20 Budget Instant Pot Dinners That Don't Take Forever To Make

    Minimum prep, maximum payoff.

    Melissa Jameson
    by Melissa Jameson

    BuzzFeed Staff

    When it comes to saving time and money on dinner, the Instant Pot is key.

    It's great at taking inexpensive kitchen staples — like grains, beans, noodles, and eggs — and cooking them fast, and in a way that's almost completely hands off.

    Below are some of our favorite under-$10 recipes that put the Instant Pot to use: from budget one-pot pastas, to family-style chilis and soups, to meal prep grain bowls.

    • A pricing note: Costs were calculated via Instacart, so local prices may vary. (We also assumed you had some pantry staples — like salt, olive oil, butter, and spices — already on hand!)

    1. Instant Pot Mac 'n' Cheese

    thegirlonbloor.com

    This version adds broccoli for an extra serving of veggies — and spinach would work too. Estimated cost: $6.90.

    Recipe: Instant Pot Mac 'n' Cheese

    2. 2-Ingredient Coconut Curry Pork

    Joe Lingeman / Via thekitchn.com

    Meat is often the most expensive thing on a grocery list, but if you stick to inexpensive cuts — like pork shoulder or pork butt — you can still fill up on a budget. (And have plenty for leftovers!) Estimated cost: $8.09.

    Recipe: Coconut Curry Pork

    3. Protein-Packed Vegetarian Chili

    realfoodwholelife.com

    High in protein and fiber thanks to the sweet potatoes and black beans. Estimated cost: $6.19.

    Recipe: 5-Ingredient Vegetarian Chili

    4. Meal Prep Instant Pot Veggies & Rice

    eatinginstantly.com

    The recipe calls for zucchini — but we swapped in summer squash since it's in season (and cheaper!) Estimated cost: $7.69.

    Recipe: Meal Prep Instant Pot Veggies & Rice

    5. Korean-Inspired BBQ Beef

    pinchofyum.com

    To stay under $10 here, sub in a more budget-friendly cut of steak — we used flank. Estimated cost: $9.44.

    Recipe: Korean-Inspired BBQ Beef

    6. Vegan Veggie-Packed Pasta

    nutriciously.com

    The best thing about making pasta in the Instant Pot is that there's no waiting for a big pot of water to boil beforehand. Plus, easy one-pot cleanup! Estimated cost: $9.01

    Recipe: Vegan Veggie-Packed Pasta

    7. Loaded Baked Potatoes

    pinchofyum.com

    You can cook a big batch of IP baked potatoes in 12 minutes. Then just load up with your favorite toppings — we went with cheddar and broccoli. (Find even more clever Instant Pot uses here.) Estimated cost: $6.85.

    Recipe: Instant Pot Baked Potatoes

    8. Foil Pack Instant Pot Meatloaf

    jenniferbanz.com

    Meatloaf is wrapped in foil here for easy removal and cleanup — but you could also use a small loaf pan. Estimated cost: $9.95.

    Recipe: Foil Pack Instant Pot Meatloaf

    9. Vegetarian Tikka Masala

    fullofplants.com

    This version swaps out pricier chicken for cauliflower — and still tastes amazing. Estimated cost: $8.89.

    Recipe: Vegetarian Tikka Masala

    10. 5-Ingredient Instant Pot Egg Bake

    kitschencat.com

    Bacon, veggies, and frozen hash browns make this easy egg dish filling enough for dinner. Estimated cost: $8.90.

    Recipe: 5-Ingredient Instant Pot Egg Bake

    11. Instant Pot Spaghetti With Meat Sauce

    Joe Lingeman / Via thekitchn.com

    Since this recipe uses store-bought sauce, the key is picking one you really love. The noodles cook directly in it and absorb a lot of the flavor. (My favorite is Rao's!) Estimated cost: $9.10.

    Full recipe: Instant Pot Spaghetti With Meat Sauce

    12. Instant Pot Chicken & Potato Soup

    cottercrunch.com

    If you want to ring in at under $10, stick to just one type of potatoes (instead of two), and used canned corn instead of fresh. Estimated cost: $10.19.

    Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken & Potato Soup

    13. Instant Pot Fried Rice

    happyfoodstube.com

    Stick with the super budget-friendly base — or add your favorite protein. Estimated cost: $5.49.

    Recipe: Instant Pot Fried Rice

    14. Instant Pot Salsa Shredded Chicken

    skinnytaste.com

    Make a big batch of two-ingredient chicken — then serve it over rice, stuffed into tortillas, or with a side of greens. Estimated cost: $6.51.

    Recipe: Instant Pot Salsa Shredded Chicken

    15. Instant Pot Pinto Beans With Chorizo

    budgetbytes.com

    This recipe ditches the laundry list of spices and instead uses spicy Spanish chorizo to add a ton of flavor. Estimated cost: $7.92.

    Recipe: Instant Pot Pinto Beans With Chorizo

    16. Instant Pot Pasta Soup

    eatwell101.com

    The original version calls for shrimp — but it'll kick you over $10 so we've omitted it here. (If that's not an issue, go for it!) Estimated cost: $7.79.

    Recipe: Instant Pot Pasta Soup

    17. Dump Dinner Tex Mex Quinoa

    recipesfromapantry.com

    Pile any leftovers onto fresh greens and you've got grab-and-go salad bowls for the week ahead. Estimated cost: $7.28.

    Recipe: Tex Mex Quinoa

    18. Instant Pot Mongolian Beef

    whatmollymade.com

    If you can catch steak on sale, almost everything else in this dish — garlic, honey, soy sauce — is either a pantry staple or super budget-friendly. Estimated cost: $10.29.

    Recipe: Instant Pot Mongolian Beef

    19. Instant Pot Lentils With Spinach

    kitchentreaty.com

    Lentils are one of the best budget pantry staples to have on-hand: they're good for you, easy to cook (especially in an IP!), and you can dress them up a million different ways. Estimated cost: $7.02

    Recipe: Instant Pot Lentils With Spinach

    20. Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore

    skinnytaste.com

    Just a few ingredients here: chicken thighs, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and spices — and they all come together perfectly. Estimated cost: $9.90.

    Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore