6-Day Instant Pot Menu

I know I have talked a lot about the Instant Pot lately.  Pretty sure people roll their eyes when they hear me say "Well, I just used my Instant Pot and...."  Sorry about that!  But this really has been life changing for us.  We both work full time and have lots of other activities that use even more time, but it's important to us to eat healthy and well.  So this week I give you, the 6-Day Instant Pot Menu!  It is just the two of us, so the quantities are plenty.  For a larger family, you may have to double a recipe to have enough for leftovers.  But each of the main dish meal ideas is great even if there are no leftovers!

We usually have the meal one day and the leftover a couple days later.  But mix it up in a way that works for you... and Enjoy!!

MAIN DISH MEAL		REPURPOSED MEAL
Thai Chicken with rice	-->	Thai Chicken Pizza
The recipe as written here is to make the chicken and use it for pizza, but just stop on the ingredients list when you get to the naan bread.  Then serve it once it's done in the Instant Pot, and omit the instructions for baking in the oven.  You can serve it over rice or cauliflower rice the first time and then use what's left for pizza later in the week.
Instant Pot Southwest Chicken	-->	Chicken Nachos
Again, a little bit of the cart before the horse situation here… The recipe is for the nachos but you can make the recipe and serve over rice or noodles the first time, and then over tortilla chips for the repurpose!
Pot Roast	-->	Beef and vegetable soup
First day:  Make the roast as described at the link, then follow the directions below for a warm-you-to-the-core soup!! Beef Vegetable Soup Using leftover pot roast, shred or chop about 2 cups beef and throw that in the Instant Pot.  Also add any leftover onions and carrots from your roast.  If you saved the broth, use that.  If not, add about two cups of beef broth.  (You can use leftover broth and added broth.... that's what I had to do.)  Add one 26 oz. can crushed tomatoes.  Add about 1-1/2 cups frozen mixed vegetables.  Pressure cook on high for 5 minutes.  Quick release pressure and serve!

What are you eating this week?  Whatever it is, Keep it Clean!!

Honey Sesame Chicken (so quick!)

It's so cold here, all I want is something warm and comforting to eat.  My Instant Pot is just the thing to get a great meal on the table in no time.  This week we made Honey Sesame Chicken.  It took no time at all, and it's fabulous!!  Check it out!  (p.s. The leftovers are the bomb!!)

HONEY SESAME CHICKEN

INGREDIENTS

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1" chunks

2 TBSP tomato paste                
2 TBSP water                            
1 TBSP molasses                      
1 TBSP apple cider vinegar      

1 TBS olive oil
1/2 yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce (see NOTE)
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper

2 tsp sesame oil
1/2 cup honey

2 TBSP cornstarch
3 TBSP cold water

sesame seeds for garnish, optional

2 cups cooked rice

INSTRUCTIONS

In a small bowl, mix together tomato paste, 2 TBSP water, molasses, and apple cider vinegar.  Set aside.

Set Instant Pot to Saute.  When hot, add the oil, onion, garlic, and chicken to the pot.  Saute about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent.

Stir in the soy sauce, crushed pepper, and tomato paste mixture.  Lock the lid (remember to close the vent) and cook on high pressure for 5 minutes.

Quick release pressure.  Carefully remove lid once the valve drops.  Add the sesame oil and honey and stir to combine.

In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and cold water.  Set the Instant Pot on Saute and pour in the cornstarch mixture.  Simmer, stirring constantly until thickened.

Serve over rice.  Garnish with sesame seeds, if desired.

NOTE:  It's strongly recommended you use low sodium soy sauce since this recipe calls for so much of it.  Using regular soy sauce will result in a very salty dish.


Cooking with this gadget has really changed things up in our house.  Thinking about making supper is fun now that I know it's not going to take me all evening to put something delicious on the table.  I am the kind of person that enjoys cooking when I have the time to do it.  The Instant Pot gives me that time, since it takes so little!

I am not a paid spokesperson for Instant Pot!  I just really love tools that make our lives better... and this is one of those!

Also, if you've gotten this far... you may have noticed that I am pretty much leading with the recipe.  That's because I have come to realize that the recipe is the reason you visit this site.  And I want you to have that.  No fuss!  No muss!  So while I could tell you a cute little story about how we came to make this (not really), I would rather just skip all that and get right to it. I hope you like this new format.  As always, though, if you have a recipe you want cleaned up, please let me know.  I am always up for the challenge!

What are you eating today?  Whatever it is, Keep it Clean!!