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When life becomes hectic, making time and energy for cooking can seem tricky. However, the Instant Pot has turned into an essential appliance in many kitchens, converting the lengthy meal preparation into a speedy and straightforward routine.


Imagine if you could simplify your cooking process even further? Picture yourself cooking mouthwatering meals using just five ingredients. Yes, just five! These recipes are crafted to offer both convenience and satisfaction, a perfect match for those aiming to savor the comfort of home-cooked meals without toiling for hours in the kitchen.
If you’re balancing work and family life, or simply aim to reduce the time you spend preparing dinner, these 5 Ingredient Instant Pot recipes are the perfect answer.
With only a little preparation and a few essential pantry items, you can whip up tasty meals that will appeal to everyone.
These recipes, ranging from soothing soups to filling main dishes, demonstrate that a lengthy list of ingredients is not necessary to achieve truly mouthwatering flavors.
5 Ingredient Instant Pot Recipes
17. Pulled BBQ Chicken from Aunt Bee’s Recipes
These chicken wings are cooked quickly in an Instant Pot to achieve tender, juicy meat that falls off the bone. After pressure cooking, the wings are tossed in flavorful sauces like Buffalo or BBQ and then broiled in the oven to develop a crispy, caramelized exterior.
The recipe includes simple steps like trimming excess skin and seasoning the wings before cooking to enhance flavor and texture. It works well with frozen wings and offers a convenient way to prepare a crowd-pleasing appetizer or meal in just over 30 minutes.
16. Easy Chicken Wings from Good Dinner Mom
These Instant Pot chicken wings are cooked quickly under pressure to achieve tender, juicy meat that nearly falls off the bone. After pressure cooking, the wings are broiled in the oven with sauce to develop a crispy, flavorful exterior.
The recipe includes seasoning the wings with a Cajun spice mix and trimming excess skin for better texture and taste. Sauce options include classic Buffalo or BBQ blends, which are applied before and after broiling for maximum flavor.
15. Shredded Chicken from Wholesome Yum
This item demonstrates how to cook chicken breast quickly and easily using an Instant Pot, whether fresh or frozen. It provides a time chart to ensure perfectly cooked chicken every time, allowing you to enjoy juicy, flavorful meat that can be served whole or shredded.
The method saves time compared to traditional slow cooking while maintaining great texture and taste. It’s ideal for meal prep or quick dinners, making it simple to incorporate healthy protein into a variety of dishes.
14. Shredded BBQ Cream Cheese Chicken from 365 Days of Slow and Pressure Cooking
This recipe features tender chicken breasts cooked quickly in an Instant Pot or slow cooker, then shredded and combined with cream cheese and BBQ sauce. The result is a creamy, flavorful shredded chicken that can be served in sandwiches, tortillas, on pizza, or over salad greens.
With only three main ingredients and minimal prep time, this dish is simple to make yet rich in taste. It offers a versatile protein option that can be easily customized with different toppings or seasonings to suit your preferences.
13. Chicken and Rice from Budget Bytes
This recipe demonstrates how to prepare a flavorful chicken and rice meal using a pressure cooker. It involves seasoning bone-in, skin-on chicken, cooking it under high pressure, and then broiling the chicken to achieve crispy skin.
After removing the chicken, the remaining broth is strained and used to cook long grain white rice in the pressure cooker. The result is a simple, one-pot dinner that combines tender chicken with perfectly cooked, savory rice.
12. Chicken Thighs from Jennifer Banz
This recipe demonstrates how to make tender, flavorful chicken thighs using an Instant Pot. It involves seasoning bone-in, skinless chicken thighs, browning them in oil, and then pressure cooking them with a small amount of liquid to lock in moisture.
The process ensures the chicken stays juicy without drying out, thanks to the bone-in method and careful cooking times. Using a trivet keeps the chicken elevated above the liquid, preserving its flavor throughout the pressure cooking cycle.
11. Chicken and Stuffing from I Save A to Z
This recipe demonstrates how to prepare a complete chicken and stuffing meal using an Instant Pot, starting with frozen chicken breasts cooked under high pressure. The dish combines chicken broth, cream of chicken soup, cornbread stuffing, and green beans to create a flavorful, one-pot dinner with minimal effort.
The process involves layering ingredients and using the Instant Pot’s pressure and heat settings to cook and meld flavors quickly. Leftovers can be reheated in a waffle iron for a crispy texture, adding versatility to the meal.
10. Melt-In-Your-Mouth Chicken from Recipes That Crock
This recipe creates tender, flavorful chicken cooked quickly in an Instant Pot using simple ingredients like cream of chicken soup, water, garlic salt, and parsley. The chicken is cooked under pressure for just 10 minutes, then naturally released, resulting in a moist, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
The dish is designed to be served over rice, making it a comforting and easy meal option for busy nights. It adapts well to different electric pressure cookers, allowing for fast preparation without sacrificing taste or tenderness.
9. Chicken, Broccoli and Rice from I Don’t Have Time for That
This recipe creates a complete, one-pot meal combining tender chicken, fresh broccoli, and creamy rice cooked together in an Instant Pot. The dish features a cheesy sauce made from broth, milk, and cheddar cheese, resulting in a comforting and flavorful dinner that cooks quickly.
The method involves sautéing chicken and onions, then layering rice and broth without stirring before pressure cooking. After cooking, fresh broccoli and warm milk are stirred in, and the dish rests to finish cooking, producing a hearty meal perfect for busy weeknights or leftovers.
8. Juicy Chicken Breasts from Add a Pinch
This recipe demonstrates how to prepare tender and juicy boneless, skinless chicken breasts using an Instant Pot. It involves browning the chicken first, then pressure cooking it with simple seasonings and a small amount of liquid to lock in moisture and flavor.
The method is straightforward and adaptable, allowing for different spice blends to suit personal tastes. The cooked chicken can be enjoyed immediately or stored for meal prep, making it a versatile option for quick and healthy meals.
7. Hawaiian Chicken from Pink When
This recipe demonstrates how to prepare a flavorful Hawaiian chicken dish using just three main ingredients: chicken breasts, barbecue sauce, and pineapple tidbits. The chicken is cooked quickly in an Instant Pot, making it a convenient option for a fast and tasty weeknight meal.
The cooking process involves layering the chicken with a pineapple-barbecue sauce mixture and pressure cooking it for 13 minutes. The finished dish can be served over rice, mashed potatoes, or a fresh salad, offering versatile meal options.
6. White Chicken Chili from Gimme Some Oven
This white chicken chili recipe combines just five simple ingredients to create a flavorful and comforting meal in about 15 minutes. It uses shredded chicken, beans, salsa verde, chicken stock, and cumin, simmered together to develop a rich, hearty broth.
The soup can be customized with a variety of toppings like avocado, cilantro, cheese, and jalapeños to suit your taste. It also freezes well, making it convenient for meal prep or saving leftovers for later enjoyment.
5. Mississippi Chicken from Simply Happy Foodie
This item features a flavorful Instant Pot recipe for Mississippi Chicken, which uses chicken thighs or breasts cooked with pepperoncinis, au jus, ranch seasoning, and butter.
The dish is designed for quick preparation, taking under an hour to create tender, shredded chicken with a tangy and savory taste.
The recipe also offers a convenient method to cook rice simultaneously using a trivet and a separate pan inside the Instant Pot. The finished chicken can be served over rice, potatoes, or tortillas, with an option to thicken the sauce for added richness.
4. Cream Cheese Chicken Pasta from Six Sisters Stuff
This recipe combines tender chicken breasts with creamy cheese, Italian dressing mix, and chicken broth to create a rich, flavorful pasta dish using an Instant Pot.
The chicken cooks quickly and is shredded before being served over cooked pasta for a comforting, easy meal.
It also offers a freezer meal option by storing the main ingredients separately in a bag for up to 90 days. When ready, the frozen ingredients are cooked directly in the Instant Pot, making it convenient for busy weeknights.
3. Chicken and Gravy from 365 Days of Slow and Pressure Cooking
This recipe demonstrates how to make a comforting chicken and gravy dinner using just three main ingredients in an Instant Pot. The process involves layering chicken thighs with onion soup mix and cream of mushroom soup, then pressure cooking to create a rich, flavorful dish.
The finished meal pairs well with mashed potatoes, rice, noodles, or biscuits for a classic, hearty dinner. It offers a quick and straightforward way to prepare a satisfying home-cooked meal with minimal effort and ingredients.
2. BBQ Chicken Wings from Crunchy Creamy Sweet
These Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Wings are cooked under high pressure to lock in juiciness and flavor, then coated in a sweet and spicy rub. After pressure cooking, the wings are tossed in rich BBQ sauce and finished under a broiler or on a grill to crisp up the skin and caramelize the sauce.
The process saves time and keeps the kitchen cool compared to traditional oven methods. The wings can be trimmed from whole pieces, seasoned, and cooked quickly, making them perfect for gatherings or weeknight meals.
1. Frozen Chicken Breasts from A Bountiful Kitchen
This item demonstrates how to cook frozen chicken quickly and easily using an Instant Pot. It highlights the ideal cooking time and pressure settings to achieve moist, tender chicken without overcooking.
It also explains how to handle larger batches of frozen chicken, making it convenient for meal prep or feeding a crowd. The description includes tips for shredding the cooked chicken efficiently for use in various dishes.