20 Pressure Cooker Recipes (Plus How to Use an Instant Pot)

Nearly everyone is familiar with the idea of using a slow cooker for hands-off cooking over a long period of time, but there’s another kitchen tool you might have been overlooking that can come to your rescue on busy nights: the pressure cooker. You’ll be amazed what you can cook with these pressure cooker recipes, as both the speed of the cooking and the flavor are impressive.

Similar to crockpot recipes, you can simply toss in the ingredients into the pot and hit a button, and you’re done. But with pressure cooker recipes, the meals are cooked a lot faster than in the crockpot.

What is a pressure cooker?

Pressure cookers are basically an intense version of a saucepan. Their history dates back to the late 1600s, when a French physicist designed a way to use internal steam pressure to speed up water’s boiling point, leading to foods being cooked more quickly.

Pressure canning evolved from this early discovery. It packed food in sealed jars and then cooked them with boiling water.

As the method became more popular, larger “jars” were made to accommodate both home and industrial cooking, for places like hotels and restaurants.

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Eventually, in 1938, these early models gave way to the pressure cooker as we know it today. It was the post-Depression era, and women were eager to get pressure cookers in the kitchen.

Demand slowed during World War II, when the aluminum used for pressure cookers went to the war effort and not the kitchen.

Pressure cookers waned in popularity in the U.S., though they were embraced in the rest of the world. In the 1990s, pressure cookers hit American shelves once again, ready for marketing to a new generation.

Recently, they’ve made another comeback in popularity among folks wanting to cook healthy meals quickly with pressure cooker recipes.

How to use a pressure cooker

So how exactly does a pressure cooker work? It operates much like a big stockpot, but the lid is airtight.

All of the steam builds up inside the pot, which combines with high pressure, and cooks food faster. The higher the pressure in the pot, the shorter the cooking time.

On average, pressure cookers can cook food in about one-third the amount of time as their normal cooking counterparts!

What to look for when buying a pressure cooker

Because pressure cookers are so similar to saucepans and stockpots, a lot of the same considerations go into purchasing a pressure cooker. Whenever possible, opt for stainless steel. It won’t change the flavor of acidic foods, like tomato sauces, the way an aluminum pressure cooker can.

If you’re cooking for a family, a larger pressure cooker is probably ideal. A six- or eight-quart version should be fine for day-to-day cooking, but an even larger one, like a 10-quart pressure cooker, is best if you plan on doing batch cooking or making food for more than five people.

If you’re cooking for just one or two people, you can opt for a smaller pressure cooker, like a four-quart variety, but you might enjoy the flexibility of having a bit more room to play with.

You can also opt for a stovetop cooker, which is used like a normal pot or pan on the range, or an electric pressure cooker. Stovetop pressure cookers are classics and hold up extremely well. They also allow you to sear or sauté food before pressure cooking it, giving it a distinct flavor that electric ones, even with a “sauté” feature, are hard-pressed to match.

Electric ones offer their own benefits, mainly that they usually are programmable. Similarly to a slow cooker, you can drop in all your ingredients and leave the cooker unattended.

Whatever your lifestyle, you’re bound to find a pressure cooker that fits in with your family’s needs and pressure cooker recipes you’re sure to love.

Precautions to take when using a pressure cooker

When using a pressure cooker, you’ll have to get used to an entirely new way of cooking foods. It’s super efficient, but it can take a bit of trial and error to figure out how to make your favorite foods.

Rice, for instance, can be ready in under 10 minutes, while fall-off-the-bone meats can take just an hour or so. And it bears repeating again: If you’re using a stovetop pressure cooker, do not leave it unattended!

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Safety-wise, pressure literally builds within the pot so make sure you either allow it to relieve pressure naturally or use the quick release valve. Do NOT ever simply open the lid when it’s finished. Follow directions carefully when making pressure cooker recipes.

Pressure cooker recipes

Whether you’re a newbie or an old pro, these pressure cooker recipes are sure to be hits. You’ll be surprised by how varied the meals you can make are and just how quickly you can get food on the table.

So without further ado, here are some easy, healthy pressure cooker recipes to try:

1. Banana French Toast Casserole

Who says the slow cooker is only for dinnertime dishes? One of the tastiest pressure cooker recipes around is this banana French toast.

It’s a simple way to get that just-baked flavor with minimal effort. Swap the brown sugar for coconut sugar, and use gluten-free bread if necessary.

2. Barbacoa Beef

You might be familiar with barbacoa beef from your favorite Mexican takeout joint, and now you can make the shredded meat right at home. This easy-to-make recipe is the perfect filling for at-home tacos or burritos.

Best of all, it’s ready in only an hour.

Serve over brown rice or over leafy greens topped with your favorite Tex-Mex toppings, like avocado, salsa or cheese. (You can also try this Slow Cooker Barbacoa recipe.)

3. Buttery Lemon Chicken

This restaurant-quality recipe is perfect for the pressure cooker. It’s Paleo-friendly and made with ghee and arrowroot flour, a plant-based starch.

You can use still-frozen chicken to get this meal on the table in just 20 minutes. Spoon the buttery lemon sauce over pasta or veggies.

(This Garlic Lemon Chicken recipe is another good option.)

4. Chicken Faux Pho

This gluten-free pho is a quick and easy take on the traditional Vietnamese soup. Instead of rice noodles, you’ll use spiralized daikon, a mild, low-calorie radish.

Using bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces ensures that you have a flavorful broth in just half an hour, while cardamom, cinnamon and fresh coriander seed add a ton of taste.

Serve with fresh lime wedges, basil (or mint!) and bean sprouts for an Asian-style dinner. (Here is another Pho recipe to try.)

Photo: The Sophisticated Caveman

5. Chicken and Rice

Talk about a one-dish meal! Making classic chicken and rice is super simple when it’s a pressure cooker recipe.

Loaded with fresh immunity-boosting mushrooms, garlic and herbs, dinner is on the table in under an hour. (You can also make this Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice recipe.)

6. Creamy Thai Coconut Chicken Soup

This creamy Thai soup is just one of the reasons you’re going to love pressure cooker recipes. It’s ready in under 20 minutes!

You’ll use the sauté function on the pot to ensure the onions release their flavor before browning the chicken. Using coconut milk creates a creamy broth that’s totally dairy-free.

The only tricky part about this recipe is that it calls for galangal, an Asian root that looks similar to ginger. You can often find it in Asian markets or in the Asian frozen aisle, but if not, just skip it or add a dash of ginger instead.

(Other options that can be turned into pressure cooker recipes include Thai Coconut Soup with Chicken & Ginger and Tom Kha Gai.)

7. Creamy Tomato Soup

When it comes to tomato soup, there’s no need to go for the canned stuff. It requires just a handful of ingredients, like butter and cream. It’s not for the dairy-free, but it’s perfect for a comforting bowl of soup on a cold day.

Best of all, all you’ll do is dump the ingredients and let the pressure cooker work its magic.

Photo: The Pinning Mama

8. Honey Sesame Chicken

If you’re looking for a healthier alternative to Chinese takeout, you’ve found it with this sesame chicken. It takes less time than delivery to whip up and is perfect served over steamed veggies or brown rice.

Using coconut aminos as a healthier replacement to soy sauce is a good idea here, and coconut oil instead of veggie or canola oil is a safer bet.

9. Faux-tisserie Chicken

Skip the supermarket rotisserie chicken, and make your own bird instead. One of the most versatile pressure cooker recipes around, when you make this chicken, you’ll be rewarded with crispy skin and juicy meat that’s perfect for adding to salads, eating with your favorite sides, adding to tacos or just enjoying solo.

Photo: Cooking With Curls

10. Indian Butter Chicken

This pressure cooker butter chicken is crazy impressive. The beautiful melding of ingredients traditionally used in Indian cooking, like garam masala, coconut milk and ginger, tastes like the dish has been cooking for hours.

Instead, it cooks in under a half hour, even if your chicken is frozen! Serve over brown rice, quinoa or with gluten-free naan bread.

11. Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

If you ever turned to a box of mac and cheese as a quick dinner alternative, prepare to never do that again. This creamy macaroni and cheese is ready in just 10 minutes, faster than the pre-packaged kind!

It’s definitely a comfort food recipe. You don’t want to chow down on this every night, but when a bowl of noodles and cheese is what the doctor ordered, this will help you get it on the table in a jiffy.

Try whole-grain or gluten-free macaroni, and add a side salad to round it out.

12. Instant Spaghetti

Ready to make spaghetti even quicker and easier? This pressure cooker recipe has you covered.

There’s no need to make the spaghetti separately in this one. The meat, sauce and noodles are all ready in just 10 minutes.

You can modify this one without much fuss, too. Add in diced zucchini or shredded carrot, top with a handful of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, or finish it off with fresh basil.

13. Korean Beef

This Korean-inspired beef is to die for and ready in under an hour. You likely have all the ingredients on hand already.

The pear might seem random, but don’t skip that step. The fruit adds a depth to this dish that’s hard to replicate.

Finish it off with sesame seeds, and serve over rice or in tacos.

Photo: Cookies and Cups

14. Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are an easy way to bulk up a meal and add a veggie side. With this pressure cooker recipe, you’ll have ’em on the table in under 10 minutes (no boiling water first, then waiting for potatoes to soften!).

While this recipe is for white potatoes, you could easily use sweet potatoes for extra nutrition. Make these gluten-free by replacing the butter with ghee and using coconut milk instead of cow’s.

15. Pressure Cooker Meatloaf

This is truly a one-pot meal. Not only is the meatloaf ready in under a half hour, but the side veggies are, too.

Tender, juicy and full of flavor, this might be your new go-to meatloaf.

16. Quick & Easy Beef Stroganoff

This beef stroganoff is hearty, fast and healthy. Though the stew is often served over carb-heavy egg noodles, it’s also delicious over zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice.

This recipe is gluten-free and easily made Paleo, too. Plus, it freezes easily. Make a big batch, and keep some on hand.

(You can give this Easy, Gluten-Free Beef Stroganoff recipe a try as well.)

Photo: Instant Pot Eats

17. Red Beans and Rice

Red beans and rice is a hearty, Southern-style meal, but it’s known for taking hours to cook. Speed up the process in the pressure cooker.

You’ll cook the beans first, then add in the rice and chicken sausage later, ensuring all the ingredients keep a great texture without overcooking.

18. Spicy Beef and Broccoli Zoodle Soup

This spicy soup is inspired by a bowl of filling ramen but keeps things low-carb by using zoodles instead. Adding broccoli and mushrooms means you’ll get a serving of veggies, while beef broth, apple cider vinegar, hot sauce and coconut aminos combine into an incredibly tasty broth.

This one will warm you right up!

Photo: Wholesomelicious

19. Spicy Sweet and Sour Chicken

This sweet and spicy chicken ticks all the boxes. It goes from freezer to table in under an hour, and that’s with frozen chicken. If you’re using fresh, you can reduce the time by even more.

While the sugar looks high off the bat, it’s for 2.5 pounds of chicken. Reduce the amount to 3/4 of a cup, and use coconut sugar instead.

(Here’s another Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe to check out.)

20. Spinach Artichoke Dip

Guests arrived unexpectedly? Satisfy their appetites with this easy appetizer.

Gooey, cheesy, and perfect on bread, crackers or with veggies, this pressure cooker recipe is a game day lifesaver. (This Spinach Artichoke Dip recipe is another option.)