30 Days of Instant Pot Dump Recipes (2024)

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by Corinne Schmitt

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When life gets really busy, getting dinner on the table every night becomes a challenge. That’s why I’ve rounded up an entire month’s worth of tried and true Instant Pot dump recipes.

When you want to get a delicious dinner on the table the entire family will enjoy, your pressure cooker is your best friend. Paired with these tasty recipes that have minimal prep work, you can spend less time cooking and more time doing the other things that matter to you.

Looking for a reason to love your Instant Pot? Whether you hate spending time in the kitchen or you simply lack the time, these Instant Pot dump dinner recipes will provide you with plenty of effortless meals all month long!

What is a Dump and Go Recipe?

A dump and go recipe is one that is super easy and convenient to make. The idea behind a dump and go recipe is that you simply “dump” all of the ingredients into a pot, slow cooker, or baking dish, and then “go” about your day while the recipe cooks itself.

These recipes are typically very simple and require very little prep work, so they’re perfect for busy weeknights when you have to multitask during dinner prep time.

Instant Pot Dump Recipes

You won’t find any recipes in this meal plan that require you to sauté ingredients first. I also omitted any recipes that required a lot of slicing and dicing beforehand.

A couple of the recipes do call for time to marinate before cooking, but the marinade had to be simple (e.g. dumping the necessary ingredients into a Ziploc). And, after marinating, you only have to dump the ingredients into the Instant Pot to cook.

  1. Mississippi Pot Roast: Pepperoncini juice and ranch dressing mix pack tons of flavor into this dish.
  2. Salsa Chicken: Just two ingredients (chicken breasts and salsa — pretty sure you figured this out from the name). Dinner doesn’t get any easier than this.
  3. Ham and 15 Bean Soup: Hearty, delicious, and tastes like you’ve been cooking all day.
  4. Balsamic Ginger Chicken: This chicken thigh recipe has lots of flavor. Make it with basmati rice for a true one pot meal.
  5. Spaghetti and Meatballs: This classic family favorite is a cinch to make in your Instant Pot.
  6. Cheesy Tuna Helper: The great thing about this recipe is that you can keep all of the ingredients on hand in your pantry and freezer for nights when you’ve forgotten to plan ahead.
  7. Garlic Lemon Chicken Legs: You can make this one with frozen chicken so no worries if you forget to defrost!
  8. Chicken Cordon Blue Casserole: The cheesy creamy sauce in this dish is amazing!
  9. Creamy Ranch Pork Chops: Just four ingredients. Did someone ask for easy?
  10. Hot & Sour Soup: Packed with yummy Asian flavors like rice vinegar, chili garlic sauce, sesame oil, and ginger with mushrooms, spinach, and tofu, this soup is not only delicious, but it’s good for you too!
  11. Chicken and Stuffing(or this version with one extra step but added liquid if the lack of liquid in the first version worries you): Tender bites of chicken, combined with stuffing mix and green beans for a quick weeknight meal.
  12. Chicken Taco Bowls: Shredded chicken, taco seasoning, black beans, corn, salsa, and shredded cheddar cheese make this the perfect meal for Taco Tuesday.
  13. Apple Bourbon Pork Tenderloin: Since you start with a pre-seasoned tenderloin, you can substitute any flavor you want and still get a tender, delicious dinner.
  14. Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps: This low carb recipe isn’t short on flavor proving a healthy dinner doesn’t have to be boring.
  15. Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork: Tender, juicy pulled pork in under an hour!
  16. Black Bean Soup: This is one of our favorite meatless meals. It’s loaded with vegetables and the beans add fiber and protein to make this a satisfying dinner.
  17. Honey Sesame Chicken Noodle Bowls: The awesome Asian-inspired sauce in this dish makes this as wonderful to eat as it is to look at (thanks to the colorful peppers and snap peas).
  18. Corned Beef: Beef, beer, mustard and fig preserves combine with delightful results in this simple dish.
  19. Creamy Italian Chicken Pasta: Cream cheese is the secret to the creamy sauce. And the peas and carrots add color and nutrients.
  20. Chicken FajitasNo need to stand over the stove. Let your Instant Pot do the work, then spoon into tortillas and top with sour cream for a quick dinner.
  21. Minestrone Soup: So many vegetables, even more flavor! This is an awesome soup recipe you’ll want to make again and again.
  22. Pineapple Ginger FauxtisserieChicken: This freezer friendly dinner is one you can make ahead of time and keep in the freezer as an emergency meal for especially busy nights.
  23. Mushroom Pasta: Use your favorite noodles (rotini, bowtie, and penne pasta all work great!) and a few simple ingredients to make this easy one pot dinner.
  24. Chicken Noodles: This classic recipe comes together quickly in your pressure cooker and is ready in just over 30 minutes.
  25. 7 Can Chicken Taco Soup: Made with canned goods and seasonings, this is another dinner you can keep ingredients on hand for at all times.
  26. Country Style Ribs: Make with bone-in or bone-out country style ribs — the outcome is always delicious!
  27. Swiss Chicken: This is my family’s favorite chicken recipe. Chicken, swiss cheese, and stuffing — yum!
  28. Cheesy Enchilada Rice: Long grain brown rice, enchilada sauce, black beans, cheddar cheese and seasoning are all you need for this flavorful meal.
  29. Korean Short Ribs: This beef dinner with a sweet and tangy Asian sauce served over a bed of rice makes a satisfying dinner.
  30. Pesto Chicken Pasta: A true dump and go recipe that’s ready in under half an hour — this recipe will be one of your go-to’s when you don’t have time to cook.

I was aiming for family-friendly for my menu. If you have kids who aren’t as picky as mine are, or simply enjoy healthier meals overall, check out this list of 20 Healthy Instant Pot Dump Dinners from The Holy Mess. You’ll find plenty of great options!

Instant Pot Dump Recipes Printable Menu

I’ve created a menu for a full month using only Instant Pot dump recipes. I tried to vary the selection from day to day so you don’t end up eating a noodle dish or chicken dish several days in a row.

I’ve also included some soups and vegetarian options to help keep cost down. Feel free to print off the menu. The recipes included in the menu are all hyperlinked in the menu and in thelist below the menu.

To download/print the menu, click on the image below or

Click this link –>>Instant Pot Dump Recipes Menu

30 Days of Instant Pot Dump Recipes (2)

Looking for Instant Pot Freezer Dump Meals?

I know that for many people, “dump meals” translates to meals that you prep in advance and freeze then toss in the Instant Pot to cook. That was NOT my criteria for these recipes.

However, if those are the type of dump recipes you are looking for, I’ve put together a collection of over 20 Instant Pot Freezer Meals just for you. Every recipe on the list is designed to go from freezer directly to your Instant Pot.

Don’t forget to pin this post so you can find the recipes again later!

30 Days of Instant Pot Dump Recipes (3)

More EasyDinner Ideas

If you liked this menu of Instant Pot dump recipes, you might like some of these other easy dinner ideas.

Love your Instant Pot? Check out my entire collection of Instant Pot recipes. You’ll also find my favorites from other sites plus lots of helpful information (like which accessories you might want and a glossary of common terms).

If you like having an entire month of recipes already planned, check out my menu for a month of family meals. They aren’t dump recipes, but they are all kid-approved (in my household anyway).

Only cooking for one or two? Check out all of these microwavemugrecipes!

Or perhaps you’d rather come up with your own meal plan. If that’s the case, read this post on Easy Meal Planning for tips and ideas. Plus, snag a free printable meal planner and shopping list!

More Instant Pot Resources

Love your Instant Pot? Find more Instant Pot Recipes here. And check out my favorite Instant Pot Hacks.

30 Days of Instant Pot Dump Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take for Instant Pot to count down? ›

So, irritating or not, the Instant Pot has a lag in time between when the pot reaches pressure and when it starts to count down. It is not immediate so have patience. Depending upon what and how much is in the pot, it can take up to 10 minutes to see the pot start to count down.

What is the equivalent of 4 hours in the slow cooker in the Instant Pot? ›

Generally, if your slow cooker meat, soup, or stew recipe calls for 8 hours on the low setting or about 4 hours on the high setting, it should be fully cooked in about 25 to 30 minutes in the Instant Pot. For chicken or turkey, use the 15-minute poultry button. While volume doesn't matter, density does.

Can you make everything in an Instant Pot? ›

If you're not sure what Instant Pot is right for you, we tested all the best Instant Pots that are well worth the counter space. In general, Instant Pots do so much more than just pressure cooking and can be used as a rice cooker, slow cooker, steamer yogurt maker, sauté pan, and a meal warmer.

How do you calculate Instant Pot cooking time? ›

How to Convert Recipes into Instant Pot Recipes
  1. Oven/Stovetop to Instant Pot Conversion: Divide the cooking time by 3. ...
  2. For Recipes Made in Slow Cooker/Crock-Pot: Refer to the amount of time that a recipe needs to cook on high and multiply that by 6. ...
  3. Pasta Recipes: Use 2 cups of liquid per cup of dry pasta.
Dec 28, 2023

What is the average life of an Instant Pot? ›

The average lifespan of an Instant Pot ranges from 2-5 years, but it can last longer depending on how often it's used and how well-maintained it is. So it's safe to say Instant Pots aren't commonly being replaced, and may even be a one-time purchase.

How long does it take for Instant Pot to lose pressure? ›

On the model that I was using, if you don't actively release the pressure when the time is up (and whether or not to do so depends on what you're cooking), the cooker will automatically switch to the "keep warm" setting and will start letting the pressure naturally release, which can take up to 30 minutes, depending on ...

Which is better, a CrockPot or Instant Pot? ›

If you are interested primarily in slow cooking, you should buy a dedicated slow cooker. They're more reliable with a range of slow-cooker recipes than an Instant Pot. We found Instant Pot multicookers specifically could not successfully slow-cook dense, high-volume recipes such as beef stew or pot roast.

Does an Instant Pot really replace a slow cooker? ›

Touted as the do-it-all appliance for good reason, an Instant Pot is a multi-function pressure cooker that easily doubles as a slow cooker. The difference between pressure cooking and slow cooking is substantial, so we love that one appliance can do both, along with a slew of other cooking methods.

Is pulled pork better in Instant Pot or slow cooker? ›

The Instant Pot cuts down the cooking time significantly. This allows you to enjoy tender pulled pork in a fraction of the time it would take in a traditional slow cooker or oven. The sealed environment of the Instant Pot ensures that the flavors penetrate deep into the meat.

What cannot be cooked in Instant Pot? ›

6 Things You Should Never Cook in an Instant Pot
  1. Creamy Sauces. If there's one food group you should avoid in the Instant Pot, it's dairy. ...
  2. Fried Chicken. The best fried chicken is crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside and perfectly golden brown. ...
  3. Cookies. ...
  4. Burgers. ...
  5. Pie. ...
  6. Steak.

What is the disadvantage of Instant Pot? ›

Con– If you don't pay attention to setting the vent properly you will have to extend your cooking time. I can't tell you how many time I forgot to seal the pot and the steam was escaping rather than building up inside and cooking my food. Pro– Like I said earlier, you are not limited to soups and stews.

Can bacteria survive Instant Pot? ›

The pressure cookers used can inactivate up to 1010 CFU/mL bacteria and 107 CFU/mL fungi. The ultimate test for a sterilization device uses the most heat-resistant organisms, commonly Geobacillus stearothermophilus endospores. If the hardiest of microorganisms is killed, than all other microbes should die as well.

How long does it take for meat to cook in the Instant Pot? ›

Cooking time: When cooking a pot roast in an Instant Pot, allow 20 minutes for every pound of meat. For example, cook a 2-pound pot roast at high pressure for 40 minutes and a 3-pound pot roast for 60 minutes.

Which is better, an Instant Pot or a pressure cooker? ›

If you're a tech-savvy home chef looking for versatility and convenience, the Instant Pot might be your ideal match. However, if you value time-tested reliability, durability, and a focus on the art of pressure cooking, a classic pressure cooker could be your perfect culinary companion.

How long do vegetables take in the Instant Pot? ›

The vegetables will defrost and heat while the pot is coming to pressure, though they will be slightly softer than using fresh. For cooking starchy vegetables, such as potatoes, parsnips, or winter squash, cut them into 1-inch pieces and steam for 4 minutes to become tender.

Why isn t my Instant Pot not counting down? ›

Once the float valve comes up, it may. take a few minutes for the Instant Pot display to. change from On to counting down the pressure. cooking time.

Why is my Instant Pot timer counting up? ›

After you are done cooking in pressure cooking mode it will start a natural release timer which counts up to help you time how long you want to naturally release . So if the recipe you are using says naturally release for 5 mins you will be able to see when the timer reaches 5:00 etc .

How long does it take for an Instant Pot to depressurize? ›

Simply wait for the float valve (aka pin) to drop (5-40 minutes) indicating the pressure has gone down and it's safe to remove the lid. In other words: Time counts down to 0 and Instant Pot beeps 10 times. Don't do anything, the Instant Pot will depressurize naturally by cooling the inner contents.

How long does Instant Pot test take? ›

The whole test will take about 20 minutes and is very simple, it mainly serves to test whether the appliance is properly pressurized, and to familiarize yourself with how high pressure cooking works. Remove the inner pan from the appliance. Fill the pan with 3 cups (750ml) of water. Put the pan back in the appliance.

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