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After a busy day of work, no one really wants to cook. But it’s something we all have to do (just like taking out the trash and doing loads of laundry) in order to keep our lives moving. Ordering in is always an option, but the Postmates charges add up quickly. The next best thing? An Instant Pot.
The popular kitchen essential can be a lifesaver when all you really want to do is fill your stomach quickly (and without much effort). These seven recipes showcase just how vital an Instant Pot can be for weeknight dinners, and their flavors (like bulgogi barbecue tacos and lemongrass chicken) might make you slow down long enough to enjoy every bite. Either way, these dinner ideas make it easier to cook Monday through Friday so you can get back to whatever else you want to do.
White Bean Chicken Chili
A hearty white bean and chicken chili can be the perfect end to a long day, which is why this recipe from The Modern Proper should be on rotation. Aside from those namesake ingredients, this Instant Pot dish also includes minced garlic, chopped onions, chicken stock, red bell pepper, corn, and green enchilada sauce to fill bowls with plenty of flavors.
Korean Bulgogi Barbecue Tacos
Bring a fresh take to your Taco Tuesday with this recipe from Half Baked Harvest, which uses an Instant Pot to cook chicken breasts with rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey, and Korean chili paste. Once it’s ready, the chicken is shredded and layered with a tomatillo sesame salsa in warm tortillas.
Beef Ragu
If you’re craving something hearty, this recipe from The Modern Proper is sure to deliver. Chuck roast, onion, celery, carrots, stewed tomatoes, beef stock, and garlic are added to an Instant Pot to combine, and everything is served over ribbons of pasta. Don’t forget to add parmesan.
Chicken and Rice Casserole
A simple yet delicious casserole can be the perfect last-minute meal, and this recipe from Food Faith Fitness comes together in all of 30 minutes. Long-grain white rice, broccoli, onion, and seasonings all cook together in the appliance, and the chicken and cheddar cheese are added at the end. It makes for a delightfully gooey display.
Rotisserie Chicken Pesto
Joyful Healthy Eats’s recipe for a pesto chicken calls for placing the entire bird into an Instant Pot, so it’s extra easy. Cover in a basil pesto made with pecans and lemon zest and cook for 20 minutes. Finish the chicken under your oven’s broiler for a few minutes until the skin has browned.
Lemongrass Chicken
Another way to cook chicken in an Instant Pot is to try this recipe from Half Baked Harvest, which features coconut milk, yellow onion, bell pepper, fresh basil, red Fresno pepper, and chili sauce. When the chicken is cooked, serve it over rice and alongside peanuts, carrots, and green onions.
Cherry Cola Pulled Pork
Even if you spent hours in an office, this recipe from Melanie Makes will make you feel as if you had the perfect summer day. Pork shoulder roast is layered in paprika, ground mustard, and garlic powder, and then cherry cola is poured on top. After it’s cooked, the pork shoulder is shredded and covered in barbecue sauce. Add it to two hamburger buns, lettuce, and potato chips and you’ll be set.
Read on for more easy recipes:
7 Simple One-Pot Meals That Were Made for Busy Summer NightsThe Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich That’s Taken Over Instagram, Explained7 Easy No-Cook Recipes to Turn to When It’s Sweltering Outside