16 Cheap & Easy Instant Pot Recipes for Busy Weeknight Dinners

There are nights when the thought of making dinner feels like climbing a mountain. You know the ones. The kids are wound up, you just walked in the door, and the clock is ticking a little too loudly. It’s on those evenings that I thank my lucky stars for my Instant Pot.

This little appliance is my secret weapon for getting a hot, delicious meal on the table without losing my mind or my budget. We’re talking about transforming simple, affordable ingredients into something truly special in a fraction of the time it would normally take.

That’s the real magic right there. These aren’t just any meals, they are deeply flavorful, tender, and taste like they simmered for hours. The pressure cooker infuses flavor into everything it touches, making even the most basic ingredients sing.

Plus, the one pot cleanup is a gift from the heavens. Everything from searing the meat to building the sauce happens right in the pot. So if you’re looking for fast, cheap Instant Pot recipes that your family will actually ask for again, you have come to the right place, honey.

Let’s get cooking.

Tips for Shopping for Budget-Friendly Ingredients

Whipping up delicious dinners on a dime starts long before you turn on the Instant Pot. It starts at the grocery store. I’ve learned a few tricks over the years to keep my pantry stocked and my wallet happy without sacrificing an ounce of flavor.

First and foremost, always shop with a plan. I sit down on Sunday with a cup of coffee and map out our meals for the week. This little ritual keeps me from wandering the aisles and grabbing things we don’t need. A list is your best friend.

Don’t be afraid of the tougher, less expensive cuts of meat. A chuck roast or a pork shoulder might look intimidating, but they become melt in your mouth tender in the Instant Pot. These cuts are packed with flavor and are perfect for shredding into tacos, sandwiches, or serving over rice.

My pantry is always ready for action. I stock up on staples like dried beans, lentils, rice, pasta, and canned tomatoes whenever there’s a good sale. Having these basics on hand means I can pull together a meal with just a few fresh additions. Frozen vegetables are another hero. They are just as nutritious as fresh and save me from worrying about produce going bad in the crisper drawer.

Finally, shop what’s in season. You’ll always get the best price and the best taste when you buy produce at its peak. A little bit of savvy shopping makes these cheap Instant Pot recipes even more affordable.

4 Chicken & Turkey Instant Pot Recipes

Chicken is a weeknight staple in my house, and for good reason. It’s a blank canvas that can take on so many wonderful flavors. The trouble is, it can dry out in a heartbeat. The Instant Pot solves that problem completely, delivering juicy, tender chicken and turkey every single time.

From shredded chicken for tacos to hearty, comforting soups, the pressure cooker makes quick work of it all. Even a simple chicken and rice dish becomes something special when all the flavors meld together under pressure. It’s a surefire way to get a satisfying dinner on the table fast.

Here are some of my favorite chicken and turkey recipes that are just perfect for adapting to your Instant Pot.

• Easy White Chicken Chili: This chili is creamy, hearty, and packed with flavor. Just sauté your aromatics, add the rest of your ingredients, and let the Instant Pot do the work in about 15 minutes.
• Easy Chicken Soup: There is nothing like a classic chicken soup. Pressure cooking the chicken makes it fall-off-the-bone tender and creates a rich, flavorful broth in under 30 minutes.
• Crockpot Turkey Chili: Don’t let the name fool you. This recipe adapts beautifully to the Instant Pot. Brown the turkey on sauté mode, add everything else, and cook on high pressure for a chili that tastes like it simmered all day.
• Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Rice Bowls: This is a perfect one-pot meal. Cook your chicken, rice, and enchilada sauce all together for a complete, flavorful dinner with minimal cleanup.

4 Ground Beef Instant Pot Recipes

Oh, ground beef. It’s the dependable, affordable workhorse of my kitchen. It’s so versatile and forgiving, making it perfect for quick weeknight meals. Using the Instant Pot takes ground beef recipes to a whole new level of easy.

The sauté function is a game changer. I can brown the meat, onions, and garlic right in the pot, building a beautiful layer of flavor before I add any liquids. No extra skillets to wash. From there, it’s just a matter of adding your other ingredients and letting the pressure cooker work its magic.

Whether it’s a rich chili, a hearty pasta sauce, or a fun taco filling, the Instant Pot locks in all the savory goodness and cooks everything up in record time. It makes getting those family favorite ground beef dinners on the table a simple affair.

• Best Sloppy Joes Recipe: This classic sandwich filling comes together so fast in the Instant Pot. The pressure helps the sauce thicken and meld with the beef for a truly nostalgic and delicious meal.
• Copycat Wendy’s Chili: Nothing beats a hearty bowl of chili on a cool evening. The Instant Pot develops that slow-simmered flavor in about 20 minutes, and the beans get perfectly tender.
• The Perfect Ground Beef Casserole: You can easily adapt this comforting casserole. Cook the ground beef and pasta filling in the Instant Pot, then transfer to a dish, top with cheese, and give it a quick broil in the oven to get bubbly and golden.
• Beef Chili with Masa Harina: This chili has a secret ingredient for a wonderful texture and authentic flavor. The Instant Pot makes the beef incredibly tender and infuses the whole dish with smoky spices.

4 Pork & Sausage Instant Pot Recipes

When I’m craving something deeply savory and comforting, I often turn to pork or sausage. These ingredients bring so much flavor to the table and are often surprisingly affordable. The Instant Pot is the perfect partner for them, turning simple ingredients into a rich and satisfying dinner.

Whether it’s a hearty Italian sausage, smoky andouille, or a humble pork shoulder, the pressure cooker renders it perfectly tender and juicy. The high pressure helps to break down tougher cuts and infuse the meat with whatever spices and sauces you’re using. It’s how you get that “cooked all day” taste on a Tuesday night.

From soups that warm you from the inside out to pasta sauces that will have everyone asking for seconds, these are some of the best cheap Instant Pot recipes for quick dinners starring pork and sausage.

• Zuppa Toscana (Olive Garden Copycat): This creamy, savory soup is an absolute star in the Instant Pot. Sauté the sausage, cook the potatoes until tender, and then stir in the kale and cream for a restaurant quality meal at home.
• Homemade Spaghetti Sauce with Sausage: A rich, meaty pasta sauce in under an hour? Yes, please. The Instant Pot develops a beautiful depth of flavor that usually takes hours of simmering on the stovetop.
• Creamy Sausage Tortellini Soup: This is comfort in a bowl. It’s a simple, one pot recipe where the sausage, broth, and tortellini all cook together for a delicious and incredibly easy dinner.
• Easy Hungarian Goulash: While this recipe often uses beef, it’s absolutely fantastic with cubed pork shoulder. The pressure cooker will make the pork unbelievably tender and create a rich, paprika-spiced sauce.

4 Meatless & Vegetarian Instant Pot Recipes

Some of our most delicious and budget friendly meals are completely meatless. Relying on pantry staples like beans, lentils, and grains is a fantastic way to stretch your grocery budget while still eating incredibly well. The Instant Pot is an absolute champion when it comes to these ingredients.

I used to shy away from cooking dried beans from scratch because it took so much time and planning. Now, I can have perfectly cooked, creamy beans in about an hour with no soaking required. The same goes for lentils and hearty grains like quinoa or farro. It’s a total game changer.

These vegetarian dishes are anything but boring. We’re talking flavorful soups, hearty chilis, and delicious fillings for tacos or bowls. They are packed with protein and fiber, so they’ll keep your family full and happy. It’s a wonderful way to add variety to your meal plan.

• 20-Minute Easy Lentil Chili: This chili is a weeknight lifesaver. It’s packed with flavor, comes together in a flash, and is so satisfying. The lentils cook perfectly in the Instant Pot.
• Slow Cooker Moroccan Lentil Soup: The warm spices in this soup are just divine. You can easily adapt it for the Instant Pot by sautéing your veggies first, then pressure cooking for about 15 minutes.
• Spicy Black Beans: A perfect example of a simple staple made easy. Cook dried black beans with your favorite spices for a versatile side dish or a main component for burrito bowls.
• Vegetarian Tortellini Soup: This soup is both elegant and easy. The broth gets a lovely flavor from the roasted red peppers, and it’s a complete meal in one pot.

Pro Tips for Fast Instant Pot Cooking

The Instant Pot is already a shortcut to dinner, but a few simple habits can make the process even faster and more flavorful. These are the little things I do every time to make sure my meal comes out perfectly, and I’m not wasting a single second.

First, get all your ingredients prepped before you even turn the pot on. This is what chefs call “mise en place.” Having your onions chopped, garlic minced, and spices measured out means you can move smoothly from one step to the next without pausing. It makes cooking feel calm and controlled.

Always use the sauté function. This step is crucial for building deep flavor. Browning your meat or sautéing your vegetables before adding liquid creates a foundation of flavor that you just can’t get otherwise. When you add your liquid, be sure to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. That’s pure gold.

Here’s a great trick. Use hot liquid. When a recipe calls for broth or water, I’ll heat it in the microwave or a kettle first. Adding warm liquid helps the Instant Pot come up to pressure much more quickly, shaving precious minutes off the total time.

Finally, understand the difference between a quick pressure release and a natural pressure release. For tender meats like a pot roast, letting the pressure release naturally helps keep the meat juicy. For vegetables or pasta you don’t want to overcook, a quick release is the way to go. Following the recipe’s instructions on this is key.

Storing and Reheating Your Instant Pot Meals

One of the best things about making these cheap Instant Pot recipes for quick dinners is that they often yield wonderful leftovers. A delicious, already cooked meal waiting in the fridge is like a gift to your future self, especially on a busy day.

For storing, I always let the food cool down for a bit on the counter before packing it up. You don’t want to put a piping hot container straight into the fridge. I use airtight glass or plastic containers to keep everything fresh. Most meals will last for a good three to four days in the refrigerator.

Many Instant Pot meals also freeze beautifully. Soups, stews, chilis, and shredded meats are perfect candidates for the freezer. I like to portion them into freezer safe bags or containers for easy grab and go lunches or future dinners. Just be sure to label everything with the name and date.

When it’s time to reheat, you have a few options. The microwave is the fastest, of course. I usually add a splash of water or broth to things like rice or pasta to help them steam and prevent drying out. For soups and sauces, I prefer reheating them gently in a pot on the stovetop. It just seems to bring them back to life a little better.

You can even reheat right in your Instant Pot. The “Sauté” function works well for liquids, just keep the heat low. The “Keep Warm” setting is also a gentle option if you’re not in a huge rush.

Frequently Asked Questions

When you’re new to the Instant Pot, it can feel a little intimidating with all its buttons and sounds. But I promise, once you get the hang of it, it’ll become your best friend in the kitchen. Here are answers to some of the questions I hear most often.

What does the “Burn” notice on my Instant Pot mean?

Oh, the dreaded “Burn” notice. Don’t panic. It’s almost always an easy fix. This message pops up when the pot gets too hot on the bottom, usually because there isn’t enough thin liquid to create steam or because some food is stuck. The most common culprit is a thick sauce, like tomato paste or a creamy soup base, that has settled on the bottom. To prevent it, always make sure you have at least one cup of thin liquid like water or broth. Also, after you sauté your meat or veggies, pour in a splash of liquid and use a wooden spoon to scrape up all those flavorful browned bits. This is called deglazing, and it not only adds flavor but also prevents sticking. If you’re adding something thick like tomato paste, layer it on top of the other ingredients and wait to stir it in until after the pressure cooking is done.

Can I convert my favorite slow cooker recipes to the Instant Pot?

Absolutely. It’s one of my favorite things to do. There are a few general rules of thumb. First, you’ll need to reduce the amount of liquid. Slow cookers let a lot of moisture escape, but the Instant Pot is a sealed environment. You typically only need about one to one and a half cups of thin liquid to get things going. For the cooking time, a recipe that cooks for eight hours on low in a slow cooker usually translates to about 25 to 30 minutes of high pressure cooking time in the Instant Pot. It takes a little practice, but you’ll get a feel for it quickly. Remember that this time doesn’t include the time it takes to come to pressure or release the pressure.

My Instant Pot is taking forever to come to pressure. Is something wrong?

This is a common issue. A few things could be happening. First, check your sealing ring. Make sure it’s pushed securely into the lid and is free of any food debris. An improperly seated ring is the number one reason for a pot not sealing. Second, the amount and temperature of the contents matter. A very full pot or one with cold or frozen ingredients will naturally take longer to heat up and build pressure. To speed things up, you can try heating up your liquids before adding them to the pot. Using the sauté function to get everything hot before sealing the lid also helps a great deal.

What’s the difference between Natural Release and Quick Release?

This is so important. A Natural Pressure Release (NPR) means you just let the pot sit after the cooking cycle is done. The pressure will slowly dissipate on its own, which can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. This method is best for meats like roasts and chicken, as the gentle process helps keep them tender and juicy. It’s also great for foamy foods like beans or grains, as it prevents sputtering. A Quick Pressure Release (QPR) is when you manually turn the steam release valve from “Sealing” to “Venting.” Steam will shoot out, and the pressure will drop rapidly. Use a long spoon to move the valve to keep your hand safe. This method is best for things you don’t want to overcook, like vegetables, pasta, and seafood.

More Recipe Collections

Now that you’re ready to put that Instant Pot to work, why stop at just one recipe? My kitchen is all about having a treasure trove of go-to meals for any occasion. If you enjoyed these ideas, you’ll love exploring some of my other recipe collections.

Here are a few to get you started on your next culinary adventure.

• Easy Ground Beef Recipes: You can never have too many ways to use this affordable kitchen staple. This collection has everything from casseroles to skillet meals.
• 25 Favorite Slow Cooker Soup Recipes: A wonderful source of inspiration for your Instant Pot. Remember, most of these cozy soups can be easily adapted for pressure cooking.
• 15 Easy One-Skillet Meals: For those nights you crave the convenience of one-pot cooking but want to use your stove, these recipes are a lifesaver.
• Crock Pot Chicken Recipes: Find even more delicious and creative ways to cook chicken. These slow cooker recipes are packed with flavor and easily convertible to your Instant Pot.

I hope you enjoy these as much as I have!