Skip to main content

5 tasty Instant Pot Indian recipes that will spice up your family dinners

Dinners can get boring pretty quickly. When you have children, you typically rely on those go-to meals your kids already like. Before you know it, Monday is pasta night and Tuesday is always for tacos. Variety is important in diets for children and adults, too. Trying new dishes and changing up the usual dinners the family eats every week helps bring diversity to everyone’s diet.

Indian food is a wonderful and tasty way to spice up the dinnertime menu this spring. Not only is Indian food delicious, but the spices, grains, and vegetables are also healthy for the mind and body. Indian food has been shown to support the body’s immune system and brain function and reduce inflammation.

Related Videos

If you’ve never tried cooking Indian food, don’t be intimidated. There are Indian food recipes that aren’t complicated to make and ones the whole family will enjoy. Cooking Indian dishes in the Instant Pot makes it even easier. We’ve got five Instant Pot Indian recipes that will take the boredom out of mealtime this spring and spice it up, too.

Instant Pot Indian food

The Instant Pot is a great addition to the kitchen because the pressurization cuts down on cooking time. Of course, the Instant Pot must reach the proper pressurization before the cook time actually begins. The warm-up process usually takes about 10 minutes. Using an Instant Pot also allows you to make a complete meal at the same time using one pot instead of several, which cuts down on the clean-up time, too.

Instant Pot on the kitchen counter

Best Instant Pot Indian recipes

If you’re looking for inviting Instant Pot Indian recipes to get started, we’ve got some appetizing ones to start your journey with Indian food.

Instant Pot buttered chicken

A great way to introduce the family to Indian food is with Urvashi Pitre’s Instant Pot buttered chicken recipe. It’s a keto-friendly recipe that’s also versatile. You can change up the protein in this dish or make it vegetarian by swapping out the chicken for tofu or chickpeas. Coconut oil can take the place of butter, too, if you need a dairy-free recipe. The dish combines rice, chicken, and a plethora of flavors. You can make it in 30 minutes!

Instant Pot kheema pulao

Does spicy ground beef and rice sound good? If the family is ready for a bit more heat with their Indian food experiment, try this inviting Instant Pot kheema pulao recipe that’s ideal for those chilly spring days. Prep time is about 15 minutes and cook time is 30. The spice blend is also optional if the family isn’t ready to amp up the spice just yet.

Tasty bowl of tomato and coconut soup

Easy Indian Instant Pot recipes

Busy families on the go don’t often have a lot of time to make complicated meals, especially on weeknights. That’s why go-to meals like tacos and mac and cheese are so popular. There are a lot of super simple Instant Pot Indian recipes that are quick and yummy.

Instant Pot tomato and coconut soup

Soup can make a nice change for dinner, but canned soup is often high in sodium, and making homemade soup takes time. This easy and delicious Instant Pot tomato and coconut soup recipe from Urvashi Pitre will be a hit even if the kiddos aren’t soup fans. The prep time is only 15 minutes, and it cooks in the Instant Pot in 5 minutes. Once you release the pressure from the pot, allow the soup to sit before running it through the blender. The blender makes the soup smooth, but if your family enjoys a chunkier soup, this step is optional.

Instant Pot shrimp curry

Curry is considered a signature ingredient in many dishes, but it isn’t actually a spice. Curry powder is typically a blend of spices like turmeric and cumin. Most Indian dishes like this Instant Pot shrimp curry use curry leaves. You can find curry leaves in Indian or Asian markets. And you can keep them in the freezer to use for other recipes. This shrimp curry recipe is simple to make in the Instant Pot, but it takes a bit more time. It’s a great meal for a weekend or a weeknight when you don’t have to rush out to practice.

Instant Pot green moong dal

A great Meatless Monday dish is this Instant Pot green moong dal recipe. It’s a lentil curry soup that’s high in protein and a simple dish to whip up in an Instant Pot. The recipe from Allrecipes cooks in around 25 minutes. Prep is easy, too, and takes around 10 minutes. This is a hearty stand-alone meal that’s ideal for chilly spring evenings.

Other Instant Pot Indian recipes

If you’re looking for more Indian Instant Pot recipes to jazz up your menu. Try these.

With kids, it can be really hard to try and vary the dinnertime menu. Children love the go-to dishes they know they like. Change is a good thing, though. Making the same meals every week does get boring. It’s fun to spice things up by trying new meals that may ultimately become favorites. Indian food is an exciting addition to the meal rotation. It’s not complicated to make either, especially with an Instant Pot. With these simple Instant Pot Indian recipes to try, you’re bound to find dishes the whole family will enjoy.

Editors' Recommendations

8 healthy Instant Pot recipes that will please every family member
Need to make mealtime simpler? Meet the Instant Pot
Minestrone soup made in Instant Pot

Cooking for the family isn't easy, especially with those busy schedules. Making meals everyone will eat is even more difficult. Of course, appliances do go beyond the traditional stovetop and oven. They are slow cookers, crockpots, fryers, and more that cut cooking time, but have you met the Instant Pot? If not, then read on. The Instant Pot is one appliance you'll want to add to your cooking arsenal.

What exactly is an Instant Pot and will using one make meal-making easier and quicker? An Instant Pot is a versatile pressure cooker that can do exactly what appliances like a crockpot can do in less time. Just how flexible is an Instant Pot? Well, you can use it to steam, saute, boil eggs, make yogurt, cook rice, and more. That's pretty versatile.

Read more
9 healthy air fryer recipes that will replace fast food and takeout
Forget expensive and unhealthy takeout - try tasty air fryer cooking
Mom making dinner using an air fryer

Busy afternoons following work and school often result in fast food or takeout for dinner. It's quick and convenient when the family is rushing around with activities and playdates, but it's not healthy. Of course, the kids love the takeout, especially when it's pizza night. Parents, however, understand the lack of nutritional value in fast food, not to mention the toll eating out takes on the family budget. Instead of opting for takeout on those busy nights, save eating out for special occasions and embrace air fryer cooking.

Making family favorites like fries, chicken tenders, hot dogs, and more in an air fryer are healthier than conventional frying in a pan or deep fryer. Even better is the plethora of healthy air fryer recipes that will make the kids forget about their favorite fast-food and takeout stops. If you haven't tried air fryer cooking, now is the time. So, what is an air fryer and why is it healthier? Let's find out.

Read more
6 healthy sheet-pan dinners that make cleanup a breeze
Learn to love your oven with sheet-pan cooking
Delicious sheet-pan dinner for busy families

Making home-cooked dinners is a lot healthier for the family and certainly budget-friendly, but it can be hard for busy parents to find the time. Dinner preparations and cleanup can be difficult when you're running off to practices and other after-school activities. Who wants to clean a sink full of dishes and pans after soccer and hockey practice? Lack of time is often why many on-the-go families opt for the convenience of takeout on those crazy weeknights.

Ultimately, home-cooked dinners are best for the family because they are healthier. However, not everyone wants to invest in an Instant Pot or a slow cooker to help get evening meals on the table quicker. There are other dinner options that don't take a lot of time or effort.

Read more