20 Healthy Instant Pot Recipes to Make for Dinner | foodiecrush.com (2024)

The Instant Pot is the hot, do-it-all appliance on every foodie’s radar right now. It makes cooking fast or slow, but always easy. Today we’re sharing more weekly meal prep inspiration, with this list of healthy Instant Pot recipes to make for dinner.

Healthy Instant Pot Recipes

Happy New Year, friends! Did Santa baby bring you everything you wanted, including a shiny new Instant Pot? These puppies have been selling in droves, especially over the holidays. And since healthy Instant Pot recipes have been flooding the Internet lately, we couldn’t help but wrangle up some of our favorite looking dishes at the moment.

January is all about balance and fresh slates, and trying to redeem ourselves from all of the cookies and melted brie we’ve stuffed our face with this last month. It’s also about planning and prepping so we can stay on track with our diets and budgets, which is precisely where these two things come in handy: easy, healthy instant pot recipes, and The Nourished Planner.

We’re excited to bring you our latest installment of our Meal Prep Series where we share 20 recipes you can plan and prep ahead of time for a head start on your week—and show Monday-Friday who’s boss.

First we answered the begging question, where’s the beef: 20 Recipes You Can Make with a Pound of Ground Beef (It’s What’s for Dinner), and then we brought you 20 Recipes You Can Make with a Can of Beans. And now, it’s time to flip the switch on dinner with the Instant Pot.

FREE Meal Plans Delivered Straight to Your Inbox

If you’re stumped on ideas of what to make for dinner for the week, sign up foryour FREE weekly meal plan and prep list herefrom my other biz, the Nourished Planner where you’ll receive an e-mail with FREE dinner ideas and a prep list each week in your inbox.

And,download this free printable weekly meal planner/to-do listto fill in, tape to the fridge, take to the grocery store, or use for reference next year when you can’t remember what the heck were your faverecipes from this one.

You get the idea. Now get cooking!

20 Easy, Healthy Dinner Ideas

This hearty soup-stew hybridis flavored with curry and coconut, with a nice kick from some jalapeño, and a rich creaminess from some peanut butter from Pinch of Yum.

Pho is our best friend when we’ve got the sniffles, but it’s also one of those rare soups you could eat any day of the year. This one is legit, yet instead of taking practically all day to cook, it comes together in under an hour from Platings and Pairings.

Two surprising ingredients make these classic meatballs sing (plus, there’s no browning required), and Italian grandmothers everywhere would be rejoicing over the fact that these are made easy in the Instant Pot from A Calculated Whisk.

Next to chicken noodle soup, chicken and rice is the quintessential comfort food. You’d never know this version was dairy and gluten-free, and it’s also ready in under 30 minutes, thanks to the Instant Pot! From A Saucy Kitchen.

These super authentic, brothy beans are filling and packed with flavor, and they can be eaten like a soup from Skinnytaste.

A homemade, healthier take on this Chinese takeout favorite, and it can be on your table in less than 30 minutes from Two Peas and Their Pod.

Who doesn’t want curry in a hurry, especially on a crazy weeknight? This vegan dish is healthy, teeming with awesome flavor, and is ready in just 20 minutes from Food Faith Fitness.

Chili is a comfort food staple that gets us through these better cold months, and this chicken and bean chili recipe couldn’t be simpler or quicker

Got leftover carnitas? Think outside the tortilla and make soup! This easy, 5-ingredient recipe is on the money from Gimme Some Oven.

Butter chicken is quite possibly our favorite Indian dish, but like its name suggests, it often is laden with butter, and thus cruel on the waistline. That’s why this healthy recipe makeover has our attention (that, and the fact that it takes less than 30 minutes!) from Carmy.

Sausage and kale bring extra heartiness to this comforting lentil soup from Platings and Pairings.

Tortellini gets a healthy boost with kale, veggies, a bit of turkey sausage and plenty of herbed flavor for an Instant Pot slow cooked dinner at your fingertips from FoodieCrush.

A panoply of aromatic Middle Eastern spices make this lamb and chickpea stew a comforting treat on a chilly night.

Instant Pot mac and cheese is an absolute game changer, especially when it’s lightened-up with cauliflower (which you don’t even taste), whole wheat pasta, and reduced-fat cream cheese in this healthy (but super creamy) makeover from Well Plated.

Tahini lends extra creaminess and a wonderful zest to this beautiful white bean soup that takes just 10 minutes of prep from Heartbeat Kitchen.

You’ve heard of everything but the kitchen sink cookies, but have you heard of everything but the kitchen sink soup? This rice-based one is a brilliant way to use up leftovers from Cotter Crunch.

Who needs Chipotle when you can make tastier, healthier burrito bowls at home, and in the Instant Pot?

This colorful and creamy vegetarian lentil soup is loaded up with good-for-you ingredients, and is wonderfully filling from Peas and Crayons.

Add your favorite veggies and protein (or whatever you have on hand) to these easy, sweet and sticky chili garlic noodles from Pinch of Yum.

Get dinner on the table in just 30 minutes with these carb-friendly 5-ingredient salsa chicken taco lettuce wraps from Platings and Pairings.

Even More Quick and Healthy Dinner Ideas

Need even more Instant Pot meal prep inspo? Here are a few more healthy Instant Pot recipes we’re loving:

  • How to Cook Instant Pot Chicken Breasts
  • Beef Stew with Butternut Squash (Instant Pot or Slow Cooker)
  • Instant Pot Orange Chicken Lettuce Wraps
  • Baby Back Ribs in the Instant Pot

This recipe round-up was curated and written by FoodieCrush contributor Hayley Putnam ofSeven Day Weekend.
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20 Healthy Instant Pot Recipes to Make for Dinner | foodiecrush.com (2024)

FAQs

Is instant pot healthy? ›

Even though some studies suggest that pressure cooking isn't the best way to preserve nutrients in food, no research exists to suggest that pressure cookers of any model or brand pose health risks. If you're a fan of your Instant Pot, don't worry: You can continue to safely use your appliance without worry.

Are instant pots good for meal prep? ›

I love the Instant Pot for its ability to quickly cook weeknight dinners and because it's great for batch cooking. This Power Hour takes advantage of both by using the Instant Pot to prep breakfast and lunch options while you prep dinners that will be cooked in the Instant Pot later in the week.

What can you cook with a pressure cooker? ›

Pressure cooker recipes
  • Pressure cooker chicken stew. ...
  • Lemony prawn & pea pressure cooker risotto. ...
  • Slow-roasted mutton shoulder with garlic bean mash & gremolata. ...
  • Pressure cooker short ribs with herb salad. ...
  • Goat mole chilli with pickled radishes. ...
  • Pressure cooker beef curry. ...
  • Big-batch pressure cooker bolognese.
Jan 25, 2023

Why one pot meal? ›

One-pot cooking reduces food waste, saves energy and means less washing-up.

What foods should not be cooked in an Instant Pot? ›

In fact, there are a handful of foods that just shouldn't be pressure-cooked. Among them are dairy and fried foods, as well as burgers and steaks.

What are the side effects of a pressure cooker? ›

The bad news is, when starchy foods are pressure cooked, they form acrylamide, a harmful chemical that, when consumed on a regular basis may lead to health issues like cancer, infertility, and neurological disorders.

How long do Instant Pots usually last? ›

The average lifespan of an Instant Pot ranges from 2-5 years, but it can last longer depending on how often it's used and how well-maintained it is. So it's safe to say Instant Pots aren't commonly being replaced, and may even be a one-time purchase.

Are Instant Pots safe to eat from? ›

Are electric pressure cookers safe? Yes, electric pressure cookers like the Instant Pot are generally safe and easy to use. The Instant Pot has so many safety mechanisms (PDF) built in that it's hard to make a catastrophic mistake. In general, if you follow the safety instructions, you should be good.

What food can last me a week? ›

When properly stored, the following ingredients will last for at least two weeks in the fridge, ready to be turned into meals whenever you want them:
  1. Beets. ...
  2. Carrots. ...
  3. Citrus Fruits. ...
  4. Cabbage. ...
  5. Fully Cooked Sausages. ...
  6. Bacon. ...
  7. Eggs. ...
  8. Yogurt.
Apr 29, 2020

What is the best meat to pressure cook? ›

You can still pressure cook leaner pieces – like eye of round and top sirloin – but these work best if they've been stuffed, shredded or rolled (with other ingredients). Best cuts of beef to use: Chuck steak, Round Roast, Shoulder, Pot roast, Ribs, Brisket, Oxtail.

What cooks food faster in a pressure cooker? ›

In fact, it's water that helps generate the high-pressure environment that makes your food cook faster. Most pressure cooker instructions state a minimum amount of water required for pressure cooking even a tiny amount of food.

What is the healthiest way to cook? ›

Choose to steam, bake, grill, braise, boil or microwave your foods, rather than deep fry them. Use non-stick cookware. Microwave or steam your vegetables instead of boiling them to retain the nutrients.

Why are all 3 meals important? ›

Lessens overeating: When you skip lunch because you're busy at work, you might find yourself overindulging at dinner. By eating consistently three times daily, it's easier to avoid consuming too many calories, which could lead to weight gain. Supplementing light meals with nutritious snacks also helps.

Is the Instant Pot non toxic? ›

Healthy not only includes all of the foods that you can cook in a healthy manner, but also addresses the non toxic materials that are used in the manufacture of this device. All components that touch your food are food grade 304 (18/8) stainless steel, including the lid, the inner pot, and the steam rack.

Is cooking in a pressure cooker unhealthy? ›

Yes, cooking in a pressure cooker is healthy as it uses steam to cook food, the insulated and sealed body does not allow the water to evaporate thus preserving the nutrients in the food. Pressure cookers do not require oil to cook making them even healthier.

Are instant pots safe to eat from? ›

Are electric pressure cookers safe? Yes, electric pressure cookers like the Instant Pot are generally safe and easy to use. The Instant Pot has so many safety mechanisms (PDF) built in that it's hard to make a catastrophic mistake. In general, if you follow the safety instructions, you should be good.

Is Instant Pot chemical free? ›

In conclusion, I would like to say that if you are looking for lead-free cookware, the Instant Pot can be an option for you. Not only does it utilize one of the safest materials such as stainless steel but also it performs multiple tasks.

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