15 Vegetarian Dinners You Can Make in an Instant Pot

updated Mar 30, 2021

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Credit: Yossy Arefi
Instant Pot Lentil Soup

The Instant Pot is awesome at cooking some of our favorite vegetarian staples, from perfectly cooked dried beans to tender, well-seasoned spaghetti squash, and smooth and creamy hummus. And as we’ve learned, it has the potential to make meal prep sessions a little easier, and even save time in the kitchen. But this helpful appliance is hardly just for stocking up on wholesome staples — it’s also what we turn to when we want to get easy meat-free meals on the table.

It’s time to take advantage of your Instant Pot’s ability to fill your meal plan with veggie-packed pastas, creamy soups, loaded potatoes, and more. Here are 15 Instant Pot vegetarian recipes that are easy and satisfying.

All About Your Instant Pot

Instant Pot DUO60, 6 Quart

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Instant Pot Penne Pasta

Instant Pot penne is saucy and creamy, and comes together in under 20 minutes.

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Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup

Butternut squash, sage, and apple join forces in this easy Instant Pot soup that's extra warm and cozy.

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"Baked" Potatoes in the Instant Pot

A simple topping of shredded cheddar, sour cream, and chives turn this humble vegetable into a seriously satisfying dinner. This combination is classic, though there's an endless number of ways to turn a potato into a complete meal.

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Instant Pot Risotto

Yes, risotto without 20 minutes of stirring is more than possible, and it is as easy and delicious as it sounds.

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Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash

Spaghetti squash in the Instant Pot requires zero prep and comes out tender. After the 15 minute cook time, all that's left to do is the strands with marinara and a sprinkle of Parm.

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Creamy Wild Mushroom Instant Pot Pasta

This vegetarian pasta, made rich with herby cream cheese, is the perfect vegetarian dinner for a cold night.

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Instant Pot Sweet Potato Soup

This comforting soup cooks in less than 20 minutes in the Instant Pot, but tastes like it's been simmering away all day on the stovetop.

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Instant Pot Mexican Rice

While this tomato-tinged rice makes an excellent side dish, it's even better as the base for burrito bowls. Top it off with smoky black beans, corn, chopped greens, guac, and salsa to turn it into dinner.

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Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

Instant Pot macaroni and cheese requires just five ingredients (OK, six if you include water) and cooks up perfectly from start to finish in 20 minutes.

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Ethiopian-Style Spinach & Lentil Soup

This simple-looking lentil soup comes together quickly and is packed with warm spices and bright, lemony flavor.

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Instant Pot "Baked" Ziti

This 20-minute pressure cooker pasta tastes just like baked ziti, but it's ready in half the time.

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Instant Pot Tomato Soup

If there’s a carton of heavy cream in the fridge, add a small swirl to give it richness without overwhelming the bright flavor of this soup.

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Instant Pot Macaroni Salad

Thanks to the Instant Pot, this pasta salad is ready in just 15 minutes. As the pasta cooks, you'll use a jar of pickled giardiniera to make a creamy, punchy dressing and easily work in some veggies.

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Instant Pot Lentil Soup

Packed with vegetables and a warm, lightly spiced broth, lentil soup is one of the easiest meals you can make in your Instant Pot.

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The Best Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes

Instant Pot sweet potatoes cook up with irresistibly tender, creamy centers, and pressure cooking them takes half as much time as baking them in the oven. Serve them with a dollop of Greek yogurt or ricotta cheese and suddenly it's a luxurious meal.

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