Use your Instant Pot to make these delicious budget-friendly recipes. They’ll leave you (and your wallet) full!
Budget-Friendly Instant Pot Recipes
When it comes to dinner time, the Instant Pot is a budget-conscious cook’s best friend. This versatile appliance has the power to transform humble and inexpensive ingredients into hearty and flavourful meals that will leave you satisfied without denting your wallet.
From savoury soups and chilis to quick and easy one-pot pasta dishes, the Instant Pot offers a treasure trove of cheap dinner options. With minimal effort and maximum taste, you can whip up a variety of delicious meals that will keep both your taste buds and your bank account happy. Get ready to indulge in a world of affordable dinner possibilities with these wallet-friendly Instant Pot recipes.
Looking for some more ideas? Check out these 5-Ingredient Instant Pot recipes!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Instant Pot save you money?
Pressure cooking helps save you money because it’s a faster and easier way to cook. The more likely you are to cook a homemade meal, the less likely you are to spend money on takeout or dinners out!
Does it use a lot of electricity?
According to Tech Radar, an Instant Pot is a fairly energy-efficient appliance compared to a traditional oven or slow cooker, but ultimately it’s probably not going to make that big of a difference.
What cheap proteins can you make in it?
Cutting down on your budget doesn’t have to mean cutting down on flavor! If you’re looking for wallet-friendly protein options you can make in your Instant Pot, try making lentils, chickpeas, black beans and quinoa.
Pasta Recipes
Making a big batch of pasta is an easy and cheap way to feed a crowd. Try these Instant Pot pasta recipes – a lot of them use ground beef as opposed to more expensive cuts of meat like chicken breast, and they’re full of flavor thanks to aromatics like onions, garlic and peppers.
Easy Instant Pot Bolognese {30 Minutes}
30 minutes
This Easy Instant Pot Bolognese comes together in about 30 minutes – it’s a delicious, freezer-friendly sauce that pairs perfectly with pasta!
Make this recipe
Calories: 434kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 501mg | Potassium: 818mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 2109IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 4mg
Instant Pot Taco Pasta {One Pot!}
25 minutes
This Instant Pot Taco Pasta is a delicious and cheesy pasta recipe that's perfect for busy weeknights with all your favourite taco flavours.
Make this recipe
Calories: 330kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 752mg | Potassium: 383mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1650IU | Vitamin C: 113mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 2.7mg
Instant Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
This Instant Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce is a classic pasta dish. The noodles cook alongside the Bolognese sauce for an easy weeknight meal!
Make this recipe
Calories: 424kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 565mg | Potassium: 567mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1760IU | Vitamin C: 2.4mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 3mg
Cheesiest Instant Pot Hamburger Helper
30 minutes
This is the Cheesiest Instant Pot Hamburger Helper recipe! All you need is pasta, ground beef, diced tomatoes, cheese and veggies.
Calories: 503kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 481mg | Potassium: 598mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 322IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 182mg | Iron: 3mg
The Best Instant Pot Meatballs
30 minutes
These are the Best Instant Pot Meatballs. They’re cooked for 3 minutes in tomato sauce and covered in parmesan cheese – no sautéing required!
Make this recipe
Calories: 165kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 229mg | Potassium: 333mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 70IU | Vitamin C: 1.7mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 2.5mg
The Creamiest Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
25 minutes
This is the Creamiest Instant Pot Mac and Cheese on the internet! It’s loaded with three kinds of cheese and a few secret ingredients.
Make this recipe
Calories: 620kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 1022mg | Potassium: 357mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 815IU | Vitamin C: 9.6mg | Calcium: 493mg | Iron: 1.7mg
Rice Bowls & Curries
Rice is another cheap ingredient that you can make a variety of dishes with! Try these bowls and curries that are easily made in the pressure cooker. All these recipes are vegetarian, but if you’re looking for a non-vegetarian option, you can try my Instant Pot chicken curry.
The Best Instant Pot Spanish Rice
30 minutes
This is the Best Instant Pot Spanish Rice – it’s super flavourful and comes together in one pot with pantry staples and frozen vegetables.
Make this recipe
Calories: 243kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 191mg | Potassium: 279mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 3676IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 2mg
Easy Instant Pot Chana Masala {Chickpea Curry}
30 minutes
This Easy Instant Pot Chana Masala is a delicious and hearty vegetarian dish. It’s a tomato-based Indian chickpea curry with lots of spice!
Make this recipe
Calories: 311kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 586mg | Potassium: 471mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2010IU | Vitamin C: 10.4mg | Calcium: 85mg | Iron: 3.9mg
Instant Pot Dal {Curried Lentil Stew}
30 minutes
This Instant Pot Dal is a hearty Indian-inspired curried lentil stew that's bursting with flavour and delicious spices – plus, it's vegan!
Make this recipe
Calories: 500kcal | Carbohydrates: 94g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 605mg | Potassium: 887mg | Fiber: 21g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 2421IU | Vitamin C: 60mg | Calcium: 85mg | Iron: 6mg
Instant Pot Chickpea Curry {Vegan}
25 minutes
This Instant Pot Chickpea Curry with coconut milk is a healthy one-pot vegan meal made using pantry staples – it’s great for meal prep!
Make this recipe
Calories: 587kcal | Carbohydrates: 78g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 581mg | Potassium: 862mg | Fiber: 14g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 11200IU | Vitamin C: 146mg | Calcium: 200mg | Iron: 8.3mg
Soups
The Instant Pot is excellent for making soups! Use affordable pantry staples like canned tomatoes and beans to make these yummy soups. You can enjoy them on their own or serve them with side dishes like a healthy salad, fresh bread or tortilla chips for the taco soup.
The Best Instant Pot Lentil Soup {Vegetarian}
40 minutes
This is the Best Instant Pot Lentil Soup on the web! It's a hearty vegetarian dish with a flavourful coconut curry broth and red lentils.
Make this recipe
Calories: 204kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 557mg | Potassium: 609mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2790IU | Vitamin C: 5.8mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 4.3mg
Instant Pot Cabbage Soup
30 minutes
This Instant Pot Cabbage Soup is full of veggies and antioxidants, making it a nutrient-rich meal that is perfect for a healthy diet!
Make this recipe
Calories: 185kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1061mg | Potassium: 872mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 7277IU | Vitamin C: 83mg | Calcium: 153mg | Iron: 3mg
Easiest Instant Pot Black Bean Soup
30 minutes
This is the Easiest Instant Pot Black Bean Soup. The smoky and spicy soup is packed with flavour and so comforting for cozy nights in.
Make this recipe
Calories: 438kcal | Carbohydrates: 78g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 981mg | Potassium: 1108mg | Fiber: 26g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1177IU | Vitamin C: 30mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 6mg
Instant Pot Loaded Baked Potato Soup
35 minutes
This Instant Pot Loaded Baked Potato Soup is a comforting one-pot dinner idea with all the delicious flavours of a fully-loaded baked potato.
Make this recipe
Calories: 470kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 826mg | Potassium: 848mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 850IU | Vitamin C: 42.1mg | Calcium: 300mg | Iron: 2.2mg
Instant Pot Carrot Ginger Soup {Vegan}
30 minutes
This Instant Pot Carrot Ginger Soup is a quick and easy vegan soup recipe made with creamy coconut milk that's super nutritious!
Make this recipe
Calories: 244kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 164mg | Potassium: 471mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 13700IU | Vitamin C: 9.9mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1.4mg
Instant Pot Vegetable Bean Soup
35 minutes
This Instant Pot Vegetable Bean Soup is a delicious soup that comes together in one pot – it’s much healthier than store-bought canned soup!Â
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Instant Pot Taco Soup (Vegetarian + Gluten Free!) via The Girl on Bloor
This Instant Pot Taco Soup is a delicious vegetarian, gluten-free version that is filled with fibre and protein – make it for a busy weeknight dinner or enjoy it as your weekly meal prep!
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Instant Pot Minestrone Soup {Super Easy} via The Girl on Bloor
This Super Easy Instant Pot Minestrone Soup is a quick and easy spin on the classic tomato-based soup that comes together in less than 20 minutes in the pressure cooker!
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More Cheap Instant Pot Recipes
Looking for more cheap and easy Instant Pot meals? Use your pressure cooker to make everything ranging from chilis to cabbage rolls!
The Ultimate Instant Pot Chili
30 minutes
This is the Ultimate Instant Pot Chili! Made with ground beef, lots of beans, green chilies and spices, it’s ready in just 30 minutes.
Make this recipe
Calories: 417kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 566mg | Potassium: 1602mg | Fiber: 19g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1008IU | Vitamin C: 32mg | Calcium: 148mg | Iron: 9mg
Instant Pot Cabbage Rolls
1 hour
These Instant Pot Cabbage Rolls are the real deal! Cook the whole head of cabbage first, then peel the leaves, stuff and cook a second time.Â
Make this recipe
Calories: 331kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 362mg | Potassium: 911mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 530IU | Vitamin C: 86mg | Calcium: 129mg | Iron: 4mg
Instant Pot Black Beans {No Soak + Bowl Idea}
1 hour 10 minutes
These Instant Pot Black Beans are SO easy and there's no soaking required! Read on for my bonus Tex Mex Black Bean Burrito Bowls recipe.
Make this recipe
Calories: 465kcal | Carbohydrates: 74g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 35mg | Potassium: 1518mg | Fiber: 17g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 214IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 135mg | Iron: 5mg
Instant Pot Pinto Beans {No Soak + Ways to Use Them}
55 minutes
Making pinto beans in the Instant Pot is so easy! Learn how to make them (no soaking required) and healthy meal ideas.
Make this recipe
Calories: 235kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 1285mg | Potassium: 720mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 975IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 3mg
Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes {Fully Loaded}
30 minutes
These Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes turn out perfectly every time! Follow these easy steps then load them up with toppings for a quick meal.Â
Make this recipe
Calories: 316kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 650mg | Potassium: 696mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 19000IU | Vitamin C: 8.5mg | Calcium: 192mg | Iron: 2mg
Instant Pot Egg Roll in a Bowl {Low-Carb} via The Girl on Bloor
This Low Carb Instant Pot Egg Roll in a Bowl with ground chicken and coleslaw mix is a delicious Chinese takeout-inspired dinner idea that comes together in less than 30-minutes!
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