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    • Easy Chicken Dinner Recipes -->This collection of easy chicken dinner recipes features some of our favorite family dishes, perfect for making a healthy, delicious home cooked meal on a busy night! Getting a healthy, home cooked meal on the table every night can be challenging. Particularly with the demands of work, school, activities and social obligations, well, it can be the last thing we want to do at the end of the day. So I’ve got tons of easy chicken recipes at my disposal that I turn to when I need to whip something up for us on one of those busy weeknights. (Or even busy weekends – dinners can be tough then, too!) And this collection of easy chicken dinner recipes has some that we make over and over again. It includes everything from skillet chicken dinners to slow cooker chicken recipes, one-pot chicken pastas, soups and salads with chicken, chicken burgers and meatballs, sheet pan chicken dinners and easy chicken casseroles. Are you looking for fast as well as easy? Me too. I’ve got collections of chicken recipes in under 30 minutes and, faster still, chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. Or if you want to browse them all, my quick chicken recipes…
      • Easy Chicken Recipes with Few IngredientsThese easy chicken recipes with few ingredients include some great healthy lunch and dinner options, all made with 5 or fewer ingredients! I am all about the EASY when it comes to cooking. I don’t like to fuss much over my food and I certainly don’t like to spend a ton of time in the kitchen at the end of a long day. Easy chicken dinner recipes and healthy lunch recipes with chicken are much more my style. (As are chicken recipes in under 30 minutes and, faster yet, chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. Cause life.) Speaking of life, a million trips to the grocery store also aren’t fun during a busy week. (Especially with little ones in tow!) So I’ve got these go-to easy chicken recipes with few ingredients that help me keep dinnertime simple. And my sanity intact. In fact, one of the first cookbooks I bought on my own, at a used bookstore in Washington, D.C., where I lived for a few years after college, was titled 3-ingredient recipes. I was pretty new to cooking and thought, I think I can handle that. My cooking skills have improved, but I still go for the simple chicken recipes…
      • Quick Chicken RecipesThis collection of quick chicken recipes features some of our favorite family dinners and go-to lunches, all ready in 30 minutes or less! From chicken skillet dinners to one-pot pastas, salads to burgers, you’re sure to find some new favorites! If you know me, you know I am ALL about the quick and easy recipes. I love making all of our homemade meals and home cooked dinners, but like you, I’ve also got a hundred other things to juggle and so keeping things simple in the kitchen is a must. And these quick chicken recipes include all of my chicken recipes in under 30 minutes and, even faster, chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. Sanity savers for sure. Busy weeknights have nothing on us! A few of our favorites from these quick chicken recipes: Healthy chicken Alfredo with broccoli Creamy chipotle chicken 20-minute chicken and tortellini soup with kale Skillet salsa chicken Easy creamy chicken This collection also has some healthy lunch recipes with chicken for mixing up your lunch routine. (It doesn’t include my slow cooker chicken recipes though, since those aren’t ready in 30 minutes. But they can be super quick to prep in the morning and then…
        • Chicken Recipes in Under 15 MinutesThese easy chicken recipes in under 15 minutes are perfect for dinner on a busy weeknight! From one-pot wonders to salads, chicken skillets to tacos, you’re sure to find some new fast favorites! You know those nights when you walk in the door and need dinner pronto?! Like, 5 minutes ago? That’s when I turn to these quick and easy chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. I can make a healthy, home cooked meal for my family and be sitting down to enjoy it in no time. Cause plenty of evenings, 15 minutes is often all the time I have – or want to spend – on dinner. I’m not alone on that, right?! You can browse below but I thought I’d highlight a couple that I make over and over again. A few of our favorite easy chicken recipes in under 15 minutes: 15-minute honey garlic chicken (gets rave reviews!) Southwest chicken skillet dinner (pile on your favorite toppings!) Quick chicken curry (perfect with rice and peas) One-pot low-carb leftover chicken recipe with spinach (my dad’s go-to recipe) This collection also includes some healthy lunch options that are quick to put together — like the Asian chicken mason jar…
        • Chicken Recipes in Under 30 MinutesThese easy chicken recipes in under 30 minutes are perfect for dinner on a busy weeknight! From one-pan meals to burgers, one-pot pastas to healthy salads, you’re sure to find some new favorites! Quick, easy and mostly healthy is pretty much the name of the game for dinner at my house. I love a home cooked meal and we eat a ton of chicken, which means I’ve come up with and found a lot of easy chicken recipes over the years. And this collection highlights some of my easy chicken recipes in under 30 minutes, when you want something delicious but need it on the table pretty quickly. Is that every single night for you too? We’ve got everything from skillet chicken dishes to chicken pasta and from soups and salads with chicken to chicken meatballs and burgers. All the chicken love! Many of these recipes use boneless, skinless chicken breasts (though you could substitute chicken thighs if you prefer) while others use ground chicken and some rely on pre-cooked chicken, such as a rotisserie chicken you pick up at the store or some leftover grilled or baked chicken. Lots of these 30 minute chicken dinners are complete meals but…
      • Healthy One-Pot Chicken DinnersHealthy one-pot chicken dinners are such a help on busy days! This collection includes everything from one-pot pastas and skillets to easy slow cooker and sheet pan recipes to help you get an easy, healthy and delicious dinner on the table any night! I am ALL about quick and easy meals. I cook our dinner 99% of the time, including on days when work has blown up in my face, or the kids have decided to coordinate their melt-downs, or we’re all just wiped out and hungry. And even though I love to cook, I definitely have those days when I’m just not feeling it. Enter some quick and easy one-pot chicken dinners for the win! These are great to have in your back pocket for busy days, busy weeks or in case of a “kids-are-making-me-crazy” kinda moment. (My husband also loves these meals because he’s on clean-up duty and it’s nice not to have a huge pile of dishes staring you down after dinner!) Many of these dishes are complete meals on their own. Others are low-carb as written, but can easily be paired with some rice, pasta, bread or potatoes to bulk them up a bit. Here are…
      • Slow Cooker Chicken RecipesThese hands-off slow cooker chicken recipes will put your slow cooker to work and have you coming home to a delicious, healthy dinner that’s ready to go! Some days, you just need someone else to make you dinner. I’m not talking takeout or delivery or a restaurant dinner. I’m talking about your crock pot or slow cooker. I find it supremely satisfying to go about my day, knowing that a delicious home cooked dinner is cooking up at home for me. I can play with the kids, take them to practices, run errands or just relax with a book and breathe easy. These slow cooker chicken recipes mean there is just one less thing to do in the evening and that’s a great thing on a busy day! This collection includes slow cooker recipes for boneless, skinless chicken breasts as well as chicken thighs (though you can usually sub either one). And many of these take just minutes to prep in the morning! 👍 Here’s a few of our favorite slow cooker chicken recipes: Slow cooker balsamic chicken Slow cooker bistro chicken thighs Slow cooker apricot chicken Crock pot Mediterranean chicken Slow cooker teriyaki chicken And be sure to check…
    • Easy Vegetarian RecipesEasy vegetarian recipes include main-dish meals that are hearty and satisfying and can stand alone for lunch or dinner (with a few savory breakfast options as well). Everything from one-pot veggie pastas to stuffed squash to chili to veggie burgers and hearty grain bowls and salads, there are meatless options here for everyone! I am a veggie lover through and through. 💚💚💚 I adore getting in as many vegetables as I can, throughout the day really, and I often make easy vegetarian dinners a couple of times a week. (Hello meatless Monday, I’m looking at you!) So over the years, I’ve created tons of great veggie-based meals that can stand on their own for lunch or dinner and be hearty and satisfying. And that are also mostly quick and easy, because I work as a health and nutrition editor and we’ve got a busy family so cooking on a weeknight needs to be low-key. My one-pot vegetarian spaghetti has been a hugely popular recipe here on the blog and you guys can’t seem to get enough of my grain bowls and salads. I know the feeling. 😉 I wanted to round up some of these in an easy-to-browse category that features…
    • Healthy Oatmeal RecipesA collection of healthy oatmeal recipes, including sweet and savory breakfast and brunch options as well as delicious, wholesome snacks and desserts. We are pretty much oatmeal fanatics in my house. ALL of us adore oatmeal and it’s a rare day that we’re not making or eating something with oats or oatmeal in it at some point during the day. And I mean all four of us – my husband, myself and our kids (currently ages 6 and 4). Our go-to 3-minute microwave oatmeal is a morning staple for my husband and a weekly staple for the kids and me. My kids eat overnight oatmeal jars at least twice a week for breakfast and we often have baked oatmeal another morning of the week. For school lunches or afternoon snack, we can be found munching on some no-bake cookie or energy balls with oats, oatmeal cookies of some variety or if they’ve asked nicely, I’ll make a batch of granola and we all just shovel handful after handful until it’s gone. Want to know some of our very favorites of the group below? OK, I’ll share! Our family’s favorite healthy oatmeal recipes: Healthy chocolate chip muffins Overnight oatmeal jars, 3…
    • Healthy Muffin RecipesA collection of easy, kid-friendly healthy muffin recipes for all times of day: breakfast, school lunch, snacking, dinner and dessert! We are BIG muffin lovers in this house, at all times of day! My kiddos love them for breakfast, brunch, school lunch, afternoon snack and sometimes even savory muffins at dinner. Muffins all the time! I’ve made thousands of healthy muffin recipes over the years and I love sharing them with you! There are plenty to browse below and plenty more I plan to add! (You can sign up for my newsletter so you never miss a recipe. You’ll also get my FREE e-book of easy weeknight dinners.) Wondering where to start? Spinach banana mini muffins and whole wheat pumpkin muffins are some of our constant favorites. Healthy peanut butter and jelly muffins are fun for lunch and easy cheesy cornbread muffins are great for a quick + easy dinner side, especially with soup or chili! And if you’re in the mood for a little chocolate (I know I always am!) you can’t go wrong with my healthy chocolate chip muffins. Hope you find some new favorite healthy muffin recipes! XO, Kathryn
    • Healthy DessertsThis collection of healthy desserts features everything from lightened up cookie bars and brownies to cakes, muffins and breads to no-bake energy bites. It’s the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth while staying on track with healthy choices! Healthy desserts are kind-of my jam. I like a dessert that gives back. One that has redeeming qualities. A sweet treat that’s going to treat me right. But of course, it also needs to be delicious so I actually satisfy those sweet cravings! The healthier dessert recipes you’ll find below are some of our go-to treats that are perfect for a healthier late-night option and many of which are great for offering kids a wholesome, but fun, treat for an after-school snack or tucked in their lunch box. Most of these recipes are whole grain and naturally sweetened, others are recipe makeovers that are lower in sugar and/or butter. A majority of them contain chocolate. 🍫❤️ And ALL are easy to make. (You can also check out my healthy muffin recipes and my entire category of sweets & desserts if you want more.) Here’s a few of our favorite healthy desserts: Healthy chocolate chip muffins Healthier no bake cookie bars No…
    • Healthy Fall BakingThese healthy fall baking favorites include everything from muffins and baked oatmeal to snacks to cookies and cakes. These fall recipes are whole grain and most are naturally sweetened for a wholesome, delicious treat at breakfast, snack, school lunch or dessert! Does anyone else get the baking bug when the cooler weather starts to roll in during autumn? I know I do! I get excited for all the apple baking projects, pumpkin baking projects and even getting ready for all the holiday baking to come! 🍎🎃 The spices, the warmth, the aroma of having something in the oven is just part of the season for me. Plus the love that comes from a homemade baked good – it just can’t be beat! ❤️ And y’all know my style is definitely a healthier version of baking. I use whole grains and most of my recipes are naturally sweetened. I try to lighten things up where possible and keep to mostly wholesome treats, maybe with a little indulgence here and there! 😉 Wondering where to start? Here are some of our healthy fall baking favorites: Chocolate chip apple cake Pumpkin baked oatmeal with chocolate chips Whole wheat pumpkin applesauce bread Easy healthy…
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Instant Pot sweet potatoes

November 18, 2020 By Kathryn Doherty

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy

Instant Pot sweet potatoes come out perfectly fluffy and tender every time – and only take 15 minutes at pressure! These make a great dinner side dish or base for a casserole or complete meal.A sweet potato on a small white plate opened and fluffed and topped with a pat of butter

I adore sweet potatoes. I roast them, bake them, stuff them and even use them for sweet potato toast.

Normally, baking sweet potatoes can take an hour or more. And many nights, I just don’t have that kind of time. (Or I haven’t gotten a chance to get dinner started that far in advance.)

Plus right now, we don’t have a working oven in my house. It’s been months and months since it broke and GE hasn’t been able to fix it and won’t replace it. I would cry if I wasn’t so frustrated.

Anyway, if I’m in a pinch, I might do some microwave sweet potatoes for a quick way to make them.

But if I have enough time, or if I want to make more than just a few sweet potatoes, I love making Instant Pot sweet potatoes.

They get so tender and fluffy and that natural sweetness really starts to emerge, just like when you bake them in the oven.

Overhead shot of an opened, cooked sweet potato with butter on top

Plus, cooking them this way saves time, saves oven space and saves even having to turn on the oven.

That makes this a great option if you’re just doing a couple of potatoes and don’t want to heat up the whole oven for an hour or more.

Or a great option for the holidays when you need to cook up a lot of sweet potatoes for your casserole but might have other things going on in the oven.

Gotta love having some flexibility – and a really hands-off way to make these!

Now, I’ve got some notes and tips coming up on how to make Instant Pot sweet potatoes. Just tryin’ to be helpful.

If you want to jump on down to the recipe, simply scroll right on through the rest of the text. The recipe card is near the bottom of the page, above the comments section.

Three sweet potatoes placed on a trivet in the insert of an Instant Pot before being cooked Three sweet potatoes on a trivet in the insert of an Instant Pot after being cooked

Notes on making Instant Pot sweet potatoes:

  • You can use anywhere from 2 to 8 sweet potatoes for this recipe, so long as they will all fit in your Instant Pot insert.
  • If your potatoes are extra large or fat or if you have 6-8 potatoes crammed in there, you can kick the high pressure cook time up to 18 minutes to ensure they are done. Otherwise, 15 minutes at pressure will do it.
  • The potatoes should have a little give when they are done. Get a towel or oven mitt and gently squeeze the sides of the sweet potato. If it gives without resistance and almost starts to open up, it’s ready.
  • If yours still seem firm, return them to the pot, seal and add an additional 3-4 minutes of high pressure cook time, followed by a quick release.

For those of you quickly scanning this post looking for this info (I see you, it’s OK, scroll on), let’s go ahead and call out the timing. It’s the most common question.

How long do you cook sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot?

– Sweet potatoes take 15 minutes at high pressure in the Instant Pot. Place a trivet in the insert of the Instant Pot, add water, then stack up anywhere from 2 to 8 medium sized sweet potatoes on the trivet. Seal the Instant Pot and cook at high pressure for 15 minutes, followed by a natural release.

– For extra large sweet potatoes, or for a full pot, you can cook at high pressure for 18 minutes to ensure they are cooked through.

The sweet potatoes should be perfectly tender with a slight give and softness. You can give them a quick squeeze with a towel or oven mitt to ensure they give a little and start to open up.

Ta-da, tender, cooked sweet potatoes that are totally hands off and easy to make!

A forkful of tender sweet potato being scooped out

Oh, a disclaimer though: Instant Pot recipes often fail to mention the time it takes for the pot to come to pressure or to release it.

I have found it very misleading when trying to plan, so I wanted to be sure to include it here.

I’ve listed “additional time” as 20 minutes to account for the amount of time it will take for the pot to come to pressure and then the time for the natural release. The exact amount of time can vary, but that’s at least a rough estimate.

In case you’re in the market for one, I have and love this 6-quart Instant Pot.

OK, let’s get ready to eat.

You may already know exactly how you want to use this tender “baked” sweet potatoes, but I’ve got some fun toppings and some other ways you can use these.

Topping ideas for sweet potatoes:

  • Butter, sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • Shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled blue cheese, or feta or goat cheese
  • Crumbled cooked bacon
  • Chopped chives or fresh herbs
  • Guacamole or diced avocado
  • Salsa or pico de gallo
  • Hot sauce or sriracha
  • Sprinkle of paprika or other seasoning

And of course, you can mix and match any of these for fun combinations.

So many options!

A forkful being taken from a cooked sweet potato with butter on top

Or, you can use these cooked sweet potatoes as the basis for a different dish. Here’s a few ideas.

Casseroles: These tender sweet potatoes would be perfect for my bourbon sweet potato casserole, which is a great Thanksgiving or holiday side dish.

Stuff your sweet potatoes: Taco stuffed sweet potatoes are a favorite in our house, but you could also stuff yours with rotisserie chicken, broccoli and cheese or any other fun combination you come up with.

Make a bowl: Mash and use the sweet potatoes as the base for a potato bowl, like these sweet potato, roast chicken peas, kale and bacon bowls. You could even use them for a breakfast bowl with some sautéed veggies, crumbled sausage and a fried egg.

Total deliciousness. And very little effort needed. That’s a win win!

I hope you give these Instant Pot sweet potatoes a try, whether for the holidays or just the everyday.

Enjoy!

XO,

Kathryn

Yield: 2-8 potatoes

Instant Pot sweet potatoes

A fork resting in a cooked sweet potato with butter on top

Instant Pot sweet potatoes come out perfectly fluffy and tender every time – and only take 15 minutes at pressure! These make a great dinner side dish or base for a casserole or complete meal.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Additional Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2-8 medium sweet potatoes, scrubbed
  • 1 cup water

Instructions

  1. Place the trivet in the insert of the Instant Pot. Add the water to the Instant Pot.
  2. Place the sweet potatoes on the trivet, stacking them up if needed to get them all to fit.
  3. Cover and seal the Instant Pot and set it for 15 minutes of high pressure. (Note, if you are using really large or fat sweet potatoes or have a full pot, set it for 18 minutes.)
  4. After the cooking time is done, use natural release to release the pressure from the Instant Pot.
  5. Once the pressure has dropped, open the Instant Pot and carefully remove the potatoes and let cool for a couple of minutes, until cool enough to handle.
  6. Serve as desired and enjoy!

Notes

The potatoes should have a little give when they are done. Get a towel or oven mitt and gently squeeze the sides of the sweet potato. If it gives without resistance and starts to open up, it’s ready.

If yours still seem firm, return them to the pot, seal and add an additional 3-4 minutes of high pressure cook time, followed by a quick release.

Topping ideas for sweet potatoes:

  • Butter, sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • Shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled blue cheese, or feta or goat cheese
  • Crumbled cooked bacon
  • Chopped chives or fresh herbs
  • Guacamole or diced avocado
  • Salsa or pico de gallo
  • Hot sauce or sriracha
  • Sprinkle of paprika or other seasoning

You can also use these to make mashed sweet potatoes, sweet potato casserole, stuffed sweet potatoes or sweet potato bowls.

© Kathryn Doherty
Cuisine: American / Category: Side dishes
A sweet potato on a small white plate opened and fluffed and topped with a pat of butter, with a text overlay on the photo

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Filed Under: Instant Pot, Side dishes, Vegetarian

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Hi there! I’m Kathryn Doherty, a health and nutrition editor, cookbook author, wife, mother of two kids, and devoted food and home cooking nut. I’ve got lots of easy recipes and resources to help you get delicious family food on your table! Learn more about me

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