Winter brings so many exciting changes – from the crisp, cold air to cozying up by the fireplace. But one of the best parts of winter is the food! There’s nothing better than warming up with a hearty, home-cooked meal on a chilly day.
However, when it’s cold and dark outside, it can be hard to motivate yourself to cook. This is where the instant pot comes in! The instant pot is a game changer for easy winter meals. It cooks food quickly with minimal effort on your part.
Below, we have shared some of the best instant pot recipes that are perfect for winter. These dishes come together easily and will warm you up on the coldest days.
Pot Roast
Tender, fall-apart pot roast is a special treat during winter. Though traditional recipes call for hours of cooking, the instant pot prepares the perfect pot roast in under an hour.
First, brown the roast all over with onions and garlic. Next, add beef broth, potatoes, carrots and seasonings. Pressure cook for 45-60 minutes, depending on size. The meat comes out incredibly tender and juicy. It’s the ultimate hearty winter meal.
Cincinnati Chili
Cincinnati chili is a classic winter comfort food. This meaty chili gets its signature flavor from all the spices like chili powder, cumin, coriander, cocoa powder, allspice, cinnamon, and cloves.
While traditional Cincinnati chili takes hours to make, this version of instant pot Cincinnati chili cuts the cooking time down significantly.
Simply sauté onions and garlic, then toast the spices, and add ground beef until browned. Mix in soaked kidney beans, water, bay leaf, and crushed tomatoes and let it cook for 20-30 minutes in the instant pot. Once done, add cider vinegar, brown sugar, salt, and pepper.
Top with cheddar cheese, onions, and crackers, and serve over spaghetti for the authentic Cincinnati chili experience.
Beef Stew
Beef stew is a cold-weather staple, but it often takes hours to make. With the instant pot, you can have hearty beef stew on the table in under an hour.
Start by browning cubed beef chuck and onions. Add carrots, potatoes, broth, and seasonings. Pressure cook for just 25-30 minutes. Top with fresh parsley before serving.
The beef stew comes out melt-in-your-mouth tender every time. It’s the ultimate comfort food to warm you up on a winter night.
Chicken Noodle Soup
Nothing cures the winter blues like a hot bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup. Thanks to the instant pot, you can skip the long simmering time but still get classic chicken noodle soup in just 30 minutes.
Start by cooking chicken breasts with chicken broth, carrots, celery, onions, garlic, and seasonings. Then, shred the chicken and add egg noodles at the end; the instant pot perfectly cooks the chicken and vegetables. It also infuses the broth with maximum flavor.
Once done, garnish with fresh parsley before serving. This chicken noodle soup is nourishing comfort food at its best.
Butternut Squash Soup
This velvety butternut squash soup warms you up fast. Start by sautéing onions and garlic, then add cubed butternut squash, chicken or vegetable broth, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Cook in the instant pot for just 10 minutes and blend the soup until smooth and creamy.
For garnish, add roasted pepitas and fresh sage. The instant pot perfectly highlights the natural sweetness of the butternut squash. You get an ultra-creamy soup without all the simmering time.
Mac and Cheese
For the ultimate comfort food, try making mac and cheese in your instant pot. Cook elbow macaroni right in the instant pot. When finished, stir in milk, cheese, chili powder, cumin, and cayenne pepper. The gooey mac and cheese gets a nice kick from the spices.
Top with crispy bacon or pulled chicken for extra protein. It comes together easily, thanks to the instant pot.
Vegetable Soup
Whip up this hearty vegetable soup in just 20 minutes with the instant pot. Simply add chopped carrots, celery, onions, potatoes, beans, tomato sauce, broth, and seasonings and pressure cook until the vegetables are tender. Finish by stirring in spinach or kale.
The instant pot draws out the flavors of all the vegetables. You get a nourishing soup packed with veggies without spending hours simmering.
Serve with crusty bread for a satisfying winter lunch or dinner.
Conclusion
Winter is a wonderful time to cook up hearty meals, but no one wants to spend all day in the kitchen. That’s where the instant pot comes in handy! With an instant pot, you can make classic winter dishes like beef stew, chicken noodle soup, and pot roast in a fraction of the traditional cooking time.
All of these recipes come together fast while still being packed with flavor. With an instant pot, you’ll look forward to cooking up warm, nourishing meals all winter long.