, delicious dinner that will be ready in about 30 minutes.
This flavorful meal is made easier with a bag of frozen noodles and a couple of seasoning packets--plus loads of flavor from pepperoncini!
These delicious Instant Pot teriyaki chicken bowls are a cinch to make, so you can skip takeout!
You'll love this creamy Instant Pot chicken and wild rice casserole! It's a hearty, cheesy, comfort food meal!
Grab your pressure cooker and make these Instant Pot Ribs for dinner tonight. They are oh so quick and easy to make. You can serve fall off the bone bbq ribs in no time at all.
You'll love how simple it is to make this amazing Instant Pot enchilada tortellini casserole! Cheesy, saucy, and layered with beef and beans, it’s a super easy one-pot meal!
Did you know you can make Rice a Roni and chicken in your Instant Pot? It's a deliciously simple one-pot meal! Instant Pot Rice a Roni and chicken comes together quickly to make a casserole type meal in one pot!
A one-pot French Onion Chicken in your Instant Pot with fresh ingredients that taste delicious. The chicken comes out juicy and infused with seasoning that you're whole family will love.
This pepperoni pizza tortellini casserole cooks in the Instant Pot, for a cheesy, delicious, and easy meal! You'll love how simple it is to make this amazing Instant Pot pepperoni pizza tortellini!
Cheesy chicken, rice, and broccoli cook together in the Instant Pot, creating a comfort food casserole you'll love!
Instant Pot sesame chicken with rice is super easy to make, especially because the chicken and rice cook at the same time in the pressure cooker!
Instant Pot Louisiana Red Beans and Rice —smoky sausage with peppers and onion gives this dish amazing flavor.
Making bacon chicken ranch gnocchi in the Instant Pot is so easy to do! It's a one-pot meal that allows you to feed your family a tasty dinner, even on your busy weeknights!
Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada Pasta is a super easy one-pot meal, with all of the flavors of your favorite enchilada recipe! If you love chicken enchiladas but don't have much time on your hands, use your Instant Pot to make this alternative pasta version!
Intstant Pot Kung Pao Chickpeas are a tasty vegetarian meal inspired by your favorite Asian takeout. Saucy chickpeas and fluffy rice cook at the same time for a quick and easy meal!
Are you ready for the world’s easiest spaghetti recipe for a quick, cheap dinner? This instant pot spaghetti recipe cooks in just minutes, and you don’t have to boil noodles over a hot stove! Get spaghetti and meatballs from the instant pot in just minutes!
This Instant Pot creamy tortellini with sausage is bathed in an Italian flavored cream sauce. Using frozen cheese tortellini and precooked sausage makes for a quick and easy meal!
You’ll love this Instant Pot sweet and sour chicken, complete with sweet and tangy sauce, tender chunks of chicken, and flavorful peppers and pineapple. It’s a simple, shortcut pressure cooker chicken recipe to help you get dinner on the table fast!
Instant Pot chicken and rice is your favorite creamy, cheesy casserole comfort food, except it's made faster and easier in the Instant Pot pressure cooker!
Making beef enchilada pasta in the Instant Pot is a quick and easy dinner! This cheesy, hearty meal of pasta, beans, and beef will become a family favorite!
Tender pasta combines with beef and a creamy sauce for a delicious weeknight meal! Instant Pot cheeseburger macaroni is SO much better than the boxed version, without a lot of extra effort!
This Chicken Stroganoff is a take on traditional Beef Stroganoff and is ready in lighting speed! Just a few minutes in the Instant Pot is all it takes to have a meal of tender chicken and creamy egg noodles on the dinner table.
Instant Pot meatball subs are a quick and easy dinner, thanks to frozen meatballs and a jar of sauce! Perfect for a weeknight dinner.
Pressure cooker chicken fettucine alfredo is an easy way to get a restaurant-style meal on the table for a fraction of the cost!
Making taco chicken in the Instant Pot is a super easy way to get dinner on the table or to do some advance meal prep! This versatile pressure cooker taco chicken can be used for tacos, burrito bowls, enchiladas, quesadillas, nachos, and more!
The uniqueness of Cincinnati Chili is part of what makes it so special, and you'll love how easy it is to make this copycat Skyline Chili recipe in the Instant
Instant Pot chili mac is a super easy one-pot meal of cheesy chili and noodles--one your family will love!
Keeping Dinner Simple
If you’d like more help getting an easy Instant Pot meal on the table, sign up for the Instant Pot Meal Plan Jumpstart!
You’ll get easy Instant Pot recipes for your meal plan (plus a grocery list), as well as an Instant Pot guide. Sign up below to get yours sent straight to your inbox!
More Helpful Resource Guides for Easy Meals:
- The Best Instant Pot Soup Recipes that are Easy to Make
- Delicious Instant Pot Pasta Recipes
- Easy Dinners for Picky Eaters
- The Best Asian-Inspired Instant Pot Recipes
- 45+ of the Best Easy and Cheap Instant Pot Dinners
- Easy Instant Pot Frozen Meatballs Recipes
- Easy Instant Pot Olive Garden Copycat Recipes
So many plant forward recipes here!
Thank you SO much! I have been back to this page so many times and have made many of the great dishes listed here (and will do so again tonight).
It’s worked out great for quick and delicious recipes. I love my Instant Pot, but my wife has never bought all in on it. These recipes have changed her mind I do believe. The pork chop recipes in particular have been a huge hit in our household.
Thank you for sharing!