Is Instant Pot good for healthy eating?

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?

Not to burst any Instant Pot bubbles, but there are a few things you're better off cooking a more traditional way. Deep-Fried Anything. ... Cookies. ... Yogurt. ... Creamy Sauces. ... Bread. ... PIN IT FOR LATER: Follow Delish on Instagram. Jan 30, 2018

What are the disadvantages of a pressure cooker?

Advantages of pressure cooking include reduced cooking times and retention of nutrients, plus it's a great way to make energy-efficient, one-pot meals. The downsides include problems with foods that have different cook times and not being able to check the progress of the food cooking .

What are the top 10 healthiest dinners?

It's dinnertime: ZOE members' top recipes Chickpea & broccoli pasta. Lentil & eggplant stew. Veggie shepherd's pie. Harissa traybake. Noodle salad. Cod & salsa salad. Kale salad. Mushroom stir-fry. More items... Mar 19, 2024

What is the healthiest meat to eat?

But to break it down in terms of meats only, and which is the healthiest, here's our list featuring the best: Top overall: Lean cuts. ... Lean cuts of Pork: ... Healthiest: Skinless Turkey Meat. ... Healthiest: Skinless Chicken Breast. ... Healthiest: Flank, strip steak, and 95% lean ground beef. ... Sources:

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 .

What is the best cut of beef for pressure cooking?

Best Cuts for Your Pressure Cooker/Instant Pot You can cook any cut in a multi-cooker, but we recommend those from the chuck and round . These beef cuts typically take hours to prepare using braising and roasting methods.

Why does Instapot say burn food?

The Instant Pot's burn message simply means that your Instant Pot has detected that its inner pot has gotten too hot . There may be a slight amount of burned food at the bottom of your pot, but not enough to ruin whatever you're cooking.

What happens if you open a pressure cooker before the pressure is released?

This is due to pressure that has built up inside the appliance and hasn't had time to be released. When you open a pressure cooker too soon, unreleased pressure can cause the appliance to explode, causing severe burns and other serious injuries .

Do you always put water in a pressure cooker?

Add Liquid Pressure cookers require liquid, usually water, to generate steam . “Jiggle top” cookers need a minimum of one cup of water, while valve cookers need at least half a cup. Put food in the cooker first, then add water.

Which cooker is best for health?

Stainless steel pressure cookers are generally considered to be the better choice for health, as they are less likely to leach metals into food during cooking. Additionally, stainless steel is more resistant to corrosion and rusting, meaning it will last longer.

Is cooking rice in a pressure cooker healthy?

Often people cook rice in a pressure cooker due to paucity of time . If you are also one of those people who use cooker to cook rice, then do not make this mistake again. This causes the starch present in rice to release a chemical called acrylamide, which is harmful for health.

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.

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

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!

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

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

Spanish Chicken with Cauliflower Rice

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

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!

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!

Mushroom Risotto

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

Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

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

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!

Beef Stroganoff

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

Enchilada Bake

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

Quinoa Tacos

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

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!

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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).

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. ;)