30 Days of Instant Pot Dump Recipes (2024)

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March 11, 2024February 9, 2018 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.

Mississippi Pot Roast: Pepperoncini juice and ranch dressing mix pack tons of flavor into this dish.
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.
Ham and 15 Bean Soup: Hearty, delicious, and tastes like you’ve been cooking all day.
Balsamic Ginger Chicken: This chicken thigh recipe has lots of flavor. Make it with basmati rice for a true one pot meal.
Spaghetti and Meatballs: This classic family favorite is a cinch to make in your Instant Pot.
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.
Garlic Lemon Chicken Legs: You can make this one with frozen chicken so no worries if you forget to defrost!
Chicken Cordon Blue Casserole: The cheesy creamy sauce in this dish is amazing!
Creamy Ranch Pork Chops: Just four ingredients. Did someone ask for easy?
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!
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.
Chicken Taco Bowls: Shredded chicken, taco seasoning, black beans, corn, salsa, and shredded cheddar cheese make this the perfect meal for Taco Tuesday.
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.
Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps: This low carb recipe isn’t short on flavor proving a healthy dinner doesn’t have to be boring.
Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork: Tender, juicy pulled pork in under an hour!
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.
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).
Corned Beef: Beef, beer, mustard and fig preserves combine with delightful results in this simple dish.
Creamy Italian Chicken Pasta: Cream cheese is the secret to the creamy sauce. And the peas and carrots add color and nutrients.
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.
Minestrone Soup: So many vegetables, even more flavor! This is an awesome soup recipe you’ll want to make again and again.
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.
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.
Chicken Noodles: This classic recipe comes together quickly in your pressure cooker and is ready in just over 30 minutes.
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.
Country Style Ribs: Make with bone-in or bone-out country style ribs — the outcome is always delicious!
Swiss Chicken: This is my family’s favorite chicken recipe. Chicken, swiss cheese, and stuffing — yum!
Cheesy Enchilada Rice: Long grain brown rice, enchilada sauce, black beans, cheddar cheese and seasoning are all you need for this flavorful meal.
Korean Short Ribs: This beef dinner with a sweet and tangy Asian sauce served over a bed of rice makes a satisfying dinner.
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

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!

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

What should I make first in my new Instant Pot? ›

When it comes to breaking your Instant Pot in, it's a good idea to start with some basic foods and simple meals you're already familiar with, then slowly expand your Instant Pot repertoire from there. Try making staples like eggs, sweet potatoes, rice, or lentils using just the pressure cooker function.

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When using Instant Pot as slow cooker do you vent? ›

Another tip, taken from an Instant Pot Facebook group, is to open the valve all the way on your Instant Pot lid when slow cooking. This allows some moisture and steam to release and keeps the Instant Pot from overcooking your slow cooker recipes.

Get More Info ›

Can you use coconut milk in pressure cooker? ›

Make the curry: Place chicken, onions, ginger, garlic, tamarind paste, 1 cup coconut milk, salt, turmeric, cayenne, and water into the inner liner of your Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker. Add the spice mix and stir well. Cook for 6 minutes at high pressure.

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How long does it take to cook in Instant Pot vs CrockPot? ›

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.

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When not to use coconut milk? ›

For example, if consuming products that are low in fat is a priority, coconut milk may not be your best choice due to its high fat content, which contributes most of the calories of coconut milk. In addition, regarding protein content, cow's milk and soy milk have more protein than coconut milk and almond milk.

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Why do chefs use coconut milk? ›

The most common practical use of coconut in cooking is creating curries. No matter the type, the creamy and fragrant nature of curries makes it a comfort meal for many customers. Coconut milk effectively removes the unpleasant smell from other ingredients while tempering the spicy element of the entire dish.

What happens to coconut milk in slow cooker? ›

I am often asked if you can put coconut milk in a crockpot—the answer is yes, but not until the end of the recipe. I repeat, do not add coconut milk to a slow cooker right at the beginning; it will curdle as the recipe cooks.

Can I use coconut milk instead of water in my rice cooker? ›

It only makes sense that we would make this slightly sticky and not-too-sweet coconut rice in a rice cooker. After all… rice is sort of our thing! And all you need to do is substitute a bit of unsweetened coconut milk for some of the water you'd normally use when cooking rice (check the recipe for exact measurements).

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Can you put milk in a pressure cooker? ›

If there's one food group you should avoid in the Instant Pot, it's dairy. The high heat and pressure can cause milk and cheese to curdle, separate or clump together.

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Is it OK to pressure cook milk? ›

Just like in a slow cooker, most dairy products such as cheese, milk and sour cream will curdle in an Instant Pot, no matter if you use the pressure cooking setting or the slow cooking setting. Add these ingredients after the dish cooks or avoid making the recipe in the Instant Pot altogether.