Five Instant Pot dinner WINS.

Instant Pot. Collective screams from behind the computers–or mobile devices–of all of you readers who haven’t purchased one yet and are putting your foot down against yet another kitchen gadget. Or maybe just putting your foot solidly down against the damn Instant Pot. I get it. I get it! There was a time when I eye-rolled so hard every time I saw an Instant Pot recipe on Instagram or Pinterest. It’s a little bit like babies before you have babies. Like what really is the big deal? It’s a baby. There’s a million babies. And now… this is my baby and it’s a big freaking deal, and I’m never going to stop singing its praises. Okay, now that we got that out of the way…

If you don’t already know, the Instant Pot has been really great for me (you don’t say?). It’s truly mind-blowing that dinner can come together in like 20 minutes in an I’ve been simmering all day way. Steve can walk in from work and I’ll have my apron on, hair a-mess, tomato product of some sort smeared across one cheek, the smell of garlic or onions breezily simmering in the air, and it’s totally believable that I’ve been slaving all day once dinner’s on the table. (Spoiler alert: I haven’t. The Instant Pot has. But for like… half an hour.) This is the Instant Pot I have, should you still be on the fence. I have filled it to the “pressure cook max” of chicken chili and it was enough for 4 adults and 2 kids with more than one serving per person. Maybe that helps if you’re between the 6 and 8 quart. The 6 will also fit a roast chicken. A tight fit, but a fit nevertheless. Now let’s get down to it. A few of the things I’ve made and we’ve loved:

01. instant pot butter chicken: This was so full of good-for-you anti-inflammatory spices that I was afraid it would be too strong for the kids. I mean, significant additions of turmeric, smoked paprika, garam masala, and then some. As I added each teaspoon I was sure I was sealing my fate and their would be whines at the dinner table. There weren’t though! We all ate and loved. Steve really loved it, much to my surprise. He’s Scandinavian. I don’t know if this is a “thing” but it is a “thing” with him where the more boring and bland, the better. So when I branch out into say, Indian food, he’s very skeptical. But I’m not lying when I say he was singing my praises the whole meal. (Don’t tell him the IP is the real hero.) Serve with a side of naan, and don’t forget the cilantro!

02. white chicken chili: What can be said that hasn’t already about chili? I’m not even sure but by God, I’m going for it. I love a beef chili, but I might love a chicken chili more. I’m not sure what it is but the flavors are more stand out for me, the cumin being clutch. If you give it a generous smattering of cilantro on top, I’m a goner. Chicken chili is the best, I declare it. (Guess what? For you non-Instant-Potters… this one is just as good!)

03. cilantro lime chicken and lentil rice bowls: These bowls are kind of sneaky. You throw in a seemingly strange combo of ingredients–dried lentils, jars of salsa verde, some chicken–close that lid and pretty quickly have what does not appear to be appetizing but is really bursting with flavor (especially if you squeeze some fresh lime on!). I love when food does a magic metamorphosis of its own and ends up being delicious against all odds. The little ingredients that could! And I especially love it when said ingredients are low on cost and high on nutrition. This is one of them. Make it and report back. I’m curious if you guys will like it too.

04. instant pot carnitas: This is really good. Give it all the toppings. Enjoy the fiesta. You won’t regret it. I will now forever have a 3 lb. pork shoulder/butt in my freezer just for when carnitas calls. (Seriously, there’s one in there now, and were I to put it in the IP, I’d have a delicious meal in like 2 minutes.)

05. roast chicken: This is not a recipe but it is always the start of something good. Chicken enchiladas, chicken noodle soup, chicken chili, quesadillas, roasted veggie pasta salad with chicken thrown in, chicken salad, chicken burrito bowls, chicken divan. Am I starting to sound like Bubba and his shrimp? Good.

A note on the Instant Pot: before using, I watched a few tutorials lest I blew my kitchen off the back of my house. So far, so good. Though the first time I did a manual release of the pressure, I nearly shouted some choice expletives within ear shot of the children (not the children!). I think instead I went for my mother’s famous “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!” Amazing how that comes out sometimes. I also have not cooked fully frozen meat yet. I suspect this is where the IP really shines, on those nights when you’ve forgotten to thaw, but I’m also skeptical that it will cook through to the center of the meat well, and through the meat evenly. Anyone? Also, it is a little known secret that it takes a bit of time for it to come to pressure and actually start the cooking countdown. I almost think it should be renamed the “Almost Instant Pot.” But, even with this, it’s pretty damn fast. Also, it has a slow cook function. So really, instead of thinking of it as another kitchen gadget, think of it as a two-in-one. My slow cooker is in retirement! And finally, because this is my new baby, HASTA VENYA (below photo).

Please share your favorite IP recipes! Maybe we could even set up a playdate?