10 delicious Instant Pot dinners to make this fall

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I adore autumn! The vibrant colors, the refreshing air, the revival of cozy sweaters, and the return of comforting meals all warm my heart. Indeed, one of the aspects I cherish most about living in a region with distinct seasons is the diversity it brings to our culinary experiences. In this article, I’ll share with you our top ten instant pot dinners that I urge you to try this fall.

What’s in season during the fall months

Fall offers an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables. During that time, it’s extremely easy to find local produce or even grow them yourself if you have the space and interest.

I live in an area where we have a convenient service called Market Wagon. It allows us to order fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, meat, dairy products, and more directly from local farmers. The food is so much tastier and it is delivered straight to our door.

Here is a list of fall produce to incorporate into your meals during the autumn months.

Why I love the instant pot

I hesitated a lot before making the decision to purchase an instant pot. It felt like just another appliance to add and I wasn’t convinced it was going to be worth it.

In 2019, I finally decided to ask for an instant pot and received one on my birthday.

I’ve never regretted my decision. This versatile kitchen appliance helps me cook amazing meals in a short amount of time.

You can clean the metal pot in your dishwasher and handwash the lid with warm soapy water. The only downside in my opinion is that it’s bulky and requires ample storage space.

10 most delicious Instant Pot dinners

As soon as the weather cools off, our family loves a good hearty soup. To fill us up and serve as a complete meal, I like to make soup recipes that include carbs, protein, and healthy fat. This ensures everyone leaves the table with a full tummy.

Therefore, the first four recipes are soups for you to try this fall.

1) Creamy gnocchi soup

This soup recipe features autumn vegetables like carrots, spinach, onions, and rosemary. It suggests using chicken breast, but it’s equally as delicious with chicken thighs. Additionally, I usually replace the heavy cream with coconut cream and the butter with olive oil to make it dairy-free.

This soup always hits the spot for us. It comes together in just under one hour and the leftovers make a great lunch the next day.

2) Chicken pot pie soup

This soup has similar ingredients to the creamy gnocchi soup above but the unique herbs blend (thyme, parsley, and sage) creates a completely different flavor. It’s also a great way to use local fresh potatoes.

Our family cannot have cashews and I’ve replaced the cup of nuts with another cup of coconut cream. If you find the texture too liquid, you can add an arrowroot powder slurry to thicken the mixture before serving.

How to thicken a soup: Mix one tablespoon of arrowroot powder (or cornstarch) with one tablespoon of water. Put your soup on a low heat and add the mixture while stirring. The soup should thicken within a few minutes. You can repeat this process if the soup (or sauce) is still too liquid for you.

3) Zuppa Toscana

This is a fantastic Italian recipe that your family will ask you to make over and over again. This recipe features kale and sausage. I also. like to substitute the onion with some leeks to add a twist to this well-known soup.

Our favorite accompaniment for this soup is warm homemade rosemary bread. Here is how to make it:

For a softer bread, I cook it ahead of time and let it cool for 30 minutes. I then place it in a plastic bag with a paper towel to absorb moisture for at least 1 hour before slicing.

4) Creamy butternut squash soup

It doesn’t get much more fall-ish than when you add squash or pumpkin to your meals.

This instant pot dinner soup recipe is absolutely divine. The cinnamon and nutmeg make you feel like you are eating dessert for dinner. Because the protein content is limited, we like to serve this soup with a grilled cheese sandwich.

Use a protein-enriched bread such as Killer Dave’s bread to make your sandwiches even more satiating.

Your family will love this soup!

5) No bean turkey & sweet potato chili

A list of favorite fall instant pot dinners wouldn’t be complete without a chili recipe.

This chili is not your average chili recipe. It brings unique ingredients together to create a savory and comforting meal.

The homemade rosemary bread shared above pairs really well with this chili. Alternatively, you can make the bread without rosemary (just omit the rosemary) and serve it with cinnamon butter. So good!

6) Garlic paprika chicken thighs

We make this recipe about once a month during the fall and winter months. The chicken is so tender and juicy.

We usually serve this meal with steamed rice seasoned with butter, our favorite herbs, salt, and pepper. I have doubled the recipe before to use the leftover chicken to make chicken salad for lunch later in the week.

Pro tip: Always make double the rice to use with another meal during the week. Cook once/Eat twice!

It comes together in about one hour. Your family will be impressed with this “fancy” easy weeknight dinner.

7) Pork tenderloin with maple syrup gravy

The Canadian in me loves anything maple syrup. In my opinion, pork is the best-tasting protein to pair with sweet flavors. The craziest part is that this meal comes together in 40 minutes.

We love to serve this dish with mashed potatoes and steamed green beans or broccoli.

You can thinly slice the leftovers and use them for sandwiches the next day. Just add a little Dijon mustard to your bread, some brie cheese, and a few spinach leaves. I bet this will become one of your favorite lunches.

8) Beef and broccoli

For the beef lovers out there, I urge you to try this delicious recipe. The beef does not dry out and has so much flavor.

Serve with some steamed rice and angel hair noodles.

Check out how to cook the perfect rice, every time!

In 30 minutes, you can serve your family is seemingly gourmet dinner they will ask for over and over again.

9) Beef pot roast

At least once a month during the colder months, our family enjoys a pot roast. This recipe is one of our favorites. Using the instant pot for a pot roast is a game-changer. I used to set it in my croc-pot in the morning before work but often, the meat was overcooked by the time we came home.

With the instant pot, it’s perfect, every time! Just make sure you use the recommended size roast or adjust the cooking time.

We like our roast with mashed potatoes and steamed green beans or broccoli.

10) Red wine braised short ribs

The last recipe on this instant pot dinners list is probably more for special occasions. Short ribs are expensive and it’s definitely a more time-consuming meal to make. However, it is probably one of my husband’s favorite meals (I usually make it on his birthday) and therefore, I had to include it in this compilation.

Just like for the roast, I like to serve the ribs with mashed potatoes. It pairs extremely well with roasted parmesan carrots.

Make this your next special celebration meal, you won’t regret it.

In conclusion

I enjoy experimenting with food and adapting my diet to the changing seasons. Eating locally grown, nutrient-rich produce is not only beneficial for our health, but it also allows us to enjoy a varied diet throughout the year. I hope this collection of Instant Pot dinners has inspired you to try something new this autumn.

Bon Appetit!

Cat xx

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