22 Best Healthy Instant Pot Recipes (2024)

We love our Instant Pot®. Meals that often take hours to slowly simmer are ready in mere minutes. It's like living ever so slightly in the future. So yes, getting dinner on the table fast is a must. But we also want meals that are healthy for the family, not just delivered quickly. And on that score, the Instant Pot is there for you, too. We've pulled together some of our favorite healthy Instant Pot recipes, from simple soups, savory stews, and hearty salads to salmon and chicken dinners, all ready on the quick.

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Instant Pot Spicy Black Bean Soup (Vegan)

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Dry black beans, garlic, yellow bell peppers, and Hatch chile peppers hit the Instant Pot with vegetable broth and seasonings. "This recipe works perfectly," says Buckwheat Queen. "It's chock full of flavor."

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Instant Pot® Keto Chicken and Kale Stew

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22 Best Healthy Instant Pot Recipes (1)

"Try this quick, easy, and incredibly tender chicken stew cooked with diced tomatoes,' says Fioa. "I added chopped kale for extra green power! Serve over cauliflower rice for a complete and perfect keto meal."

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Instant Pot® Warm Vegetarian Farro Salad with Cauliflower, Pistachios and Cranberries

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Farro, cauliflower, cranberries, and pistachios combine in this healthy grain salad. "This warm vegetarian farro salad is gourmet, simple and tasty, all in one dish," says Fioa.

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Instant Pot® Frozen Salmon

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This simple steamed salmon goes from frozen to finished in a flash! "Salmon doesn't get much easier than this," says thedailygourmet. "This turned out so moist and I like how it can be seasoned to individual preference."

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Instant Pot® Red Thai Curry Chicken

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"Thai red curry chicken is a quick and delicious soup with chicken, onions, and bell peppers," says Jessica DiPonziano. "Enjoy hot with jasmine rice. If you like, add Thai basil leaves."

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Instant Pot® Turkey Chili

Lots of healthy stuff in this chili -- ground turkey, jalapeno pepper, fire-roasted diced tomatoes, kidney beans, tomato sauce, unsweetened cocoa powder, cinnamon, chipotle pepper, adobo sauce, and seasonings. "It doesn't get easier than this!" says France C. "Brown some meat, then toss in the rest of the ingredients and hit start! The cocoa powder and cinnamon really transform the dish!"

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Vegan African Peanut Stew in the Instant Pot®

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Sweet potatoes, crushed tomatoes, collard greens, red bell peppers, peanut butter, a little minced ginger root, and garlic. "One of my go-to favorites; hubby would eat it weekly, and he's not vegan," says Dea. "Serve with cilantro and chopped peanuts."

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Instant Pot® Chicken Posole Verde

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You'll make a quick salsa verde with tomatillos, poblano pepper, jalapeno pepper, cilantro, lime juice, and garlic. Add the salsa to the Instant Pot along with sauteed chicken, seasonings, hominy, and chicken broth, and set the timer for 20 minutes. Garnish this flavorful soup with avocado slices, lime wedges, sliced radishes, and jalapeno slices. "This was really good," says GANDWISH. "I do recommend actually chopping the tomatillos prior to putting them in the blender — it will work better that way! It had great flavor but not too spicy."

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Instant Pot® Steel-Cut Oats

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"Steel-cut oats and the Instant Pot are two of my favorite 'discoveries' from the last 10 years," says MoMosGoGo. "Top with ground flax seed, hemp seed, cinnamon, fruit, honey, syrup, vanilla extract, nut butter, etc."

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Instant Pot® Vegan Bulgogi

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Cooking mushrooms helps unlock nutrients, including properties thought to be beneficial to the immune system. Here mixed marinated mushrooms cook in an Instant Pot with Asian pear, sesame oil, tamari, and aromatics in this savory vegan version of Korean bulgogi.

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Instant Pot Vegan Vegetable and Barley Soup

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"Barley, zucchinis, carrots, tomatoes, and corn combine to make this hearty, versatile, filling vegan soup that is just so easy to make in your Instant Pot®," says Fioa.

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Instant Pot® Vegan 15-Bean Soup

Ten minutes to prep, and 45 minutes to cook. If you like, add some chopped spinach or other greens at the very end. "This vegan version of the traditional 15-bean soup is the perfect comfort food," says Fioa. "Hearty and rich, this tasty soup is so easy to make in your Instant Pot®."

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Instant Pot® Vegan Tex-Mex Bowls

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"Dried beans, rice, and homemade salsa cook together and are served over lettuce then topped with avocado and vegan Cheddar for your taco Tuesday," says Buckwheat Queen. "A complete meal using from-scratch ingredients, this recipe does not add any salt; it doesn't need it. You can cook the beans the night before if you prefer."

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Instant Pot Vegan Cabbage Detox Soup

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22 Best Healthy Instant Pot Recipes (2)

This vegan soup isn't just for detoxing. With cabbage, vegetable broth, diced tomatoes, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and sage, it's "simple and very tasty," says Hil. "I was surprised the vinegar was not too strong, but it really wasn't. Makes a wonderful, light meal."

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Instant Pot® Khichdi

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"Two types of legumes, brown basmati rice, and goda masala are cooked in an Instant Pot® for a traditionally flavored Indian classic," says Buckwheat Queen. "Goda masala is a coconut-based seasoning, which gives this dish a fragrant and tasty edge. Khichdi is easy to digest, so it is nice for detox or when you want something light. Leftovers warm up nicely with a touch of water. This is a simple recipe; some cooks like to add vegetables to the saute."

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Instant Pot® Buckwheat Minestra

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"This is a vegan soup that I make at least 3 times a month," says Buckwheat Queen. "We love it that much. It makes a large quantity. I usually freeze half. During fall and winter, I use pumpkin or butternut squash. In the summer, I use green zucchini. I add lots of flavorful ingredients, so we never add salt."

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Instant Pot® Brown Rice

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"I haven't cooked rice on the stove since buying my electric pressure cooker!" says LauraF. "It's so easy and you can vary it up however you like; add spices or seasonings before cooking or fold in nuts and dried fruit after cooking."

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Instant Pot® Cabbage Roll Casserole

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22 Best Healthy Instant Pot Recipes (3)

Lean ground turkey stands in for traditional beef in this healthier take on cabbage roll casserole. It starts in the Instant Pot(R) and finishes up in the oven. "This casserole is a variation of my tried-and-true stuffed peppers recipe," says hrsping. "Serve with additional cooked rice, if desired."

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Instant Pot® White Bean Soup with Prosciutto

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22 Best Healthy Instant Pot Recipes (4)

This simple healthy bean soup features Great Northern beans, chicken broth, veggies, bay leaves, olive oil, and diced prosciutto. "The Instant Pot® certainly is handy when it comes to dried beans," says Bibi. "With 20 minutes of prep time and less than 1 hour of active cooking time, this recipe for white bean and prosciutto soup is delicious and filling. Serve it for dinner with a salad and some nice bread, or for lunch with some crackers and fruit for dessert."

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Instant Pot® Zucchini Steel Cut Oatmeal

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22 Best Healthy Instant Pot Recipes (5)

"This steel cut oatmeal is packed with zucchini, spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, and sweetened with maple syrup," says Tammy Lynn. "It's made in the Instant Pot® in about 30 minutes."

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Instant Pot® Vegan Red Beans and Rice

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22 Best Healthy Instant Pot Recipes (6)

"All of the Instant Pot recipes I have seen in the past call for cooking the rice separately on the stove while the beans are cooking," says Soup Loving Nicole. "I wanted to throw it all in and go and this is what I came up with. This is a meal on its own but when I want to stretch it out, I fry up some plant-based sausage to go with it."

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Dry Red Beans in the Instant Pot®

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"I don't buy canned beans anymore," says LauraF. "I use my pressure cooker to cook them from dry every time. I don't even have to think about soaking them ahead of time, since that's not needed. If you do decide to soak, check your appliance manual because cooking time will be shorter." Cooked beans freeze well! Pour cooled beans into an airtight container with some of the cooking liquid. Leave room at the top for expansion; cover with the lid and freeze. Or pour into a heavy-duty zip-top bag with some of the cooking liquid. Seal and place on a plate to freeze flat. Once frozen, the flat bags are easier to store.

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More Instant Pot® Recipes

22 Best Healthy Instant Pot Recipes (7)

  • Best Clean Eating Instant Pot Recipes
  • Surprising Recipes You Can Make in the Instant Pot
  • Best Instant Pot Chicken Recipes
22 Best Healthy Instant Pot Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Are Instant Pot meals healthy? ›

Instant pot recipes are absolutely healthy as long as what you put in the recipe is healthy,” she says. The shorter cooking time may also result in the greater preservation of vitamins and minerals when compared to other longer types of cooking.

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

6 Things You Should Never Cook in an Instant Pot
  1. Creamy Sauces. If there's one food group you should avoid in the Instant Pot, it's dairy. ...
  2. Fried Chicken. The best fried chicken is crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside and perfectly golden brown. ...
  3. Cookies. ...
  4. Burgers. ...
  5. Pie. ...
  6. Steak.

What is the best easy use Instant Pot? ›

Instant Pot Duo Crisp & Air Fryer

It has a large 8-quart/8-liter capacity, making it great for those feeding several mouths or planning to batch-cook, and is simple to use, with 11 presets for different dishes.

What is the disadvantage of Instant Pot? ›

Con– If you don't pay attention to setting the vent properly you will have to extend your cooking time. I can't tell you how many time I forgot to seal the pot and the steam was escaping rather than building up inside and cooking my food. Pro– Like I said earlier, you are not limited to soups and stews.

What's healthier Instant Pot or air fryer? ›

If you want to make crispy treats without the oil of a deep fryer, the air fryer will be a great option for you, provided you don't mind losing some flavor. On the other hand, if you're looking to make nutritious one-pot meals, the Instant Pot can be an indispensable tool.

What should you never put in a pressure cooker? ›

Foods containing dairy, like milk, cream, or yogurt, should not be pressure-cooked. The high heat and pressure can cause dairy products to curdle or separate, ruining the texture, taste and flavour of the dish. Cooking fried foods is a strict no no, when it comes to pressure cookers.

Why don t chefs use Instant Pot? ›

They are most commonly used in industrial settings to quickly prepare meat or stocks. However, in most scenarios, Elite Chefs avoid using pressure cookers because they provide less control over the final dish. Chefs often prefer slow cooking techniques that accentuate and pull out the flavors of the food.

What is the best meat to cook in a pressure cooker? ›

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's the first thing I should cook in my Instant Pot? ›

When it comes to breaking your Instant Pot in, it's a good idea to start with some basic foods and simple meals you're already familiar with, then slowly expand your Instant Pot repertoire from there. Try making staples like eggs, sweet potatoes, rice, or lentils using just the pressure cooker function.

What is the most popular Instant Pot model? ›

In general, the Instant Pot Duo seems to be the most popular, because it offers excellent value — it's the most affordable model but still cooks seven ways and has basic, intuitive controls. The Duo also offers the Duo Crisp model that can also air fry.

Can you put frozen meat in an Instant Pot? ›

It is safe to cook frozen food in a pressure cooker because it uses pressure to move food through the "Danger Zone" quickly. As a result, you don't run into the issues that you would find by cooking frozen food in a slow cooker, where it can stay too long in the Danger Zone and could become unsafe.

How full is too full in an Instant Pot? ›

Every pressure cooker manual has an “Important Safeguards” section at the beginning that says a pressure cooker should not be filled with food and liquid more than 1/2 full when pressure cooking beans, grains and rice (or “foamy” foods) and no more than 2/3 full for cooking anything else.

Can you put too much in an Instant Pot? ›

Overfilling your Instant Pot can affect the pressure that builds up inside, so you might end up with a mushy meal, or one that doesn't cook properly. Also, an overly-full Instant Pot can lead to a clogged pressure release knob, because food and liquid can get sucked up inside.

How much water do you put in the bottom of an Instant Pot? ›

Unless otherwise specified in the recipe, you'll need just enough liquid (usually water or broth) to bring the cooker to pressure. The Instant Pot manual suggests 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 cups, depending on the size of the cooker.

Are instant meals healthy? ›

When shopping for instant foods, there are a few things to consider. Look through the nutrition label for simple ingredient lists with whole foods and low to moderate amounts of sodium. Avoid buying packaged foods that include preservatives, trans fat, artificial sweeteners, and added sugars.

Is food cooked in a pressure cooker healthy? ›

Cooking with a pressure cooker locks in and preserves every ounce of nutrient goodness in your food with its sealed lid. It's like a nutrient-saving superhero, ensuring your meals are not just tasty but healthy too.

Is cooking meat in an Instant Pot healthy? ›

Pressure-cooked meat-based dishes show a significant reduction in unsaturated fat contents, but it appears that iron is not lost. In addition to making foods like grains and legumes more digestible, pressure cooking does not create any of the unhealthy chemicals associated with baking and grilling methods.

Does Instant Pot affect nutrition? ›

The Instant Pot's effect on nutrients in food

Using an Instant Pot can even increase the nutrients in some foods. Legumes like green peas, yellow peas, lentils, and chickpeas showed increased antioxidant levels after pressure cooking, compared to steaming and boiling, according to a recent study.

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