Healthy Instant Pot Dinner Recipes (2024)

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These healthy Instant Pot dinner recipes are some of my favorites! I love cooking a healthy meal for my family and being able to walk away from the Instant Pot while it’s doing its magic–it makes dinner time less stressful for me.

The Instant Pot can make dinner time quick and easy.Finding recipes that are healthy, delicious, and quick can seem impossible. Never fear, these healthy Instant Pot dinner recipes will change all of that.

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Now, you can peruse this list, pick out some tasty options, and be on your way to a meal plan that takes no time at all!

How are these healthy Instant Pot recipes?

These recipes are everything from Weight Watchersto 21 Day Fix–all in one list, and their common component: the Instant Pot. This one little appliance can totally transform your kitchen. I love that I can start a meal and walk away, and the Instant Pot will just beep when it’s done cooking.

I don’t use artificial sweeteners of any kind in my recipes, and I prefer to use whole grain ingredients when necessary. These healthy Instant Pot dinner recipes are made using real food ingredients, and your entire family will love them.

Instant Pot Meal Prep?

My Instant Pot makes life easier by cooking all of my essentials for weekly meal prep in a snap. Weeknight dinners are healthy and fast, and I can even make desserts in the blink of an eye.

And while these healthy Instant Pot dinners are quick, they’re not short on flavor.

The great thing about using the pressure cooker is that it locks in all of that flavor and moisture during the cooking process. Nothing gets dried out or ends up tasteless and I don’t have to add a bunch of extra calories trying to remedy those problems!

25 Healthy Instant Pot Dinner Recipes

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Crack Chicken

This healthy Crack Chicken recipe is pretty much the most popular recipe on my blog at any given time. People love the crack chicken they’ve seen on Pinterest, but this is a lightened up version that they feel good about eating! You can eat it in a pita or even on top of a salad! And it makes a great dip too!

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Instant Pot Orange Chicken

Don’t give into the cravings! Why order out when you can make this super easy (and healthy!) Instant Pot dinner? Orange Chicken is delicious, and your kids will love it too! Pair it with some brown rice for a delicious and healthy dinner. You can find more Asian-flavored recipes right here:

  • Drunken Noodles
  • Pad Thai
  • Beef Pho
  • Teriyaki Meatballs
  • Chicken Lo Mein
  • Healthy Bang Bang Shrimp
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Frittata Recipe

I love making these frittatas for breakfast prep for the week! Cook them in the Instant Pot and then put them in the fridge for a pretty easy to eat grab and go breakfast.

Here are more delicious Instant Pot egg recipes that you can use for breakfast or dinner:

  • Fajita Casserole with Eggs
  • Egg Salad
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Spaghetti Squash Taco Boats

This is one of my newest and most popular recipes! Such an easy way to make dinner, and I love that everyone in the family can customize their toppings in these taco bowls!

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Sweet Potato Chili

This spicy sweet potato chili is a crowd favorite when I make it! My boys love the sweet spice and I love how filling it is. You can easily tone down the spice if your family prefers a more mild version.

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Buffalo Chicken Bites

You definitely don’t have to cave into your cravings for buffalo wings when you can make these healthy buffalo chicken bites! If you like this recipe, you’ll probably love my favorite healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip and this

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Chicken Burrito Bowl

This is such an easy meal for busy nights! Dry rice, dry beans, and frozen chicken–dump it all in the Instant Pot and enjoy this burrito bowl! You can top it with veggies or eat it like a burrito.

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Beef Pho

This recipe is a little bit of work, but it’s delicious like authentic Pho! You’re going to love it, and so will the rest of your family.

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Beef Gyros

No need to go out when you can make these healthy beef gyros at home! Whatever you do, don’t skip the veggies I recommend for toppings–they compliment the meal perfectly!

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Lentil Tacos

I am not a huge fan of eating meat every day, so these lentil tacos are perfect for our family’s meatless meals!

Instant Pot Beef Stew

My friend Karen has this delicious and super easy beef stew recipe that I had to share with you! I hope you love it as much as we do.

Instant Pot Lasagna

Another super popular recipe on my blog! I love how the spinach compliments this meal, and how easy it is to pull together and walk away from while it’s cooking.

Pad Thai

Another great recipe that is perfect for when you’re craving asian food! I love this pad thai recipe and often make it with boneless & skinless chicken thighs.

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Chipotle Chicken

This copycat Chipotle Chicken recipe is spicy!! I lightened it up a little and kept the heat–I hope you like it! I love making this marinade and adding it to chicken before I freeze it, so then when I defrost the chicken it soaks up the marinade.

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Spanish Chicken with Cauliflower Rice

This is such an easy recipe! My kids love the “rice” and don’t mind that it’s cauliflower.

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Mac and Cheese

SO easy and delicious! I love adding extra veggies into this recipe, like broccoli! It’s delicious right out of the pot!

Cilantro Lime Chicken Drumsticks

Whether you’re using this recipe to make drumsticks or using it as a marinade for chicken breasts, your entire family will love the taste!

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Instant Pot Goulash

Hands down, this is our family’s favorite healthy instant pot dinner recipe! I often double up on the veggies, even using a food processor to hide them if I need to!

Instant Pot Spaghetti

I’ll never boil noodles and sauce separate again after making spaghetti this way!

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Mushroom Risotto

SO easy and delicious. If you don’t like the mushrooms, feel free to leave them out!

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Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

These are the perfect holiday side dish! I love eating these with meatloaf or turkey breast.

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Easy Instant Pot Swedish Meatballs

SO easy. And if you’re short on time, skip making meatballs out of these and just chop up the ground beef/turkey and serve that way!

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Beef Stroganoff

I’m usually not a huge fan of beef stroganoff, but this lighter version gets a thumbs up from my entire family!

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Enchilada Bake

SUCH an easy recipe! And I love that you can customize the toppings for everyone around the table.

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Quinoa Tacos

This vegan taco recipe is perfect for the meatless days in your life!

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Mini BBQ Meatloaf Bombs

If you’re short on time, you can dice the onion and mix it in with the mini meatloaves instead of wrapping these up!

Looking for more? You can find all of my healthy Instant Pot dinner recipes right here: Healthy Instant Pot Dinner Recipes

And for dessert…

Need a healthy Instant Pot dessert recipe? You might love these:

  • Instant Pot Key Lime Custard bites
  • Instant Pot Lava Cake
  • Instant Pot Cheesecake

If you’re looking for a delicious non-Instant Pot dessert, you can’t go wrong with these delicious Wonder Whip recipes. I’ve whipped up fruit varieties like lemon meringue and key lime pie, as well as chocolate peanut butter or chocolate mint flavors that totally crush those sweets cravings! You can check out all the dessert Wonder Whip recipes I love right here (there’s something like 14 different varieties in there now…all super easy to make and tasty).

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Becca Ludlum

Healthy recipe creator, self-confessed food snob, and certified Level 1 Precision Nutrition Coach. I create healthy recipes with minimally processed ingredients, but have never turned down a homemade brownie. ;)

Healthy Instant Pot Dinner Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Are Instant Pot meals healthy? ›

While it might not be the best option out there for nutrient retention, you should never feel bad about making a home-cooked meal in your Instant Pot, as there is no "perfect" preparation method for food.

Are instant pots healthy to use? ›

Cooking in an “instant pot” or pressure cooker is a great method for preparing your food on many levels — including the nutritional level, according to registered dietitian Beth Czerwony, RD. “Instant pot recipes are absolutely healthy as long as what you put in the recipe is healthy,” she says.

Is there anything you should not put in the Instant Pot? ›

Here are the foods that experts recommend cooking using trusty traditional methods instead of your bright-and-shiny Instant Pot:
  1. Fried Foods. The Instant Pot is a master at moist-heat cooking, which is precisely why fried foods fall flat. ...
  2. Steak. ...
  3. Burgers. ...
  4. Stir-Fry. ...
  5. Cream-Based Sauces. ...
  6. Noodles. ...
  7. Seafood. ...
  8. Cookies.
Apr 8, 2020

Does pressure cooking bone broth destroy nutrients? ›

Since pressure cooking doesn't require a much higher temperature and shortens the cooking time, there is less time for nutrient loss. For this reason, pressure cooking may actually preserve nutrients better than other methods of cooking.

Does pressure cooking destroy protein? ›

The short answer to this question is simply put - pressure cooking will retain more nutrients in your food than all other methods of cooking. In some cases the cooking process will even make some nutrients accessible that otherwise wouldn't have been - even when consumed raw!

What is the best dinner to lose belly fat? ›

What foods burn belly fat fast?
  • Olive oil.
  • Beans.
  • Legumes.
  • Nuts.
  • Seeds.
  • Plain yogurt.
  • Fatty fish such as tuna, salmon, mackerel, anchovy, herring, sardines.
  • Eggs, skinless chicken, and lean meats.
Apr 9, 2024

What is the healthiest meat to eat? ›

While meat can be a part of a healthy diet, not all sources are created equal. The leanest and healthiest meats to eat include poultry, pork, fish, and seafood. Eating a balanced diet is one of the keys to a healthy lifestyle, which means choosing various foods from different food groups, like proteins.

What are the side effects of a pressure cooker? ›

Disadvantages of cooking food in a pressure cooker

However, starchy foods may form acrylamide, a harmful chemical, when pressure cooked. Consumption of this chemical on a regular basis may lead to health issues like cancer, infertility, and neurological disorders.

Why does Instapot have prop 65 warning? ›

The Duo Nova is PTFE and PFOA free. This model does come with a Prop 65 warning, as a small amount phthalates are present in the power cord. The food contact materials are standard stainless steel and aluminum. All Instant Brand products are compliant to all FDA standards.

Do chefs use Instant Pots? ›

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 should never be cooked in a pressure cooker? ›

Here are six things you should always avoid cooking in a pressure cooker.
  1. Dairy products. Foods containing dairy, like milk, cream, or yogurt, should not be pressure-cooked. ...
  2. Fried foods. Cooking fried foods is a strict no no, when it comes to pressure cookers. ...
  3. Quick cooking vegetables. ...
  4. Cakes and bakes. ...
  5. Eggs in the shell.
Jul 23, 2023

Why shouldn't potatoes be cooked in a pressure cooker? ›

Mostly we boil potatoes in a pressure cooker, but like rice, potatoes also contain a lot of starch. This is the reason why boiling or cooking in this pressure cooker is not considered good for health. If you still plan to use cooker for the same, add a lot of water and wash them thoroughly post cooking.

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.

How healthy are cook ready meals? ›

Like most ultra-processed foods, ready meals are generally energy-dense and contain higher levels of low-cost ingredients such as saturated and trans-fats, refined starches, free sugars and salts, whilst being low in fibre and micronutrients(1).

Is eating home cook meals healthy? ›

Restaurant meals are often heavy on butter and salt, while packaged food is typically loaded with sodium and additives. Dishes made at home, however, tend to be more nutritious and contain fewer calories.

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.

Does pressure cooking cause acrylamide? ›

Swiss researchers wanted to test this and found that potatoes cooked at high pressure for 20 minutes had almost no acrylamide formation when compared to other high-temperature cooking methods.

References

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