12 Easy Instant Pot Recipes for Families

Cooking can be a challenge for kids who don’t love their food all mixed together, but these easy Instant Pot recipes are PERFECT for kids…even those with strong opinions about what they do and don’t eat!

Easy Instant Pot Recipes

I love having a handful of really great Instant Pot recipes to turn to for busy weeknight meals that deliver on nutrition, flavor, and appeal to everyone in the family.

And while it’s hard to find a recipe that everyone likes, these 10 healthy Instant Pot recipes are perfect for families.

So even if you just pick one to try, that’s one more easy family dinner than you had before!

1. Instant Pot BBQ Chicken

We love to use this tender shredded chicken (which takes just two ingredients!) in sandwiches, though you could also serve it over a grain or with buttered noodles. Add a simple veggie on the side and dinner is ready!

Easiest Instant Pot BBQ Chicken

You can double this recipe and use 2 pounds of chicken if desired. Just do your best to spread it into an even layer in the instant pot. (Note: The nutrition facts will vary based on the bbq sauce that you use.)

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2. Chicken and Rice Burrito Bowls

My husband and I love this dish as a burrito bowl and my girls love it as quesadilla filling. Both ways are easy and delicious.

Recipe: Instant Pot Weeknight Chicken and Rice Burrito Bowls

These also make for great leftovers and are super easy to customize with toppings.

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3. Instant Pot Chicken and Bean Tacos

I’ve made this recipe twice recently and it’s so easy and fast—especially if you use precut veggies from the store. (P.S. We love the leftovers over rice!)

Slow Cooker Chicken and Bean Tacos

With a short ingredient list and a veggie-loaded sauce, these Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos are such a delicious family meal. (You can even make it in the Instant Pot for dinner in just 25 minutes.)

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4. Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

Stir some frozen peas or steamed broccoli into this finished mac and cheese and a healthy family dinner is ready to serve.

Recipe: Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese

Trust us on this one. It’s so easy and so super delish.

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5. Perfect Instant Pot Pinto Beans

Transform inexpensive dried beans into super tender and flavorful taco beans—or beans for burritos, grain bowls, or refried beans—with this super simple method. It’s almost as easy as opening a can of beans from the store!

Easy Pinto Beans Recipe

Learn how to make perfect Pinto Beans in the Instant Pot (or Slow Cooker) with this easy method. You can double this recipe to cook 2 pounds of dried beans at once. Just increase the water to 12 cups.

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6. Moroccan Spiced Chickpeas

These flavors might be new for the kids, but pair this with some pita bread, plain yogurt, and sliced cucumbers, and everyone is sure to be happy! (It also works as an easy freezer meal.)

Recipe via Pinch of Yum

Freezer Meal Spiced Chickpea Bowls

Freezer Meal Spiced Chickpea Bowl: clean eating meets comfort food! Dump it all in a bag, freeze it, and make it for dinner in a snap.

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7. Instant Pot Butter Chicken

I love this recipe so much we have it at least once a month with rice, an easy veggie and a side of naan or pita. It’s great because it’s flavorful and easy, but the chicken is also super moist and easy for little kids to chew.

Easy Instant Pot Butter Chicken

Forget takeout—deliver this popular Indian dish to your table instead. Shredded chicken thighs are coated in a rich, buttery sauce with hints of tomatoes, ginger, and garam masala—a messy but very flavorful finger food. Adapted from The Multi-Cooker Baby Food Cookbook.

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8. Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Put out an assortment of toppings and let everyone customize their own bowl!

Recipe via Bless this Mess

Loaded baked potato soup… in under an hour.

That wasn’t a typo. This Instant Pot Loaded Baked Potato Soup is a breeze to throw together and makes for a delicious feast any night of the week.

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9. Instant Pot Channa Masala

This veggie-loaded sauce is just flavorful enough to be yummy for parents, but not too much to overwhelm the kids. It’s an easy vegetarian meal to share with the family.

Instant Pot Chana Masala-Style Chickpeas

Try making a super easy Indian food recipe at home with this mild Instant Pot Chana Masala. It's easy to make, freezes beautifully, and packs extra veggies tucked right into the sauce. (This will likely make enough for two meals—I like to freeze the second half for a future week.)

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10. Instant Pot Spaghetti

I still can’t believe that it’s possible to cook this whole meal in the Instant Pot, but it’s just so good! (And easy, which is key come 5:30 pm.)

Recipe via The Kitchn

How To Make Instant Pot Spaghetti

Trust us: This is best (and easiest!) thing you’ll cook in your Instant Pot this year.

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11. Instant Pot Black Bean Soup

The IP version of my Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup is easy, delish, and perfect healthy comfort food. This is one bean soup that my girls adore! (My son is still learning to like it, but I’m hopeful!)

Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup

Use the crock pot to cook up a hearty and nutritious Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup with veggies and lots of kid-friendly flavor. It's easy, versatile, and a great freezer meal

 

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12. Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

This is one of our favorite soups and it’s so fast to make. You can find it in my Happy Family Meals meal planning system.

You May Also Like

• Favorite Slow Cooker Recipes
• Master List of Healthy Family Meals

What’s your family’s favorite instant pot meal? I’d love to know if you can drop it into the comments below!

This post was first published January 2021.