Ready for some seriously amazing, HEALTHY Instant Pot recipes? These are the kind of Instant Pot recipes that make you enjoy cooking and eating, all while forgetting it's actually good for you. That's my kind of cooking!
When I decided to go sugar-free and cook with wholesome ingredients as much as possible, my husband WAS NOT happy. To his credit, it's hard to take a man who grew up on “meat and potatoes” his entire life and try to convince him that quinoa is a great substitute for steak.
It took me many years of trial and error and some adjustments to our palate to finally come to the place we are now. Our home-cooked meals now are loaded with veggies, whole grains, and a huge variety of ethnic flavors.
It also took many years for my husband to say, “You were right. Now stop with the smirk and pass me the salad.” Haha! I won him over, again!
My sister Cami once said to me, “You make healthy eating enjoyable” and I took that as a very great compliment and made it my mission to continue to do so.
So to show you how amazing healthy, wholesome eating can be, here is a roundup of THE BEST HEALTHY INSTANT POT RECIPES, you'll actually want to eat, again and again.
Often times people will tell me they want to cook healthier food, but they just don't have the time. Well, PROBLEM SOLVED!
The benefit of using the Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker is that it makes cooking quicker, more convenient, and a lot of fun compared to other methods that might feel daunting to someone after a long day. I do believe these recipes here will prove that to you.
My secret to creating healthy meals that actually taste amazing is all about SPICES! When you know how to use spices, you can easily cut down on added fat, salt, and sugar, and never feel like you have to sacrifice flavor and enjoyment of your meals.
Also, be willing to try a wide range of fruits, veggies, protein, etc. You may not like the taste of roasted butternut squash, but you might find that butternut squash soup is your new favorite food! Keep an open mind and a flexible palate and over time you will find more enjoyment in more wholesome food.
Are you ready to find out how good healthy food can be?! I'm excited to show you!
Please note that these recipes are written for any brand of electric pressure cooker, they are not Instant Pot brand specific.
Be sure and pin this page so you can easily refer to it time and again!
If you are new to the Instant Pot, check out my Instant Pot Basics recipes and my Favorite Accessories for the Instant Pot.Â
We'll be covering the following healthy Instant Pot categories:
- Breakfast Recipes
- Soup and Chili Recipes
- Chicken Recipes
- Pork Recipes
- Beef Recipes
- Vegetarian Recipes
- Side Dish Recipes
- Dessert Recipes
Click on any of the above to jump quickly to that category. Also, the ones that have “KF” are Kid Friendly.
TIPS FOR MAKING ANY RECIPE HEALTHIER
Over the years I’ve figured out a few tips and tricks on how to make just about any recipe healthier. Here are a few of my tricks:
- CREAMY WITHOUT CREAM: I love to use pureed vegetables in place of cream to make soups and sauces extra creamy. You’ll see that pattern a lot in the soup recipes below.
- USE YOGURT INSTEAD OF MAYO OR SOUR CREAM: I will often swap Instant Pot Yogurt for mayo and sour cream in sauces. Homemade yogurt tastes much better than store-bought for this trick!
- USE LEAN MEAT: Leaner cuts of chicken, beef, pork, and any ground meat do well in the pressure cooker with proper cooking instructions. I’ve figured out a few tricks and you’ll see that included in the recipes below.
- USE LESS OIL: I’ve discovered that I can oftentimes cut down the amount of oil called for in recipes and still have amazing results. Whether it’s oil for sauteing or oil in salad dressings, try reducing it by a third.
- AIR FRY INSTEAD OF DEEP FRY: Air Fryers crisp and brown food with little to no oil needed. Definitely worth the purchase if you want to make your food instantly healthier!
- USE SPICES INSTEAD OF SALT OR FAT: Instead of using salt and fat to add flavor, use your spice cupboard! There is so much flavor to unleash from both dried and fresh herbs and spices.
- USE WHOLE GRAINS: Instead of white flour, use whole wheat white flour. It is more mild in color and flavor then red whole wheat flour and adds lots of fiber and nutrients.
- USE FLAVORFUL CHEESE: Instead of using more cheese, use more flavorful cheese! Go for sharp or extra sharp cheddar, blue cheese, goat cheese, etc. You’ll get all the flavor without all the calories.
BENEFIT OF USING THE INSTANT POT TO MAKE HEALTHIER MEALS
As you’ll see in the recipes below, the pressure cooker can make hard to cook ingredients quite simple and hands-off when compared with traditional stovetop or oven methods. Â
For example, whole grains like brown rice, farro, steel-cut oats, etc, can cook in â…“ of the time. Dried Beans are hands-off and faster in the Instant Pot and don’t have to be soaked beforehand either! Â
The pressure cooker also makes cooking hard vegetables like squash and root vegetables fast and easy.
Overall, the pressure cooker turns healthy eating into a relaxed, hands-off approach to cooking, and when it feels easy, we will do it more often!
Healthy Instant Pot Breakfast Recipes
- Instant Pot Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats (Total Recipe Time: 30 min)
- Instant Pot Cinnamon Oatmeal (Total Recipe Time: 25 min) *KF
- Instant Pot Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins (Total Recipe Time: 30 min) *KF
- Instant Pot Mason Jar Breakfast Casserole (Total Recipe Time: 30 min)
- Instant Pot Blueberry Oatmeal (Total Recipe Time: 40 min)
- Instant Pot Apple Cinnamon French Toast Casserole (Total Recipe Time: 35 min)
- Instant Pot Zucchini Banana Bread (Total Recipe Time: 70 min) *KF
- Instant Pot Pancake Muffins (Total Recipe Time: 15 min)
- Instant Pot Healthy Egg Bites (Total Recipe Time: 30 min)
- Instant Pot Strawberry Lemon Poppy Seed Breakfast Cake (Total Recipe Time: 55 min)
Check out even more Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker Breakfast Recipes here. Also see this complete Instant Pot Oatmeal guide to learn how to cook several types of oats like quick oats, old-fashioned oats, and steel-cut oats.
Healthy Instant Pot Soup and Chili Recipes
- Instant Pot Creamy Ravioli Butternut Squash Soup (Total Recipe Time: 40 min) *KF
- Instant Pot Spring Soup with Chicken Ricotta Meatballs (Total Recipe Time: 30 min)
- Instant Pot Thai Coconut Chicken Soup (Total Recipe Time: 25 min)
- Instant Pot Lentil Soup with Lemon (Total Recipe Time: 30 min)
- Instant Pot Triple Bean Chili (Total Recipe Time: 45 min)
- Instant Pot Creamy Chicken and Corn Chowder with Sweet Potatoes (Total Recipe Time: 30 min)
- Instant Pot Broccoli Zucchini Cheddar Soup (Total Recipe Time: 20 min) *KF
- Instant Pot French Onion Soup (Total Recipe Time: 30 min)
- Instant Pot Tomato Basil Soup (Total Recipe Time: 45 min) *KF
- Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup (Total Recipe Time: 30 min)
Check out more of my favorite Pressure Cooker Soup Recipes here.
Healthy Instant Pot Chicken Dinner Recipes
- Instant Pot Healthy Crack Chicken (Total Recipe Time: 45 min) *KF
- Instant Pot Healthy Orange Chicken with Mango Black Bean Salsa (Total Recipe Time: 30 min) *KF
- Instant Pot Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl with Lemon Garlic Chicken (Total Recipe Time: 30 min)
- Instant Pot Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps (Total Recipe Time: 30 min)
- Instant Pot Caprese Chicken (Total Recipe Time: 30 min)
- Instant Pot Chipotle Shredded Chicken (Total Recipe Time: 40 min)
- Instant Pot Easy Buffalo Wings (Total Recipe Time: 25 min) *KF
- Instant Pot Chipotle Chicken Panini (Total Recipe Time: 20 min)
- Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala with Raita (Total Recipe Time: 45 min)
- Instant Pot Hasselback Chicken Cordon Bleu (Total Recipe Time: 45 min)
More amazing Instant Pot Recipes for Chicken here.
Healthy Instant Pot Pork Recipes
- Instant Pot Dijon Maple Glazed Ham (Total Recipe Time: 60 min) *KF
- Instant Pot Egg Roll Bowl (Total Recipe Time: 25 min)
- Instant Pot Tamale (Total Recipe Time: 75 min)
- Instant Pot Barbecue Ribs (Total Recipe Time: 60 min)
- Instant Pot Ham with Spiced Honey Glaze (Total Recipe Time: 60 min)
- Instant Pot Paprika Pork Pineapple Pita (Total Recipe Time: 30 min) *KF
- Instant Pot Thai Green Coconut Curry, Pork, and Lime Risotto (Total Recipe Time: 30 min)
- Instant Pot Hawaiian Barbecue Pork Tacos (Total Recipe Time: 2 hours) *KF
- Instant Pot Easy Moo Shu Pork (Total Recipe Time: 18 min)
- Instant Pot Sweet Potato, Spinach, And Sausage Breakfast Casserole (Total Recipe Time: 60 min)
Find all of my Pressure Cooker Pork Recipes here.
Healthy Instant Pot Beef Recipes
- Instant Pot Steak Fajitas (Total Recipe Time: 40 min)
- Instant Pot Easy Philly Cheesesteak (Total Recipe Time: 40 min)
- Instant Pot Cheesy Meatball Sub Soup (Total Recipe Time: 40 min) *KF
- Instant Pot Greek Meatballs (Total Recipe Time: 25 min)
- Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage (Total Recipe Time: 110 min)
- Instant Pot Pot Roast (Total Recipe Time: 3 hours)
- Instant Pot Green Chile Beef Burritos (Total Recipe Time: 3 hours)
- Instant Pot Taco Meat (Total Recipe Time: 30 min) *KF
- Instant Pot Meatball Sandwich (Total Recipe Time: 35 min) *KF
- Instant Pot Stuffed Italian Meatloaf (Total Recipe Time: 60 min)
Even more Instant Pot Beef Recipes here!
Healthy Instant Pot Vegetarian Recipes
- Instant Pot Mexican Street Corn Salad (Total Recipe Time: 20 min)
- Instant Pot Black Beans (Total Recipe Time: 60 min)
- Instant Pot Tofu (Total Recipe Time: 20 min)
- Instant Pot Blue Cheese Cheesecake (Total Recipe Time: 50 min)
- Instant Pot Refried Beans (Total Recipe Time: 90 min) *KF
- Instant Pot Red Lentil Soup (Total Recipe Time: 30 min)
- Instant Pot Magic Sunshine Soup (Total Recipe Time: 30 min) *KF
- Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes – 3 ways (Total Recipe Time: 35 min)
- Instant Pot Sweet Corn and Tomato Pasta (Total Recipe Time: 40 min)
- Instant Pot Cauliflower Fettuccine Alfredo (Total Recipe Time: 16 min) *KF
For more Pressure Cooker Vegetarian and Vegetarian Adaptable Recipes, go here.
Healthy Instant Pot Side Dishes
- Instant Pot Honey Glazed Carrots (Total Recipe Time: 15 min) *KF
- Instant Pot Creamy Mashed Potatoes (Total Recipe Time: 30 min) *KF
- Instant Pot Caramelized Onions (Total Recipe Time: 30 min)
- Instant Pot Healthy Potato Salad (Total Recipe Time: 25 min)
- Instant Pot Salt Potatoes (Total Recipe Time: 15 min)
- Instant Pot Mexican Street Corn Salad (Total Recipe Time: 20 min)
- Instant Pot Corn on the Cob (Total Recipe Time: 10 min)
- Instant Pot Creamy Vegetable Medley (Total Recipe Time: 10 min) *KF
- Instant Pot Sweet Potato Casserole (Total Recipe Time: 75 min)
- Instant Pot Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread (Total Recipe Time: 55 min)
For a full list of Healthy Pressure Cooker Side Dishes, go here.
Healthy Instant Pot Dessert Recipes
- Instant Pot Hasselback Apples (Total Recipe Time: 25 min) *KF
- Instant Pot Pumpkin Butter (Total Recipe Time: 30 min)
- Instant Pot Applesauce (Total Recipe Time: 25 min)
- Instant Pot Healthy Cookie Dough (Total Recipe Time: 90 min) *KF
- Instant Pot Fruit Soup (Total Recipe Time: 20 min) *KF
- Instant Pot Naturally Sweetened Caramel Apple Pie (Total Recipe Time: 30 min)
- Instant Pot Spiced Blackberry Poached Pears (Total Recipe Time: 20 min)
- Instant Pot Homemade Chocolates (Total Recipe Time: 25 min)
- Instant Pot Crio Bru (Total Recipe Time: 30 min)
- Instant Pot Chocolate Syrup (Total Recipe Time: 15 min)
Check out more of my favorite Healthy Dessert Recipes for the Pressure Cooker!
*KF = Kid Friendly
Give yourself the best gift of all this year – a healthier mind and body.
Good, wholesome food has the ability to heal the mind, body, and soul and these Instant Pot recipes will have you enjoying every step of the journey.
Be sure and tell me what you think if you make any of these recipes!
Enjoy!
Amazing piece of content, Thanks for putting everything under one roof!
Great article! I love how you shared your personal experience of transitioning to a healthier diet and how you were able to convince your husband to try new things. Your tips on using spices to enhance flavor and keeping an open mind to trying new fruits and veggies is really helpful. I can relate to the time constraint issue when it comes to cooking healthy meals, and the Instant Pot is definitely a game changer in that regard. I’ll definitely be referring to this page again and trying out some of these recipes. Thanks for sharing!
I once had your lemon basil chicken and it was so good!!! I just can’t find the recipe anywhere!!! Where can I find it ?
Thanks
Kristin Baham
Kristin, Are you talking about the one from the InstaFreeze Meals class? I haven’t posted that one on the blog yet!
YES!! The Lemon Basil Chicken is SO good! But I have a request … we need cooking times from fresh in addition to frozen! Sometimes when I’m creating a freezer meal, I want to double the ingredients and cook one now and freeze the other for later. But the InstaFreeze instructions don’t instruct how to cook if fresh.
Allyson, We’ve thought about that, we’ll see what we can do!