6 Healthy And Delicious Instant Pot Recipes

So you have an instant pot multicooker and want to learn new healthy recipes? Here are six of the most delicious instant pot recipes.

The pressure cooker is extremely popular among people everywhere, regardless of their cooking skills. And this popularity is due to the fact that it can cook any type of meal, from soups to desserts, while keeping the entire process simple and hassle-free.

So, if you are the proud owner of an instant pot and want to diversify your portfolio, check out these six healthy recipes.

Delicious Instant Pot Recipes

Here are six delicious and healthy instant pot recipes that will wow your family and guests:

1. Chicken And Rice Bowl

This dish is easy to prepare in an instant pot because you just dump the ingredients in and let the pot do its magic.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 2 cups of white rice (rinsed and drained);
• 2.5 cups of water;
• Pepper, salt, and garlic powder to taste;
• 1 can of black beans;
• 1 can of red enchilada sauce;
• 2 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken (you can also use uncooked chicken, but you need to adjust the cooking time).

Instructions:

1. Once you have all the ingredients, mix them in the instant pot.
2. Taste for seasoning, and put the lid on with the valve set on Sealing.
3. Set the IP on Manual cooking for 10 minutes (since the only ingredient that needs cooking is the rice).
4. When the time is up, set the valve in Quick Release and remove the lid when possible. Everything inside should be cooked and ready for serving.

The great thing about this dish is its versatility. It can be served as is (with some cheese to the top), with steamed vegetables (also cooked in the IP), or with a salad.

2. Broccoli Cream Soup

If you’re a parent, you know kids aren’t such big fans of eating their vegetables (especially broccoli).

However, this broccoli cream soup is quite delicious (while also being healthy and nutritious) and many kids and adults enjoy it.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 pound of broccoli florets;
• Half a cup of chopped celery;
• Half a cup of onion (quarters);
• 3 cloves of garlic (chopped);
• 500 ml of broth;
• 1 teaspoon of dried thyme;
• Salt and pepper to taste;
• 3.4oz of cooking cream.

Instructions:

1. Add the vegetables, condiments, and broth in the instant pot and set it to pressure cook for 3 minutes (valve set to sealing).
2. Wait for the pressure to be released and remove the lid.
3. Use a vertical hand mixer to mash the cooked vegetables into a smooth paste (in the instant pot) and finish the soup by mixing in the cream.
4. Let everything rest for a minute or two and serve it with croutons.

3. Chicken Vegetable Soup

Chicken soup is the dish that reminds most of us of childhood and is universally accepted as the first step in treating the common cold.

But besides being one of the healthiest comfort foods, scientists also proved it’s filled with vitamins and minerals.

Not to mention, it’s rather easy to make, especially if you’re using an instant pot!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 pound of chicken with bones (adjust the size to the size of your instant pot);
• 2 green celery sticks (chopped);
• 3 potatoes cut in quarters;
• 1lbs of baby carrots;
• 1 chopped onion;
• 4 cups of water;
• 0.5lbs frozen vegetable mix (peas, green beans, corn);
• Salt and pepper to taste.

Instructions:

1. Start by removing the skin from the chicken (so the broth won’t be too fatty) and washing the vegetables.
2. Once everything is ready, put the chicken in first and add the vegetable on top. End by adding the water.
3. Place the lid on tightly and set the instant pot to pressure cook for 20 minutes (let the pressure release by itself).
4. Once this step is complete, get the lid off and remove the chicken from the pot. Let it cool down for a bit and then remove the meat from the bones.
5. Add the meat back in the soup with 0.5 lbs of frozen vegetable mix and set the IP to saute.
6. Add salt and pepper to taste and keep stirring for about 10 or 15 minutes.

4. Beef Stroganoff

This is a very popular dish because it’s tasty and filled with healthy nutrients. It works as a  midweek meal or as a weekend treat and it’s rather easy to make.

Now, if we add the instant pot in the mix, we have a delicious recipe, appreciated by everyone and fast to make.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1.5 pound of beef sirloin steak (or any other lean beef steak you have around) cut into strips;
• Oil, salt, pepper;
• 1 clove of garlic;
• A pound of mushrooms;
• 1 small to medium white onion;
• 2 tbsp of white flour;
• 1 tsp of Worcestershire sauce;
• 4 cups of beef broth;
• Noodles (around 15oz);
• 1 cup sour cream.

Instructions:

1. Start with the instant pot set on Saute and a bit of oil on the bottom of the inner pot (it can be sunflower seeds oil or olive oil, your choice).
2. When the oil starts searing, add the steak meat, salt, and pepper to taste, and a crushed clove of garlic.
3. Continue stirring (using a wooden spoon or spatula) until the meat starts searing (around two to three minutes).
4. Once the first step is complete and the meat left a bit of sauce, add a small onion (chopped) and around 500g of sliced mushrooms (I usually go with champignons, but feel free to choose a different type).
5. Next, add two tablespoons of white flour and continue mixing the ingredients with the pot set still on Saute.
6. Gather everything together by adding one teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce and three cups of beef broth.
7. Then put the lid on the instant pot and set the valve to Sealing (not Venting). Set the pot on Manual for 12 minutes and let everything cook.
8. After the pot stops cooking and is done releasing the pressure, take the lid off and add the noodles.
9. Mix everything around, and if you think it needs a bit more moisture, add about half a cup of beef broth.
10. Put the lid back on (with the valve on Sealing) and set it on Manual for 4 minutes (to cook the noodles).
11. Once the lid is off, add the sour cream and mix everything together. Give it a taste and add salt or paper as needed.
12. Also, if you find there’s too much liquid, set the instant pot back on Saute and continue stirring until the sauce thickens up.

5. No-Knead Bread

Home-cooked bread is healthier and tastier than the one you buy. But it can be rather tricky, especially for beginners.

Luckily, with instant pot (one with the yogurt setting), you don’t have to worry about kneading or raising the dough – the pot does everything!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• One and a half cups of warm water;
• One and a quarter of dry yeast;
• 1 tsp of sugar;
• One-quarter of a cup of olive oil;
• Salt to taste (about one or two tsp);
• Three cups of white flour.

Instructions:

1. Mix all the ingredients until you get a homogenous paste-like dough and place it in the instant pot lined with parchment paper.
2. Place the lid on the IP and set it on yogurt (normal temperature) for four hours (during which the dough will proof).
3. Once the time is off, remove the lid and get the dough out of the pot.
4. Remove the parchment paper and place the dough in a tray in a preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes.

6. Rice Pudding

If you’re in the mood for something sweet and healthy, rice pudding should be at the top of the list.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 cup of white rice with round grain;
• 1.5 cups of water;
• Salt;
• 2 eggs;
• 2 cups of milk;
• Half tsp of vanilla essence;
• Half a cup of sugar;
• ¾ of a cup of raisins.

Instructions:

1. Start by cooking the rice. For this, you’ll add the water and rice with a bit of salt in the IP and set it to Manual for 3 minutes (valve set to sealing) with natural pressure release.
2. Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk the eggs, half a cup of milk, and vanilla until you have a homogenous mixture.
3. Once the rice is cooked, remove the lid and add the rest of the milk in the pot. Use a spoon to mix the milk and rise while slowly adding the sugar.
4. When everything is mixed together, add the egg mixture, set the pot to saute, and keep stirring until it comes to a boil.
5. When the mixture gets bubbly, take the inner pot out and place it on the cooling rack.
6. To finish the pudding, add the raisins and mix them into the mixture.
7. Let everything cool down and serve it (it gets thicker as it gets colder).

As you can see, the instant pot is as versatile as advertised. It is a true multicooker that can cover a wide array of dishes.

Even more, you can cook these instant pot recipes fast, without the requirement of much supervision.