I’m not one for the latest kitchen craze for good reasons. Just to let you know, I never bought instant pot but a friend gave it to me as a gift for my birthday. And at first, I was hesitant and skeptical about using it. But after a few tries, it became a favorite. It exceeded my expectations in so many ways. Up until this day, I still consider my instant pot to be one of my favorite pieces of cooking equipment that I have at home. And in this post below, I will also show you my top favorite instant pot side dishes.
Instant Pot Benefits
Just in case you don’t know what instant pot is, I am going to give you a head’s up. It’s a multi-functional cooker. It can serve as an electric pressure cooker, steamer, slow cooker, yogurt maker, rice cooker, warming pot, and sauté/browning pan. Pretty cool, huh?
It’s definitely one of the best tools you can have in the kitchen. One proof of this is that instant pot has been number 1 in Amazon’s Kitchen Small Appliances category.
But why? Below are some of the benefits of using Instant Pot:
- It’s Great For Big Batch Cooking
Cooking usually takes a lot of time and effort. This can be a problem if there’s a party or a gathering and you have to do all the cooking on your own. But with Instant Pot, you can leave your cooking alone until it gets done and you have the rest of the time to yourself.
- It’s Easy To Use
Cooking requires skill especially if you want to prep something good. But Instant Pot makes it easy for beginners to cook up a really good meal.
- It’s Safe To Use
Instant Pot makes use of smart technology. So, it can regulate the temperature and internal pressure on its own.
- It’s Reliable
Personally, what I love about Instant Pot is I can still cook a decent meal even if I’m suddenly busy around dinner time. I can pick up the kids from school while the Instant Pot does its magic at home. When we arrive, the food will be ready just in time.
Contents
What Do I Cook In An Instant Pot?
It can be hard to think of something that you can’t cook in an Instant Pot. After all, it’s a multi-functional cooker. It’s more than just your average pressure cooker.
But for starters, I want to give some of these recommendations for your first few Instant Pot adventure:
- Soup
Soup isn’t exactly a gourmet type of meal but it’s certainly a great side dish no matter the occasion. I know that I will definitely want to come home to a warm bowl of soup after work. It’s also an excellent snack during a cold night.
- Roast Chicken
Roast Chicken will definitely impress your guests on Thanksgiving or during a birthday celebration. You can even throw in an entire chicken into the Instant Pot if you want to easily prep food for the entire family for the rest of the week. It’s a real treat especially for people like me who really love chicken.
- Oatmeal
You can cook your oatmeal in the morning in an Instant Pot while getting ready for work. So, you don’t have to worry about your meal boiling over.
- Desserts
Some of my favorite desserts that I prep in an Instant Pot are pudding, cheesecake, and cobbler. If you are expecting a group of people over at your home, your oven will most likely be full. And to make way for more desserts, you can throw them into your Instant Pot.
- Egg Dishes
You can cook your morning eggs into the Instant Pot if you want but you can do other things as well. You can cook breakfast hash or breakfast casserole into your Instant Pot.
- Condiments
If you ever need fruit compote or salsa, your Instant Pot can do that too. Homemade condiments are fresher and much tastier compared to any pack you will find in the supermarket.
- Rice Dishes
This one might be a bit of a giveaway. After all, one of the functions of an Instant Pot is to serve as a rice cooker. But there are endless possibilities as to what rice dishes you can make in your Instant Pot. Chicken Bog and Cajun Pork and Rice are only some of my favorite dishes. You can come up with your own too.
Instant Pot Potatoes And Carrots
Let’s start with an easy Instant Pot vegetable side dish. It’s a great cook test for your Instant Pot. It will only take about 10 minutes to prepare. Most of all, it is low in carbs which is perfect if you are watching your weight,
Just a couple of pointers, you may want to peel your carrots before putting them into your Instant Pot. But as for your potatoes, it might be best to keep the peel on. This way, the potatoes won’t end up getting mushed when it’s cooked.
It’s up to you if you want to add some seasonings. I myself am not fond of “ vegetable only” meals, even if it is just a side dish. I prefer vegetables that have a bit of flavor which was why when I first cooked my first potatoes and carrots in my Instant Pot, I put in some cauliflower, melted butter, and garlic salt. It was the best thing I ever tasted.
Instant Pot Pasta
I love pasta during movie nights with friends and family. And there’s just nothing like using your Instant Pot to easily and quickly prep yourself some good spaghetti. But that’s not the only reason I prefer using my Instant Pot over a regular cooker.
Instant Pot is really fantastic with pasta since the starch is retained. You can use this starch later on as a thickener when you cook the sauce.
But just a word of warning. Curled-up pasta is a lot easier to cook in an Instant Pot. Meanwhile, straight pasta like Spaghetti can be a bit of a challenge. That said, you need to break the pasta strands in half so they will fit in the Instant Pot. Add more water to the pot so that the pasta is completely covered up. Lastly, do not stir the pasta so that it won’t stick.
Here are X instant pot side dishes recipes that you don’t want to miss.
15.
Instant Pot collard greens are a Southern-inspired side dish made much quicker in an electric pressure cooker. These Southern greens have a ton of flavor from bacon and ham, and you’ll want to drizzle the cooking liquid on everything!
Check it here.
14. Instant Pot Asparagus with Garlic Lemon Pepper
The easiest and most delicious Instant Pot Asparagus with Garlic Lemon and Pepper. Bye bye mushy, soggy, or undercooked pressure cooker Asparagus. You will love just the perfectly crispy tender texture of this Instant Pot Asparagus that is ready in less than 15 minutes. Asparagus cooked in Instant Pot makes an awesome side dish.
Check it here.
13. Instant Pot Garlic Parmesan Noodles
Incredibly easy Instant Pot noodles with garlic and parmesan and a creamy luscious sauce to serve with your favorite protein! It’s the ultimate side dish that you can make in one pot, and in just 20 minutes!
Check it here.
12.
Instant Pot baked beans make a delicious side dish for any barbecue or potluck. Now you and your family can enjoy a homemade baked beans recipe in a quarter of the time thanks to the pressure cooker. The results are so yummy that you will never go back to buying canned baked beans again!
Check it here.
11. Instant Pot Applesauce
Instant Pot Applesauce is a sweet snack or side dish made with your favorite apples. The pressure cooker makes this a quick recipe and a great way to create a homemade, healthy applesauce.
Check it here.
10. Homemade Maple Bacon Baked Beans in the Instant Pot
Baked beans are a classic side dish for good reason. This recipe flavors delicious baked beans with maple and bacon. They start with dried beans and can still be made in a couple of hours with the help of a pressure cooker.
Check it here.
9.
Instant Pot Potato Salad – the easiest way to make potato salad! The potatoes and eggs cook at the same time in your Instant Pot pressure cooker.
Check it here.
8. Instant Pot Baked Beans
An easy recipe for baked beans in the Instant Pot. A perfect side dish for the summer, potlucks and BBQs. A mix of kidney beans, pinto beans and northern beans with brown sugar and maple bacon.
Check it here.
7. Instant Pot Chicken Fried Rice
Instant Pot Chicken Fried Rice is a simple, one pot recipe that’s ready in no time. With just a few ingredients, this dish is perfect for meal prepping, lunch, or dinner!
Check it here.
6.
Corn on the cob is an ideal side for all sorts of main dishes, whether you dress it up with the toppings of your choice or eat it plain.
Check it here.
5.
Garlic Butter Sesame Instant Pot Green Beans are healthy, flavourful, and so easy to make. This is an easy and affordable springtime side dish that is perfect for serving up at Easter and on many other occasions.
Check it here.
4. Instant Pot Cheesy Ranch Potatoes
Instant Pot Cheesy Ranch Potatoes are a quick and easy side dish that the whole family will love. With just a few ingredients and minimal ingredients you’ll have a new family favorite that will keep them asking for more!
Check it here.
3. Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
One of the best traditions of summer are tender juicy ears of corn on the cob hot out of the pot, and dripping with butter with a sprinkling of salt! Instant Pot Corn on the Cob is a quick and easy way to make this simple classic BBQ side dish.
Check it here.
2.
Looking for a simple and comforting side dish you can quickly whip up for as a side for any meal? This dump and start garlic butter Instant Pot Red Potatoes ticks all the boxes and is ready in less than 25 minutes!
Check it here.
1. Cassava Fries — (Yucca) Stovetop + Instant Pot (Paleo, AIP)
Usually we eat them for a family dinner as a most delectable side dish to meat, with greens or a salad on the side.
Check it here.
15 Best Instant Pot Side Dishes for Summer
I’m not one for the latest kitchen craze for good reasons. Just to let you know, I never bought instant pot but a friend gave it to me as a gift for my birthday. And at first, I was hesitant and skeptical about using it. But after a few tries, it became a favorite. It exceeded my expectations in so many ways. Up until this day, I still consider my instant pot to be one of my favorite pieces of cooking equipment that I have at home. And in this post below, I will also show you my top favorite instant pot side dishes.
Ingredients
- SOUTHERN INSTANT POT COLLARD GREENS
- INSTANT POT ASPARAGUS WITH GARLIC LEMON PEPPER
- GARLIC PARMESAN NOODLES
- INSTANT POT BAKED BEANS
Instructions
- Choose any Instant Pot Side Dishes for Summer from the post that you like
- Click on the link below the photo to get the full recipes and instructions.
- Try the best Instant Pot Side Dishes for Summer and share your photo under my pin on Pinterest!
I’m Anastasia and I’m a full-time blogger, online entrepreneur, and Pinterest marketing strategist. I help digital entrepreneurs and bloggers drive targeted traffic from Pinterest either through my online courses or through Pinterest consultancy.