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Instant Pot Mini Egg Bites, sized for the 3 quart with tips

One hot Instant Pot discussion topic is the making copycat Starbucks sous vide egg bites. And as with most Instant Pot recipes they are designed for the 6 quart model. But what about us with the 3 quart Instant Pot Mini? Check out my basic Instant Pot Mini Egg Bites attempts

While I watched the Facebook groups and discussion about egg bites, I honestly wasn’t sure what the hype was about until I had an actual Starbucks sous vide egg bite the other day. Knowing that most of the recipes are for the 6 quart model, I knew I would need to experiment a little bit for my own version of Instant Pot Mini Egg bites. Ultimately my goal was to create something that I could keep in the freezer to either bring to work for breakfast or eat at the end of a day that ran longer than expected.

Close up of Instant Pot Mini Egg Bites Recipe

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Tips for making Instant Pot Mini Egg Bites

Silicone baby food molds make this easier. I wasn’t sure which ones to buy so I actually bought two versions: one with 4 compartments and one with 7 compartments. I wanted to try and fit two molds into one cooking process. While Instant Pot egg bites are easy to make, they take longer than I expected.

Use the right silicone mold

I bought two versions that both fit the Instant Pot Mini, as part of this experiment. And to keep this easy, I made sure the lids of each are also silicone so that I don’t need to track down the extra tin foil to cover the molds.

The first one has 4 compartments each, of about 2 ounces. The second has 7 compartments about 1 ounce each. The 4 compartment model, barely fits my 3 quart instant pot and with the puffing of the eggs, it was a little tricky to open the lid once the pressure is released.

For my first try, I sprayed the molds with a little canola spray. For the second I forgot the spray. Both came out easily, at least using these molds.

Don’t overfill the molds

You’ll likely have a little leftover egg mixture but avoid the temptation to completely fill the molds. Leave room for egg expansion. They’ll collapse as the cool

The mold can be difficult to get out of the liner without a sling. Try using two tongs.
If you stack two molds, the first one will be tricky but somewhat easier to remove from the pot. The one on the bottom is difficult to get out using tongs. My next plan is to track down butcher string to use as a handle instead of aluminum foil.

No blender? No problem. Do you have a stick blender?

All the recipes suggest blending the egg and cheese mixture. One finally mentioned a stick blender as a backup otherwise pull out your favorite whisk. You’re really trying to get to a fully creamy mixture. This was finally an excuse to take my stick blender out of the box and it worked like a charm!

Make your egg mixture in a pourable bowl

Make your life easier and make your egg mixture into something you can pour from. If you’re already using a blender then you are all set. Since I was using a stick blender, I used my Pyrex 4 cup measuring cup. It was large enough to hold everything and I wasn’t worried about the stick blender marking up one of my vintage mixing bowls.

Instant Pot Mini Egg Bites Basic Recipe

I looked around the web and based on my version for Instant Pot Mini Egg Bites using popular from My Forking Life, Foodie and Wine, and Platings and Pairings.

As I mentioned above, you probably will have a little egg mixture left. I haven’t decided yet if it makes sense to reduce any of the ingredients yet. I suspect a little less of each would be ok.

Basic recipe ingredients

4 eggs
ΒΎ cup grated cheese
Β½ cup cottage cheese
ΒΌ cup cream (or milk)
Mix-ins such as a chopped up roasted red pepper

Instructions

Fill each mold compartment to about ΒΎ full. The eggs puff up while cooking. Put one cup of water and your lowest trivet into your Instant Pot. Stack the molds if doing two.

If you’re using the 4 compartment mold (2 ounces per cup), cook on β€œSteam” for 9 minutes and let natural release for 10 minutes before quickly releasing the rest of the pressure.
If you’re using the 7 compartment mold (about 1 ounce per cup), cook on β€œSteam” for 8 minutes, natural release for 9 minutes, quick release the rest.

A few notes about Instant Pot Mini Egg Bites

If you try cooking both molds of the 4 cup model, you may have trouble releasing the lid when it’s down if the mold is pressing on the pressure pin. I was able to open the lid by pushing down the pin once I was completely sure all the pressure was out. It was just the pin wedged under the molds

Honestly, my egg bites have come out a little odd-looking, but given they are tasty so I’m fine with that.

To try and save calories and fat, I used reduced-fat cottage cheese and 2% milk. Since I don’t usually keep either in my refrigerator, I bought the smaller packages where I could. I also grated my own cheese to save a few dollars.

Create your own versions of egg bites with your own mix-ins or use different grated cheeses.

Close up of Instant Pot Mini Egg Bites Recipe

Instant Pot Mini Egg Bites

Cara
Copycat Starbucks sous vide egg bites sized for a 3 quart Instant Pot Mini
5 from 4 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 9 minutes
Total Time 24 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 4 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup grated cheese such as Cheddar
  • 1/2 cup cottage cheese
  • 1/4 cup cream or milk
  • 1/2 roasted red pepper finely chopped, optional

Instructions
 

  • In blender (or bowl with stick blender) combine eggs, cheeses, and cream until smooth. 
  • In each mold cup, add a few pieces of roasted red pepper and fill about 3/4 full with egg mixture. Cover each mold with a silicone lid or aluminum foil.
  • Put your trivet in your Instant Pot along with 1 cup of water. Stack your silicone molds on top of the trivet. Cover and seal your Instant Pot. Don’t forget to turn the release value to sealing. 
  • For the 4 compartment molds, press “Steam” set to 9 minutes.
    For the 7 compartment molds, press “Steam” set to 8 minutes.
  • Once the cooking process stops, let your Instant Pot natural release for 10 or 9 minutes respectively. Quick release the remainning pressure. Carefully remove the molds from your Instant Pot. Let them cool for a few minutes before trying to remove your egg bites from the molds.

Over to you. Have you tried making Instant Pot Mini Egg Bites?

How did it go or what is holding you back from trying? Honestly, they were easier to make than I realize, even though I needed to pick up a new accessory. I’ll be on the hunt next for ideas that I can use for the molds.

Close up of Instant Pot Mini Egg Bites Recipe
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14 Comments

  1. Cara, I so appreciate being able to learn from your experience. I purchased a 6 qt IP and have fiddled around some but not at all confident yet. It’s just me I cook for – with consideration of lunch at work and a quick, light dinner.
    I’m anxious to try the egg bites this weekend.
    Thanks again for sharing!

    1. Hi Annette! Keep fiddling. πŸ™‚ I hope you liked the egg bites. Once you get down the basic approach, have fun and mix it up with whatever add-ins you like. I started doing on with Swiss, green onions, and ham that turned out well. Enjoy and thanks for visiting!

  2. 5 stars
    Cara, thank you so much for the great recipe for my “Mini”! As I am new to the IP, I wanted “simple” and you provided that. I put cut up pre-cooked bacon in the bottom of each mold. Was great! Also, since it is just me, I froze the extras in the molds, took them out and put them in a freezer bag. Then, when, I want them for breakfast, I zap them (2-I can’t eat just one!) for about 1 minute.
    Regards,
    Kaye

    1. Awesome Kaye. Happy to hear you enjoyed it. Once you get the hang of the basic recipe, it’s fun to try and mix it up a bit. I also make extras for the freezer and take them along to work. Enjoy and thanks for visiting!

    2. Cara, did you put the bacon in by itself (pre-cooked) or cook it in the microwave to crisp it up?

      1. Hey Nancy –

        I haven’t used bacon specifically in the egg bites I’ve created. My guess is you wouldn’t heat them in a microwave because it might create really overcooked bacon. You can always give it a try both ways and let us know how it turns out.

        – Cara

  3. Hi Cara, thanks so much for writing a recipe for the 3 qt! You’re absolutely right, most of the sous vide egg bites are for 6 qt. It was hard for me to find a recipe that was appropriate until I found your recipe!

    I tried making it and the recipe tastes delicious. However, they look a bit funky every time I take them out (not quite like the ones you had in your picture though). I use the 7 compartment mold and every time some of them look a little lopsided even though I fill them 3/4 of the way full. I am still trying to figure out the best amount to fill the compartments…and why 1 or 2 look perfect and the rest are weird lol. Nevertheless, thanks for your recipe! πŸ™‚

    1. Thanks so much for your note Jo. Yes, sometimes my little egg bites look a little lopsided (monster-like) even, but for me I’m not too concerned about it. I think it has to do with how much air was beaten into the mixture. I started trying to tap the model on the counter before baking, like we do for cheesecakes.

      Enjoy!

  4. 5 stars
    Hi Cara,
    I just made these in my 3 qt mini duo. I mixed up the times and cooked for 10 minutes. Oh well. Came out great, especially using my had to buy stick blender. Thank you so much for sharing & teaching a newbie like me!
    Annie

    1. Hey Ann,
      Thanks for stopping by! And happy to hear the egg bites came out well! They can be pretty forgiving fortunately even with a little extra cooking time. If you find they puff a little oddly, it might be over-blending. I know most of mine get a little TOO puffy πŸ™‚
      – Cara

  5. 5 stars
    I haven’t tried the recipe yet, but I’m sure it will be fine. What a relief to find a website dedicated to the mini and to find recommendations for products along with instructions. I am disabled and mostly bedridden. Shopping even online can be hard so I am appreciative of the help. I have a six quart pot, but the lid is too heavy. I can’t use the stove from a wheel chair. So I’m hoping to find more simple recipes here. Thank you. The four cup mold is not available right now so I got the seven cup size. 🌻

  6. Hi Cara – I’m getting my 3 quart mini soon and I love that you’ve created a recipe for egg bites for the 3 quart! My question is – do you put the silicone top on the molds as they pressure cook? I’m confused because it seems the egg bites expand beyond the mold so how does that work if the top is on? Thanks! Summer

    1. Hey Summer –

      Thanks for your question. I have used the silicone top of the molds. The key is to not overfill the cups so they don’t overexpand. And the egg bites will expand and collapse as they cool. Good luck and enjoy! Cara

  7. 5 stars
    As to other ideas – I use the egg bite molds to freeze lemon and lime zest and fresh juice, a Tablespoon at a time, so I have it for future recipes. I am going to try baking brownie bites in them, next.

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