15 Instant Pot Recipes That Make Healthy Eating Beyond Easy
Just toss it all in and go!
We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. Why Trust Us?
Unless you've been vacationing on a remote desert island for the last year, you probably know all about the Instant Pot.
This magical device can do it all—and really freakin' fast. Think of it like a pressure cooker and a slow cooker on steroids that's simple enough for a 3-year-old to use, and you've basically got an Instant Pot. In addition to cooking things like meat, chicken, and dried beans at lightning speed, it also moonlights as a yogurt maker and a rice cooker. It's also great for meal prepping for the week. The manufacturers probably should've named it the Only Pot instead of the Instant Pot, since it's the only cooking device you need.
All of which means one very important thing: Cooking healthy, mouthwatering meals has never been easier. Here are 15 Instant Pot recipes you have to try.
Instant Pot Thai Turkey Meatballs With Rice Noodles
You can have this delicious dinner on the table in less time than it'd take to order Thai takeout. Plus, it's way more nutritious, as this recipe swaps in turkey meatballs, low-sodium chicken broth, and vitamin-rich bell peppers. This meal would also pair well on top of greens, brown rice, or another type of noodles.
Get the recipe from Delish »
Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
Instant Pot soup is pretty much your best friend on days when you're not feeling 100 percent or your nose is a little stuffy. Shredded chicken and a heaping bunch of veggies add ample nutrients to this dish, while chili powder and other spices add a punch of flavor and heat.
Get the recipe from Delish »
Vegan Cauliflower Chickpea Curry
Thickened with coconut milk and tomatoes, this creamy, spicy curry will satisfy all your cravings for Indian food. Chickpeas and cauliflower star as the main ingredients in this tasty yellow curry, which is served with rice (or cauliflower rice, if you're feeling ambitious) and topped with cilantro and green onion.
Get the recipe from Food Faith Fitness »
Instant Pot Oatmeal
Wouldn't it be nice if you had the time to make a batch of hearty steel-cut oatmeal for breakfast on any old weekday morning? With an Instant Pot, that dream is now a reality. This blogger's simple oatmeal recipe calls for just a handful of ingredients and takes only 3 minutes to make. That's almost as fast as microwaving a bowl of instant oatmeal, people.
Get the recipe from My Plant-Based Family »
Faux-tisserie Chicken
This golden brown bird looks like it hung out in the oven all day, right? Wrong. This blogger stuffed it with aromatic veggies, slathered the top with olive oil and savory spices, and cooked it in an Instant Pot for 25 minutes. And then, it was time to eat.
Get the recipe from Cooking With Curls »
Instant Pot Vegetable Soup
The best thing about this winter comfort dish is that it's an easy way to use those veggies in your fridge that are about to go bad. Whether you want to follow the recipe exactly or completely switch things up with your favorite veggies or leftovers, you'll fall in love with its simplicity and flavor.
Get the recipe from Delish »
Instant Pot Quinoa Chicken Bowl
While the veggies require simple cleaning and chopping, the two warm ingredients in this recipe—quinoa and chicken—can be cooked together in the Instant Pot at the same time using this blogger's technique. Perfect for meal-prepping (and posting on Instagram), this colorful, well-balanced meal will keep you full and satisfied.
Get the recipe from A Sweet Pea Chef »
Butternut Squash and Beef Stew
This savory stew tastes like it simmered all day, but you can actually get it on the table in under 45 minutes. And unlike most beef stews, this one isn't just plain meat and potatoes. It's also got sweet cubes of butternut squash, cremini mushrooms, and loads of fresh herbs.
Get the recipe from Foodie Crush »
Instant Pot Chicken Teriyaki with Rice
Next time you're debating about ordering takeout, make this one-pot chicken and veggie dish. It serves up the same sweet and savory flavor, and thanks to your Instant Pot, you can throw it together in less time than it would take for the delivery guy to arrive with your (probably lukewarm) dinner.
Get the recipe from Life Made Sweeter »
Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup
Broccoli and cheese might not be what you think of right away when you think of healthy soups, but this blogger set out to make the impossible possible. Instead of using Velveeta, she packs in the veggies, including cauliflower, which gives the soup its amazing texture and body (plus, she added some sharp cheddar and Parmesan). At 183 calories and just 9 grams of fat, this lightened-up version of a classic comfort food is a must-try.
Get the recipe from Well Plated »
Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
Who knew? You can steam four whole sweet potatoes in your Instant Pot in just 35 minutes, according to this blogger. Have 'em as a side for chicken or pork, top them with cooked black beans and a dollop of Greek yogurt, or add a spoonful of almond butter and eat them for breakfast or dessert.
Get the recipe from Add a Pinch »
Lentil Tortilla Soup
Most Instant Pot recipes are meat-centric. But this satisfying vegetarian soup is all lentils and veggies, along with loads of Tex-Mex flavors like chili pepper, cayenne, garlic, and jalapeño. Oh, and it's done in like, 20 minutes. Amazing.
Get the recipe from Peas and Crayons »
Instant Pot Pork Carnitas
Why spend $8 on greasy carnitas from a food truck when you can make a clean version at home in less than an hour? This blogger browns her pork shoulder in a skillet before adding it to the Instant Pot with garlic, chipotle peppers, and plenty of spices. Shredded and folded into corn tortillas with sliced avocado, it's basically irresistible.
Get the recipe from Skinny Taste »
Instant Pot Lentil Soup
Lentils are a small-but-mighty superfood that packs serious fiber, vitamins, and minerals while being low in calories. This Instant Pot recipe is loaded with nutrition, with carrots, tomatoes, celery, and baby spinach stirred in with the lentils and cooked together with seasonings for a comforting soup you'll love.
Get the recipe from Delish »
Instant Pot Pasta with Meat Sauce
Even pasta Bolognese can happen in your Instant Cooker, this blogger proves. Use the sauté setting to quickly brown the onions, garlic, and ground beef. Then add the pasta, water, and jarred sauce, and walk away for 5 minutes. When you come back, dinner will be ready.
Get the recipe from The Lean Green Bean »
Jenae is the editorial assistant for Prevention.com, where she regularly covers nutrition, beauty, celebrity workouts, and health trends. Previously, she was an intern at ELLE and CountryLiving.com and a web producer for O, the Oprah Magazine. When she’s not writing about health and wellness, Jenae is either playing video games or reading tweets about The Bachelor.
Readers Also Read
24 Trader Joe’s Products Nutritionists Avoid
23 Foods That Have More Potassium Than a Banana
26 Magnesium-Rich Foods to Add to Your Diet
The 20 Highest Protein Foods Vegetarian Runners Can Eat
