Healthy Instant Pot Recipes

chicken and rice

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Get on the healthy track by planning out low-fat and low-carb meals using the Instant Pot. Not only can this device help cooks save time in the kitchen, it's also easy to make a one-pot dish that would normally take much longer.

Whether you're looking for a great morning bite, something simple for dinner, or need to make lunch in a hurry, these recipes can help mealtime run smoothly and keep everyone eating nutrient-rich foods that taste great.

  • 01 of 15

    Instant Pot Vegetable Soup

    Vegetable Soup

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Soup is such a nice thing to have on hand for lunch or dinner, and this healthy rendition is chockfull of delicious and satisfying vegetables. One pot easily serves eight people and can be ready in just under an hour. Serve the vegetable soup with whole-grain bread, tortilla chips, or flaxseed crackers to round out the meal. 

  • 02 of 15

    Instant Pot Chicken Tacos

    chicken tacos

    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

    Not only are these chicken tacos healthy, but it's easy to cook enough for a large group of diners. This recipe only takes about 35 minutes to prepare, making dinner or lunch an easy affair. Plus, tacos are super customizable, so everyone can assemble their own and get what they want.

  • 03 of 15

    Instant Pot Frittata

    Instant Pot Frittata

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    The best thing about a frittata is the recipe doesn't have to be followed to the line—feel free to play around with additions and subtract anything you don't like. For example, cut the cheese and/or bacon from this recipe and make the brunch dish even healthier. Throw in some chopped roasted chicken or cured salmon to give the eggs more depth, or keep it vegetarian by adding a handful of olives into the mix.

  • 04 of 15

    Spaghetti Squash With Sage Brown Butter Sauce

    Squash

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Though this recipe calls for butter, it's the only fat found in the whole dish and it provides lots of rich flavor. Using spaghetti squash instead of pasta keeps the meal low-carb and gives eaters a healthy dose of hearty vegetables. 

    Continue to 5 of 15 below.
  • 05 of 15

    Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

    tortilla soup

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Warm up with a bowl of chicken tortilla soup that takes less than an hour to prepare in the Instant Pot. It's a hearty and healthy dish full of vegetables, lean chicken breast, bright lime, and spicy seasoning. Keep it low fat by substituting plain, non-fat Greek yogurt for sour cream and skipping the grated cheese. 

  • 06 of 15

    Instant Pot Applesauce

    Applesauce

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Applesauce can be used in so many ways, including as a dessert, breakfast, side dish, and condiment. Make your own in order to control the amount of sugar and then keep it in the fridge for a quick and easy bite. Try swirling it into yogurt or use it to make healthy applesauce muffins.

  • 07 of 15

    Instant Pot Thai Chicken Curry

    Chicken curry

    The Spruce

    Thai food is mostly gluten-free and low-carb, and this chicken curry uses rice as the starchy base. Swap for brown rice for a nutrition boost. The only fat comes from coconut milk and the chicken, and there are so many fresh herbs and vegetables in the pot that one doesn’t need to make a side dish to hit all the main food groups.

  • 08 of 15

    Instant Pot Beef Stew

    Beef stew

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

    Comfort food isn't often healthy, but this hearty beef stew packs in a lot of vegetables, few carbs, and can be made with lean beef or bison. It's easy, too—after the meat is browned in the Instant Pot the rest of the ingredients can be thrown in to cook together for about four hours. Serve as is or with a side of whole-grain bread to round out the meal.

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  • 09 of 15

    Instant Pot Chicken and Rice

    chicken and rice

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Throw together a complete and healthy meal in the Instant Pot with this chicken and rice recipe. Aside from the title ingredients, this filling dish has peas, celery, bell peppers, carrots, and onions. It's a simple dinner or lunch option that can be done in under an hour. 

  • 10 of 15

    Instant Pot Oatmeal

    Oatmeal

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

    Keep breakfast simple, healthy, and quick with a bowl of hearty oatmeal. This recipe doesn't call for many ingredients beyond steel-cut oats, water, and a touch of cinnamon, and it can be ready in just 20 minutes with no stirring required. Add chopped nuts, dried fruit, or slices of banana on top for an extra spike of nutrition and texture.

  • 11 of 15

    Instant Pot Goulash

    goulosh

    The Spruce

    Making this Hungarian stew in under 30 minutes not only feels satisfying, it will satiate the need to curl up with something hearty and warming during the cold winter months. The main focus of this goulash is tomatoes, paprika, pasta, and ground beef, which can be sourced lean or substituted for low-fat bison meat, ground turkey, or even meat-free tempeh. Though the pasta has carbs, gluten-free noodles can be used instead.

  • 12 of 15

    Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore

    chicken

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Though chicken cacciatore is often served over pasta, keep this dish low-carb by pairing with cauliflower rice, spaghetti squash, or roasted vegetables. This recipe makes a healthy and flavorful Italian-style dinner that's also great as leftovers. 

    Continue to 13 of 15 below.
  • 13 of 15

    Corn On the Cob

    corn on the cob

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Simple yet delicious, corn on the cob is a great side dish to just about any meal. It's not only healthy, but an easy option for kids. Spruce it up with lime, butter, aioli, grated cheese or herbs, or just keep it plain and simple.

  • 14 of 15

    Instant Pot Congee

    congee

    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

    This comforting Chinese dish is also a healthy one as it's made with rice, ginger, garlic, chicken and onions, with the option to add soft boiled eggs to the bowl. In China congee is often eaten as a breakfast food, but like American brunch items, it can be eaten whenever the mood strikes.

  • 15 of 15

    Instant Pot Chicken Breast

    instant pot chicken

    Diana Rattray

    Chicken has been touted as a healthy meat for a long time, especially if it's cooked simply and without a lot of oil. There is no oil in this recipe, just chicken broth and spices to go with the meat. When it's done eat the chicken breasts whole, shredded or chopped and put into a soup or casserole.