11 Kid-Friendly Instant Pot Recipes for Busy Families
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Need easy dinners kids will actually eat? These kid-friendly Instant Pot recipes are quick, budget-friendly, and perfect for busy families or daycare meals. Great easy dinner ideas your family will love too!
Need easy dinners kids will actually eat? These kid-friendly Instant Pot recipes are perfect for busy families, daycare providers, and parents feeding picky eaters. From soups and tacos to mac and cheese and oatmeal, these simple pressure cooker meals save time while still tasting amazing.
The meat is so tender and juicy, I’m amazed every time. Enjoy these Instant Pot recipes your family will love!
Instant Pot Tips for Beginners
- Use natural release for meats
- Don’t overfill the pot
- Add enough liquid
- Batch cook proteins
- Freeze leftovers in portions
Instant Pot recipes for kids
I have a daycare and feed my family, plus 7 kids every day. Here are the top kid-friendly Instant Pot recipes I have added to my cooking routine. They are 100% kid-approved meals.
This chicken tortilla soup is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. My kids beg for more and more of it. It’s super healthy too. If you’re looking for more instant pot chicken soup recipes check these others out too.
Check out how to use a whole chicken three ways. I love recipes that use leftovers because it saves me time and money.
I also love buying whole chickens because the price is so much cheaper AND I have the nutrients and flavor from the bones. Then I can cook the bones a second time to make super healthy chicken stock.
My kids’ favorite is chicken fried rice, but they love all of these chicken recipes. I cooked a whole chicken in my Instant Pot the other day to make this for the kids, and it was so flavorful that I couldn’t stop eating it when I was shredding the chicken up. So good!
Another kid favorite is this cheesy Broccoli cheddar soup. Broccoli is the favorite vegetable around Little Sprouts.
Kid friendly instant pot recipes
My favorite thing, hands down, to make in my Instant Pot is pork roast. It’s huge, it’s inexpensive, and pork is so tasty. Oh my goodness. You can make a ton of meals from one roast. Click here to see how to make 5 dinners from one roast. My kid’s favorite is pork tacos.
Or check out how to cook a turkey breast in your instant pot for lots of yummy meals.
I asked some of my blogging friends what their families love to eat, and they shared these recipes with me. I love that the Instant Pot makes cooking so fast and easy.
You can make easy, healthy dinners without all the fuss and muss. Another thing I LOVE about the Instant Pot is that it puts almost no heat into your kitchen on a hot summer day. That makes it a win for me since in Oklahoma, we have 615 months of summer! Check some of these out:
Why Instant Pot Meals Work So Well for Kids
- Soft textures are easier for young kids
- Meals cook quickly when everyone is hungry
- Soups and shredded meats are easy for toddlers
- One-pot meals reduce stress for busy parents
- Flavors blend together really well
FAQ About Instant Pot Recipes for Kids
What can I cook for kids in the Instant Pot?
Soups, tacos, pasta, rice dishes, oatmeal, shredded chicken, and macaroni and cheese are all kid-friendly Instant Pot favorites.
Are Instant Pot meals good for picky eaters?
Yes. Instant Pot meals often have softer textures and blended flavors that many picky eaters enjoy.
Can you meal prep Instant Pot dinners?
Absolutely. Many Instant Pot meals freeze well and can be reheated quickly for busy nights.
What is the easiest Instant Pot recipe for beginners?
Soup, shredded chicken tacos, oatmeal, and mac and cheese are great beginner Instant Pot recipes.
Is the Instant Pot good for daycare cooking?
Yes. It cooks large batches quickly, keeps food tender, and reduces hands-on cooking time.
Instant Pot Cooking Times Cheat Sheet
And don’t forget to download your free printable instant pot cooking time cheat sheet here.





