I use my instant pot all of the time. Like every week, at least once. Sometimes more than that. If you’re a busy parent, running your kids around to their appointments, sports meets, clubs, friends’ houses, etc. add these favorite kid friendly instant pot recipes to your cooking recipe arsenal. I promise you, you won’t regret it. And if you still don’t have an instant pot, well, my friend, it’s time to invest in your future. A future with LESS complaints, LESS stress, and LESS clean-up. Can you hear what Mama Bear’s cooking? Also, I’ve noticed the other food blogs are recommending instant pot recipes that are NOT kid friendly, IMO, and so I promise to stick to what I know kids love. I’m a Mama and an Aunt, after all.
What Constitutes a Kid Friendly Instant Pot Recipe, Exactly?
It should go without saying that literally every kid is different from the next. Even my two kids are totally different. And have different favorite foods. Luckily, my kids are good eaters and will at least try everything once. That being said, I know I’m spoiled in that arena. I know there are a TON of picky kids out there who only eat a small handful of foods. Therefore, choose what you feel is best for your kids. And try to get them to venture out every once in a while. Sticking to what I know most kids like, I chose mostly chicken, shrimp, pasta, and cheesy recipes for this list. And, of course, the obligatory dessert recipes for those fun weekend nights.
Onto the Recipes!
This first block of kid friendly instant pot recipes will consist of chicken as the main item. Most kids love chicken, and chicken is not only a lean meat but packed with protein. Let’s go!
1. Chicken Bacon Ranch in the Instant Pot
Chicken bacon ranch, also called Crack Chicken (maybe refrain from telling that to your kids LOL), isn’t just delicious it is literally addictive. Maybe that’s why they call it Crack Chicken. Essentially, it’s ranch seasoning with bacon and chicken in a pot. You can slather this deliciousness onto bread and call it a sandwich, put a dollop of it on a bed of lettuce (if your kids are actually greens eaters), and it will even go nicely over a small bowl of pasta for those kiddos who have to eat noodles with every meal.
2. Kid Friendly Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
Don’t sleep on an old fashioned pot of chicken noodle soup. Especially don’t sleep on the Instant Pot version, y’all. Not only is it comforting and relieving when your kiddo (or you) are sick, but it’s hearty and cozy nearly any time of the year. I even make this kid friendly instant pot recipe in the Summer. Most kids like chicken, soup, and noodles. If you have a really picky eater that won’t touch vegetables, simply omit them.
3. Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo, My Kids LOVE This!
Now, let me be honest with you, we don’t eat a lot of alfredo. It is rather fattening, after all, but on a special occasion, this instant pot chicken alfredo recipe is the bomb. It’s rich, creamy, and has most kids’ favorite protein – chicken! Sure, you could make alfredo on the stove, but this instant pot version saves a lot of time and clean up too. I’m all about saving myself time and energy after a long week of work and school.
4. Chicken Tacos: A STAPLE Kid Friendly Instant Pot Meal
This instant pot chicken taco recipe is literally as easy as making tacos on the stove. Easier, actually, because you don’t have to babysit it. All you need is taco seasoning, chicken, broth, mild salsa, your instant pot, and the taco fixings. The greatest part about making chicken tacos in the instant pot – I like to make a double batch and save the leftovers for another meal later in the week. You can add taco chicken meat to salads, sandwiches, or even casseroles.
Kid Friendly Pasta Instant Pot Recipes
Oh my gods, the mac and cheese! When my son was young, he had texture issues with food. One of the first foods he could actually eat was macaroni and cheese. To this day, even though he eats sushi and steak and everything else, he’ll still say mac and cheese is his favorite. So, without further adieu, here’s our favorite kid friendly instant pot PASTA recipes…including that ever-craved macaroni and cheese.
5. Instant Pot Spaghetti
Who doesn’t love spaghetti? You can now, by the wonders of advancement in kitchen technology, make spaghetti even quicker and simpler in the instant pot. My kids love spaghetti so much, they’ll eat it for days in a row. My husband is the same. Sometimes I make a big batch and save the leftovers for dinners later in the week. It makes weeknights that much simpler. And, if you don’t want to use your instant pot, try this easy sausage spaghetti recipe by yours truly.
6. Instant Pot Mac and Cheese for the Kids
I know the box mac and cheese is easy to make, but hear me out. Do we really know what’s in that radioactive orange packet? Making your own instant pot mac and cheese is not only a kid friendly meal, it ensures you know what’s actually going into your kids’ systems, nutritionally. In addition, I find that making it in the instant pot is actually quicker than on the stove. The Salty Marshmallow has an awesome mac and cheese instant pot recipe here that takes fifteen minutes or less.
7. Kid Friendly Instant Pot Lasagna Recipe
Another kid friendly staple in our house is lasagna. It’s basically spaghetti with a different kind of noodle and even MORE cheese, right? Did you know you can make it in the instant pot? Quite a few recipes online claim to be instant pot lasagna, but when you pull them up, you’ll quickly notice they are using their oven too. Here’s a TRUE instant pot lasagna recipe that cooks everything right in the instant pot.
Stews and Soups in the Instant Pot for KIDS
I’ve noticed a lot of these lists for instant pot kid friendly recipes online list things that are NOT typically kid friendly. And, honestly, I’m wondering if parents are actually writing these blogs or if it’s a blog-writing robot. Most kids don’t like “mushroom gravy” and “pulled pork BBQ”. At least not the majority of the kids I know. So, I plan to stick to what I know my kids and nieces and nephews would all eat. Even the picky ones. Here’s a few more stews and soups that seem to be ACTUAL kid pleasers.
8. Cheesy Broccoli Cheddar Soup
My kids love broccoli. It’s one of the few veggies most of my nieces and nephews will eat too. That being said, if we add cooked broccoli to a soup mostly made of cheese…you have a winning instant pot meal. This instant pot cheesy broccoli cheddar soup is easy to make and delicious. I typically pair this soup with a sandwich or crusty bread. It works well for a dinner OR a weekend lunch.
9. Instant Pot Potato Corn Chowder Recipe
Do yourself a favor and make this instant pot potato corn chowder. But here’s the secret to getting the kids to eat it – don’t say the word CHOWDER. Tell them it has potatoes, corn, and cheese. The kids buy it every time. But as soon as I say chowder, the kids run. So just don’t say chowder, okay? Oh and omit the cayenne pepper unless your kids love spice.
Kid Favorites: Desserts in the Instant Pot
What kid doesn’t beg for dessert nearly every night of the week? To be honest with you, I rarely have time to make dessert. Except for on occasional weekends and holidays. And when I do, I like to try different kid-beloved recipes in my instant pot. Here’s a few that have been hits in my house:
10. Instant Pot Apple Cake Recipe
There’s something about a warm apple cake coming out hot that brings my entire family to the kitchen. Like a dinner bell…except it’s a dessert bell. This instant pot apple cake recipe tastes old fashioned but is modern in that it’s so easy to make! Pair it with vanilla ice cream. Or even let the kids eat it for breakfast on the holidays!
11. Instant Pot Brownies
YES, you can make brownies in your instant pot too. Sounds crazy, but it’s true. My son even likes helping make this dessert. Try this instant pot brownies recipe by The Foodie Eats. The problem with this recipe is that once you take a bite, you’re going to keep going back for more. Great for kids, not so great for dieting parents. LOL.
12. Instant Pot Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Yes, there are veggies in this cake. But your kids don’t need to know a thing! I love the fact that I can sneak zucchini into bread and cake and my kids can’t tell. This Instant Pot Chocolate Zucchini Cake is nutritious and delicious. It was literally a hit at my house…a few times.
13. Strawberry Shortcake Cheesecake Instant Pot Recipe
Not every child likes cheesecake, but I know my kids enjoy it so I’m including it here. Especially because this version is a strawberry shortcake cheesecake! I could convince my kids just based off the words “strawberry” and “crumbles”. Try this recipe from Sugar, Spice, and Glitter. The great thing about this is that it won’t take long AND there’s not many ingredients. So it’s affordable!
14. Instant Pot Applesauce (Baby and Kid Approved!)
It’s been a long time since I’ve had a baby crying in his highchair or a toddler pulling at my apron. But I can tell you this – all kids (both babies and big kids) love applesauce! And this particular instant pot applesauce recipe omits the sugar. And yet it’s still yummy! I love the fact that we can make so many things in our instant pots including recipes that are nutritious and healthy. If your kid requires a diet with less refined sugars, this is the perfect recipe for you.
15. Best Instant Pot Bread Recipe
Remember when there was a pandemic and every woman rushed to the store to buy flour and learn how to make homemade bread? Yep, I did it too. And yes, I can make homemade bread, hand kneaded and all. But I will say this – bread in the instant pot is just as good and fun! Get the kids involved in the process. And yes, that bread-baking-in-the-oven smell still permeates the air in your home.
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