Easy Instant Pot tapioca pudding recipe that takes less than 15 minutes and requires less work than on the stovetop. Great pressure cooker tapioca pudding.
Yes we are back with this easy Instant Pot tapioca pudding recipe, yet another favorite Instant Pot dessert recipe! It came out fabulous and only took about 15 minutes! I grew up with tapioca pudding. It’s now one of our favorites and added to the list Instant Pot recipes with many others you’ve got to try on our site. Let us know what you think! (originally published 2/17)
- My oldest daughter asked after we made the most delicious Instant Pot rice pudding that we should figure out an easy Instant Pot tapioca pudding recipe too.
Tapioca pudding great either warm or cold in my opinion with just a dash of nutmeg on top. It’s such a simple dessert really and mostly milk so I love that my kids like it (they aren’t big milk drinkers anymore but this is a great way to get some into them).
- If you’ve made tapioca on the stovetop you know that it’s really milk, sugar, tapioca and an egg.
Making it in the Instant Pot is no different as far as the ingredients go, just of course the timing, the pan, and what settings to use is what you need to know.
If you’ve heard about Instant Pots but don’t have one yet I share my love for them because it has really made dinnertime much easier in our house, and allowed us to eat together more often (the goal right).
With both of us working full time it’s fabulous to be able to cook what would normally take a an hour or so for less than 20 minutes, seriously!
- There are a few versions but this is the one I have and love.
This is what you need to make this version of pot in pot Instant Pot Tapioca Pudding Recipe (another version below)
There are two ways, PIP (pot in pot) method is below and second way you put directly into your pressure cooker pot:
- Pot for inside your IP to use the PIP (pot in pot) method for this – You MUST use this pot for it to work (sen below)
- 2 3/4 c. Milk
- 1 Egg
- 4 Tbsp. Tapioca – use Minute tapioca
- 1 Tsp. Vanilla
- 1/3 c. Sugar
This is an updated recipe as many people found the foil to not hold on tightly enough and it would spill over. Using the pans you see here for the Instant Pot tapioca pudding pot in pot method works if you put your pudding mixture in the bottom of the 2 containers and secure it tightly as you see here.
Directions for Instant Pot tapioca pudding recipe Pot In Pot method:
- Pour 2 c water into your Instant Pot and put a trivet inside
- Add the sugar, vanilla, milk, and Minute tapioca into the BOTTOM of the 2 stackable pots
- Add an egg and whisk together for 1-2 minutes so all of it is combined well & sugar begins to dissolve
- Put the top pot on top of your lower filled pot
- Put the lid on the top pot
- Secure the locking device so both pots are tightly together
- Lower your pot on to your trivet, must be low trivet so lid will shut
- Put your lid on and close your steam valve
- Put your IP on manual, pressure high for 5 minutes.
- Do a natural release for 4 minutes before releasing steam
- Pour Instant Pot tapioca pudding in your bottom bowl/container into a separate cool bowl
- Put bowl in fridge, it will continue to thicken as it cools
Here is the second way to make Instant Pot tapioca pudding making it right in your Instant Pot (I prefer this method).
Video is here and full recipe is in recipe card below:
- Add pearl tapioca right into your pot with some water (exact directions below in recipe card)
- After that has cooked you switch to saute and add a mixture of milk and egg yolks
- Then add your sugar and stir until dissolved
- Add a bit of vanilla
- Remove pot and serve!!
Optional items are a dash of cinnamon inside or on top of your Instant Pot pudding, nutmeg is good too, and a few raisins has been a favorite topping too.
Looking for more Instant Pot dessert recipes?
- Pressure cooker brownies
- Instant Pot pineapple upside down cake
- Instant Pot rice pudding is the bomb, you’ve gotta’ make it after this tapioca
Here is the recipe for making tapioca in your Instant Pot.
Instant Pot Tapioca Pudding Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 c milk whole is best if you can find it
- 1/2 c sugar white sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla or a bit more depending on your taste
- 1/2 c tapioca not Minute tapioca
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 c water
Instructions
- Add tapioca pearls and water into your Instant Pot (directly inside, this is not the PIP method that is above). Stir
- Close lid and steam valve and set to pressure high for 5 minutes, allow to naturally release pressure for about 4 minutes when done, release remaining steam, then carefully lift lid. (sometimes during the 5 minutes a bit steam continues to come out and it doesn't completely seal but that is ok, it will still be fine)
- Turn pot OFF using the cancel button (important step so you don't get the burn notification).
- Whisk together your egg yolks and milk in a small bowl and turn your pressure cooker to saute.
- Slowly pour the egg/milk mixture in stirring consistently so the egg cooks and pudding doesn't burn. (I like using a wooden spoon during this process)
- Slowly sprinkle in sugar and stir consistently until dissolved.
- Turn pressure cooker off and remove pot so it doesn't continue to cook.
- Slowly stir in vanilla and pour pudding into smaller bowls.
- Allow to cool and then put into fridge to thicken up more (or eat immediately if you prefer).
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Do you think on the pot in pot method you could put pudding in both pans for a double batch? Just made the single batch and it was perfect.
Will this work for soy milk? I normally cook with that in the microwave but would like to try in the Instant pot. I normally cook the soy-tapioca, throw in fridge to harden, then put some frozen wild blueberries on top. Next morning it is like blueberry ice cream for breakfast.
I haven’t used soy milk with this one yet. My guess is that it would be fine. If you try it let me know!
This is how I remember tapioca throughout my life, growing up and making it as an adult. Thanks so much for sharing this, some say Minute tapioca doesn’t work in the pc. I’ve tried pearl and maybe I just don’t like pearl even though I soak it overnight. So I finally got a box of Minute to try in my instant pot. Winner! Because my husband is allergic to eggs, I have to be very careful, so what I did was leave the egg out and whisked the egg well, released pressure naturally after 12 minutes on high, (I used a heavy solid trivet from ekovana that has handles, so thought it might need more time.). I then added the whisked egg to the pudding, stirring constantly as I added it, then put the cover back on the pudding and put back into the pc for two minutes, gave it another natural release, stirred butter and vanilla in and put it in the fridge. Served with NYT’s recipe for tart cherry sauce. The pudding has a better texture than stove top and no standing over the stove stirring! After trying several pearl recipes, I really wondered if this wouldn’t be so good either. My go to now, the ingredients are the same as on the box.
So glad you liked it, I agree much better than watching it.
Did you put the ingredients directly in the instant pot or use pot in pot method?
Did the measurements for the PIP method get deleted somehow? I can see the method and ingredients listed but not the amounts. My sister recommended this recipe, so I assumed the measurements were the same as the not PIP method since that was all that was listed and it turned out like glue! My sister went back and looked and said that it had changed and when she made it it called for a lot more milk and a lot less tapioca (minute). She said the original was excellent. I’d really love to give it another try with correct measurements.
Sorry about that, when I updated the post it went a little wonky and amounts for PIP method didn’t transfer. Fixed and PIP method is updated correctly now.
Thanks so much!!
I noticed on the second recipe that it calls for 2 egg yolks. When I read the directions, it said add egg and yolks. I’m confused! Do I use the whites or not? Thank u
Sorry, typo. Fixed. First recipe uses the whole egg, the second just uses egg yolks.
Please Help, I just made your Tapioca using the Pip method. Followed all instructions to letter . The tapioca came out very runny. The tapioca came out all on the bottom of pan not mixed though mixture. Even after in refrigerator over night did not help much the runny consistency. What went wrong? Would love to get it right! Thank you. Sandra Dana
you say for non PIP method to use NOT minute tapioca, however later on you said to use the stuff in the red box, is there NOT minute tapioca that is also in the red box? is it ok to use minit if its all i have?
You can try, I just do it this way. One with not Minute tapioca and the other method without. Let me know how yours turns out.
Could anyone tell me if once done can the tapioca pudding be put into a pie shell? I can’t find a straight tapioca pudding pie recipe and not sure if my pudding is too watery for the pie crust
I made this as directed but found it too liquidy, so I put it back in for an additional 4 min and it came out perfect.
I added 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and wisked after the 1st cook, great texture.
Thanks for your tips, everyone prefers a different texture.
First time making it, turned out well! I followed the directions exactly. Nor burn, no boil over. Will make this again! Even tasted great right out of the pot, warm!
Awesome!!
First time making it, turned out well! I followed the directions exactly. Nor burn, no boil over. Will make this again! Even tasted great right out of the pot, warm!
I prefer cooking my Tapioca in the microwave. Same recipe. Cook for 6 minutes on High in 8qt bowl. Then watch for whale cooking for 4 more minutes. Turn off power if it starts to run over and restart as needed. 12 Minutes total cook time. Add vanilla last.
Mine boiled over the pan I used Do you cover the pan
Yes try covering with foil.
Mine did too and I had it covered.
I used PIP and mine has a cover also used a rack that elevated the pan a couple of inches so bottom would not get too hot. Turned out fine but texture is different than stovetop.
Have you made a larger batch in the IP? My family loves tapioca so much I generally make it with just over 8 cups of milk. Would it just need more time in the IP?
It may, I haven’t doubled it yet. My rice pudding in the IP doesn’t work as well doubled so I usually don’t.
I, too, followed the recipe exactly as stated. I made it twice, each time it burned on the bottom.
I used a rack made for eggs that elevated it about 2″ from the bottom and turned out fine.
So glad you loved it
I just got my instant pot and tapioca is one of my favorite desserts! When doing the pot in a pot method for this recipe do you still need to add water to the bottom of the instant pot? Do you cover the pot inside? And how much bigger did the bowl with the tapioca in it need to be then when the tapioca is just added? Thank you so much for the feedback and I’m excited to try this recipe!
I haven’t done pot in pot yet for this one but yes always add about 2 c. of water to the bottom if you are using this method to cook in the IP.
My instant pot did not come to pressure
Did you close the valve?
I followed this recipe but added the egg at the beginning after beating it with the milk. I couldn’t see any reason not to! I used the PIP method (Pot In Pot) so no worries about burning it. It turned out perfect!
The egg chunks are a little weird. Has anyone ever tried it without adding the egg?
Add very slowly to avoid chunks.
I added the egg at the beginning after beating it with the milk.
Could the egg be tempered and added all at once, instead of 1/4 at a time?
I’ve never cooked tapioca with eggs. Is it necessary? Does it add additional flavor? Thanks!
Did you use instant tapioca?
Yes, in the red box.
Followed exactly, burned on bottom. I wonder if pot in pot would work?
From another J(Joy) Reding, had to reply. 🙂
Mine didn’t burn at all; used Pam organic spray. Maybe you need more of a coating?
Mine got dark on the bottom as well. It doesn’t taste burned but has the dark chunks from the bottom. I think I will try the PIP to see if that will work better as well. Tastes good though!