Quick and easy dinners are often a goal for so many, but that doesn’t always mean it’s healthy, too. Putting together a meal in limited time and keeping it dietary friendly, can seem like a pipe dream. If you’re one of the many who now has and loves an Instant Pot (the raved about pressure cooker!), that dream is becoming much more of a reality. There are so many new recipes arising from the growing trend of this kitchen gadget, and thankfully – more health conscious ones! We’ve curated a list of some of the best we could find that are absolute must-try’s in your Instant Pot.
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With all the ingredients and flavors of an eggroll, with none of the rolling and frying, you have a unique dinner recipe that is easily sided with rice (which, you can also make in the Instant Pot).
Made with lean meats such as chicken and shrimp and loaded up with vegetables and a minimal amount of oil, you can satisfy your take-out cravings and serve up a family meal that everyone will enjoy!
https://thisoldgal.com/pressure-cooker-healthy-inside-out-eggrolls/ Photo & Recipe here: This Old Gal
When it comes to a healthy dinner option, it’s easy to get frustrated by all the information and new foods there are out there to try. Stick with a boneless, skinless chicken breast as a dinner option that’s tried and true for its lean meat proteins and the core of so many healthy dinners.
Side with a large portion of steamed veggies, a salad and perhaps some grains and you have yourself a complete meal that’s filling and satisfying. No oven required 😉
https://www.apinchofhealthy.com/instant-pot-chicken-breasts/ Photo & Recipe here: A Pinch Of Healthy
This recipe is a reigning champion in my home because it’s both vegan and gluten-free…yet, everyone loves it! This classic Indian dish is still loaded with proteins due to its ample serving of chickpeas.
This meal will come together incredibly quickly. Since you can use the saute feature on your Instant Pot, you won’t even have to use another pot or pan to complete this healthy recipe.
http://www.forkly.com/recipes/instant-pot-indian-chana-masala/ Photo & Recipe Here: Forkly
With a base made of vegetable broth, butternut squash, and cauliflower, you have a rich and creamy soup that’s warm and satisfying…but that you won’t have to spend hours in the kitchen preparing.
In fact, this recipe will take just 5 minutes of prep and 25 minutes to cook. Under 30 minutes, and you’re serving a hot and fresh homemade soup that will warm you to the bones, without breaking the calorie bank.
https://peasandcrayons.com/2016/09/pressure-cooker-butternut-cauliflower-soup.html Photos & Recipe here: Peas & Crayons
When it comes to healthy and easy dinners, bowls are the way to go! With chicken breast and rice as the base of this recipe, you can follow it as-is or have fun with it adding in extra veggies for some added health benefits.
This recipe uses only 2 tbsps of oil for the entire dish, and with lean meat like chicken breast, you’re going to be enjoying a hearty, low-fat dinner that aims to please. Not to mention, it finishes in just 10 minutes of that Instant Pot cooking time magic.
https://wondermomwannabe.com/instant-pot-thai-chicken-rice-bowls/ Photos & Recipe here: Wondermom Wannabe
So you’re eating healthy now, and mourning the loss of tacos in your life. But you don’t have to!! Not only that, but Taco Tuesday can be a regular thing with an easy recipe using the shredded chicken breast as a leaner meat option rather than the classic ground beef.
This recipe is going to be a new go-to for a few reasons, I’m sure, but perhaps the greatest part…is that it’s complete in 20 minutes with only 4 ingredients!
https://www.eatingonadime.com/healthy-chicken-tacos-pressure-cooker-recipe/ Photos & Recipe here: Eating On A Dime
A few years ago I discovered Pho, a Vietnamese classic soup dish, and was shocked at how this healthy soup could be so incredibly satisfying and yet lean and delicious. It’s a calorie-wise option that packs vegetables and proteins essential to your diet success.
My pho addiction has grown over the years, and the money and time-saving idea of making it at home in an Instant Pot is something I think we can all get behind.
http://www.platingsandpairings.com/instant-pot-chicken-pho/ Photos & Recipe here: Plating and Pairings
Quiche should not be considered just a breakfast and brunch option, because, at the end of the day, it’s a pretty pleasant surprise to enjoy a savory egg dish that is made healthy by eliminating the crust, without sacrificing anything else.
You may be surprised that you can actually make a quiche in the Instant Pot, but this multi-cooking gadget surely does pack a punch when it comes to abilities in cooking foods. This casserole can be made in just 30 minutes of cooking time, with enough to serve the whole family.
https://tatertotsandjello.com/2017/01/instant-pot-crustless-veggie-quiche.html Photos & Recipes here: Tatertots & Jello
This dinner can be made in just 20 minutes, with under 400 calories! All with simple ingredients that make this a quick and easy weeknight option for the family.
This dish is a copycat of the popular Panda Express version but made at home in a much healthier way that you can be proud of.
https://glutenfreepressurecooker.com/instant-pot-firecracker-chicken/ Photo & Recipe here: Gluten Free Pressure Cooker
Made in a two-stage cooking process, both with an Instant Pot, you can first pressure cook your sweet potatoes to perfection, remove them and start cooking the chicken.
Altogether this is STILL a fast and easy dinner, complete with so many positive dietary benefits and if you’re a fan of the Whole 30 or Paleo diets, this is completely compliant.
http://40aprons.com/whole30-instant-pot-mexican-stuffed-sweet-potatoes/ Photos & Recipe here: 40 Aprons
Chili’s are already a really amazing low-calorie, low-carb dinner option that warms you to the soul. Easy to serve, and easy to adapt by spice and toppings such as cheese and sour cream. It can also be made a little bit healthier with some simple swaps.
By swapping out ground beef for ground turkey and using lentils instead of beans, it’s an all-around delicious dish that comes in at around 300 calories per serving, with 30 grams of protein! Ready, in under 30 minutes.
https://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/instant-pot-ground-turkey-lentil-chili/ Photos & Recipe here: 365 Days of Crockpot
Yes, ONE MINUTE. I had a moment of disbelief too, so you’re not alone. This dinner is packed with veggies and easy-to-cook healthy quinoa and comes in at under 500 calories for the dish!
Topped with sliced almonds, feta cheese, and olives, it has a Mediterranean taste to it, which is perfect to satisfy those food cravings. Even if you’re only cooking for one, this is such a great lunch option, it’s best to make the whole batch and pack away servings for the week ahead!
https://www.superhealthykids.com/instant-pot-one-minute-quinoa-and-veggies/ Photos & Recipe here: Super Healthy Kids
Okay, yes. The Instant Pot much like it’s fellow slow cooker friend, is often used for easily combined recipes, such as soups, stews, and chilis.
When eating a healthier diet, watching portions and calories, soup also comes in handy more often than not. Almost always satisfying your hunger by filling you up and providing much-needed proteins and vegetables into your diet, soup is a total win. This soup is unique with the lemon chicken flavors and inexpensive ingredients to help it all become a home run dinner.
http://www.chefdehome.com/Recipes/681/lemon-chicken-rice-soup-in-pressure-cooker Photos & Recipe here: Chef de Home
Whether this is a side dish to a protein or a main dish you add into – it’s definitely worthwhile and making this list for good reason.
Butternut squash is naturally low-calorie, yet blends to a creamy sauce like texture that when substituted in risotto recipes makes for a healthy dish that will be well received by all.
https://wholelifestylenutrition.com/recipes/side-dish/butternut-squash-organic-risotto-recipe/ Photo & Recipe here: Whole Lifestyle Nutrition
For many when they’re starting on a new path of healthy dieting, it can mean eliminating or limiting carb intake. Sadly, that means the loss of a lot of favorite recipes, like chicken noodle soup.
With a simple swap of zucchini noodles and an instant pot recipe that takes less time to cook than it does to eat, you can be sure to not be missing out on this classic comfort dinner.
https://diethood.com/instant-pot-chicken-zoodle-soup/ Photos & Recipe here: Diethood
When you come home from work and need to make a dinner quickly, only to find that your base ingredients are still frozen, it can often cause a little bit of dinner-making stress.
With the Instant Pot, you can actually make a salmon fillet, from frozen, in only 10 minutes. Cooked with lemon and dill, this dinner main protein makes your life so much easier. In a rush for sides? Do a quick steam of some vegetables in the microwave or Instant Pot and side with some pre-made healthy rice or quinoa options.
https://www.superhealthykids.com/10-minute-instant-pot-salmon-from-frozen/ Photos & Recipe here: Super Healthy Kids
When it comes to a lean and delicious dinner option, it doesn’t get leaner than this. With only a teaspoon of oil, this entire dish is nearly completely fat-free.
Whether fresh or frozen shrimp, this recipe takes just minutes to cook up. If you’ve got calories to spare, try siding it with some simple white or brown rice, and topping with any sauces you please. This is an easily adaptable recipe to many different tastes!
http://www.lemonlavenderlove.com/2016/03/steamed-shrimp-and-asparagus-in-the-instant-pot/#more-1304 Photo & Recipe here: Lemon Lavender Love
Filled with sea bass, shrimp, and bell peppers, this is a thick and creamy dinner recipe, that’s completely gluten & dairy-free! It’s also Whole 30 compliant and incredibly easy to make with the use of the Instant Pot, from sauteing to pressure cooking.
This recipe is another one that’s easily adaptable. You can swap shrimp for sausage or chicken even, should you choose. However, the shrimp serves a purpose to make this an extra lean option for dinner!
https://themovementmenu.com/recipes/whole30-instant-pot-seafood-gumbo/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_tribes&utm_content=tribes Photos & Recipe here: The Movement Menu
One of the best health swaps in the history of dieting is swapping classic spaghetti noodles for the vegetable comparative – spaghetti squash. Naturally cooks and shreds into spaghetti-like strings, it’s a tasty addition to your weekly menu.
Typically the worst part about spaghetti squash is that it takes much longer to cook than classic pasta (think an hour of roasting in the oven). However, with the Instant Pot, it eliminates the problem completely – making this an easy dinner option that you can top with whatever sauces you like, such as this recipe’s Instant Pot meat sauce.
https://thisoldgal.com/pressure-cooker-spaghetti-squash-and-meat-sauce/ Photos & Recipe here: This Old Gal
This recipe intrigued me too much not to add it to this lineup. While deviled eggs may seem like more of a lunch option, we’re not about to tell you how to live your life. Therefore, we’re calling it a dinner option…because it simply sounds amazing.
If you’re low-carb dieting, you’re probably getting really sick of just meat and veggies every night. This recipe makes a delicious wrap using lettuce and a deviled egg inspired center, all cooked in the Instant Pot. A must try, for sure. Plus, make extra – it would be great for a lunch, too.
https://thisoldgal.com/pressure-cooker-low-carb-deviled-egg-salad-roll-ups/?utm_source=pinterest&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SocialWarfare Photos & Recipe here: This Old Gal
Give meatless Monday a try with our delicious vegan chili recipe! It’s chock full of healthy nutrients and exciting flavors and your whole family will surely love it. Better yet, from pot to table you can have this meal ready in under 30 minutes.
Instead of ground meat, this chili gets its protein from pinto beans, black beans, and red lentils. Serve the chili with your favorite toppings such as corn chips, chopped avocado, and sour cream!
http://www.forkly.com/recipes/incredible-instant-pot-vegan-red-lentil-chili/ Photo & Recipe Here: Forkly
