Easy Instant Pot & Slow Cooker Meals for Busy Homesteaders

Busy nights don’t mean takeout. Try these slow cooker and Instant Pot recipes—simple, cozy, and doable even on your busiest days.

By the time the chores are done, the kids are fed, and the animals are settled, I want dinner that basically cooks itself. Some nights that’s wishful thinking—but my slow cooker and Instant Pot come pretty darn close.

Some nights I need a meal that cooks all day while I’m out. Other nights, I realize at 5 p.m. I forgot to plan anything. That’s when I reach for one of these recipes.

Why I Love These Methods for Everyday Dinners

Homesteading life doesn’t leave much wiggle room in the evenings. That’s where slow cookers and Instant Pots shine. They’ve saved dinner at my house more times than I can count and nobody complains about what’s on the table.

• On the days I’m running back and forth from the barn to the garden, my crockpot is the only reason we don’t end up with takeout.
• Instant Pots are lifesavers when you didn’t plan ahead. They turn frozen meat into tender dinner in under an hour (no exaggeration).

Between the barn, the garden, and everything else, these two gadgets are the reason we’re not living on scrambled eggs every night.

Slow Cooker Tips to Make Life Easier

A few small habits can make your slow cooker meals more flavorful and foolproof:

• Don’t lift the lid during cooking. I know it’s tempting to peek, but every time you do, dinner gets pushed back. Ask me how I know.
• Sear your meat if the recipe calls for it. That golden crust adds rich flavor you won’t get from slow cooking alone.
• Go skinless for poultry. rust me—chicken skin turns to rubber in the crockpot. Learned that one the hard way.
• Use the right size cooker. Your food should fill about 1/2 to 2/3 of the pot. Overfilling or underfilling can affect cooking time and consistency.

I finally upgraded to a slow cooker with a timer, and it’s been a game changer. No more coming home to mystery mush. If you’re cooking for one or two people, a compact slow cooker for smaller batches might be all you need (and it takes up less space on the counter, too).

Cozy Slow Cooker Recipes to Try

These are the meals I come back to again and again when I want something warm and comforting without standing over a stove.

Chinese 5-Spice Pork Ribs: Sweet, savory, and fall-apart tender. These ribs taste like takeout, but all you have to do is toss them in the slow cooker.

Garden Fresh Marinara Tomato Sauce: Perfect for preserving that summer garden goodness. I simmer mine all day in the crockpot and freeze it in batches.

Chicken Tacos: Three ingredients and zero effort. The chicken comes out perfectly shredded every time—great for tacos, bowls, or nachos.

French Dip Sandwiches: Slow cooked beef that makes the whole house smell amazing. Pile it on crusty rolls, add provolone if you’ve got it, and you’ve got dinner that feels way fancier than the effort it took.

2-for-1 Beef Roast + Bonus Bean Soup: Make a roast one day and turn the leftovers into soup the next. Budget-friendly and meal-prep approved.

Chicken Bone Broth: Not just a recipe—this is a staple. Slow cooking makes the richest, most flavorful broth.

How to Cook a Whole Chicken in a Crockpot: This is how I cook chicken when the oven’s full or I want to save energy. The result? Juicy, pull-apart chicken and ready-made broth.

Pulled Pork Shoulder: Set it, shred it, and serve it however you like. BBQ sandwiches, tacos, or just piled on a plate.

Spicy Chorizo Soup: Loaded with beans, veggies, and kicky chorizo. This is one of those “dump it in and walk away” meals.

Chicken Chile: Simple and hearty. This is a white chicken chili-style soup that works with pantry ingredients.

Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas: No skillet required. Toss everything in the slow cooker and serve with tortillas or rice.

Want to make the most of your holiday extras? Try these slow cooker recipes for Thanksgiving leftovers—they’re easy, comforting, and perfect for stretching your meals a little further.

Instant Pot Tips for Faster Dinners

Instant Pots take some getting used to, but once you’ve got the hang of them, they’re game-changers:

• Factor in pressurizing time. Even “quick” meals take 10–15 minutes to come up to pressure—and a few to release it.
• Frozen is fine. Most meats can be cooked from frozen (just check the recipe). Great for when you forget to thaw.
• Use the presets. Don’t be afraid to try the soup, rice, or bean buttons. I was skeptical at first, but the soup button actually nails it.

If you’re new to pressure cooking, I’ve had this Instant Pot for years, and it’s never let me down. Soups, roasts, you name it. It’s a staple in my kitchen when time is tight.

Quick and Tasty Instant Pot Recipes

These are the go-to meals I make when it’s 5 p.m. and I haven’t even thought about dinner yet.

Easy Spanish Rice: Perfect as a side dish or taco bowl base. It’s fluffy, flavorful, and done in under 30 minutes.

Baby Back Pork Ribs: Tender like they’ve been cooking all day—but really just an hour. Finish under the broiler for a sticky glaze.

No-Soak Pinto Beans: From dry to done in about an hour. No soaking, no fuss—just perfectly soft, seasoned beans.

Better Than Takeout Beef & Broccoli: Tender beef, broccoli that isn’t mush, and a sauce my kids actually lick off the plate. This one’s saved me from ordering out more than once.

Ham Hock & Black Eyed Pea Soup: Comfort food in a bowl. This Southern-inspired soup is hearty, smoky, and deeply satisfying.

Roasted Garlic & Tomato Soup: Rich and velvety with layers of flavor. Add a grilled cheese and call it a night.

Refried Pinto Beans: So much better than canned, and surprisingly simple. These are creamy, flavorful, and freezer-friendly.

Creamy Mac and Cheese: A one-pot wonder. Creamy, cheesy, and done in about 20 minutes.

Umami Pot Roast: Deep, savory flavor in a fraction of the time. This one’s a tastes like it took all day, but it’s done before the kids start asking what’s for dinner.

FAQs About Slow Cooker & Instant Pot Meals

Still wondering how to make the most of these kitchen workhorses? Here are a few quick answers to common questions people have about Instant Pot and slow cooker recipes.

Whether you’re feeding a busy family or just want to simplify your evenings, save this post so you’ll always have dinner inspiration at your fingertips.

If soups are your go-to comfort food, don’t miss my top 10 winter soups—they’re nourishing, budget-friendly, and perfect for chilly nights.

Homemade doesn’t have to mean hard (or take all night). Whether you’re simmering soup all day or whipping up dinner in under an hour, these Instant Pot and slow cooker recipes make homemade meals totally doable. So dust off that slow cooker or fire up the Instant Pot—whatever makes sense tonight—and let it do the work while you kick your boots off or bake a batch of oatmeal raisin breakfast cookies so breakfast is ready for the week, too.

Have a favorite easy meal I should try? Share it in the comments—I’m always looking for new ideas!

This post was originally published in December 2017 but has been completely updated and refreshed with new tips, seasonal relevance, and even more of my go-to Instant Pot and slow cooker recipes to make dinner easier than ever.