An ultimate collection of 45 Healthy Instant Pot Recipes for busy families. Quick and easy Instant Pot meals with simple ingredients, fast prep and kid approved.
If you are still learning how to eat healthy using an Instant Pot, you are in the right place. 🙂
45 Instant Pot Recipes
Introducing 45 healthy Instant Pot recipes every pressure cooker owner needs!
Hi! My name is Olena and I’m a working mom of 2. And I “don’t have time to cook”. Sound familiar?
Then you need an Instant Pot ASAP. 100% honest truth – I am obsessed with mine. Even in the summer, I use it weekly because it keeps my kitchen nice and cool.
With Instant Pot meals, you rarely have to saute anything. You can just throw everything in the pot and walk away (to do other mom chores). At least, I don’t have to babysit my dinner. Dinner is ready, it’s healthy and everyone loves it. Well, most of the time. 🙂
Sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? I know. Instant Pot is life changing. It’s a magic pot!!!
Why You Need an Instant Pot (Pressure Cooker)?
- Easy: Hands off cooking method.
- Convenient: Makes true one pot meals.
- Quick: Prep time is a maximum of 10 minutes.
- Tasty: Food comes out more flavorful.
- Frozen: Can cook meat from frozen.
- No soaking: Cook beans from dried without soaking first.
- No oops: You don’t have to plan much ahead.
- Make ahead: Amazing for meal prep.
Instant Pot 101
Do you need some help with your Instant Pot? Check out these resources.
- Instant Pot guide
- Why does my Instant Pot say Burn?
- Which Instant Pot to buy?
- How to clean your Instant Pot
- How to Natural Release Instant Pot
- How to Quick Release Instant Pot
Browse, pin and bookmark for easy healthy Instant Pot recipes anytime you need.
Healthy Instant Pot One Pot Meals
Imagine meat, side and veggies all cooking in one pot in under 30 minutes to make a healthy dinner. That’s the magic of these healthy instant pot recipes. Skip washing multiple pots, pans and utensils tonight!
Instant Pot Spaghetti
Instant Pot Spaghetti is a healthy one pot dinner that is ready in 20 minutes. Pasta, meat and sauce – all cook in one pot. It is a true Italian meal with a lot of flavor and little effort. So hearty!
Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo
Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo with milk and Parmesan is creamy, saucy and absolutely like a heavy cream restaurant quality alfredo. And nobody will complain.
Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
Instant Pot Chicken and Rice is absolutely scrumptious one pot meat with chicken breasts or thighs, white or brown rice and veggies. It is ideal for busy weeknights.
Instant Pot Lasagna
Lazy Instant Pot Lasagna is made without a springform pan in 30 minutes. Uncooked pasta, meat and sauce combined in a pressure cooker makes the best, easiest and healthiest lasagna! I don’t think I will ever go back to making lasagna the traditional way!
Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes
Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes is an easy one pot chicken recipe with no sauteing required. This recipe is a “set it and forget it” healthy dinner in your electric pressure cooker.
Instant Pot Beef Stew
Instant Pot Beef Stew is a one pot dinner with fall apart beef and lots of vegetables cooked in a delicious gravy sauce. Just like my Ukrainian grandma used to make!
Instant Pot Jambalaya
Instant Pot Jambalaya is a delicious one pot meal with veggies sauteed in sausage drippings, tender chicken, rice, succulent shrimp and lots of Cajun spice, seasonings and flavor.
Instant Pot Parmesan Chicken Pasta
Instant Pot Parmesan Chicken Pasta is a 30ish minute one pot meal with tomato sauce, chicken breasts and gooey cheese on top. Full of staples, kids’ favorite and so easy!
Instant Pot Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes
Instant Pot Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes is classic comfort food that is ready in under one hour. This recipe is definitely going to be one of your family favorites!
Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
Instant Pot Mac and Cheese is creamy, mouthwatering and a hands off family comfort food. Made healthy-ish with only 1 cup of cheese and any kind of noodles, this pasta dinner recipe is ready in 15 minutes.
Instant Pot Ground Meat Stroganoff
Instant Pot Ground Beef Stroganoff is a healthy and easy 30 minute pressure cooker family meal. Pasta, meat and sauce all cooked in one pot.
Instant Pot Cabbage Rolls
My version of Instant Pot Cabbage Rolls is lazy where cabbage rolls are unstuffed and made into a casserole. It is a one pot meal and the ultimate comfort food from my Ukrainian grandma’s recipe made in electric pressure cooker.
Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers
Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers with any ground meat, any rice and in half the time of your mom’s. Juicy, flavorful and an easy weeknight meal – sign me up!
Instant Pot Rice and Beans
You can make Instant Pot Rice and Beans recipe tonight! With dried black beans, no soaking, no sauteing, in 30 minutes flat. Bam!
Instant Pot Ground Turkey Quinoa Bowls
Instant Pot Ground Turkey Quinoa Bowls is a healthy 30 minute pressure cooker one pot meal. Quinoa, meat and veggies all cook in same pot with a delicious Asian flavored sauce.
Healthy Instant Pot Chicken, Turkey and Meat Recipes
Chicken is the most cooked meat in America. And it comes out super juicy and tender when cooked in an Instant Pot. The second best feature of the Instant Pot is being able to cook meat from frozen. And it is also so easy to cook other types of meat in your instant pot. Now you can always have a plan, if you forgot to have a plan.
Instant Pot Chicken Breast
Juicy Instant Pot Chicken Breast from fresh or frozen in 25 minutes from start to finish using simple ingredients. Use for meal prep, quick dinners or you name it.
Instant Pot Chicken Thighs
EPIC Instant Pot Chicken Thighs that are juicy, tender, flavorful and ready in 30 minutes. Not to mention, it is a 5 ingredient chicken recipe!
Instant Pot Pork Carnitas
Instant Pot Pork Carnitas is crowd pleasing, juicy and crispy, Mexican pulled pork served in tacos, burritos or salads and topped with quick pickled onions. Crazy EASY and so GOOD!
Instant Pot Meatballs
These Instant Pot Meatballs are life changing! Make with any meat, no sauteing, with or without sauce, fresh or frozen, as an appetizer or even add pasta for a one pot meal.
Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
Instant Pot BBQ Chicken makes flavorful and healthy pulled chicken in 30 minutes total. Serve with rice, salad or make wraps and freeze for busy nights.
Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken
Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken is healthy, sticky and delicious made with fresh or frozen chicken. An easy pressure cooker dinner the entire family will love!
Instant Pot Pork Chops
These tender and juicy Instant Pot Pork Chops are so flavourful. With a perfectly seasoned outer crust topped with a luscious gravy, this restaurant quality meal is ready in under an hour!
Instant Pot Chicken Tacos
Instant Pot Chicken Tacos are the most easy tacos with fresh or frozen chicken breasts. This recipe is a 30 minute healthy dinner idea I promise will become your go-to!
Instant Pot Frozen Chicken
Instant Pot Frozen Chicken or make rotisserie style whole chicken in the pressure cooker with only 5 mins of prep. This chicken comes out super juicy!
Instant Pot Butter Chicken
Instant Pot Butter Chicken is such an easy healthy 30 minute dinner. You can make this recipe whenever you crave Indian food. Many readers give it 5 stars and call this recipe authentic.
Instant Pot Stir Fry
Instant Pot Stir Fry is a one pot wonder with frozen chicken, frozen vegetables and healthy easy teriyaki sauce. Do you need to be saved at the end of the work day? Then this healthy Costco Instant Pot dinner with 5 mins prep is for you!
Instant Pot Ribs
Instant Pot Ribs are the most juicy, flavorful and easy pork ribs you will ever try. Smothered in homemade healthy BBQ sauce or use healthier store-bought. Ready in unheard of for ribs 1 hour. Instant Pot magic!
Instant Pot Pot Roast
Instant Pot Pot Roast with chuck or rump roast cooked in as little as 1.5 hours. You can also add baby carrots and potatoes to make this dinner a one pot meal. Comforting meal with tender (not mushy) vegetables, fall apart beef and delicious gravy!
Instant Pot Chicken Burritos
Chicken Burrito Recipe for busy people! Meal prep 17 chicken burritos in an hour in the Instant Pot and freeze for later. Or turn chicken burrito into a low carb burrito bowl.
Instant Pot Turkey Breast
Instant Pot Turkey Breast is super juicy, ready in an hour and you can even make the gravy in the same pot. Save time, money and feed a small gathering. It’s perfect!
Healthy Instant Pot Soup and Stew
Stew and soup can be made in a pressure cooker in a fraction of the time it takes to cook on the stovetop. But these recipes taste like they have been simmering all day. Flavorful food is another Instant Pot magic.
Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
Instant Pot White Chicken Chili is an outrageously delicious dinner made in one hour with only ten minutes of prep. Pantry ingredients, creamy and WOW your family chili recipe.
Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup just like my Ukrainian grandma used to make. It is easy, hearty, healthy and delicious. Serve with fresh dill or parsley, lots of pepper and toasted whole grain bread. Yum!
Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Chili
Buffalo Chicken Chili made healthy and yet creamy in the Instant Pot. You can even turn this recipe into a freezer meal.
Instant Pot Lentil Soup
The best Instant Pot Lentil Soup with green or brown lentils, canned tomatoes and spinach. Only 5 mins of prep and no sauteing.
Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup is everything you love about Mexican food in a one pot 30 minute meal. Delicious and healthy soup loaded with chicken, veggies and tortillas, this soup will warm you to the bones.
Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup is quick and made easy with simple ingredients. This pressure cooker soup is super creamy and cozy with warm spices.
Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana
Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana is a rich and hearty Italian sausage and potato soup. It is so easy to make Olive Garden’s soup healthy at home.
Instant Pot Taco Soup
Instant Pot Taco Soup is one of the easiest dinners of all time. Made with mostly pantry ingredients, it is full of flavor, delicious and nutritious.
Instant Pot Split Pea Soup
Instant Pot Split Pea Soup is a true 10 minute set and forget recipe. You don’t have to soak the peas or saute the veggies. Pea soup is cheap, filling and healthy.
Instant Pot Black Bean Soup
Instant Pot Black Bean Soup is a hearty and delicious vegan soup with no soaking of beans required. Even most avid carnivores and kids will love this soup!
Instant Pot Borscht
Instant Pot Borscht is my Ukrainian grandma’s borscht recipe adapted for a pressure cooker. Serve this hearty cabbage and beet soup with lots of dill, garlic and sour cream. So good!
Instant Pot Minestrone
Instant Pot Minestrone Soup is a flavorful hearty Italian soup with beans, pasta and veggies. Not only it is delicious and comforting but nutritious.
Instant Pot Vegetable Soup
This Instant Pot Vegetable Soup is easy, healthy and comforting. It cleans out the fridge and tastes unbelievable with 2 secret ingredients.
Instant Pot Turkey Chili
Instant Pot Turkey Chili is the ultimate fall and winter comfort food. Ground turkey, beans, veggies and spices simmer for 15 minutes in your electric pressure cooker with a taste like it has been cooking all day. You can even make this chili with dried beans.
Instant Pot Chili
This Instant Pot Chili with ground beef, canned or dried beans and a few pantry staples is thick, hearty and flavorful. A reader shared this recipe with me and now it’s our new favorite. It is called Two Day Three Bean Chili but thanks to the magic Instant Pot, it is ready in 1.5 hours.
More Healthy Recipes
45 Healthy Instant Pot Recipes: Instant Pot Frozen Chicken
Ingredients
- 4.5 lbs whole frozen chicken
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- Oil
- 1 cup cold water
Instructions
- In 6 or 8 quart Instant Pot, add water and place trivet. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika and dried oregano until combined. Set aside.
- Rinse frozen chicken with cold water and dry with paper towel. It is necessary to remove the frost. Transfer to a large bowl.
- Drizzle with a bit of oil and rub with your hands spreading all over the chicken. This will help spices to stick to meat.
- Sprinkle prepared spice mix evenly around chicken, while holding onto the wing and turning.
- Transfer seasoned chicken to previously prepared Instant Pot chicken breasts up.
Close the lid, set pressure vent to Sealing and press Pressure Cook on High or Manual button:
For 6 quart Instant Pot:
- 4 lbs whole chicken – 60 minutes.
- 5 lbs whole chicken – 70 minutes.
For 8 quart Instant Pot:
- 4 lbs whole chicken – 40 minutes.
- 5 lbs whole chicken – 50 minutes.
- 6 lbs whole chicken – 60 minutes.
- After, you have to let Instant Pot release pressure on its own until the pin drops down - called Natural Release. It should take about 15-30 minutes depending on the size of your pressure cooker. 8 quart takes longer.
- Open the lid and carefully remove chicken onto platter, or using tongs or knife, remove pieces right in the pot and serve. Chicken will be super tender.
- Serve however you like: with pasta and salad, with quinoa salad etc. Save bones for Instant Pot bone broth. And that flavourful broth at the bottom of the pot makes amazing soup the next day.
Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Freeze: Fully cook, cool completely and freeze in an airtight container or resealable freezer bags for up to 3 months. Thaw in a fridge or on a counter.
Video
Notes
- Larger size 8 quart Instant Pot has larger volume (area) for more pressure to build up. Thus, it takes longer to bring pressure up and down.
- Average natural pressure release is: on 8 quart - 40 minutes, on 6 quart - 15 minutes.
- Do not turn valve to Venting as chicken still keeps cooking while pressure is coming down.
Nutrition
Recipes and images are a copyright of ifoodreal.com. It is against the law to republish recipes anywhere including social media, print and all world wide web. Nutritional info is provided for informational purposes only and to the best knowledge.
Haven’t made it yet but sounds delicious. I’m making this tomorrow
Would love to hear what you think of the recipe once you make it Christine!
I made the chicken Alfredo instant pop recipe and it was delicious! I made it with broccoli instead of peas. I highly recommend this recipe! ? thank you I truly enjoy your blog!
So great to hear Kayla!
Hello, I am enjoying your information and recipes. Are all of your recipes using the pressure cooker setting on the Instapot?
So happy to hear, Kathryn. Yes, I use it only for pressure cooking except yogurt.
I love my Instapot! I use it for beans all the time, especially garbanzo beans for hoomis. Thanks for the interesting looking recipes!!
Diane Donato
Hi Diane! Don’t hesitate to leave a comment and star review when you try any of the instant pot recipes 🙂
Love your recipes I go to them first then decide what I want to cook. Love my IP . Thank you.
Recently diagnosed with Pancreas problems and purchased a Ninja Foodi (to be delivered on Thursday) and so I am looking for healthy recipes. I have been to about 10 different sites and this is the first one that has exactly what I am looking for. Great recipes that I feel like I can actually make. I especially like the recipes that has a pic of all of the ingredients. I have never cooked (I am 60 years old) so this is a bit overwhelming for me. Your site has taken that anxiety away. I really appreciate the site !!!!
Jack
Hi Jack! I am happy to hear that you have found my site! Don’t be shy to leave a comment or star review when you try any of my recipes. Happy cooking (you can do it)!
In the taco soup recipe you recommended, if using ground beef, pour the fat in the trash or compost. This is a compost no no! No fats or animal products. It attracts vermin, and isn’t good for it otherwise.
I appreciate your recipes. We just bought an IP.
I meant city compost, the one they take away in the bin. Didn’t occur to me some do yard compost. I will specify that, thank you. I hope you enjoy my recipes and please let me know what you try.:)
I didn’t see any roasted turkey recipes. Can you direct me please. Thank you in advance
Yes, sure. Here is Instant Pot turkey breast. Enjoy!:)
That chicken looks delish!
I don’t really care about the chicken meat that much but I’d like to make a lot of Rich broth from a frozen chicken. How do I adapt this recipe? I’m a total beginner!
Use this recipe.
Extremely delicious beef stew recipe, Olena! Thank you for it and for putting together a bunch of healthy Instant Pot Recipes. I just got mine for Christmas and need ideas. This post covers all basics for health nuts like me lol.