Healthy Instant Pot Dinners
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Whip up these 10 Healthy Instant Pot Dinners in practically no time at all with your pressure cooker and these quick and easy dinner recipes! Make delicious good-for-you meals in a fraction of the time!
I admit it. I had been hearing people rave about their Instant Potobsession since early last year, but I didnt pay much attention to the chatter. I figured that since I was happy with my slow cooker and my rice cooker, I didnt need another gimmicky gadget sitting on my counter. But when the Instant Pot went on super sale for Black Friday, and everyone was talking about it again, I found myself looking a little closer at it. What IS an Instant Pot anyway?
The Instant Pot is a 7-in-1 pressure cooker that also functions as a slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, and warmer. It even has a saute/browning mode, so that you can cook everything from start-to-finish all in one pot easy peasy! The Instant Pot gives meals the same developed flavors and textures of slow cooking, but in a fraction of the time. For example, I can roast a delicious whole chicken thats fall-off-the-bone moist and tender in just 30 minutes!
Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash
Spaghetti squash takes about 1 hour to roast in the oven: but the Instant Pot cuts that time in half! Spaghetti squash can be a healthy side dish recipe , or used as part of a main dish. Our Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti is cooked with garlic and herbs, then doused in marinara sauce for a low-carb take on spaghetti.
Instant Pot Easy Recipes
I am a busy mom who needs quick and simple dishes to serve. Never do I use seasonings or spices that are hard to find and cant be bought at a local grocery store. If you are the same way then this list of one pot meals will work well for your family as well.
- Lots of other tips are here too like this handy free printable with Instant Pot cooking times.
- We have Instapotvegetable cook times here as well
These will help you know how to cook beans in a pressure cooker perfectly. Then you can make things like homemade baked beans and tons of different soups. I mean canned works great if you want to throw 1 into a quick recipe like our fajita soup, but you can cook from dry so easily now too.
- It helps figure out how to cook pressure cooker frozen chicken wings as well as the directions for frozen chicken in the Instant Pot. You can serve both with Jasmine rice in Instant Pot for a complete low fat meal.
Both can come in really handy when you dont have any fresh meat in the house .
Read Also: How To Make Vanilla Yogurt In An Instant Pot
Easy Instapot Dinner Ideas
To start here is the best way to cook Instant Pot chicken and an explanation of pressure cooker times for meat as well as a printable
Here is how to defrost Instant Pot frozen ground beef as well which will help you make a lot of these recipes quickly
- We love Instant Pot cream of celery soup too
- 2 different recipes for Pressure cooker frozen meatballs are great little appetizers or a quick main dish
More dinner ideas below..
We make our 5 ingredient crockpot chili recipe almost weekly and normally it takes 6-8 hours but we made it in here and it was done in 45 minutes or less!
During the cooler months this pressure cooker chicken soup recipes come in handy as well as whole chicken recipes of all kinds.
On that one I still prefer a slower cooking to seep in the flavors so I set it on the slow cooker setting. That is done in just 4 which is quicker AND I can skip precooking the beef in it by using the saute function.
I love it.and have now created a roundup of easy Instant Pot beef recipes too.
We have even made Instant Pot baby food so it can be used for everyone.
My Instant Pot butter chicken has been a hit too. I firsts tasted this popular Indian dish when I was in Utah and it was amazing.I tinkered with it and came up with a version that reminded me of that dinner.
Sweet Potato And Black Bean Chili
Cook 15 minutes
Total 20 minutes
Thanks to this vegan chili recipe from Healthy Instant Pot Recipes, you can score a hearty meal in under 30 minutes. In fact, this chili takes only 5 minutes to prep and about 15 minutes to cook! Plus, its loaded with good-for-you ingredients like sweet potato, black beans, tomatoes, onion, and garlic. You get an excellent amount of both protein and fiber from the beans and veggies in this recipe, Gorin says. You also have the option to add quinoa, ground turkey , and extra veggies like corn, diced carrots, or bell peppers to the recipe.
If you stick to the recipe as written, youll get 310 calories, 58 g of carbs, 16 g of protein, 2 g of fat , and 16.5 g of fiber in one bowl . Gorin suggests using low-sodium or no-salt-added canned beans and tomatoes to limit the sodium content.
Recommended Reading: How To Cook Bacon In Instant Pot
Healthy Instant Pot Recipes For All Diets
We have stepped up our healthy Instant Pot recipes game on Fit Foodie Finds over the last few years with dozens of new recipes featuring all types of meals. Our Instant Pot recipes are balanced meals that are made with simple and real ingredients that dont sacrifice classic flavors.
While we dont follow certain diets on Fit Foodie Finds, a lot of our IP recipes are naturally gluten-free and vegetarian. We have Instant Pot recipes that suit most diets:
The Instant Pot is a great appliance for everyone, but especially for those trying to live a healthy lifestyle because it makes meal-prep a breeze AND you dont have to use your oven .
So there you have it, the rest is history! Give your first Instant Pot recipe a go with one of these delicious Instant Pot recipes !
What Can You Cook In An Instant Pot
Animal proteins , grains, beans and legumes, various veggies, yogurt, desserts, hard-boiled eggs, oatmeal, stews, curries, casseroles, and more can all be beautifully cooked in an Instant Pot.
Many busy home chefs particularly love this little appliance because Instant Pot dinners drastically reduce the cooking time for dishes that typically have to simmer for a long timelike beef stew, pulled pork, bolognese sauce, chicken stock, and slow cooker chicken recipes. But you can also make pretty much any meal or meal prep component that youd ordinarily cook on the stovetop.
Dont forget, though, that pressure cooking is just one of the Instant Pots many functions . The slow-cooking, sautéeing, and steaming functions are equally versatile for making delicious Instant Pot meals, while more specialized settings will make specific cooking tasks a cinch. Because why do one thing when you can do them all?
Recommended Reading: How To Fix Hard Boiled Eggs In Instant Pot
Instant Pot Husbands Delight
This could be called wifes delight or kids delight too! Everybody loves this noodle bake with egg noodles, ground beef, red sauce, cheese and sour cream. Speed up the prep process of this casserole with your Instant Pot.
Jes said, Made as written and it was a hit in our house. My 4 year old gave thumbs up after each bite!! Next time I think Id like to try it with ground Italian sausage.
Instant Pot Thai Chicken Curry
The Spruce
Thai food is mostly gluten-free and low-carb, and this chicken curry uses rice as the starchy base. Swap for brown rice for a nutrition boost. The only fat comes from coconut milk and the chicken, and there are so many fresh herbs and vegetables in the pot that one doesnt need to make a side dish to hit all the main food groups.
Read Also: How Many Quarts Is My Instant Pot
Baked Oats With Blueberries & Raspberries
“I have been trying different recipes for oatmeal cuz I know it’s something we should eat often. OMG!! This is it!!! I love it!! It tastes like cake, sweetness from the banana and maple syrup and there’s nothing bad in it!!Thanks for the recipe, I will use it often.” – Michele
These Baked Oats has the texture of a cake but is made with healthy whole ingredients, is gluten-free, refined sugar-free, refined flour-free, and dairy-free.
Instant Pot Black Dal
Creamy and buttery black dal recipe inspired by the famous signature Dal Makhani from Londons Indian restaurant chain Dishoom. Made in a fraction of the time compared to the original , this incredible lentil dish will delight with its complex flavors and heavenly texture. Its gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly.
Also Check: How To Use Pressure Cooker Instant Pot
Breakfast In Pressure Cooker
Instant Pot oatmeal is a great breakfast and a really healthy choice too! I try to cook from scratch when I can, especially when it comes to snacks for kids. They love Instant Pot yogurt too.
Use fresh apples to make Pressure cooker applesauce which my girls just absolutely love as a sweet choice. A savory selection would be Instant Pot pork belly that is left whole and crisped in air fryer or broiled.
For really tough cuts like Instant Pot oxtail, high pressure is the way to go in order to release that protein off the bone.
Instant Pot cranberry applesauce is a nice Fall twist on the traditional too.
Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
This healthy and easy Instant Pot butternut squash soup is creamy and cozy with no creamy at all! It’s spiced with sage, with a hint of cinnamon and a smoky undertone. The squash and carrot give it an electric orange hue, and it’s rounded out with potato and apple for sweetness. Really, it’s pure gold in a bowl!
Don’t Miss: How Long To Cook Beef Roast In Instant Pot
Easy Instant Pot Oatmeal
Heres an easy, healthy breakfast recipe for weekdays or entertaining guests: Instant Pot oatmeal! If youve got a pressure cooker, oatmeal is even easier to make. The oats are toasted in butter until fragrant, then mixed with milk and cooked for just 3 minutes. What comes out is the creamiest, tastiest oatmeal youll make!
Cheap Instant Pot Recipes
- No Soak Instant Pot baked beans thats right NO soaking required!! Love this one with its deep sweet flavor and is perfect for a bbq or a side dish year round.
Pressure cooker jam can be made with any fruit and lasts for weeks for breakfast. We have a post to show you how to proof bread in Instant Pot too which is fun for pizza crust or homemade bread.
Then make pressure cooker Mexican rice!
Pressure cooker mashed potatoes the best youll ever have loaded with goodness.
- Instant Pot cauliflower mash oh if you havent tried this it is low in calories . Your kids will never guess theyre not mashed potatoes.
Simple and fluffy Instant Pot white rice or you can follow our Instant Pot brown rice recipe. Theyre both a cheap side dish youll love.
Want a lower carb healthy meal, make our Instant Pot hamburger soup some night too.
- Breakfast or snack Instant Pot hard boiled eggs are easy and making them into deviled eggs makes for a great side dish or appetizer.
Instant Pot angel food cake seriously to die for and a fat free cake too!
Instant Pot chocolate cake I topped it with some warmed raspberry jam and it was amazing!! Very much like a flourless chocolate cake texture, super moist and flavorful.
- Yummy Caramel Apple Pecan Instant Pot coffee cake oh my goodness is this amazing and its perfect for breakfast or dessert.
- I added caramel bits and nuts but add or omit what you like, either way it turns out fabulous.
Read Also: Ranch Pot Roast Instant Pot
Instant Pot Pork Carnitas
From Gimme Some Oven, Instead of having to plan 5-8 hours in advance to make carnitas in the slow cooker, this pressure cooker carnitas recipe can be ready to go from start to finish in just over 1 hour, making this recipe legit do-able on a weeknight or anytime youre craving some carnitas. Its seasoned with a zesty garlic-citrus mojo sauce, making each bite of pork extra flavorful even before any extra salsas or toppings are added.
Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana
for this popular recipe from Damn Delicious.
What we loved:
- We liked it when we tried it, but we LOVED it when we brought it home to our families that night for dinner. Overall: high yum factor.
- Straightforward process, short-ish ingredient list. Just one sautéing step for the sausage, then dump everything in and cook.
- Creamy and cozy, but still brothy enough to sop up with some crusty bread.
Also Check: Air Fryer Attachment For Instant Pot 8 Quart
Instant Pot Cajun Sausage Potatoes And Green Beans
A quick and easy one pot meal of cajun-style andouille sausage, quartered red potatoes, fresh green beans and sliced mushrooms. Drizzle the buttery broth over the potatoes for maximum flavor.
Sherry said, My husband said last night that this was the best meal I made in a long time!
Instant Pot Orange Chicken
Tender bites of chicken in a flavorful orange sauce. And its made fast and easy in your Instant Pot.
Dawn said, This dish is delicious! Made it for the first time tonight. Served with basmati rice and peas. I have flagged it as a favorite and shared your link with all my sisters!
Read Also: How To Make Shredded Chicken In An Instant Pot
Instant Pot Minestrone Soup
Instant Pot Minestrone Soup a Tuscan-style recipe that can be made ahead and portioned out for midweek meals. Loaded up with healthy veggies, 2 kinds of beans and pasta, this version is vegan and gluten-free adaptable. But its the fennel bulb that makes this Minestrone Soup special giving it a unique and delicious complexity, really elevating it!
Healthy Instant Pot Recipes
This Instant Pot Spaghetti is one of the best Instant Pot recipes for a fast family dinner. Everything cooks together in one pot: meat, pasta and sauce!
This Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup has the best flavors of fall wrapped up in a deliciously easy soup!
Honey Garlic Instant Pot Chicken Breasts are always moist, tender and flavorful! These pressure cooker chicken breasts cook perfectly in minutes from fresh or frozen for a quick dinner.
Instant Pot Minestrone Soup is the perfect hearty meal to warm you up. This homemade recipe tastes just like the restaurant version and is loaded with healthy vegetables and hearty beans.
Enjoy an easy savory meal with this Instant Pot Chicken Thighs recipe. Perfectly juicy and seasoned with a homemade spice rub, make these chicken thighs in your Instant Pot in just 30 minutes, start to finish.
These Easy Peel Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs are so simple to make and easy to peel! They are a great healthy meal prep option for breakfasts, snacks and lunches.
This vegetarian Instant Pot Lentil Soup is a warmly spiced soup thats filled with tender lentils, vegetables and tomatoes.
This Instant Pot Potato Soup is the perfect thick and creamy soup for a chilly winter evening meal.
We cant get enough of this Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup! This healthy one pot dinner can also be made in the slow cooker.
Instant Pot Pinto Beans are a versatile recipe that you can use to make many delicious meals.
Read Also: How To Make Cranberry Sauce In Instant Pot
Moroccan Red Lentil Quinoa Soup
Cook 15 minutes
Total 30 minutes
Aromatic spices transform simple ingredients like split red lentils, quinoa, and veggies into a fragrant, hearty soup. Split red lentils also contribute plenty of nutrients to this recipe: 16 g of protein, 14 g of fiber , and nearly 6 mg of iron per cup, cooked, notes the USDA. Plus, lentils contain healthful compounds that may help prevent and manage diabetes, and reduce blood pressure and heart disease risk, according to a November 2017 review in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
This gluten-free, vegan soup from Feasting at Home takes only 15 minutes to prep and 15 minutes to cook. One serving provides 265 calories, 42 g of carbs, 10.6 g of protein, 7.5 g of fat , and 8.5 g of fiber.
Instant Pot Chicken And White Bean Soup
Instant Pot Chicken, White Bean & Rosemary Soup a healthy, delicious French-style, country stew that is simple, easy and flavorful. Lean and clean, its low in fat and calories while keeping you energized and satisfied all day long. One of my husbands favorites! Make this with chicken breasts or chicken thighs.
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Instant Pot Side Dishes
We will start with our fave, Instant Pot garlic mashed potatoes. You can really amp this one up with all the flavors.
- Easy Instant Pot potatoes with Italian herb seasoning
Now if you want a great one pot meal you can actually cook your protein and starches together. We did this with our Instant Pot chicken and potatoes recipe and it works great.
