Recipe Index

Sweet and Spicy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

October 18, 2018 by Tanya 31 Comments

These Sweet and Spicy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts are perfectly cooked in your Air Fryer. Toss them in a Korean Gochujang sauce for the perfect vegetable side dish.

air fryer brussels sprouts roasted in the air fryer basket

Full Recipe/Instructions are available in the recipe card
at the bottom of the post. You can find important tips/tricks
in the blog post.

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I’m a sucker for a good roasted veggie, especially brussels sprouts. My mother in law always prepares a pan of roasted brussels sprouts for Thanksgiving and I’m always the first in line to grab a bunch. Inspired by her recipe, I decided to make my brussels sprouts in the air fryer and add my own little Korean inspired sauce to them.

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Ninja Foodi Shrimp Boil Recipe {Video}

October 17, 2018 by Tanya 11 Comments

This Shrimp Boil recipe made in the Ninja Foodi is delicious and easy. Now you can have that Cajun style boil in less time and less effort.

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I've been having a ton of fun with my Ninja Foodi. I've been making recipes from the cookbook that came with the machine and I've also ventured out on my own with these crispy pork carnitas and these chicken wings from frozen.

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Instant Pot Sausage Gravy (Biscuits and Gravy) + Video

October 16, 2018 by Tanya 30 Comments

This Instant Pot Sausage Gravy recipe is easy and delicious. Serve it over homemade or canned biscuits for the ultimate breakfast.

white sausage gravy on a spoon over instant pot

This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.

Full Recipe Ingredients/Instructions are available in the
recipe card at the bottom of the post.
You can find important tips/tricks in the
blog post.

I love using my Instant Pot Pressure Cooker to make breakfast in the mornings. I keep oatmeal, cornmeal poridge, Instant Pot egg bites, grits, and this breaksfast sausage on regular rotation.

I used to make my sausage gravy on my stove top but it’s so much easier to make in the Instant Pot, so why not. The great thing is after it’s done cooking, the Instant Pot will keep it warm for you. This makes it the perfect breakfast idea for those weekend morning breakfast.

You can serve this Instant Pot Sausage Gravy with homemade biscuits or canned biscuits. I won’t lie...depending on my mood, I will sometimes just throw some Pilsburys in the oven. If you can do homemade though...do it.

How to Make Instant Pot Sausage Gravy

First, you will want to set your Instant Pot on sauté and brown your pork sausage. I use plain pork sausage but you could experiment with the different flavors if you like.

Once your meat is brown, you will add your butter and stir until the butter has melted in. Added fat is good for this recipe.

Then you’ll sprinkle your flour over the meat and stir for about 1 minute. Then add in your maple syrup, milk, salt, and black pepper, and stir, ensuring that there are no brown bits stuck to the bottom.

Turn off your Instant Pot and then set it to low pressure, cook time of 2 minutes. Cover and walk away.

Once timer goes off, do a quick release and open. Your gravy will look watery but stir and it will thicken up. If you want it even thicker, select medium sauté and cook and stir until desire thickness is reached.

How to Serve Instant Pot Sausage Gravy

Serve this sausage gravy over fluffy oven baked biscuits that have been broken in half. Or eat it by the spoonful...which is what I do from time to time.

If you are looking for biscuit tips, you can check out my post on what I learned making Bojangles biscuits. The tips and tricks are great.

I like to keep my gravy warm by turning on the slow cooker function in my IP rather than the keep warm function. I set it to slow cook on medium and cover it with my Instant Pot glass lid. That way my family can go for seconds and thirds without worrying that the gravy is cold.

instant pot covered with glass lid near window

I hope you enjoy this Instant Pot Gravy as much as we do. Looking for more Instant Pot recipes for breakfast? Try these out:

Pin Instant Pot Sausage Gravy for Later

Instant Pot Sausage Gravy is easy and delicious. Top it over your favorite homemade or store bought biscuits for the perfect morning breakfast. #instantpotbreakfast #breakfasttime #suasageandgravy #Pressurecooker alt=

Print Recipe

4.75 from 8 votes

Instant Pot Sausage Gravy

Delicious Instant Pot Sausage Gravy to serve over your favorite fluffy bizcuits.

Prep Time5

Cook Time2

Rise to pressure10

Total Time17

Servings: people

Calories: 383kcal

Author: Tanya

Ingredients

1 lb pork sausage
3 Tablespoon butter unsalted
¼ cup All-purpose flour
3 cups milk
1 Tablespoon maple syrup
2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Set Instant Pot to Sauté and select “More” setting. Once Instant Pot displays “HOT” add your sausage. Stir and brown sausage until it is no longer pink, about 5 minutes.
Add butter and stir until butter is melted. Sprinkle flour over meat and stir. Cook for about one minute while stirring.
Add milk, maple syrup, salt and black pepper. Stir, ensuring that there are no brown bits stuck to the bottom.
Press cancel on Instant Pot. Select “Pressure Cook" and adjust machine to low pressure and a time of 2 minutes. Cover the Instant Pot with the pressure cooking lid, ensuring that the valve is set to "Seal."
Once timer goes off, do a quick release by turning the Valve to “Venting.” Once all the pressure is released, open the lid and stir the gravy.
The gravy will thicken upon stirring. If you would like the gravy thicker, select Sauté and put it on the normal setting. Cook, while stirring, until desired thickness is reached.

Notes

Notes on Instant Pot Sausage Gravy

This recipe was made in a 6 Qt Instant Pot DUO.
The Instant Pot Lux does not have a low pressure cooker function. In order to cook without the low pressure function, continue to cook with the sauté function (after browining the meat and adding the other ingredients)
for about 10-15 minutes or until gravy has thickened to desired consistency.
This is great to keep warm in the Instant Pot while having breakfast.

Nutrition

Step by Step Photos of Instant Pot Sausage Gravy

ground pork in instant pot insert — Brown ground pork in the Instant Pot on the Sauté function. Add butter and stir until melted.

ground pork with flour sprinkled on top — Sprinkle all purpose flour over the mixture and stir while cooking for about one minute.

ground pork and milk inside instant pot insert — Pour milk into Instant Pot. Turn off Sauté function and cook on low pressure for 2 minutes.

thickened milk gravy mixture in instant pot — Sauce will thicken once done. You could also select sauté and cook until it has thickened a bit.

finished gravy covering biscuits — Pour Instant Pot gravy over fresh or canned biscuits.

Ninja Foodi Recipe: Crispy Pork Carnitas

October 3, 2018 by Tanya 130 Comments

These crispy delicious pork carnitas are made in the Ninja Foodi in less than 1 hour. Pressure cook them to tender and crisp them up all in one device.

This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.

Full Recipe Ingredients/Instructions are available in the
recipe card at the bottom of the post.
You can find important tips/tricks in the
blog post.

I recently became the owner of a Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker with Air Crisper. What’s that you ask? It’s a magical device that Ninja has bestowed upon us. It’s a pressure cooker. It’s an air fryer. It’s a pressure cooker and an air fryer all combined in one device.

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Garlic Instant Pot Noodles

October 2, 2018 by Tanya 49 Comments

These delicious Garlic Instant Pot Noodles are too easy to make. This tasty dump and go noodle recipe is a quick weeknight meal you will want to make over and over….and over again.

This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.

Full Recipe Ingredients/Instructions are available in the
recipe card at the bottom of the post.
You can find important tips/tricks in the
blog post.

Every once in a while hubby and I will go on a lunch date to one of our favorite sushi restaurants. They have an all you can eat buffet that comes with some pretty cool appetizers.

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Top 9 Accessories for your Instant Pot

September 27, 2018 by Tanya 2 Comments

I love using my Instant Pot to make unique recipes. I use my normal insert a ton but will also use my Instant Pot Accessories to get the most out of my Instant Pot. Here's a list of the 9 best accessories to have for your Instant Pot.

main image of post with egg bite accessory on top, text that says "top 8 accessories for your instant pot" and steel accessory at bottom

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1. The Egg Bite Mold

I use this mold to make my soft and creamy Copycat Sous Vide Egg Bites in the Instant Pot. I like this one because I never spray them and my egg bites slide right on out when I finish making them.

2. Double Stacking Steamer Insert

I use this double stacking insert for heating up leftovers or cooking foods that I don't want to overlap (I use it a lot to make double batches of baby food). I also use it to make grits, polenta, and oatmeal when I don't want to risk the bottom of my pot getting scortched. The cooktime takes a little longer with the inserts but I don't mind, especially if it can save me time on the dishes. I make my creamy pressure cooker pumpkin pie oatmeal in one of these stackable inserts.

3. 6 Pack Instant Pot Accessories Steamer Set

I found that buying an accessory kit is useful because you get more products for less money. This set comes with a Steamer Basket, Steamer Base Egg Steamer, Springform Pan for making cake, Rack Silicone Oven for resting hot pots/pans, mitts Plate Dish Clip for taking hot stuff or extremely cold stuff out the pot.

4. Silicone Steamer

I love using silicone products in my Instant Pot now, rather than the traditional metal steamers. Primarily because food does not stick to them. I use silicone to steam vegetables as well as fish/chicken. My Pressure Cooker Salmon with Garlic Herb Cream Sauce is the perfect dish for this steamer.

5. A Pressure Cooker Bakeware Sling

Cheesecakes, Oatmeal, and any pot in pot recipe could benefit from a sling. I know many times it's suggested to make a foil sling to lower your cake pans into the Instant Pot. This is 100 times more easier and is great for using in the Instant Pot.

6. Steam Release Diverter

A big concern with any Instant Pot owner is that steam that shoots out the top during a quick release. It could possibly damage your cabinets over time. This allows the steam to shoot sideways, rather than upwards. Be careful where you point that steam though.

7. Instant Pot Tempered Glass Lid

This lid is to be used only if you are using the Instant Pot slow cooking function or after the cook process is over, not during pressure cooking. I love using it to cover foods after they have cooked, especially chili, like my Pressure Cooker Turkey Chili, my Pressure Cooker Lentil and Sausage Soup, and my Instant Pot Breakfast Sausage Gravy. Just keep the soup on the keep warm function and cover with the glass lid.

8. Extra Sealing Rings

Having an extra set of sealing rings for the Instant Pot comes in handy. The sealing ring can take on the smells of your food, especially garlic. It can also start to feel loose over extending use. I use these extra rings when making desserts or breakfast in my Instant Pot and keep the standard ring for when I am cooking dinner.

9. A Pressure Cooker Cookbook

A good pressure cooker cookbook is always helpful. This Old Gal's Cookbook is great for those new or established Instant Pot users. You can read my full book review here.

These are my favorite Instant Pot Accessories. I use these in my 6 qt Instant Pot. what are your favorite accessories? Please leave them in the comments below 🙂

Air Fryer Boneless Pork Chops (Japanese Tonkatsu)

September 25, 2018 by Tanya 27 Comments

These Air Fryer Boneless Pork Chops are nice and crispy with tons of Asian flavor. Have fun with the seasonings to create your own flavor combo or just follow the recipe as stated below.

Full Recipe/Instructions are available in the recipe card
at the bottom of the post. You can find important tips/tricks
in the blog post.

This post may contain affiliate links, please read my full disclosure here.

Our Air Fryer is our go to when we are craving fried foods. Traditional frying has become a thing of the past (except when making things with loose batter). The internet has let me know that you all love your Air Fryers too which is awesome. I’ll keep the Air Fryer recipes coming 🙂

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Pressure Cooker Lentil Soup with Sausage {Video}

September 18, 2018 by Tanya 3 Comments

This Pressure Cooker Lentil Soup with Sausage Recipe is a delicious and hearty soup with tons of flavor. It’s a quick and easy dinner option when made in your electric pressure cooker.

final shot of pressure cooker lentil soup in a bowl

This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.

Full Recipe Ingredients/Instructions are available in the
recipe card at the bottom of the post.
You can find important tips/tricks in the
blog post.

This Pressure Cooker Lentil Soup with Sausage was inspired by one of our favorite soups from one of my favorite Italian restaurants, Carrabba's. Hubby had been bugging me for months to make a copycat version at home.

For months I blew him off until I finally gave in. I regret not giving in earlier because this soup is amazing and one of my favorites to make in my Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker.

What exactly are lentils?

Lentils can be found in your dry bean aisle of the grocery store. They are known as “pulses” which are the edible seeds of legumes. I love to use them in cooking because they are cheap and nutritious. You can find more information about lentils here.

How long should lentils cook in a pressure cooker?

The Instant Pot Pressure Cooker option is a great way to cook dry beans without soaking and lentils comes as no exception. How long you cook lentils in the pressure cooker will depend on the type of lentils you’re cooking with and the dish you are making.

For this soup recipe, I only use brown or green lentils and cook at high pressure for 15 minutes. If I’m making lentils to use in a dish other than soup, for example tacos, then I cut the cook time down to 12 minutes.

Red lentils are a bit different as they have much faster cooktime. 12 or 15 minutes in the pressure cooker will turn red lentils into mush so I do not sub them in this recipe.

final photo shot of pressure cooker lentil soup with sour cream on top

How to prepare lentils for pressure cooking?

The great thing about lentils is that you do not have to soak them before adding them to the pressure cooker. However, you should rinse them and inspect them to make sure there isn’t any dirt or debris in your lentils. No one wants dirty gritty soup.

How to Make Pressure Cooker Lentil Soup with Sausage

This soup is made by first sautéing your italian sausage, then adding the vegetables and giving it a quick sauté with the meat. You will then add your lentils and chicken broth and layer the diced tomatoes on top without stirring.

Anytime I make a dish in my Pressure Cooker with tomatoes, like this pressure cooker turkey chili, I layer the tomatoes on top to avoid the Instant Pot becoming scorched on the bottom. Thick sauces, like diced tomatoes, can cause the Instant Pot to scortch and possibly burn. It's better just to lay them on the top and stir once the cooking process is complete.

Can this Pressure Cooker Lentil Soup be frozen?

Yes, yes, and yes! I like to freeze this soup in quart sized freezer bags and save it for those really busy days. When I'm ready to reheat, i just remove it from my freezer and add it to my Instant Pot still frozen. I set it on 10 minutes high pressure and walk away.

frozen bag of pressure cooker lentil soup

Looking for more Instant Pot Recipes? Try these out:

Print Recipe

5 from 3 votes

Pressure Cooker Lentil Soup with Sausage {Video}

This Pressure Cooker Lentil Soup with Sausage Recipe is a delicious and hearty soup with tons of flavor. It’s a quick and easy dinner option when made in your electric pressure cooker.

Prep Time10

Cook Time15

other20

Total Time45

Course: Soup

Cuisine: American

Keyword: pressure cooker lentil soup

Servings: people

Calories: 276kcal

Author: Tanya

Ingredients

1 lb italian sausage ground
1 large onion chopped
1 stalk celery chopped
1 large carrot chopped
1 small zucchini chopped
3 garlic cloves minced
4 cups chicken broth
1 cup brown or green lentils
2 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 14 ½ cans diced tomatoes undrained
¼ cup fresh parsley
Sour cream optional
Parmesan cheese optional

Instructions

Select sauté on your Instant Pot Pressure Cooker. Once it says “HOT,” add your italian sausage to the pot and cook until brown, breaking up the meat in the process.
Add the onion, celery, carrot, zucchini, and garlic cloves and stir until vegetables soften a little, about 3 minutes.
Press “Cancel” to turn of the Instant Pot. Add the chicken broth, lentils, dried basil, and oregano to the pot and stir.
Pour diced tomatoes on top of the mixture. Cover Instant Pot and Pressure Cook on High Pressure for 15 minutes.
When timer is up, allow to natural release for 10 minutes, then release remaining pressure.
Add fresh parsley and stir. Salt and pepper to taste.
Top with sour cream or parmesan cheese.

Notes

Notes on Pressure Cooker Lentil Soup

You can substitute dried parsley for the fresh. Sub it by using 2 tablespoon rather than ¼ cup and add it when you add the other dried herbs. I just find that fresh parsley adds so much more flavor.
This soup is great for leftovers.

Suggested Tools for Pressure Cooker Lentil Soup

Nutrition

Calories: 276kcal | Fat: 1g

Step by step photos of Pressure Cooker Lentil Soup with Sausage

browned italian sausage for pressure cooker lentil soup — Select sauté on Instant Pot and brown sausage.

pressure cooker lentil soup with vegetables in instant pot — Add onion, celery, carrot, zucchini, and garlic to instant pot. Stir for about 3 minutes until vegetables soften a little.

pressure cooker lentil soup in instant pot with tomatoes layered on top. — Add chicken broth, dried herbs, lentils. Layer diced tomatoes on top. Do not stir in diced tomatoes. Cover Instant Pot, making sure valve is set to "sealing" and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes.

finished pressure cooker lentil soup — Once timer goes off, allow Instant Pot to natural release for 10 minutes, then quick release remaining pressure by moving the valve over to "venting." Once all the pressure is released, open the Instant Pot and add fresh parsley. Give it a stir and serve. Salt and pepper to taste and top with sour cream for the wow factor.

Air Fryer Sweet and Spicy Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites

September 11, 2018 by Tanya 15 Comments

This Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken is covered in a sweet and spicy rub for a quick and easy appetizer. With only 5 ingredients, this recipe is easy, delicious, and a perfect delicious appetizer.

This Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken on white plate

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I love making appetizers in my Air Fryer. Sometimes I’ll throw some already made frozen ones in there but most of the time I opt for homemade. Some of my favorite appetizer are my Crispy Korean Air Fried Chicken Wings and my Air Fried Copycat Cheesecake Factory Avocado Rolls.

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Creamy Pressure Cooker Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

September 6, 2018 by Tanya 20 Comments

This Creamy Pressure Cooker Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal is a delicious spin on traditional oatmeal. Make this quick and easy pressure cooker oatmeal in your Electric Pressure Cooker any day of the week.

oatmeal in instert with spoon sticking out

This post may contain affiliate links, please read my full disclosure here

I’ll be the first to admit that Breakfast in the morning is not always easy. But using the Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker for oatmeal saves the day most mornings. I can make all kinds of breakfast without standing in front of a stove stirring, tossing, and flipping anything.

Keep reading for a super top secret way to get the pot to come to pressure quickly in this recipe.

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