Cheap Instant Pot Recipes

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These healthy, cheap Instant Pot recipes are so easy to make for dinner on a busy night. Each of these frugal meals costs less than $2 per serving. 

These cheap Instant Pot recipes are perfect for a busy night.

You may have noticed that I’m a bit obsessed with my Instant Pot.

I was skeptical at first, and I avoided buying one in the early days because I thought it was just another bulky kitchen gadget that I didn’t need. But eventually, a Cyber Monday deal caught me in a weak moment, and I ordered one.

A few years later, I can say that the Instant Pot is one of my most often used kitchen items. I use it several times a week, and I love how simple and quick it is to make things in it. From homemade ricotta and cranberry sauce to potato salad, banana bread, and yogurt, the recipes you can make in the Instant Pot are endless.

Healthy Instant Pot dinner recipes via Real Food Real Deals

The Instant Pot is a programmable pressure cooker that also serves as a rice cooker, yogurt maker, slow cooker, saute pan, steamer, and warming pot. I love that I can use it to saute onions or brown beef right in the pot. No extra pans to clean up!

And while pressure cooker cook times are usually much faster than traditional cooking methods, it does take some additional time for the pot to come to pressure. Even still, it makes cooking many types of recipes much easier than their oven methods.

Cheap Instant Pot Dinner Recipes

Although I can make many types of dishes in my Instant Pot, I find this appliance to be most valuable at dinnertime. This is the time of day when I run out of energy, and I don’t always have the time to put together a proper meal in the early evening. The Instant Pot rescues me on those days.

There are so many healthy dinner recipes that you can make in the Instant Pot that only require about 10 or 15 minutes of hands-on time. That, I can handle. And because the ingredient lists are simple, these recipes are also very affordable.

I’ve gathered some of my favorite healthy, cheap Instant Pot recipes that each cost less than $2 per serving. Spend a few minutes prepping these pressure cooker meals in the early evening, then let the Instant Pot do its magic.

Vegetarian Instant Pot Meals

Vegetarian recipes tend to be the most affordable since they avoid the extra price tag that comes with meat. Once you get the hang of it, the Instant Pot will yield the perfect texture in vegetables every time.

Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
This Instant Pot butternut squash soup is a quick, easy recipe for fall. This is so much easier than roasting butternut squash in a sheet pan since the Instant Pot does all the work for you.
$.89 per one-cup serving
Click here for the recipe
This Instant Pot butternut squash soup is a quick, easy recipe for fall. It’ll make the perfect healthy addition to your holiday table.
Instant Pot Vegetable Soup
This Instant Pot Vegetable Soup is an easy, healthy recipe full of carrots, celery, onions, broccoli, cabbage, garlic, and tomatoes. It's perfect for a light lunch or dinner.
$.86 per serving
Click here for the recipe
Instant Pot vegetable soup in a bowl
Instant Pot Ginger Carrot Soup
This Instant Pot Ginger Carrot Soup is the perfect light dinner.
$.68 per serving
Click here for the recipe
Instant Pot ginger carrot soup ingredients in a bowl
Instant Pot Pinto Beans and Rice
This Instant Pot pinto beans and rice recipe is such an easy one to make for a quick meal. Top with avocados, fresh herbs, sour cream, and an extra sprinkle of cumin and chili powder for a delicious meal.
$.80 per serving
Click here for the recipe

Meat Instant Pot Dinners

Meat cooks so well in a pressure cooker. You can brown beef right in the pot, and chicken breasts cook quickly to the perfect tender texture. Pork tenderloin takes just a few minutes to cook in the Instant Pot. Add a few of these cheap Instant Pot meat dinners to your next meal plan.

Instant Pot Beef Stew
This Instant Pot Beef Stew is a delicious, healthy dinner recipe. Pure comfort food! ($1.61 per serving)
Click here for the recipe
Instant Pot Chicken Stew
This Instant Pot Chicken Stew is comfort food at its best.
$1.62 per serving
Click here for the recipe
Instant Pot chicken stew is the best winter meal.
Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin
This Instant Pot pork tenderloin is such an easy dinner for a busy night. It comes out perfectly every time.
$1.80 per serving
Click here for the recipe
Instant Pot pork tenderloin on a plate
Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
This Instant Pot chicken tortilla soup is such a flavorful one-pot dinner. It's an easy, healthy pressure cooker dinner recipe for a busy night.
$1.69 per serving
Click here for the recipe
Instant Pot chicken tortilla soup in a bowl
Instant Pot Sloppy Joes
This Instant Pot Sloppy Joes recipe is such an easy dinner!
$1.23 per serving
Click here for the recipe
Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
This Instant Pot mac and cheese is loaded with so much flavor! It tastes like classic macaroni and cheese, but it's much easier to make.
$.57 per one cup serving
Click here for the recipe
Instant Pot mac and cheese in a bowl
Instant Pot Beef Chili
This 10 minute Instant Pot beef chili is such an easy, healthy dinner recipe.
$1.55 per serving
Click here for the recipe
Instant Pot beef chili, comfort food in a bowl!

What are your favorite cheap Instant Pot recipes for dinner? Please share in the comments.

Note: This post was originally published in 2018, and it was updated in 2019.

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