Vegan Instant Pot Recipes 🍲✨

What is a Vegan Instant Pot Recipe?

An Instant Pot is a popular kitchen tool. It is a "multi-cooker." It is a modern, safe pressure cooker. It is also a slow cooker. It is a rice cooker. And it is a sauté pan. It is a "do-it-all" machine. A "vegan" Instant Pot recipe... ...is a 100% plant-based meal. 🌱 Made in this one machine. This means the recipe has:

• No Meat (beef, chicken, fish) 🚫
• No Dairy (milk, butter, cheese) 🚫
• No Eggs 🚫
• No Honey 🚫

This guide is your key. It will show you the magic of the Instant Pot. It will show you why it is a vegan's best friend. We will cover the "why." And we will give you 5 easy, fast, delicious recipes. Let's begin!

The "Why": 4 Reasons Vegans Need an Instant Pot

This is the #1 question. Why buy this machine? Is it worth the counter space? For a vegan, the answer is 100% YES. It solves the biggest problems in vegan cooking. It makes a plant-based life easy.

1. The "Speed" (The #1 Benefit) 💨

This is the main pro. It is fast. The Instant Pot is a pressure cooker. It cooks with high-pressure steam. High pressure = high heat. This cooks food in minutes. Not hours. What is the slowest, hardest part of vegan cooking? Dried beans. 🫘 This is the #1 vegan "pain point." A normal recipe needs you to plan. You must soak your beans overnight. (That is 8 hours!). ( Then, you must boil them. (That is 1-2 more hours). ( This is a huge hassle. It requires a 2-day plan. Who has time for that? The Instant Pot destroys this problem. It is a "game-changer." You can cook un-soaked, 100% dry chickpeas. In about 40-50 minutes. You can cook un-soaked, dry black beans. In just 30 minutes. This is a miracle. It means you can decide to have chili... ...right now. Not "tomorrow." Right now. It also cooks grains fast. Brown rice in 20 minutes. Quinoa in 1 minute!

2. It is "Hands-Off" (The "Freedom" Pro) 🧘

This is the other #1 benefit. It is a "set it and forget it" machine. This is the "freedom" pro. Think about making lentil soup on the stove. You must stand there. You must watch it. You must stir it. You must make sure it does not boil over. (A starchy, foamy mess). ( You must make sure it does not burn... ...and stick to the bottom of the pot. You are "tethered" to the stove. For 30-45 minutes. The Instant Pot is sealed. It is a "closed system." There is no stirring. There is no "boil-over." Nothing can burn. You put the food in. You lock the lid. You press the button. You can now leave the kitchen. 🚶‍♀️ Go play with your kids. Go watch a show. Go read a book. The machine will do all the work. It will come to pressure. It will cook. It will turn itself off. It will keep your food warm for hours. This is a "freedom" machine. It gives you your time back.

3. Flavor Infusion (The "Taste" Pro) 😋

This is the "secret weapon" for flavor. The secret is pressure. The high-pressure steam forces flavor... ...deep into the food. It is not a "gentle" simmer. It is a "flavor infusion." The spices (like cumin, chili powder)... ...are not just "on the surface." They are infused into the beans. The garlic and onion melt into the sauce. They create a deep, rich, complex flavor. A lentil soup... ...that tastes "okay" after 30 minutes on the stove... ...will taste like it has been cooking for 8 hours... ...after just 10 minutes in the Instant Pot. It is a "flavor accelerator." It is amazing.

4. The "All-in-One" Pot (Less Mess!) 🧼

This is a great, hidden benefit. One pot to clean. The insert pot is stainless steel. It is dishwasher-safe. Most recipes use two functions. "Sauté" and "Pressure Cook." You press the "Sauté" button first. The bottom of the pot gets hot. It is a mini-stovetop. You sauté your onions. 🧅 You cook your garlic. You "bloom" your spices. (This builds your flavor base). ( Then, you hit "Cancel." You add your lentils. You add your broth. You lock the lid. You press the "Pressure Cook" button. You have just done everything... ...in one single pot. You do not have a separate "sauté pan" to clean. This is a huge win.

The "Vegan" Traps (A Small Warning)

This is easy for home cooking. But you must be careful with recipes online. Many "Instant Pot" recipes are NOT vegan. They are full of animal products. The #1 Trap: Chicken Broth 🐔 Recipes always call for "broth." Almost always, they mean chicken broth. This is not vegan. You must always use Vegetable Broth. (Or a vegan "No-Chicken" broth). ( The #2 Trap: Dairy 🧀 Recipes for "creamy" soups... ...call for heavy cream or butter. Recipes for "pasta"... ...call for parmesan cheese. These are not vegan. You must use the vegan swaps. The Easy Vegan Swaps:

• For Butter: Use Olive Oil or Vegan Butter (Earth Balance).
• For Heavy Cream: Use Full-Fat Canned Coconut Milk. 🥥 (This is the best swap. It is amazing in curries and soups).
• For Cheese: Use Nutritional Yeast ("Nooch"). This gives a cheesy, savory, umami flavor. T

5 Easy Vegan Instant Pot Recipes

Here are 5 fast, easy, "staple" recipes. These show the power of the IP.

Recipe 1: 10-Minute Lentil Soup (The Classic)

This is the perfect, easy, healthy meal. It tastes like it cooked all day. Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 Onion, diced
• 2 Carrots, diced
• 2 Celery stalks, diced
• 3 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1.5 cups Brown or Green Lentils (rinsed)
• 6 cups Vegetable Broth
• 1 tsp Cumin
• 1 tsp Thyme
• 1 Bay Leaf
• Juice of 1 Lemon 🍋
• Salt & Pepper

Instructions: 1. Set your Instant Pot to Sauté. Add the olive oil. 2. Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 minutes. (Until soft). ( 3. Add the minced garlic, cumin, and thyme. Stir for 1 minute. (Until fragrant). ( 4. Hit Cancel. Pour in the rinsed lentils. Pour in the 6 cups of veg broth. Add the bay leaf. 5. Lock the lid. Set the vent knob to "Sealing." 6. Press the "Pressure Cook" (or "Manual") button. Set the timer to 10 minutes. 7. When it beeps, let it "Natural Release" for 10 minutes. (Just let it sit. Do not touch it). ( 8. After 10 min, flip the vent to "Venting." (This is "Quick Release"). ( 9. Open the lid. Remove the bay leaf. Stir in the fresh lemon juice. Add salt and pepper to taste. Done.

Recipe 2: Vegan "Meaty" Chili 🌶️

This is a "dump-and-go" classic. It is so hearty and rich. Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp Avocado Oil
• 1 Onion, diced
• 1 Bell Pepper, diced
• 4 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 package (12 oz) Vegan "Ground Beef" (Beyond, Impossible, etc)
• 1 can (15 oz) Black Beans, rinsed
• 1 can (15 oz) Kidney Beans, rinsed
• 1 can (28 oz) Crushed Tomatoes
• 1 small can (6 oz) Tomato Paste
• 3 tbsp Chili Powder
• 1 tbsp Cumin
• 1 tsp Oregano
• 2 cups Vegetable Broth

Instructions: 1. Set to Sauté. Add oil, onion, and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes. 2. Add the vegan "ground beef." Break it up. Brown it for 3-4 minutes. 3. Add the garlic and all the spices. Stir for 1 minute. (This "blooms" the spices). ( 4. Hit Cancel. Now, "dump" everything else in. The beans, tomatoes, paste, and broth. 5. Stir it all up. Make sure nothing is stuck to the bottom. (This prevents a "Burn" error). ( 6. Lock the lid. Set to "Sealing." 7. Hit "Pressure Cook." Set the time to 12 minutes. 8. Let it "Natural Release" for 10-15 minutes. (This lets the flavor build). ( 9. Release steam. Stir. Add salt to taste. Serve with avocado, cilantro, and vegan sour cream.

Recipe 3: "No-Soak" Black Beans (The Staple)

This is the best "meal prep" hack. Perfect, cheap, healthy beans. All week. Ingredients:

• 1 lb (2 cups) DRY black beans. (No soaking!). (
• 6 cups Water (or Veg Broth).
• 1 Onion, cut in half.
• 3-4 Garlic cloves (smashed, paper off).
• 1 Bay Leaf.
• 1 tsp Salt (add more later).

Instructions: 1. Dump everything into the Instant Pot. (Yes, the dry, un-rinsed, un-soaked beans). ( 2. Stir it all up. Lock the lid. Set to "Sealing." 3. Hit "Pressure Cook." Set the time to 30 minutes. (30 min = firm beans, good for salads). ( 4. (For soft, "creamy," refried-style beans, do 40-45 min). ( 5. When it beeps, you MUST let it "Natural Release". For at least 20 minutes. This is mandatory for beans! (It stops them from breaking). ( 6. Release any final steam. Remove the onion/bay leaf. Taste. Add more salt. Done.

Recipe 4: Creamy Vegan "Dump" Pasta 🍝

This is a 1-pot miracle. No boiling water! No colander! Ingredients:

• 1 lb box of Dry Pasta (Penne, Rotini, Bowties). (Not spaghetti). (
• 1 jar (24 oz) of your favorite Marinara sauce.
• 1 can (13.5 oz) Full-Fat Coconut Milk. 🥥 (This is the "cream").
• 3 cups Vegetable Broth.
• 1 cup Nutritional Yeast ("Nooch," the "cheese" flavor).
• 1 large bag (5 oz) of fresh spinach.

Instructions: 1. Dump it all in. (Yes, really). ( 2. Add the dry pasta. Pour the jar of sauce on top. Pour in the broth. Pour in the coconut milk. 3. Do NOT stir. Just "pat" the pasta down. Make sure it is (mostly) covered by liquid. 4. Lock the lid. Set to "Sealing." 5. Hit "Pressure Cook." Set the time to 5 minutes. (Yes, just 5!). ( 6. When it beeps, do a "Quick Release". (Flip the valve immediately). (Be careful of the hot steam. 7. Open the lid. It will look very watery. DO NOT PANIC. T 8. Stir it. Add the 1 cup of Nutritional Yeast. Add the entire bag of spinach. 9. Stir, stir, stir. For 2-3 minutes. The sauce will magically thicken. The spinach will wilt. 10. It is a perfect, creamy, vegan "rosé" pasta. In 10 minutes.

Recipe 5: Vegan Steel-Cut Oats (Breakfast Prep)

This is the best breakfast prep. Set it, and walk away. Ingredients:

• 1 cup Steel-Cut Oats. (Not "Rolled Oats"! They will explode). (
• 3 cups Water (or 1.5 cups water + 1.5 cups plant milk).
• 1 tbsp Maple Syrup 🍁
• 1 tsp Cinnamon. Pinch of salt.

Instructions: 1. Dump everything in the pot. Stir. Lock the lid. Set to "Sealing." 2. Hit "Pressure Cook." Set the time to 4 minutes. (Yes, just 4!). ( 3. When it beeps, let it "Natural Release" for 15-20 minutes. (This is key. It absorbs the liquid). ( 4. Release steam. Stir. You have perfect, creamy oatmeal. For the next 3 days. Serve with berries and walnuts.

Conclusion: The Vegan "Easy Button"

The Instant Pot is a vegan's best friend. It is the "easy button" for a plant-based life. It is a tool for speed. (It makes "no-soak" beans a reality). ( It is a tool for freedom. (It is 100% "hands-off" cooking). ( It is a tool for flavor. (It infuses your food with spices). ( It makes a healthy, vegan lifestyle... ...easy, cheap, and sustainable. Enjoy your new kitchen-hero! 🌟