Instant Pot Last Minute Dinner

Instant Pot Last Minute Dinner–spinach and cheese filled ravioli in a lemon sauce with asparagus, chicken and parmesan cheese. This recipe can be made so fast with the help of your Instant Pot!

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Instant Pot Last Minute Dinner

We’ve all been there – you come home from a long day at work, tired and hungry, only to realize that you have no idea what to make for dinner. In moments like these, it can be tempting to reach for the takeout menu or order in. But fear not, this easy Instant Pot ravioli recipe can be put together within a few minutes (only a 1 minute pressure cook time) and it tastes amazing too!

A convenient bag of frozen ravioli (I used cheese and spinach filled ravioli) is served in a lemon cream sauce with some rotisserie chicken (Costco for the win!) and some asparagus (I used a bag of frozen asparagus). The flavors all go together beautifully. It’s a bit different than the typical ravioli served with marinara sauce. My kids and husband scarfed this down.

Ingredients/Substitution Ideas

• Butter–or oil
• Garlic
• Chicken broth–or water and Better than Bouillon
• Dried thyme leaves
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper
• Frozen spinach and cheese ravioli–or another type of ravioli you like. You can also use frozen tortellini. I find frozen ravioli by the frozen breads at the grocery store.
• Cooked, chopped chicken–I used some rotisserie chicken
• Frozen or fresh asparagus–or peas
• Half and half–or cream
• Cornstarch
• Lemon juice
• Lemon zest
• Parmesan cheese

Steps

Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the butter and let it melt. Add in the garlic and saute for 30 seconds. Pour in the broth and turn off Instant Pot. 

Add in the thyme, salt, pepper, ravioli and chicken (my chicken was frozen). 

Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 1 minute. When time is up let pot sit for about 5 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.

Stir in the asparagus. In a small bowl stir together the half and half and the cornstarch until smooth. Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. Stir the cornstarch slurry into the pot. Stir in the lemon juice and lemon zest. When sauce has thickened turn off the pot.

Scoop onto plates and enjoy! Top each serving with a tablespoon of parmesan cheese.

Notes

• Serve with garlic bread and caesar salad.
• This recipe can be meatless if you leave out the chicken and use vegetable broth.
• Variation idea: try adding in a bag of frozen broccoli (steam it in the microwave) instead of the asparagus.
• I used my 6 quart Instant Pot*. You can also make this in a 3 or 8 quart pot.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
• Other recipes you can make with lemon zest are Instant Pot Lemon Rice and Instant Pot Chicken Julienne.

How to freeze lemon juice and lemon zest

I love buying a big bag of lemons from Costco and then freezing the juice and zest for recipes like this one! Freezing lemon juice and lemon zest is a great way to extend the shelf life of these ingredients and have them on hand whenever you need them. Here’s how to freeze lemon juice and lemon zest:

Freezing Lemon Juice:

1. Squeeze the lemons and strain the juice to remove any seeds or pulp. I like to use this lemon squeezer*.
2. Pour the lemon juice into an ice cube tray*, filling each compartment about three-quarters of the way full.
3. Place the ice cube tray in the freezer and freeze until solid, which usually takes 4-6 hours.
4. Once the lemon juice is frozen, pop the cubes out of the tray and store them in a freezer-safe container or bag. Be sure to label the container with the date and contents.

Frozen lemon juice cubes can be used in recipes just like fresh lemon juice. Simply thaw the cubes in the refrigerator or at room temperature before using.

Freezing Lemon Zest:

1. Wash the lemons thoroughly to remove any dirt or residue.
2. Use a zester* or grater to remove the outermost layer of the lemon peel, being careful not to remove the bitter white pith underneath.
3. Spread the lemon zest in a thin layer on a baking sheet and place it in the freezer.
4. Freeze the zest for about 1-2 hours, or until it’s completely frozen.
5. Once the lemon zest is frozen, transfer it to a freezer-safe container or bag and label it with the date and contents.

Frozen lemon zest can be added directly to recipes without thawing.

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More Instant Pot Ravioli Recipes

Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for. 

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*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.