
Instant Pots are a fabulous invention. They make that everlasting “What should I make for dinner?” question so much easier to answer because you can whip up a delicious meal of almost any description in minutes. We know you’ve mastered the go-to Instant Pot chili, rice and beans, and roasted chicken. But there are a variety of other, rather ingenious ways to use that Instant Pot. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite inventive Instant Pot recipes and ideas below.
Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
Even though hard boiled eggs are relatively easy to make, it’s still often hard to time them right, resulting in either over-boiled or under-boiled eggs. Thanks to the Instant Pot, you can make fool-proof hard boiled eggs in minutes. Following a 5-5-5-5 timing ratio, cook the perfect, peelable hard boiled egg in minutes. Great for breakfasts, meal prep, deviled eggs, or polishing up on your Easter egg decorating skills, you can cook up to a dozen at a time. Get the Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs recipe.
Instant Pot Chickpeas
Skip the canned stuff and soaking period, and cook your own dried chickpeas in an hour. No more long preps like soaking dried beans overnight. Now you can make plump and flavorful chickpeas for a fraction of the price by buying them in bulk from your grocery store and cooking them whenever you get the urge. Full of fiber and protein, chickpeas are a wonderful healthy superfood to add to your diet and will please both your vegetarian and carnivore friends. Get the Instant Pot Chickpeas recipe.
Read More: Tips & Tricks for Perfect, Easy Hummus
Instant Pot Baby Food
Homemade baby food is simple to prepare; it just takes a bit of planning during your next grocery store trip. Save oodles of money on plastic pouches by making your own baby food in the Instant Pot with apples, pears, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, and more. Both parents and baby will be happy and content. Get the Instant Pot Stage 1 Baby Food recipe.
Instant Pot Wine
Yes, you read that correctly. Food blogger David Murphy became an internet sensation with his homemade Instant Pot wine. Impress your guests and vino aficionados with your own homemade reds and whites. Be the first of your friends to turn grapes into the nectar of the gods. Prepare your new wine cellar and shine those crystal wine goblets for your next tasting party! Even if it’s not the next Barolo, it’s still a fun and novel idea. Get the Instant Pot Wine recipe.
Instant Pot Popcorn
Schedule your next movie night to include a gigantic bowl of homemade popcorn. Full of fiber, low in calories, and inexpensive to make, popcorn is an addictive snack or even meal on certain nights, especially with myriad toppings and recipes, such as Cheesy Popcorn or Spicy Cinnamon-Sugar Popcorn. Or just toss with melted butter and salt for a classic pairing. The Instant Pot makes it a cinch to prepare without using any weird filler flavors found in microwaveable popcorn. Get the Instant Pot Popcorn recipe.
Instant Pot Bone Broth
We all have seen the bone broth craze take off in the past few years. The health benefits of bone broth are immense: important collagen-boosting peptides and the reported ability to relieve joint pain and detox your liver. But did you know that instead of spending a fortune at the newest bone broth food truck or health food store, you can make you own? Save tons of money and time by making it yourself. And it freezes well, too. Time to broth up! Get the Instant Pot Insta Bone Broth recipe.
Instant Pot Apple Cider
When the leaves begin to turn into those vibrant orange and red hues, and there is a chill in the air, you know it’s time for some hot spiced apple cider. And in a few minutes, you can steep your own cider with warming aromas like cinnamon, cloves, lemon peel, and fresh cranberries. A great addition to your next cozy fireplace session or winter holiday gathering. Get the Instant Pot Apple Cider recipe.
Instant Pot Vanilla Extract
Love to bake? Chances are, you use vanilla extract when baking your favorite chocolate chip cookies and other sweet delights. Pure vanilla extract can often be expensive. So now you can impress your baker friends and save money with your homemade infused extract, which can be made in just one day, although allowing two weeks of steeping is recommended. Homemade vanilla extract lasts for a few months. It looks quite pretty in glass jars or bottles, and makes great gifts for your fellow bakers and home cooks. Get the Instant Pot Vanilla Extract recipe.
Instant Pot Chocolate Cheesecake
Chocolate cheesecake in an Instant Pot is a game changer for your next special event. Who wouldn’t love a decadent and creamy cheesecake with a crust composed of Oreo crumbs? This recipe cooks in about 30 minutes plus overnight-chilling, so will save you some precious cooking time and your guests will be wowed. Get the Instant Pot Chocolate Cheesecake recipe.
Instant Pot Yogurt
Is your fridge filled with store-bought Icelandic or Greek yogurt? Then it’s time to stop ignoring the ‘Yogurt’ button on your Instant Pot. The densely thick and creamy yogurt you can make in it is addictive and serves as a wonderful breakfast when mixed with berries, granola, or honey. Or maybe you use your protein-packed yogurt as a replacement for cream cheese or a healthier swap for sour cream-based dips and sauces. However you use it, you can save some precious money (and gain considerable self-satisfaction) by making your own. Ironically, you will need to buy a bit of yogurt with active cultures to use as your yogurt starter, but then you will be able to make a huge batch of homemade yogurt filled with gut-supporting probiotics and filling protein.