Some recipes are just comfort food for me. This chop suey recipe is one of them. My maternal grandma made this regularly when I was growing up. She lived with us for a while and cooked dinner for us occasionally. Her version of this recipe was done on the stovetop and took a LONG time. I do not have the patience, and often don’t have the energy to make that version. And since I’ve been working on simplifying my favorite childhood recipes, I decided to give this one a makeover.
I previously did this recipe in the slow cooker, and that worked well. But I wanted to find a faster way to make this. So I got out my Instant Pot to see if this recipe would work.
This recipe uses stew meat. And there are a whole lot of recipes that use stew meat that require you to sear the meat first. And honestly, I’m not going to do that. Most days, I just don’t have the energy. And I know a lot of other women in midlife who struggle with that too.
The good news is that I usually have the energy for a good dump-and-go recipe. And that’s exactly what I did with this recipe! The great thing is that you can buy pre-cut onions and celery in most grocery store produce sections. And if you don’t want to cook some “minute” rice, you can always get a microwavable package of rice.
I’ve made this recipe smaller
My Grandma’s original recipe could feed a LOT of people! So I’ve made the recipe smaller. It tastes every bit as good, but it’s better for smaller families.
This recipe is naturally gluten-free.

Instant Pot Chop Suey
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Place all ingredients, except cornstarch into your Instant Pot
- Set on high setting and set timer for 35 minutes.
- Once the chop suey is done cooking, allow it to depressurize for at least 10 minutes.
- Mix a tablespoon or two with some cool water to form a slurry.
- Mix into the chop suey and allow it to thicken for 5 minutes.
- Serve over rice with soy sauce and chow mein noodles!

I like how this Instant Pot Chop Suey recipe simplifies a classic dish without sacrificing flavor. It’s perfect for busy weeknights when you want something quick and tasty.