11 Ways to Meal Prep with Your Instant Pot

Want to knock out a bunch of meal prep work in a few hours? Use your Instant Pot! From easy-peel hard boiled eggs to pulled pork for a week of meals, we've got your covered.

By
Claudia Cash
Claudia Cash
Claudia Cash
Claudia is the Community Manager for Simply Recipes and has contributed numerous articles focused on cooking on a budget, quick and easy meals, and kid-friendly foods.
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Published October 03, 2019
Claudia Cash
11 Ways to Meal Prep in the Instant Pot

For the longest time, my Instant Pot scared me. I have heard far too many horror stories of pressure cooking gone wrong, so I stayed far away for as long as I could.

But like many of you out there, I was soon bit by the pressure cooking bug, and it bit me hard. I finally caved and bought one and haven’t looked back.

I have found that I don’t make a ton of meals with it, but I use it more for meal prepping. Who knew?! It’s not at all what I intended to use it for, but week after week, I find myself bringing it out to make batches of rice, yogurt, meat, and eggs to get me through the week.

Here are some ways you can use it to meal prep. Enjoy!

  • Instant Pot Yogurt

    How to Make Yogurt in the Instant Pot
    Alison Conklin

    I have made this so many times, I’ve lost count. It takes a couple tries to get your routine down, but once you do, you’ll never go back to buying yogurt from the store. Store in glass jars and top with jam or fresh berries and granola!

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  • Instant Pot Mexican Pulled Pork (Carnitas)

    Instant Pot Pulled Pork Carnitas Tacos on a serving tray
    Coco Morante

    Make one easy batch of this pulled pork and serve as tacos, burritos, enchiladas, or nachos. Using the pressure cooker makes the most tender pork ever and it’s ready to go in about an hour.

    Get Recipe

  • How To Make Fast, No-Soak Beans in the Instant Pot

    How To Make Fast, No-Soak Beans in the Pressure Cooker
    Emma Christensen

    If you’re anything like me, you are guaranteed to forget to soak beans overnight. Have no fear. With this method, dry beans magically transform in under 30 minutes. You can also freeze the extras for later!

    Get Recipe

  • How to Cook a Whole Butternut Squash in the Pressure Cooker

    Pressure Cooker Butternut Squash Soup
    Coco Morante

    The pressure cooker does a fantastic job of steaming butternut squash rendering it perfectly cooked. It's great for pasta sauces, fillings for lasagnas, soups, or plain (with a little added butter, of course!).

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    Continue to 5 of 11 below.

  • Pressure Cooker Shredded Chicken Taco Meat

    Instant Pot Chicken Taco Meat
    Coco Morante

    All you need is about 40 minutes and you’ve got yourself some shredded chicken taco meat that will just keep on giving. It’s great for feeding a crowd or divide it into smaller portions and freeze. Taco Tuesdays just became a hundred times easier!

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  • How To Cook Potatoes in the Instant Pot

    How To Cook Potatoes in the Pressure Cooker
    Coco Morante

    Potatoes are easy to cook, but with this method, you get perfectly cooked potatoes that don’t get overly mushy. You just press a couple buttons and let your pressure cooker do all the work! Make a giant batch and you’ll have potatoes ready for quick roasted potatoes, potato salad, or a breakfast skillet.

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  • Instant Pot Egg Bites

    Copycat Starbucks Egg Bites made in the instant pot and served on a tray
    Coco Morante

    A little time spent prepping these little gems will give you breakfast for the next week! Mix up your fillings to whatever your heart desires. As always, it’s an added bonus that they’re freezer friendly!

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  • Instant Pot Barley Lunch Jars

    How To Cook Barley - three open jars of grains and veggies
    Nick Evans

    Lunch is ready to go for the week with these barley lunch jars. They are on the lighter side, so if you want to add some protein in, add some shredded chicken or pork!

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    Continue to 9 of 11 below.

  • Instant Pot Easy-Peel Hard Boiled Eggs

    How to Make Easy Hard Boiled Eggs in the Pressure Cooker
    Emma Christensen

    This is hands down the best way to cook hard boiled eggs. It does take about the same amount of time as the stovetop method, but the hands-off time with this one makes it a clear winner. Plus their easy to peel, every time! Use these eggs for a quick breakfast or snack, in green salads, pasta salads, or make a simple egg salad.

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  • How to Cook Instant Pot Rice

    Instant Pot rice in a bowl with a spoon and the instant pot in the background
    Coco Morante

    We dish on all the tips and tricks on how to get the perfect rice with the pressure cooker. Go ahead and make a batch to last you all week long and then make another batch to freeze. Yes, you read that right, to freeze!

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  • How to Make Chicken Stock in the Pressure Cooker

    Instant Pot Chicken Stock - jars filled with chicken stock in front of an Instant Pot
    Nick Evans

    I like to make a ton of broth when the weather starts to cool down so I can have broth on hand all winter long. It cooks in half the time of other methods, and really gives you chicken broth that is superior to anything else out there.

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