5 Easiest Things to Make in the Instant Pot–These 5 foods couldn’t be easier to make! The Instant Pot takes out the guess work and the hands-on time. Get cooking today with your Instant Pot and you’ll see how amazing it really is!

5 Easiest Things to Make in the Instant Pot
Today I have a new YouTube video to share with you…the 5 easiest things you can make in your Instant Pot. Please subscribe to myย YouTube channel! I’d love to see you over there. It’s free!
#1: Baked Potatoes
Make fluffy, moist baked potatoes in your Instant Pot without foil and in just a few minutes! Here’s how:
- Pour 1 ยฝ cups water into the bottom of your Instant Pot liner. Place a trivet in the bottom of your Instant Pot liner.
- Wash the potatoes and poke each one about 6 times with a fork. Line up the potatoes vertically in your Instant Pot . Then lay any extra potatoes on top.
- Cover the Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure the valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 25 minutes (if your potatoes are HUGE you may need more time but 25 minutes should be enough for most potatoes).
- When the time is up let the pot sit for 5-15 minutes and then move the valve to venting. Remove the lid.
- Optional step: If you like a crispy skin rub a little olive oil on the potato and put it under the oven broiler. Turn it a few times until it is crisp.
- Serve up your baked potatoes with your favorite toppings!

#2: Rice
I cook all types of rice in my Instant Pot. I especially love using my little 3 quart pot* to make rice (easier to clean, faster to come to pressure). To make rice in your Instant Pot follow the times and ratios on the green chart:

#3: Hard Boiled Eggs
Making hard boiled eggs in the Instant Pot is the best because they are so easy to peel and they don’t get the gray ring around the yolk. Here’s how I make hard boiled eggs in the Instant Pot (there are many methods, this is the one I use):
- Placeย steamer basket* or stainless steelย trivet* in the bottom of the Instant Pot. Add 1 ยฝ cups of water into the bottom of the pot.
- Add in as many eggs as youโd like into the steamer basket or on top of the trivet (donโt fill higher than halfway full).
- Secure the lid and turn the sealing vent to โsealingโ.
- Press the manual button/pressure cook button and adjust the time to 2 minutes (high pressure).
- Once the timer beeps let it sit for 10-15 minutes and then turn the valve from โsealingโ to โventing.โ
- Remove the lid and use tongs to place the eggs in a strainer and then run cold water over them. After that feel free to eat them or just store in the fridge until youโre ready to use them.

#4: Legumes
Cooking dried beans, lentils and peas in the Instant Pot is much faster than boiling on the stove. Fill pot with enough water to cover beans by 2 inches. Here is a chart to help you know how long to cook different legumes:

#5: Pot Roast
This is an an easy beginner recipe for the Instant Pot. Beef pot roast is cooked until tender in the electric pressure cooker. If desired you can also make carrots and potatoes with the roast.
Ingredients:
- 2โ3 pounds rump roast, trimmed of excess fat
- 2 cups water
- 1 packet onion soup mix
- 1 (1 oz) au jus gravy mix packet
- Optional: 1 pound baby carrots
- Optional: 1 pound Russet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks (or yellow potatoes, skin on)
- Cornstarch
Instructions:
- Place your trimmed roast in your Instant Pot. Pour in the water. Sprinkle the packet of onion soup mix over the roast. Sprinkle your packet of au jus gravy mix on top of the roast.
- Cover the pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 90 minutes on high pressure. The pot will take about 10 minutes to build pressure and then will start counting down from 90.
- No potatoes and carrots option:ย Once the time is up let the pot sit there for another 15 minutes (display will read L0:15) and then move the valve to venting. Remove the lid.ย Potatoes and carrots option:ย Once the time is up move the valve to venting. Remove the lid. Add in the potatoes and carrots. Replace the lid and set the valve to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 4 minutes (for less soft vegetables) or 5 minutes (or softer vegetables). When the time is up let the pot sit there for 10-15 minutes (L0:10) and then move the valve to venting.
- To make the gravy:ย Place the meat and vegetables on a platter and set aside. Turn the Instant Pot to the sautรฉ setting. Make a cornstarch slurry in a small bowl. Stir together 2 Tbsp of cornstarch and 2 Tbsp of cold water until smooth. Stir the slurry into the pot. Whisk. It should thicken the gravy very quickly.
- Serve the gravy with the roast and optional vegetables.

More Easy Things to Make in Your Instant Pot…
10 Instant Pot Recipes For Beginners
Instant Pot Recipes For College Students
Top 5 EASIEST Recipes To Cook In Your Instant Pot
Instant Pot Cooking Times Cheat Sheet
Want More Tried And True Instant Pot Recipes?
- Sign up to receive daily Instant Pot recipes (itโs FREE)
- Join theย 365 Days of Instant Pot Recipes Facebook groupย
- Buy theย 365 Days of Pressure Cooking Cookbook
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
New to the group. Differently have the book on my Christmas list.
Thanks for being here!
I’m trying to find the actual book but all i see is the ebook for download. How and where can I find an actual book? I so want one!
Hi Mary! You can order it here: https://365-days-of-pressure-cooking.myshopify.com/products/the-365-days-of-pressure-cooking-cookbook
Thank you..
You’re welcome!
I want to Print this great post but do mnot see a PRINT button.
Please add one for us.
Thank you! Joyce
Oops! don’t have one but you can highlight the text you want to print, then right click and push print.