4 Instant Pot Meat Recipes You Can’t Resist
There’s no denying the popularity of the Instant Pot. Research shows that there are about 53 million Instant Pot owners in the United States. One reason for its popularity is that the Instant Pot cooks food quickly - reducing cooking times by up to 70%.
Many people love that the Instant Pot can cook all sorts of food. It’s also great at cooking a wide range of meats.
With that in mind, here are four irresistible ways to cook meat in an Instant Pot.
Also Read: Lunch Recipe: Instant Pot Wild Boar Banh Mi Sandwiches
Why the Instant Pot Is Simply Brilliant To Cook Meat In
You’ve learned that the Instant Pot, as its name implies, helps you save time while cooking. However, there are many other benefits of having this item in your kitchen.
Another reason to cook meat in an Instant Pot is that it makes food tender. Many people struggle to cook tender meat in an oven or on the grill. This can often lead to burned, dried out meat that’s tough to chew. You won’t have to worry about overcooked meat in an Instant Pot.
Meat loses less nutrients when it’s cooked in an Instant Pot. A study from 2010 found that pressure cooking food was better for nutrient retention than boiling.
Why Truly Free Range Meat Tastes Better
It’s important to choose high quality meat to get the best results from cooking. With that in mind, it’s wise to consider the benefits of buying free range meat to cook with.
Also Read: Coq Au Vin (Chicken In Wine Sauce) In The Instant Pot
Without being graphic, free range animals generally have better living conditions than those in factories. By having more freedom, the meat these animals yield is more nutrient dense and better tasting than factory raised meats.
Choosing humanely raised meat will also result in better, healthier dishes than any meats from factory farms.
4 Instant Pot Meat Recipes You Can’t Resist
1. Instant Pot Leg of Lamb
With this recipe, you don’t need to visit a fancy restaurant to enjoy juicy lamb.
Ingredients
- Leg of lamb - 4 pounds
- Carrots - 2
- Onion - 1
- Chicken stock (homemade bone broth is even better) - 1 ½ cups
- Olive oil - 2 tablespoons
- Garlic powder - 2 teaspoons
- Kosher salt - 1 ½ teaspoon
- Pepper - ½ teaspoon
- Kitchen twine
Recipe
- In 2-inch increments, tie several pieces of kitchen twine around your lamb.
- Peel and cut your carrots and onions.
- In a bowl, mix your garlic, salt, and pepper. Add in one tablespoon of olive oil.
- In this same bowl, add your lamb and coat it with your seasoning mixture.
- Pour the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in the Instant Pot.
- Set your Instant Pot to saute, cook the lamb for eight minutes on each side.
- Press the saute button again to stop all cooking.
- Add in your sliced carrots, chopped onion, and your chicken stock into the Instant Pot.
- Close the lid, set your vent knob to seal, cook on high pressure for 25 minutes.
- After the timer sounds, let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes.
- Quick-release the remaining pressure.
- Serve.
Also Read: Easy & Delicious Instant Pot Taco Soup With Ground Elk
2. Instant Pot Bison Chili
After trying this recipe for Instant Pot Bison chili, you might never want chili prepared another way again. You might even make this perfect one pot meal weekly.
Ingredients
- Ground bison - 1 pound
- Tomatoes, diced - 1 can (10 ounces)
- Onion, chopped - ½ cup
- Black beans, drained - 1 can
- Apple cider vinegar - 1 tablespoon
- Garlic, minced - ½ tablespoon
- Chili powder - ½ tablespoon
- Cumin - 1 teaspoon
- Salt - ½ teaspoon
- Olive oil - 1 tablespoon
Recipe
- Press the saute button on your Instant Pot.
- Pour in your olive oil, onions, and garlic.
- When the onions are softened, add in your bison and cook everything until the meat browns.
- Add in all of your remaining ingredients. Stir.
- Place the lid on your Instant Pot.
- Press the “Keep Warm/Cancel” button.
- Press the “Bean/Chili” button. Close your Instant Pot’s team valve.
- After 30 minutes, a timer will sound.
- Do a quick pressure release.
- Serve with toppings as desired.
3. Instant Pot Whole Chicken Paleo
Food Business News recently reported that 36% of adults in the U.S. are now on diets. One diet gaining lots of popularity is the Paleo diet. Here’s a Paleo-friendly recipe for delicious lemon chicken.
Ingredients
- Whole chicken - 3 to 5 pounds
- Lemon - 1
- White onion quartered - 1
- Chicken broth - 1 cup
- Garlic powder - 1 teaspoon
- Olive oil - 2 tablespoons
- Chili powder - 1 teaspoon
- Salt - 1 ½ teaspoon
- Pepper - ½ teaspoon
- Thyme - ½ teaspoon
Also Read: Instant Pot Elk Osso Buco Recipe That Everyone Will Love
Recipe
- In a bowl, mix all of your spices and lemon juice.
- Rub your mixture from step 1 all over the outside of your chicken.
- Stuff the inside of your chicken with the quartered onions.
- Press your Instant Pot’s saute button. Add your olive oil.
- Breast side down, place your chicken in the Instant Pot. Sear for 5 minutes on each side.
- Take out your chicken.
- Insert a trivet into your Instant Pot, add in your chicken broth. Add your chicken.
- Close the Instant Pot’s lid, close the steam valve, and cook on high pressure for 25 minutes.
- After the timer sounds, let the pressure naturally release.
- Serve and enjoy.
4. Instant Pot Braised Pork Hock
Haven’t heard of pork hock before? That’s okay; hock is meat from below a pig’s knee. It’s inexpensive, but also tough due to its high tissue and ligament contents. With this recipe, the Instant Pot turns tough meat into something much more tender.
Ingredients
- Pork hock - 2 pounds
- Stock/broth (or water) - 3 1/4 cups
- Garlic, minced - 2 tablespoons
- Sugar - ¼ teaspoon
Recipe
- Add 1 ½ cups of stock into your Instant Pot.
- Add in your pork hock.
- Close the Instant Pot’s lid, cook on high pressure for 20 minutes.
- After the timer sounds, let the pressure naturally release.
- Take out your cooked pork, submerge it in 1 ½ cups of stock or broth for an hour.
- In a bowl, create this dish’s sauce by mixing your minced garlic, sugar, and remaining stock or broth.
- Take out your pork, slice it and serve with your sauce.
The next time hunger strikes, consider trying one of the previously mentioned recipes in your Instant Pot. With the right ingredients, this multi cooker is capable of making delicious dishes.