Healthy Instant Pot Dinner Recipes | The Lean Green Bean (2024)

by Lindsay 1 Comment

These Healthy Instant Pot Dinner Recipes are perfect for busy weeknights. With a mix of vegetarian and meat options, there’s a pressure cooker recipe for everyone!

Healthy Instant Pot Dinner Recipes | The Lean Green Bean (1)

*Originally published 11/2017. Updated 9/2023*

Hi friends!

I first wrote this post back in 2017 when instant pots were all the rage and honestly, I wasn’t sure how long the trend would last. But here we are years later and I can still honestly say that I use mine every single week. It’s great for cooking things like rice, hard-boiled eggs and shredded chicken but it’s also great for making full meals!

I know a lot of people are intimidated by their instant pot so I wanted to round up some recipe ideas for you to try!

Instant Pot Chicken Dinner Recipes & Ideas

The list below is a mix of both meat-based and vegetarian options – a list of instant pot dinner recipes healthy and flavorful – and I’m sure there is something for everyone. However, I do get the most requests for instant pot chicken dinner recipes. So I’ve included several in the list below but I also did an entirely separate post with just chicken recipes so be sure to check that out as well!

Find it here: Instant Pot Chicken Recipes

And now, here are some easy instant pot dinner recipes you’ll love!

Easy Healthy Instant Pot Dinner Recipes with Chicken

Instant Pot Asian Peanut Noodles

These Instant Pot Asian Peanut Noodles are packed with chicken and vegetables for a quick, healthy dinner the whole family will love! Ready in under 20 minutes, they’re perfect for a busy weeknight.

Grab the recipe!

Instant Pot Asian Chicken

This Instant Pot Asian Chicken can also be made in a slow cooker. It’s full of flavor and easy to make. A healthy dinner the whole family will love!

Grab the recipe!

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Instant Pot Chicken Sweet Potato Curry

Ready in 30 minutes, this is one of those Instant Pot dinner ideas that you’ll just keep coming back to. A little sweet, a little spicy and perfectly comforting on a busy night.

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Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore

Pressure cooking the chicken makes it fall-off-the-bone tender. Paired with a flavorful sauce and lots of veggies, this is one of those instant pot dinner ideas everyone will love!

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Instant Pot Ginger Garlic Drumsticks

Tender chicken drumsticks in a sweet and sour sauce that will be a hit at any party!

Best Healthy Instant Pot Dinner Recipes

Most people think slow cookers are the ultimate fix-it-and-forget-it dinner appliance but the instant pot is just as easy to use and can often get your favorite recipes done in less time than a crockpot!

Instant Pot Beef Stew

This healthy Instant Pot Beef Stew recipe is ready in under an hour and tastes like it has been simmering all day. The perfect dinner on a cold winter night.

Grab the recipe!

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Instant Pot Egg Roll in a Bowl

This veggie-packed meal is quick and easy to make and also high in protein. A simple sauce adds flavor!

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Creamy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice

This recipe is creamy and delicious just like risotto but it’s totally hands-off, no stirring required!

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Best Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin

You’ll love this tender and juicy pork tenderloin topped with a gravy made from the juices!

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Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers

A quick and healthy weeknight meal that’s the perfect balance of protein, carbs and veggies!

Instapot Family Dinner Recipes with Pasta

Don’t let your instant pot intimidate you! There are so many instant pot family dinner recipes to try – you can even cook some of your favorite pasta recipes that your family will love!

Instant Pot Pasta with Meat Sauce

This Instant Pot Pasta with Meat Sauce is a simple, healthy dinner recipe the whole family will love!

Read more

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Instant Pot Turkey Taco Pasta

A fun way to change things up on taco night, this taco pasta is made in the instant pot and will be a hit with the whole family!

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Instant Pot Spaghetti

The quickest and easiest way to make spaghetti is using the instant pot!

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Easy Instant Pot Lasagna

The perfect combination of noodles, cheese and meat sauce. You won’t believe how easy it is to make lasagna in the instant pot.

Instant Pot Soups

Soups are easy to make on the stove but if you want to let one simmer and can’t be home all day to watch the open flame, making soup in the Instant Pot can be a great option!

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Instant Pot Vegetable Minestrone Soup

This Italian classic soup is a family favorite. Toss all the ingredients in the instant pot and enjoy for lunch or dinner all week long!

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Vegetarian Lentil Tortilla Soup

Easy to make, full of flavor and packed with protein, this soup is perfect for a cool Fall evening.

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Cheesy Cauliflower Soup

Your list of instant pot dinner recipes can’t be complete with a soup! This low carb soup is topped with bacon and green chilis making it totally irresistable.

Instant Pot Chicken Sweet Potato Soup (with slow cooker option)

This Instant Pot Sweet Potato Chicken Soup is the perfect dinner for a cold winter night. Made with simple ingredients, it’s easy to throw together and can also be made in the slow cooker.

CGrab the recipe!

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Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup Recipe

A flavorful combination of butternut squash, apples and spices blended to smooth perfection.

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Instant Pot Black Bean Soup

Made with just 10 ingredients, this simple recipe is packed with flavor and makes the perfect dinner on a cold night!

Best Easy Instant Pot Dinner Staple Recipes

Here are some simple staples you can make in the Instant Pot that can be used as parts of a dinner main dish or side dish.

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Instant Pot Shredded Chicken

Use this basic recipe to make flavorful shredded chicken that can be used to make everything from tacos to enchiladas to soups to wraps.

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Instant Pot Whole Rotisserie Chicken

Did you know you can make a whole chicken in the instant pot in just 45 minutes! Then use the bones to make chicken broth!

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Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash

Learn how quick and easy to cook a spaghetti squash in the Instant pot in just 7 minutes!

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Instant Pot Applesauce

If you have extra apples, this Instant Pot applesauce is quick and easy and makes a great dinner side dish for kids!

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Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs

These Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs come out perfectly every time. So easy even kids can make them!

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Instant Pot Quinoa

Use this quick and easy method to make a big batch of quinoa to use in specific recipes or as an easy dinner side dish!

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Perfect Instant Pot Baked Potatoes

A super easy way to have perfectly cooked and fluffy baked potatoes in no time at all! The perfect dinner side dish.

If something caught your eye, be sure to pin this post for later! And if you’re still looking to buy one, this is similar to the Instant Pot I have (affiliate link)!

Healthy Instant Pot Dinner Recipes | The Lean Green Bean (30)

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

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About Lindsay

Lindsay Livingston is a Registered Dietitian and new mom from Columbus, Ohio. On her blog, she shares simple, healthy recipes, nutrition tips, workouts and snapshots of her life. Follow her on Twitter @LeanGrnBeanBlog and Instagram @TheLeanGreenBean and be sure to subscribe via RSS or email so you never miss a post!

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Comments

  1. Healthy Instant Pot Dinner Recipes | The Lean Green Bean (33)Jenn Peas and Crayons says

    Omggggg that gumbo! Can’t wait to try a few new dishes here — thanks so much for including my soup! <3

    Reply

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Healthy Instant Pot Dinner Recipes | The Lean Green Bean (2024)

FAQs

Are Instant Pot meals healthy? ›

Instant pot recipes are absolutely healthy as long as what you put in the recipe is healthy,” she says.

Why do Instant Pot recipes say do not stir? ›

It'll result in a mushy pasta." Instant Pot pasta recipes will say in which order to add the ingredients. After you do so, just proceed with cooking — no stirring needed.

How long to pressure cook vegetables? ›

Time Table: Vegetable Cooking Times for Pressure Cookers
VegetableApproximate Cooking Time (minutes)Pressure Level
Spinach, frozen4High
Squash, acorn, halved7High
Squash, butternut, 1" (25 mm) slices4High
Sweet potato, 1 1/2" (40 mm) slices5High
58 more rows

What is the disadvantage of Instant Pot? ›

Con– The Instant Pot uses steam under pressure to cook food and not everything is meant to be cooked in the Instant Pot. I attempted a crustless quiche which turned out well but it was too wet and moist to my liking and I prefer to cook it in the oven with dry heat.

Which is healthier, a slow cooker or a pressure cooker? ›

Is cooking in a pressure cooker healthy? Yes, cooking in a pressure cooker is healthy. Unlike a slow cooker, which cooks foods for a long time at a lower temperature, pressure cookers do use high heat when cooking - but not for a long time. This means that most of the nutrients won't be lost.

Is it better to slow cook or pressure cook beans? ›

Both methods were ranked as easy, however, considering the amount of cook time required for slow cooker beans, the Instant Pot method comes out on top. The stovetop and oven methods result in beans that were unevenly cooked– some had hard spots while others were mushy.

Does cooking beans in pressure cooker destroy nutrients? ›

Cooking methods vary in their ability to retain nutrients, and pressure cooking stands out. Research, including a study from the 1990s, suggests that pressure cooking retains about 90 to 95 percent of food nutrients, outperforming other methods like steaming, roasting, and especially boiling.

What happens if you don t soak beans before pressure cooking? ›

If you don't have time to presoak, don't sweat it– your beans will still be tender and delicious. However, there is one exception: if you're starting with old beans that have suffered moisture loss (Primary Beans defines as beans older than 2 years from harvest), a presoak may help you achieve evenly cooked beans.

What does PO mean on Instant Pot? ›

If it shows on the front panel PO15 it means pressure on(PO) for (15 )minutes then it will count down.

Why don t chefs use Instant Pot? ›

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.

Can you overcook vegetables in a pressure cooker? ›

If you take too long heating foods up, they can end up being overcooked and suggested timings will be incorrect. Recipes will tell you to start cooking from when the correct pressure has been reached.

Is it better to steam or pressure cook vegetables? ›

Steaming beat both methods, retaining more nutrients than boiling or pressure cooking, because the greens weren't dunked in water, which can leach out the nutrients.

What vegetables are good in a pressure cooker? ›

Steaming and cooking vegetables in a pressure cooker consumes less time and of course saves energy too. You can cook vegetables like carrots, beetroot, beans, bottle gourd, ridge gourd, radish, cauliflower, cabbage and any such light vegetables like spinach that has water content in them.

Is cooking meat in an Instant Pot healthy? ›

Pressure-cooked meat-based dishes show a significant reduction in unsaturated fat contents, but it appears that iron is not lost. In addition to making foods like grains and legumes more digestible, pressure cooking does not create any of the unhealthy chemicals associated with baking and grilling methods.

Is cooking food in a pressure cooker healthy? ›

Yes, cooking in a pressure cooker is healthy as it uses steam to cook food, the insulated and sealed body does not allow the water to evaporate thus preserving the nutrients in the food. Pressure cookers do not require oil to cook making them even healthier.

Does Instant Pot deplete nutrients? ›

No, it doesn't. The speediness at which Instant Pots cook might seem like a cause for concern, but according to the majority of scientific evidence, it isn't. One 1995 study dubbed pressure cooking the best out of several other cooking methods because the pressure-cooked foods retained more nutrients than the others.

What are the disadvantages of pressure cooking? ›

Because pressure cooking is an enclosed form of cooking, there is no contact with air. Therefore, some nutritionists argue that the ingredients may remain uncooked from within which can hamper your digestion on being consumed.

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