The Instant Pot is built for busy weeknights: add the ingredients, close the lid and walk away. These 10 kid-friendly Instant Pot recipes stick to soft, mild, familiar meals that picky eaters tend to accept, like chicken noodle soup, baked ziti, BBQ pulled chicken sliders and cheesy oatmeal.
Each card shows the pressure time and release method. Keep in mind the pot also needs about 10 to 15 minutes to come up to pressure. Four of the recipes hide vegetables in the sauce, broth or eggs. Every one has a stovetop or oven version in the cookbook too, which includes Instant Pot steps for 31 of its 300+ recipes.
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Savory Cheesy Oatmeal with Fried Egg
15 min · Serves 4 · savory, cheesy, buttery, mild
Instant Pot: High pressure, 4 min, then 10 min natural release
Tip: This is a good one to try with kids who insist oatmeal has to be sweet. The cheese changes the whole personality of the dish.
Contains: milk and egg · Easy swap: Milk → Unsweetened plant milk
The full recipe, straight from the cookbook
Ingredients
- 1 cup Old-fashioned rolled oats
- 2 cups Water
- 1/2 cup Milk
- 3/4 cup Shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tbsp Butter
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 4 Eggs
Steps
- Bring the water and milk to a simmer in a saucepan.
- Stir in the oats and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
- Remove from heat and stir in the butter, cheese, and salt until the cheese melts.
- Meanwhile, fry the eggs in a separate pan to your preference.
- Spoon the savory oatmeal into bowls and top each with a fried egg.
Instant Pot: High pressure, 4 min, then 10 min natural release
- Lightly spray the inner pot with cooking spray, then add the oats and the 2 cups of water and stir. Save the milk for later, since milk under pressure can scorch.
- Lock the lid, set the valve to Sealing, and cook on High pressure for 4 minutes. It takes about 10 minutes to come to pressure.
- Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then quick release the rest.
- Stir in the milk, butter, cheese, and salt until the cheese melts. For hotter oatmeal, press Sauté for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, then turn it off.
- Fry the eggs and serve as in steps 4 and 5.
Missing an ingredient? Milk: Unsweetened plant milk; Shredded cheddar cheese: Dairy-free shredded cheese; Butter: Olive oil.
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Mini Spinach and Cheese Frittatas Hidden veggie
25 min · Serves 6 · savory, cheesy, mild
What's hidden: finely chopped baby spinach.
Instant Pot: High pressure, 8 min, then 10 min natural release
Tip: Serve two frittatas per plate with a piece of fruit for a balanced breakfast.
Contains: egg and milk · Easy swap: Milk → Water
🔒 Unlock the full recipe · ingredients, steps and swaps are in the cookbook
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Hidden Veggie Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup Hidden veggie
30 min · Serves 4 · savory, mild, salty
What's hidden: pureed cauliflower.
Instant Pot: High pressure, 3 min, then quick release
Tip: The pureed cauliflower makes the broth extra creamy without changing the familiar look of chicken noodle soup.
Contains: wheat, milk and egg · Easy swap: Egg noodles → Gluten-free pasta shapes
🔒 Unlock the full recipe · ingredients, steps and swaps are in the cookbook
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Loaded Baked Potato Soup with Cheddar and Turkey Bacon
30 min · Serves 4 · savory, cheesy, mild, buttery
Instant Pot: High pressure, 6 min, then 10 min natural release
Tip: Blend the soup fully smooth for kids who prefer no chunks at all, or leave some potato pieces for older kids who like a heartier bowl.
Contains: milk · Easy swap: Milk → Unsweetened plant milk
🔒 Unlock the full recipe · ingredients, steps and swaps are in the cookbook
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Hidden Veggie Butternut Squash Beef Chili Hidden veggieAllergy-friendly
35 min · Serves 4 · savory, mild, salty
What's hidden: pureed butternut squash.
Instant Pot: High pressure, 10 min, then 10 min natural release
Tip: The squash puree makes the chili thicker and a little sweeter, which softens the flavor for cautious eaters.
Contains: none of the top 9 allergens in the base recipe (check labels on packaged ingredients) · Easy swap: Pureed cooked butternut squash → Pureed cooked sweet potato
🔒 Unlock the full recipe · ingredients, steps and swaps are in the cookbook
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BBQ Pulled Chicken Sliders
35 min · Serves 4 · sweet, savory, tangy
Instant Pot: High pressure, 10 min, then 10 min natural release
Tip: Choose a mild, less tangy barbecue sauce for kids who are still getting used to bolder flavors.
Contains: wheat · Easy swap: Slider buns → Gluten-free slider buns
🔒 Unlock the full recipe · ingredients, steps and swaps are in the cookbook
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Classic Baked Ziti
40 min · Serves 6 · cheesy, savory, mild
Instant Pot: High pressure, 5 min, then quick release
Tip: This reheats well, so it makes an easy dinner to double and freeze half for a busy week later.
Contains: milk and wheat · Easy swap: Ziti pasta → Any gluten-free pasta shape
🔒 Unlock the full recipe · ingredients, steps and swaps are in the cookbook
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Hidden Veggie Pink Sauce Penne with Chicken Hidden veggie
30 min · Serves 4 · cheesy, savory, mild, tangy
What's hidden: pureed beet.
Instant Pot: High pressure, 4 min, then quick release
Tip: The beet puree turns the sauce a fun pink color that kids often find more exciting than off-putting.
Contains: milk and wheat · Easy swap: Penne pasta → Any gluten-free pasta shape
🔒 Unlock the full recipe · ingredients, steps and swaps are in the cookbook
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Pork Carnitas Rice Bowls Allergy-friendly
40 min · Serves 4 · savory, tangy, mild
Instant Pot: High pressure, 25 min, then 15 min natural release
Tip: Shredding the pork very fine helps mild eaters accept a new protein since it looks similar to familiar ground meat.
Contains: none of the top 9 allergens in the base recipe (check labels on packaged ingredients) · Easy swap: Pork shoulder, cubed → Boneless, skinless chicken thighs
🔒 Unlock the full recipe · ingredients, steps and swaps are in the cookbook
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Baked Cinnamon Apples with Oat Topping
30 min · Serves 4 · sweet, fruity, buttery
Instant Pot: High pressure, 2 to 3 min, then quick release
Tip: Scoop out a little of the core area first so there is more room for the crumble topping to sit.
Contains: milk · Easy swap: Butter, melted → Coconut oil, melted
🔒 Unlock the full recipe · ingredients, steps and swaps are in the cookbook
Kid Instant Pot Recipe Questions
What are easy Instant Pot meals for kids?
Soups, pasta, chili, pulled chicken, rice bowls and oatmeal are easy wins, because pressure cooking makes them soft and evenly cooked. Mild flavors and sauces kids already know, like marinara, BBQ and cheese, help with picky eaters.
How long do Instant Pot recipes really take?
Add the time to come up to pressure (often 10 to 15 minutes), the pressure cook time, and the release time (up to 15 minutes for a natural release). A recipe with 5 minutes of pressure time usually takes 25 to 35 minutes start to finish.
What is the difference between natural release and quick release?
Natural release lets the pressure drop on its own, which is gentler on meats and foamy foods. Quick release opens the valve right away to stop cooking, which keeps pasta and vegetables from turning mushy.
Can I make these recipes without an Instant Pot?
Yes. Every recipe in the Eat This, Not Chaos cookbook has a regular stovetop or oven method, and the Instant Pot steps are an optional shortcut.
Eat This, Not Chaos