8 cozy Instant Pot recipes for busy nights

When the weather turns cold and gray, there’s nothing more comforting than a warm, home-cooked meal that practically makes itself. That’s where the Instant Pot shines!

It’s the busy cook’s best friend — hands-off and foolproof with minimal dishes. You toss everything in, set it, and walk away, only to return to something deeply nourishing and full of flavor.

Whether you’re craving cozy soups, hearty stews, or tender braised meats, these Instant Pot recipes are perfect for hibernation season!

Plus, over testing recipes on the stove and Instant Pot over the years, I find that most soups and stews taste better when they’re made in the Instant Pot.

Click here to browse all Instant Pot friendly recipes!

P.S. All images below are linked!

Instant Pot White Chicken Quinoa Chili

We’re using multiple protein sources (chicken, beans, and quinoa) for a nutrient-dense lightened up chili. Greek yogurt and beans get blended up and stirred into the soup to create a thicker, creamy broth without it feeling heavy.

Instant Pot Carnitas Tacos

Carnitas is a Mexican-style pulled pork that’s often flavored with citrus, garlic, and spices. It’s typically slow-cooked for hours, but we’re using the instant pot to get the same fall-apart tender meat in much less time.

Instant Pot Lemongrass Ginger Chicken Soup

This Vietnamese-inspired chicken soup uses lemongrass, ginger, and garlic for a super fragrant soup. Bone-in chicken gets pressure cooked in the Instant Pot so that you end up with a mineral and collagen-rich broth and fall-apart tender chicken. Sweet potatoes and kale add complex carbs, calcium, fiber, and a healthy dose of greens.

Instant Pot Penne Ragu

Pasta coated in a rich tomato sauce with your meat of choice, Italian seasonings, mushrooms, spinach and nutty parmesan cheese.

Creamy Sausage Lentil Veggie Soup

This comforting soup is filled with cozy fall herbs, lots of greens, and gets thickened up with a simple cashew cream for a hearty flavor-packed broth. A combination of sausage and lentils packs in both protein and fiber.

Instant Pot Hamburger Helper 

The moment my husband took a bite of this recipe, he said it tasted like hamburger helper. I’ve never tried hamburger helper so I’ll just have to take his word for it! All I know is that it’s super easy to make, uses basic ingredients, and is so comforting and delicious!

Instant Pot Turkey Lentil Curry

Lentils and turkey get cooked in a curry spiced tomato broth into a stew-like consistency. Butter gets stirred in at the end to give the curry a silky smooth texture. I love this over a bed of warm jasmine rice, but you can also enjoy it on its own with a side of toast or turn it into a brothy soup.

Chicken Pot Pie Soup

All of the things you find inside of a chicken pot pie, but make it a soup that will make your whole house smell heavenly. An aromatic base of onion, carrot, celery, mushrooms, garlic, and thyme give the soup a deeply savory flavor with a little help from our friend – soy sauce/tamari. We’re skipping the heavy cream and replacing it with an easy cashew cream that gives body to the broth.