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These 31 recipe ideas for the Instant Pot are perfect for whipping up homemade dinners on the flythis month!
Happy October!
Forour tenth installment of our 31 Days Series, we’resimplifying with the all-in-one magical unicorn workhorse Instant Pot. If you’re a little late to the party, the Instant Pot is the newfangled version of the pressure cooker, and if you don’t have one yet, you likely have major appliance envy, because this baby is the Beyoncé of kitchen appliances.
I’m telling you now…there isn’t a single appliance I’ve loved more since I got my Instant Pot last year than this and my friends and family can all vouch for this because I think they’re sick of hearing me talk about its virtues. And if you don’t believe me, believe Amazon, where it was the #3 best-selling product on 2017’s Amazon Prime Day.
But really, it does it all. The thing I love about it most is you can actually sear meats, chicken, vegetables in it before using the slow cooker or pressure cooker function so you get all that good flavor and don’t have to dirty any extra pots! It’s the true one and done.
It’s user-friendly, often cuts our average cooking duration in half, makes perfectly peelable hard boiled eggs!!!!, and it is a powerful force when it comes to weekly meal planning. What’s not to be totally smitten with? Things are getting pretty serious and all of our other appliances are getting jealous, but we #cantstopwontstop now.
If you don’t have yours yet, here’s an affiliate link, but seriously…this isn’t a sponsored post, I just love this machine and I don’t know anyone else who’s bought it who doesn’t love it too.
**UPDATED: I JUST received an e-mail that tomorrow, Oct. 2, 2017, you can get the Instant Potfor $30 off — that’s just $69!!!! —at the one day sale on Amazon!
Click here to buy theInstant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, 6 Quart (limit of 5 for the sale price on Oct. 2, 2017)
Instant Pot, we love you. Thank you for making our lives eternally easier and our kitchen sink considerably emptier.
To see all of this year’s 31 Days Series, check them out here:
31 Days of Healthy Comfort Food Recipes to Make in January
28 Days of Lighter Pasta Recipes to Make in February
31 Days of Weeknight Chicken Dinners to Make in March
30 Days of Healthier Salads that Make a Meal in April
31 Days of Sheet Pan Dinners to Make in May
30 Days of Easy Grilling Recipes to Make in June
31 Summer Slow Cooker Recipes to Make in July
31 Days of Summer Produce Recipes to Make in August
30 Dinners to Make When There’s No Time to Cook in September
Here’s how to make meal planning your month of mealsa snap.
First,download this free printable weekly meal planner/to-do listto fill in, tape to the fridge, take to the grocery store, or use for reference next year when you can’t remember what the heck were your faverecipes from this one.
And then sign up foryour free weekly meal plan and prep list here.
You get the idea. Now get cooking!
October1:Butternut Squash Beef Stew (Instant Pot, Pressure Cooker or Slow Cooker)
FoodieCrush
This cozy beef stew is precisely the thing we want to warm up with on a chilly autumn night. It’s loaded with healthy veggies, and is ready in a mere 40 minutes, so you feel like you’re eating something that’s been cooking low and slow all day, without actually having to wait all day! Win, win.
October 2:Butternut Cauliflower Soup (Slow Cooker + Instant Pot)
Peas & Crayons
You can make thisvelvetysoup in less than 30 minutes, and using pre-cut veggies reallymakes the prep a breeze.
October 3:Pressure Cooker Mexican Pulled Pork (Carnitas)
Simply Recipes
This super flavorfulpork gets a kickfrom a generous spice rub, and is then cooked in fresh pineapple or orange juice until it’s fork-tender. It’s perfect for tacos, burritos, enchiladas, salad bowls—you name it!
October 4:30-Minute Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta
The Butter Half
Everything you want for dinner is accounted for in this effortless and versatile dish that’s perfect for kids and adults alike.
October 5:Comforting Beef Barley Soup (Instant Pot)
Little Spice Jar
Loads of veggies, tender beef, and nuttybarley make this hearty soup a fall recipeyou’ll definitely want in regular rotation.
October 6:Instant Pot Pho
Lexi’s Clean Kitchen
Veggies, protein, and herbs are all added to thisincredibly rich and aromatic bone broth, making for a heavenly and healthy bowl of pho guaranteed to both fill and warm you up on the coldest of nights. It’s also a killer antidote for a stubborn case of the sniffles!
October 7:Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala
Savory Tooth
This popular Indian dish islightened-up and made dairy-free, so you can enjoy all of the flavors you love, without worrying about calories. Serve it alongside some basmati or cauliflower rice and naan, and you’ll never bother with takeout again!
October 8: Instant Pot Chipotle Chicken Bowls with Cilantro Lime Quinoa
Skinnytaste
These easy-to-make bowls are healthy, fun to make, and completely customizable with whatever taco or burrito fixins you love, and the cilantro lime quinoa is a game changer!
October 9:Vegetarian Portobello Pot Roast
Gimme Some Oven
Meaty portobello mushrooms sub in for beef in this deceptively delicious, comforting “pot roast” that both vegetarians and carnivores will devour.
October10:One Pot Teriyaki Rice with Chicken & Vegetables
Life Made Sweeter
Our weeknights run on one pot meals, and this one covers all the bases (starch, protein, and veggies). Not to mention it’s loaded with awesome flavors!
October11:Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Soup
Jelly Toast
Your beloved game day wings get “soupified” in this soul-soothing recipe, and we’ve gotta say it gives them a run for their money!
October12:Instant Pot Chipotle Brisket
Fed and Fit
All you need are a few ingredients to make this irresistible, chipotle-seasoned brisket. Serve with your favorite grain and veggie, or a nice salad, and you’ll be in brisket bliss.
October13:Instant Pot Creamy Tomato Soup with Crispy Parmesan Chickpeas
Peas & Crayons
Move over, Campbells, this dreamy, creamy tomato soup is everything we want in a tomato soup. And don’t even get us started on those totally addictive crispy parmesan chickpeas we can’t stop snacking on!
October14:Instant Pot Easy Mac and Cheese
CenterCutCook
Fact: We’ll never,ever be too old for mac and cheese, and while we’re certainly not above the boxed stuff, this Instant Pot version gives us the best of both worlds—homemade, yetridiculously easy (and super cheesy).
October15:Beef and Guinness Stew
Cafe Delites
They say Guinness is good for you, and we agree, especially when it’s added to a rich, beefy stew like this one! You’ll be in comfort food heaven once you try a bite of its rich and savory Guinness-spiked gravy.
October16:Instant Pot Cheesy Southwestern Lentils & Brown Rice
Platings and Pairings
Hearty lentils, brown rice, and Southwestern spices tango in this filling vegetarian bowl that gets topped with gooey mozzarella and cheddar cheese. We see you, Meatless Monday.
October17: Pressure CookerChicken Tortilla Soup
Kitschen Cat
This yummy soup is made with easy pantry staples, cooks in just 10 minutes, and makes killer leftovers for the week. ¡We’ll say Olé to that!
October18: Pressure Cooker Balsamic Roast Beef
Add a Pinch
Balsamic vinegar lends a tangy, complex flavor boost to this tender and juicy beef, which is the perfect comfort food meal on a brisk fall day.
October19:Spicy Instant Pot Carrot Soup
Pinch of Yum
This spicy and unbelievably creamy soup just has seven ingredients, and is flavored with coconut milk, red curry paste, and peanut butter. Bonus: It’s good for you too!
October 20:4-Ingredient Instant Pot Chicken Chile Verde
Two Peas and Their Pod
With only four ingredients and just 25 minutes, it just doesn’t get simpler than this chicken chile verde. Perfect for tacos, burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, and salads, it’s an easy, slam-dunk dinner you can throw together on even the busiest of nights.
October 21:Instant Pot Chili
Plated Cravings
Gear up for the big game with this classic beef and bean chili, which you can have on your table in no time.
October 22: Instant Pot Hearty Chicken Soup
Boulder Locavore
Chicken soup seems to be one of those magical cure-all recipes, and this recipe is definitely one you’ll want to have in your arsenal once cold and flu season rolls around. It gets nice kick from apple cider vinegar, jalapeño, ginger, and plenty of garlic, making for a wonderfully aromatic, soul-warming soup.
October 23:Instant Pot Golden Lentil & Spinach Soup
Kitchen Treaty
This hearty and healthy vegetarian soup gets its pretty golden hue from anti-inflammatory superstar, turmeric, and it takes just 12 minutes from pot to bowl!
October 24:Pressure Cooker Ropa Vieja
A Calculated Whisk
You’d never believe this traditional Cuban beef dish didn’t spend all day cooking. It’s loaded with flavor from awesome spices, capers, and pimiento peppers, and happens to be naturally free of gluten and dairy.
October 25: Slow Cooker Tortellini Soup with Sausage and Kale
FoodieCrush
Cheesy tortellini, leafy kale, Italian sausage, and an herb-infused broth are married together in this cozy soup, and hanks to the Instant Pot’s slow cooker function, you can have a bowl on your table in no time.
October 26:Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada Soup
A Saucy Kitchen
With all of the flavors you love from enchiladas, this cozy, spicy, and filling soup gets some extra protein from fluffy quinoa, and hits all the right notes. Top with your favorite fixings and dinner is served!
October 27: Vegetarian Lentil Tortilla Soup (Instant Pot + Slow Cooker)
Peas & Crayons
You’ll feel like you’re eating the rainbow when you slurp a spoonful of this hearty tortilla soup. It’s packed with healthy veggies, lentils, and seasonings, and is super flavorful whether you’re vegetarian or not.
October 28:Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore
Lexi’s Clean Kitchen
Tender, fall-off-the-bone chicken and veggies are cooked in a tangy balsamic-tomato sauce for a healthier version of this Italian favorite that you can serve over pasta, polenta, or rice.
October 29:Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice
A Pinch of Healthy
This classic New Orleans dish is wonderfully hearty and comforting, and best of all, you don’t have to wait forever for your beans to soak, or your rice to cook!
October 30:Instant Pot One-Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
Skinnytaste
Spaghetti is one of those comfort foods we could eat any week, any month of the year. It’s a hearty classic thatmakes great leftovers and iseasy, especially thanks to thisInstant Pot recipe, which just takes 15 minutes from beginning to end. Best of all? You don’t have to wait for water to boil, since your noodles cook directly in the Instant Pot, along with everything else.
October 31:Slow Cooker Chicken Bacon Corn Chowder
Cafe Delites
Chowders tend to be heavy, but this one has a few adjustments that make it lighter, without sacrificing flavor, and it can be done in the slow cooker or the Instant Pot.
This recipe round-up was curated and written by FoodieCrush contributor Hayley Putnam ofSeven Day Weekend. Follow her foodie tastes and other flights of fancyonPinterestandInstagram.
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