We are all live busy lives and need as much help as possible in the kitchen. My Instant Pot pressure cooker is a a huge time saver to help get those delicious recipes turned into actual meals! Everything you need to get started can be found right here including links to my Instant Pot Recipes, must haves, tips and tricks!
What is an Instant Pot used for?
An Instant Pot is a small kitchen appliance that is a versatile multi-cooker that can do the job of a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, and more. 99% of the recipes you will find on Cooking with Curls will use the pressure cooker/manual function.
You can adjust your pressure cooker to cook on high or low pressure, or choose specific pressure setting like poultry or meat/stew if you wish, but I like to keep things simple!!
I also use the sauté function A LOT to brown meats and to sauté onions and garlic.
Some models include a yogurt, cake or egg functions, but most recipes can be made without those specific buttons.
All recipes on this site have been made with a DUO60 6-Quart 7-in 1 model. I have two and they are both 4 years old. I have not personally tested these recipes in a a 3 quart or 8 quart Instant Pot.
**Caution -The newer models (they changed in 2018) as well as the 8 quart models tend to cook hotter than the original versions. If you receive a BURN notice that is most likely the cause.
- Saute in a separate pan, or allow your pressure cooker to cool completely before continuing with the recipe.
- Check your specific cooker’s instruction manual to make sure you have included enough liquid.
- If possible, use the pot-in-pot method to prepare your recipe so your food does not touch the bottom.
What is the best size of Instant Pot to buy?
That is going to depend on the amount of food you need to prepare. The 6-quart is the most popular and the most versatile, it is also the size that most food blogger create their recipes with. This size is perfect for families of 4 or less.
If you have a larger family or like batch cooking, an 8-quart would be a better size. The 8-quart does take up more space and takes longer to build pressure so keep that in mind if you think you just want the biggest there is.
A 3-quart would be perfect for singles, couples with smaller appetites or to use in an RV while camping.
Can I use a different brand of pressure cooker?
Yes, of course you can…but the buttons will be different and the cooking times may very as well. As I pointed out about, there are variations in all versions no matter which brand you use. The Ninja Foodie and COSORI are very popular brands with good reputations.
What if the meat is still frozen?
Add your meat to the pressure cooker as instructed using the amount of time listed. The Instant Pot will take longer to build pressure, but the cooking time will remain the same.
Instant Pot Breakfast Recipes:
- Bacon-Cheddar Egg Bites – 5th image
- Instant Pot Egg Bites without cottage cheese – 2nd image
- Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal – 4th image
- Mexican Breakfast Casserole – 3rd image
- Instant Pot Poached Eggs – first image on the left
- Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats with Peaches and Cream
- Pumpkin Pie Steel Cut Oatmeal in an Instant Pot
Instant Pot Chicken Recipes:
- Faux-tisserie Chicken aka Whole Roast Chicken in an Instant Pot – 2nd image
- Instant Pot Whole BBQ Chicken
- Whole Greek Chicken
- Huli Huli Chicken
- Salsa Chicken
- Chicken Shawarma – 5th image
- Tandoori Spiced Chicken and Rice
- Chicken Taco Bowls – 3rd image
- Mexican Casserole
- Teriyaki Chicken
- Salsa Verde Shredded Chicken – 4th image
- Salsa Verde Chicken Tamales
- Adobo Chicken – first image on the left
- Chinese Garlic Chicken
- Taco Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Instant Pot Beef Recipes:
- Guinness Beef Chili – 5th image
- Beef Stew
- Chunky Beef Chili
- Irish Beef Stew
- Beef Bourguignon
- Wine Braised Beef Short Ribs – 2nd image
- Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf
- Spaghetti
- Italian Beef for Sandwiches – 4th image
- Pepperoni Pizza Meatloaf – 3rd image
- Barbecue Beef Sandwiches – first image on the left
- Cafe Mocha Pot Roast
- Southwest Chili with Black Beans and Corn
- Lasagna
- Simple Pot Roast with Carrots and Squash
- Mexican Style Shredded Beef
- Sous Vide Filet Mignon in an Instant Pot
Instant Pot Pork Recipes:
- Instant Pot Barbecue Ribs – 5th image
- Instant Pot Teriyaki Ribs
- Pork Carnitas – 2nd image
- Ancho-Orange Pulled Pork
- Instant Pot Kalua Pork – first image on the left
- Hawaiian Pulled Pork – 4th image
- Salsa Verde Pork
- Red Chile Pork Tamales in Instant Pot – 3rd image
- Rosemary Garlic Pork Roast
- Red Chile Pork
Instant Pot Soup Recipes:
- Minestrone Soup
- French Onion Soup – 2nd image
- Ham Bone and Potato Soup – 5th image
- Tomato Basil Soup
- Cheddar-Ale Soup – 3rd image
- Instant Pot Butternut Squash and Apple Soup – 4th image
- Chicken Pot Pie Soup with Pie Crust Crackers – first image on the left
Instant Pot Side Dish Recipes:
- Loaded Mashed Potatoes – 5th image
- Yellow Rice in Instant Pot – 2nd image
- Instant Pot Fried Rice
- Macaroni and Cheese – first image on the left
- Mashed Potatoes
- Instant Pot Spanish Rice – 4th image
- Bacon Potato Salad
- Asparagus – 3rd image
Instant Pot Dessert Recipes:
- Dulce de Leche
- Chocolate Lava Cakes
- Kahlua Flan
- Apple Crisp
- Lemon Cheesecake
- Chocolate Cheesecake with Oreo crust
- Creme Brulee
Miscellaneous Instant Pot Recipes:
- Instant Pot 101 – Where do I start?
- Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
- Popcorn in an Instant Pot
- Chocolate Bacon Popcorn
- Summer Instant Pot Recipes to Beat the Heat {round up post}
- Instant Pot Apple Butter
- Instant Pot Ghee
My Favorite Instant Pot Accessories
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Here are the links to my favorites:
- Instant Pot Duo – I purchased two of these models several years ago and love them, BUT there have been changes made over the years that make them more temperamental. Each model cooks differently just like every oven cooks differently.
- Silicone Egg Bites Molds – I have two of these and they work great. Make sure you use cooking spray to keep your eggs from sticking!
- Silicone Egg Poacher Cups – The version that I purchased has been discontinued. These are the ones that I would choose if I was looking to purchase more. They can also be used to make mini muffins.
- Cheesecake Pan – This pan is perfect for making lasagna as well as cheesecake.
- Loaf Pan – Perfect for meatloaf and I am sure many other recipes that I have not tried yet, like bread.
- Ring Mold Pan – I also use this pan for meatloaf. It would also work really well for cake recipes or to cook hard boiled eggs all at once without the shells.
- Silicone Steamer Basket – For vegetables, stacking eggs, etc.
- Replacement Sealing Rings – If your pot will not cook to pressure, it might be time to replace your ring! It is also handy to have separate rings for desserts and savory cooking.
- Glass Lid – For proofing dough and recipes that do not require pressure.
- Pan Grippers – Retriever tongs to lift the hot liner out of your pressure cooker without burning your fingers.
