The 10 Best Kid-Friendly Instant Pot Dinners, According to Parents

Feeding kids can be tricky. It’s tough to find the time, and can be even tougher to figure out what your kids will actually eat. Not to mention, every kid is different — some will happily eat bowls of broccoli, while others won’t go near a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs if there’s a single “chunk” in the sauce.

We asked readers on Facebook to share their favorite kid-friendly Instant Pot meals with us. If you’re stumped on what to make for dinner tonight, or if your Instant Pot has been collecting dust because you’re not sure what to do with it, take one of these kid-friendly Instant Pot meals for a spin.

When we asked readers to share their favorite kid-friendly Instant Pot recipes, we weren’t surprised to see that so many people went with classic mac and cheese. This version has just five ingredients (plus salt) and comes together in 30 minutes, so it’s almost as easy as the boxed stuff.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese

“My kid is thrilled whenever we do butter chicken,” says one commenter on Facebook. They recommend this recipe, made with boneless, skinless chicken thighs and plenty of spices. 

Get the recipe: Instant Pot Butter Chicken from Two Sleevers

It’s no surprise that this pressure-cooked pork is a favorite among both kids and parents. The simple pork is fork-tender after 90 minutes in the Instant Pot, and works as a main dish, on a sandwich, or as a salad topper.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot Kalua Pig from Nom Nom Paleo

This creamy chicken chili is heavy on flavor, and light on things that might not fly with picky eaters (like bell peppers and onions). If your kids are averse to spice, you can leave out the can of green chiles and still end up with a tasty dinner.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot White Chicken Black Bean Chili from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe

These meatballs are even better than the ones you’re used to making, because they call for a mixture of ground beef and seasoned Italian sausage. So instead of adding all the flavorings yourself, you can rely on what’s already in the sausage mix.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot Meatballs

Several readers cited spaghetti as their family’s favorite Instant Pot meal. This quick and rather magical one-pot version calls for jarred tomato sauce, so you don’t have to deal with making your own. You’ll sauté the beef in the Instant Pot first, then add the remaining ingredients and cook it on high for eight minutes. 

Get the recipe: Instant Pot Spaghetti

Kids love taco night, but parents might not always love the work that goes into cooking meat, prepping toppings, and cleaning up the massive spread afterwards. This Instant Pot recipe simplifies things with pulled chicken that comes together in 35 minutes.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Tacos from Salt and Lavender 

Baked pastas are another kid favorite, and with an Instant Pot you can “bake” a cheesy pasta casserole without ever turning on your oven. Baked ziti is a guaranteed win, packed with cheese, Italian sausage, and perfectly cooked pasta.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot Baked Ziti

This recipe calls for a teaspoon of cocoa powder, which adds a nearly undetectable richness to the finished chili. It serves six, and the leftovers keep well in the fridge or freezer.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot Chili from What’s in the Pan

This smart recipe has you cook potatoes on the bottom of your Instant Pot, and meatloaf in a pan on a rack above. To finish things up, you’ll glaze the meatloaf and finish in the oven while you mash the potatoes with butter and cream.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes

This post originally ran on Kitchn. See it there: Top 10 Kid-Friendly Instant Pot Meals