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50 Dump and Go Recipes for the Instant Pot

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With these super simple Instant Pot Dump and Go recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you can set and forget your ingredients and come back to a delicious one-pot meal.

a collage of six dump and go meals, prominently featuring spaghetti and meatballs, BBQ chicken sandwiches, fajitas, pot roast, sloppy joes, and mac and cheese

We love any recipe that requires just one pot. And even better if you can add all of the ingredients to your Instant Pot, set it to cook, then come back to a fully prepared dish.

These are all of our favorite dump-and-go recipes for breakfast, soups and stews, and dinner with chicken, beef, and pastas. If you’re looking for the simplest dinner solution, you’ll find it in this list!

Updated 2025: We consult this dump-and-go list on a regular basis when we’re meal planning for busy weeks, so we wanted to give it an update to include our latest recipes.

What is a Dump and Go Recipe?

There’s a great deal of variation on what a “dump and go recipe” is—some people define it as using only ready-made ingredients, while others consider it more like a one-pot meal where all the cooking is done in a single pot.

We tend to fall somewhere in the middle. For us, a dump-and-go meal means there’s a short prep time (for instance, dicing an onion or measuring spices) and little additional work.

Note: A few of the recipes we’ve included here have an optional sauté step that you can skip to make it a true dump-and-go meal.

1
Close up picture of one-pot cilantro chicken and rice plated and topped with cilantro, tomatoes, and a lime wedge, and placed in front of an Instant Pot.
One-Pot Cilantro Chicken & Rice
Total Time: 29 minutes
This easy Instant Pot Cilantro Chicken and Rice uses chicken thighs, fresh herbs, and long-grain rice to make a flavor-packed dinner that’s ready in minutes
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2
45 degree shot of a pulled BBQ chicken sandwich, served with carrot sticks and potato chips on a white plate, with extra BBQ sauce and a spoon and chips in the background
Instant Pot BBQ Shredded Chicken
Total Time: 31 minutes
This Shredded Barbecue Chicken recipe is great for sandwiches and salads and can start with frozen chicken breasts.
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3
Instant Pot honey garlic chicken plated on white rice and asparagus, topped with fresh parsley.
Honey Garlic Chicken | Instant Pot Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes
This Honey Garlic Chicken features tender, juicy chicken thighs in a sweet and savory sauce made with freeze dried herbs, ketchup, soy sauce, and just a bit of sriracha.
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4
Tight, close-up shot of two crack chicken ranch sandwiches with bacon, made in an Instant Pot, ready to serve.
Bacon Chicken Ranch Sandwiches
Total Time: 27 minutes
This Instant Pot Ranch Bacon Chicken recipe has a rich, creamy cheese sauce and smoky bacon for sandwiches, salads, and more easy dinners. Note that there are a few ingredients to stir in after cooking so the cheese sauce is smooth.
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5
A side shot of Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas with a bowl of fajita filling in the background
Easy Chicken Fajitas
Total Time: 30 minutes
This Instant Pot Chicken Fajita recipe is a quick dinner made with chicken breasts, bell peppers, and onion loaded onto flour tortillas. Feel free to skip the saute step for greater time savings.
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6
a 45 degree closeup horizontal shot of Instant Pot Salsa Chicken, plated on a white plate and served on top of a bed of shredded lettuce, with Mexican rice and black beans in the background
Instant Pot Salsa Chicken
Total Time: 28 minutes
Instant Pot Salsa Lime Chicken is a fast dump-and-go dinner recipe you can cook from frozen. Plus, it's topped with melty cheese.

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7
Pressure Cooker / Instant Pot Chicken Taco Filling for Chicken Tacos
Instant Pot Chicken Taco Filling
Total Time: 28 minutes
This Instant Pot chicken taco filling is great for taco salads, and burritos. Just a minute or two in your stand mixer will have it nicely shredded and meal-ready.
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8
Close up picture of Instant Pot chicken walking taco filling added to a snack back of Fritos and Cool Ranch Doritos topped with lettuce, tomatoes, and shredded cheese.
Walking Tacos
Total Time: 25 minutes
Walking Tacos, made in the Instant Pot with chicken breasts, salsa, and taco seasoning mix, are a super fast weeknight dinner the family loves.
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9
Instant Pot chicken Alfredo topped with fresh parmesan and basil and placed in a white bowl tie a bread stick in the background.
Shortcut Chicken Alfredo | Instant Pot recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes
This Instant Pot shortcut chicken alfredo uses jarred alfredo sauce, chicken breasts, and bowtie pasta to make a family favorite weeknight dinner.
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10
Close up picture of Instant Pot Hawaiian meatballs served over rice, and topped with sesame seats and green onions.
Hawaiian Meatballs Instant Pot Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes
This recipe for Instant Pot Hawaiian Meatballs starts with frozen meatballs for a quick appetizer OR a full dinner when served with rice and sides. 
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11
Instant Pot Wisconsin macaroni and cheese in a white bowl, topped with fresh parsley and ground pepper, with another bowl of Mac, salt and pepper, fresh parsley, and shredded cheese in the background.
Wisconsin Macaroni and Cheese
Total Time: 22 minutes
This copycat Wisconsin Mac & Cheese cooks up fast in the Instant Pot and features elbow noodles, half and half, and cheddar jack cheese, plus a secret ingredient that makes it creamy, ooey-gooey, and delicious!
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12
bowl of instant pot pasta primavera with fresh vegetables and parmesan cheese on top
Instant Pot Pasta Primavera
Total Time: 25 minutes
When you need to get dinner on the table quick, you can skip the sauté step for the onions and peppers without much impact to the finished dish.
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13
A shallow bowl filled with creamy lemon pasta, with lemon zest and parsley as garnishgarnished in the background, with additional lemon
Macaroni in a Lemon Cream Sauce
Total Time: 14 minutes
Instant Pot Lemon Pasta is a creamy, cheesy pasta with a subtle lemon flavor.
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14
white bowl of instant pot shrimp alfredo rotini with parsley
Instant Pot Shrimp Alfredo Pasta
Total Time: 24 minutes
This easy Shrimp Alfredo Pasta is an Instant Pot dinner made with juicy shrimp and rotini in a creamy parmesan-garlic sauce. 
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15
Close up picture of Instant Pot tortellini topped with fresh parmesan and parsley, placed in a white bowl. Additional parmesan and slices of wheat bread in the background.
One-Pot Tortellini
Total Time: 12 minutes
Easy One-Pot Tortellini in the Instant Pot is a fast and flavorful weeknight pasta dinner with tomato sauce and cheese-filled pasta perfect for Meatless Monday.
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16
Close up of white bowl with spaghetti and meatballs, spaghetti sauce and fresh basil leaves
Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
Total Time: 15 minutes
Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs is a quick and easy 15-minute pressure cooker dinner with frozen meatballs, your favorite spaghetti sauce, and Parmesan cheese. Skip the saute step for a true dump-and-go meal.
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17
Close up on a white bowl of homemade macaroni and cheese topped with bacon and fresh parsley next to a bowl of shredded cheddar cheese.
Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
Total Time: 22 minutes
Creamy, fast, and easy, this Instant Pot Mac and Cheese is one of the best Instant Pot weeknight dinners, and it’s 100% kid and grown-up approved!
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18
Close up picture of Instant Pot Thai edamame salad made with cucumber, cilantro, peanuts, lime, cabbage, edamame, and quinoa served in a white bowl.
Thai Quinoa Salad
Total Time: 31 minutes
This Instant Pot Thai Edamame Salad is made with hearty quinoa, fresh veggies like cucumbers, carrots, and cabbage, plus a savory soy-based dressing.
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19
Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker Spicy Chicken Soup
Pressure Cooker Spicy Chicken Soup
Total Time: 43 minutes
If you like a bit of heat, try this gently spiced soup that's full of tender shredded chicken, beans, and vegetables.
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20
A 45 degree shot of Instant Pot Frozen Ground Beef Chili topped with shredded cheese and cilantro
Frozen Ground Beef Chili
Total Time: 55 minutes
This is the easiest Instant Pot Ground Beef Chili, made using frozen ground beef, beef broth, dried spices, and canned tomatoes for a weeknight meal you'll love!
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21
An overhead shot of Instant Pot Italian wedding soup in a white bowl, with fresh bread and grated parmesan cheese in the background.
Italian Wedding Soup
Total Time: 19 minutes
This 5-Ingredient Wedding Soup is made with frozen meatballs for a super fast and easy dump-and-go weeknight dinner.
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22
Instant Pot chicken tomatillo soup, topped with greens, sliced avocado, lime wedge, and sliced radish.
Chicken Tomatillo Soup with Hominy
Total Time: 45 minutes
Instant Pot Chicken Tomatillo Soup with Hominy is made with salsa verde and tomatillos for a slightly spicy, brothy and delicious dinner that takes less than 40 minutes and one pot.
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23
An overhead shot of a wooden bowl filled with creamy pumpkin broth with tomatoes, black beans, and ground pork in the middle, with chopped cilantro as garnish. On a black plate with a soft yellow napkin and additional cilantro garnish in the lower right corner.
Creamy Pumpkin Soup with Black Beans
Pumpkin adds natural creaminess and sweetness to this fully-loaded black bean soup. You break up the meat in the pot after the pressure is released.
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24
bowl of instant pot white chicken chili with avocado, chips and shredded cheese on top
Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
Total Time: 26 minutes
Instant Pot White Chicken Chili with tender, juicy chicken in a spicy green chili sauce is one of the best pressure cooking soup recipes—great any time of year!
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25
Close up shot of two bowls of Instant Pot chicken enchilada soup, one topped with cheese, sour cream, avocado, and chips, and the other without any toppings.
Instant Pot Quick & Easy Chicken Enchilada Soup
Total Time: 25 minutes
This quick and easy Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada Soup is a delicious dump-everything, one-pot recipe that’s ready in under 30 minutes.
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26
bowl of pot roast from an instant pot with parsley on top
Three-Ingredient Pot Roast
Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
This is the easiest, most savory Instant Pot pot roast recipe around. And the best part is that you start with frozen meat! (Note that this one has a longer cook time since it cooks from frozen. But it's relatively hands-off.)
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27
An overhead shot of a round gray plate on a gray textured background. The plate is filled with three yellow corn tortillas loaded up with carne asada taco filling, garnished with white cheese, red diced tomatoes, sprigs of cilantro, and a lime wedge.
Homemade Carne Asada
Total Time: 47 minutes
Make carne asada in your Instant Pot with this easy recipe with just 5 ingredients.
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28
Quick sloppy joes made with frozen beef, served on a bun with salad and potato chips.
Easy Sloppy Joes
Total Time: 22 minutes
This Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe has a mustard-spiked sauce and are made with chicken gumbo soup for a quick weeknight recipe.
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29
Instant Pot tacos in hard shells on a white plate with tomatoes, onions, cheese, and lettuce, next to bowls with guacamole and tomatoes.
Instant Pot Ground Beef Tacos
Total Time: 20 minutes
These easy Instant Pot Ground Beef Tacos can use fresh or frozen ground beef for this foolproof recipe. (Note that this one requires a few minutes after pressure cooking to thicken the cooking liquid into a sauce.)
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30
Instant Pot Pulled Pork sandwich, with cabbage, celery, and potato chips
Easy Pressure Cooker Pulled Pork
Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
If you have BBQ sauce and pork shoulder, you can make this awesome Easy Pressure Cooker Pulled Pork! Fall-apart tender pork is served on a bun with a smoky-sweet barbecue sauce.
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31
Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker Root Beer Pulled Pork sandwiches plated and ready to serve
Root Beer Pulled Pork Sandwiches in the Pressure Cooker
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
This Instant Pot Beer Pulled Pork Sandwiches recipe makes a big batch of tender pulled pork in a sweet root beer–barbecue sauce.
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32
meatball sub made in a pressure cooker in a white baking dish
Instant Pot Meatball Sandwiches
Total Time: 6 minutes
These quick and easy Instant Pot Meatball Sandwiches are made with frozen meatballs and homemade marinara, served on toasted sub rolls with melted cheese.
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33
Close up picture of a bowl of Instant Pot sausage and peppers diced and ready to eat.
Teri’s Pressure Cooker Sausage and Peppers
Total Time: 40 minutes
This Instant Pot Sausage and Peppers recipe comes together in about 45 minutes and is packed with flavor from tomato sauce and bell peppers.
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34
Pressure Cooker (Instant Pot) Sweet BBQ Meatballs
Instant Pot Grape Jelly BBQ Meatballs
Total Time: 25 minutes
These easy-to-make Instant Pot Sweet BBQ Meatballs are a popular, classic party appetizer made with grape jelly, BBQ sauce, and a 5 minute cook time!
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35
Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker Pork Stroganoff, dished up over egg noodles
Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker Pork Stroganoff
Total Time: 35 minutes
Pork makes a great protein in stroganoff, coated n a creamy and super savory mushroom gravy.
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36
Instant Pot Boneless Pork Chop recipe, quick and easy with Onion Soup mix
Shortcut Pressure Cooker (Instant Pot) Boneless Pork Chops
Total Time: 45 minutes
These boneless pork chops are cooked until they're fork-tender in an easy tomato-mushroom gravy—made pressure-cooker quick using onion soup mix, mushrooms, and tomato paste.
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37
Instant Pot pork carnitas with diced tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro, with fresh limes and more cilantro in the background.
Pork Carnitas in the Pressure Cooker
Total Time: 1 hour
This makes a great burrito, taco, or enchilada filling. The pork is crisp on the edges and soft and tender in the center.
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38
close up on a white bowl with four pork chops in mushroom gravy with steamed broccoli in the background
Pork Chops in Mushroom Gravy
Total Time: 48 minutes
Instant Pot Pork Chops in creamy mushroom gravy are juicy, tender, and perfect with mashed potatoes for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
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39
Pressure Cooker (Instant Pot) White Rice
Instant Pot White Rice
Total Time: 18 minutes
It doesn’t get much easier than perfectly cooked Pressure Cooker White Rice that’s ready and fluffy in less than 20 minutes.
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40
mason jar of Pressure Cooker (Instant Pot) Berry Compote
Instant Pot Berry Compote
Total Time: 23 minutes
Fresh, juicy strawberries and blueberries cook up quick in this Instant Pot Berry Compote. You're just a few minutes away from taking your favorite desserts and breakfasts to a new level.
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41
pressure cooker steel cut oats with fresh blueberries in a white cereal bowl with a teal checkered napkin
Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
Total Time: 28 minutes
Creamy Instant Pot steel cut oats are an easy breakfast. We like to saute them in butter, but you can skip this step with little change to the finished flavor.
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42
Pumpkin-Steel-Cut-Oats in two bowls
Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker Pumpkin Spice Steel Cut Oats
Adding pumpkin to your morning meal is a great way to add nutrients and that signature fall flavor.
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43
A bowl of Instant Pot lemon cranberry farrow with a splash of milk.
Pressure Cooker Lemon Cranberry Breakfast Farro
Farro is great for breakfast too. It's full of whole grain health benefits, and in this recipe, it gets sweetened up with dried cranberries and fresh lemon.
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44
Pressure Cooker (Instant Pot) Cinnamon Roll Steel Cut Oats in a white bowl
Pressure Cooker Cinnamon Roll Steel Cut Oats
This healthier version of a cinnamon roll has all of the flavor you're looking for without the sugar crash.
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45
Instant Pot breakfast quinoa topped with fresh raspberries, blueberries, sliced almonds, and cinnamon.
Quinoa Breakfast Porridge | Instant Pot recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes
This Instant Pot Breakfast Quinoa is a creamy, hearty, and satisfying one-pot breakfast recipe for a crowd made with maple syrup and vanilla. 
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46
a mug filled with Pressure Cooker (Instant Pot) Vanilla Latte Steel Cut Oats
Pressure Cooker Vanilla Latte Steel Cut Oats
Drink your latte and eat it too! This oatmeal recipe is gently sweetened and flavored with plenty of vanilla goodness.
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47
Pressure Cooker (Instant Pot) Almond Joy Steel Cut Oats in a white bowl with a spoon
Pressure Cooker Almond Joy Steel Cut Oats
If you love the classic candy bar, this breakfast recipe is about to become your new go-to.
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48
Pressure Cooker (Instant Pot) Lemon Blueberry Steel Cut Oats in a white bowl
Pressure Cooker Lemon Blueberry Steel Cut Oats
This one-pot oatmeal recipe is topped with fresh berries and a touch of lemon for brightness.
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49
Close up picture of pressure cooker carrot cake still cut oats topped with pecans, raisins, shredded carrots, and slivered almonds.
Pressure Cooker Carrot Cake Oatmeal
Total Time: 40 minutes
This creamy oatmeal is delicious on a chilly morning and tastes just like dessert, but is packed with fiber and protein.
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50
Close up shot of an Instant Pot oatmeal for one in a white bowl topped with granola, blueberries, and bananas.
Oatmeal for One | Instant Pot recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes
This is the easiest breakfast of Instant Pot Oatmeal for One with old-fashioned oats and your favorite toppings. Best of all, you cook it pot-in-pot in the bowl you'll eat it in.
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