
Are you ready to try these mix and match Instapot recipes?
Are you in a dinner rut? Do you need some help to rethink what’s on the menu?
Is your pressure cooker gathering dust in a corner while you surrender and order pizza?
Try these easy mix and match Instapot recipes for a fresh take on dinner. Choose one from each category and you’ll be on your way to dinner. Feeding a crowd or just have more than one pressure cooker to put to use? Feel free to make more than one combo and let your guests decide what to eat.
Choose a Protein:
Depending on your mood, and your family’s preferences, all of these are great choices for pressure cooking. They tend to take a longer time to cook with conventional cooking methods, and they are hard to overcook.
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- English-cut short ribs
- Pork shoulder
Add Some Flavor:
Use your favorite packaged seasoning, or make your own. Either way, you’ll add depth of flavor to your meal.
- Seasoned Salt, such as Omnivore Salt
- Taco seasoning
- Five Spice Blend
Layer in the Instapot with a Sauce:
- Homemade barbecue sauce
- Homemade teriyaki sauce
- Homemade salsa – roast tomatoes, onions, and anaheim and/or jalapeno peppers until charred. Place in food processor with ½ a bunch of cilantro, the juice of one lime, and a teaspoon of salt. Process to desired consistency.
Pressure cook, according to manufacturer’s instructions, approximately 20-45 minutes, depending on the size of the protein, and of your pressure cooker.

Serve with a side of your choice:
- Hawaiian rolls
- Homemade tortillas
- Haiga style rice – Never cooked haiga style rice before? It’s foolproof in your instapot. Measure 2 (US standard) cups of rice and add 1 ½ cups water. Gently swirl the rice to polish and then drain and rinse until water is clear. Place the drained rice in the bottom of your instapot and cover with 2 ⅓ cups water. Level the rice, and seal the instapot; pressure cook for 4 minutes and allow for 10 minutes natural release, before a manual release.
And Finish with a Side of Slaw:
- Napa cabbage slaw
- Cilantro lime
- Classic coleslaw – dress shredded cabbage and carrots with a dressing of: ½ cup mayonnaise, 1 T sugar, 1 T apple cider vinegar, ½ t celery seed, ½ t ground mustard and salt and pepper to taste.

Mix and Match Instapot Recipes
Equipment
- Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
Base Recipe:
- ¼ lb protein per serving (approximately)
- 1 tsp seasoning per serving (or to taste)
- ½ cup sauce per serving (or to taste)
Instructions
- Season protein with seasoning, and layer with sauce in instapot. Pressure cook, according to manufacturer’s instructions, approximately 20-45 minutes, depending on the size of the protein, and of your pressure cooker. Serve with side and slaw of your choice.
Proteins:
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs, English-cut short ribs, Pork shoulder
Seasonings:
- Seasoned Salt, such as Omnivore Salt, Taco seasoning, Five Spice Blend
Sauces:
- Homemade barbecue sauce , Homemade teriyaki sauce , Homemade salsa:
- roast tomatoes, onions, and anaheim and/or jalapeno peppers until charred. Place in food processor with ½ a bunch of cilantro, the juice of one lime, and a teaspoon of salt. Process to desired consistency.
Sides:
- Hawaiian rolls, Homemade tortillas, Haiga style rice:
- Never cooked haiga style rice before? It’s foolproof in your instapot. Measure 2 (US standard) cups of rice and add 1 ½ cups water. Gently swirl the rice to polish and then drain and rinse until water is clear. Place the drained rice in the bottom of your instapot and cover with 2 ⅓ cups water. Level the rice, and seal the instapot; pressure cook for 4 minutes and allow for 10 minutes natural release, before a manual release.
Slaws:
- Napa cabbage slaw, Cilantro lime, Classic coleslaw:
- dress shredded cabbage and carrots with a dressing of: ½ cup mayonnaise, 1 T sugar, 1 T apple cider vinegar, ½ t celery seed, ½ t ground mustard and salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
Short Ribs + Five Spice + Teriyaki + Tortillas + Cilantro Lime Slaw
Chicken Thighs + Seasoned Salt + Barbecue Sauce + Hawaiian Rolls + Napa Cabbage Slaw
Pork Shoulder + Taco Seasoning + Salsa + Rice + Classic Coleslaw
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The Taco Bar with 2 Types of Homemade Tortillas: Easy Entertaining