Healthy Family Instant Pot Recipes (2024)

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by Taesha Butler on Mar 31, 2020 (updated Apr 14, 2022)

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Getting a healthy dinner on the table is so quick and easy when you have a pressure cooker and a few amazing Family Instant Pot Recipes by your side! These recipes are not only fast, but kid-friendly and delicious!

Healthy Family Instant Pot Recipes (1)

Family Instant Pot Recipes

We are a busy family. School. Work. Schedules that need constant collaboration, shifting and reorganizing. Pets that need to be walked. Girl Scout patches that need to be sewed. And everything that falls in between.

Oh and then there are meals! Meals have to be made. Breakfasts, lunches, dinners and even snacks. Apparently this family of mine wants to be fed regularly (seriously?) and I have started to lean (hard) on my Instant Pot for making meals happen fast and minimize the dishes!

My slow cooker has been my kitchen wingman for years. I love the set-and-forget vibe of slow cooker recipes, since I could throw a recipe in before I left for work in the morning and come home to dinner done at the end of the day.

And while all of that is awesome, it also required me having my act together in the morning. Which didn’t always happen. And if I wasn’t thinking about our dinner plan at 7am, I often found myself scrambling to get dinner on the table.

So, when I found the glory of the Instant Pot, gosh…life changed and dinner time became infinity easier.

Table of contents

  1. Instant Pot Breakfast Recipes
  2. Instant Pot Soup Recipes
  3. Instant Pot Side Dishes
  4. Instant Pot Main Dishes

What is an Instant Pot?

Brace yourself, because if you don’t already know the glory of an Instant Pot…life is about to become magical. Instant Pots are basically the unicorn of kitchen gadgets, after all.

An Instant Pot is an electric pressure cooker that cooks food up silly fast! Like, mindblowingly fast! And it also has a lovely sauté feature so that you can brown meats, sauté onions and simmer down soups without having to dirty any extra dishes. And clean up is SO easy!

So, while I still love using my slow cooker for dinners when I have the time and the sense to think ahead, I find myself more often then not reaching for my Instant Pot when making meals for my family that are easy, delicious and low on the mess-o-meter.

Handy tools and pantry staples for making healthy family Instant Pot recipes

This post may contain affiliate links. All options are my own.

Instant Pot Breakfast Recipes

Healthy Family Instant Pot Recipes (2)

Zucchini Carrot Instant Pot Oatmeal

Instant Pot oatmeal is the perfect easy breakfast! This pressure cooker oatmeal is made with hearty steel cut oats and has the added boost of zucchini and carrots. Filling, sweet, warm flavors and veggies— the perfect healthy breakfast recipe.

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Healthy Family Instant Pot Recipes (3)

Strawberry Beet Instant Pot Applesauce

This easy Strawberry Beet Instant Pot Applesauce is delicious, has no added sugar and gets its amazing color from beets! Kid-friendly and the perfect way to get veggies in at breakfast, lunch, snack or whenever!

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Instant Pot Soups

Healthy Family Instant Pot Recipes (4)

Instant Pot Lentil Soup

Instant Pot Lentil Soup is hearty, delicious and like a hug in a bowl. This soup is easy to make and leaves you feeling so satisfied and good from the inside out. Full of veggies, your favorite broth and oh-so-good for you lentils, this dish is vegan, gluten free and your new best friend.

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Healthy Family Instant Pot Recipes (5)

Veggie-Loaded Instant Pot Tomato Soup

This veggie-loaded Instant Pot Tomato Soup is easy to make in minutes and packed with goodness! Kid-friendly and can easily be made dairy-free and vegan, this is the perfect healthy soup to make for your family!

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Healthy Family Instant Pot Recipes (6)

Instant Pot Black Bean and Butternut Squash Soup

This Instant Pot Black Bean Soup is the perfect healthy dinner to make any night of the week. Hearty, easy to whip up and is veggie-loaded with delicious butternut squash. Vegan and gluten free.

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Healthy Family Instant Pot Recipes (7)

Instant Pot Paleo Pumpkin Chili

This Instant Pot Paleo Pumpkin Chili is packed with flavor! Pumpkin, spices, vegetables and meat combine to make a hearty and satisfying meal. Gluten free, dairy-free and sure to be a hit with the family!

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Healthy Family Instant Pot Recipes (8)

Instant Pot Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili

Instant Pot Black Bean & Sweet Potato Chili is an easy, healthy and delicious dinner! This cozy soup is gluten free, vegan and family-friendly.

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Instant Pot Side Dishes

Healthy Family Instant Pot Recipes (9)

Mashed Instant Pot Potatoes with Cauliflower

TheseMashed Instant Pot Potatoes with Cauliflower are delicious, creamy and easy! You can get these mashed potatoes on the table in about 30 minutes! Plus, they’re a great way to get more cauliflower into your family's diet!

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Healthy Family Instant Pot Recipes (10)

Instant Pot Corn On The Cob

Instant Pot corn on the cob makes cooking and enjoying this summer garden goodie extra easy without heating up your kitchen! Plus, it tastes amazing and comes out perfect every time.

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Healthy Family Instant Pot Recipes (11)

35-Minute Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes (Whole Sweet Potatoes)

No peeling! No chopping! Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes are such an easy and quick way to cook-up whole sweet potatoes. Fork tender, delicious, simple, and done in about 30 minutes—the perfect healthy vegetable side dish to any dinner.

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Healthy Family Instant Pot Recipes (12)

The Easiest Instant Pot Beets

Cooking whole beets in the Instant Pot is the easiest way to prep this healthy veggie! Simple and quick, steaming beet sin your pressure cooker is perfect for having them on hand for salads, soups, sauces, smoothies, or however you love to eat them! Cooking times for different sized beets included.

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Healthy Family Instant Pot Recipes (13)

30-Minute Instant Pot Butternut Squash Risotto

This Instant Pot butternut squash arborio rice risotto is way faster to make compared to traditional stovetop risotto recipes. Ready within 30 minutes (start to finish), it’s an easy veggie-loaded side dish or enjoy the risotto as a vegetarian main meal. Fresh or frozen (but thawed) butternut squash can be used for cooking convenience. It’s creamy comfort in a bowl!

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Healthy Family Instant Pot Recipes (14)

Instant Pot Baked Potatoes

Have you ever tried making baked potatoes in the Instant Pot? If not, you are missing out on my favorite perfect-every-time spuds method! Simple and done in less time than using the oven, making baked potatoes has never been easier!

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Instant Pot Main Dishes

Healthy Family Instant Pot Recipes (15)

Instant Pot Creamy Mushroom Chicken

This creamy mushroom chicken recipe is not only deliciously flavorful and creamy, but made entirely in your Instant Pot. Quick and easy. Plus, it is dairy-free, Paleo and Whole30.

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Healthy Family Instant Pot Recipes (16)

Instant Pot Salsa Chicken

Instant Pot Salsa Chicken is quick, easy and so delicious. Made with just 3 ingredients, it is veggie-loaded with some added spinach and cooks up in just minutes. This pressure cooker chicken is the perfect weeknight meal that is also family friendly and healthy!

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Healthy Family Instant Pot Recipes (17)

Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli

Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli is going to be a busy weeknight dinner game changer for you. Made with ease and speed, this dish is full of flavor and made with nothing but squeaky clean ingredients to fuel you on! Paleo, dairy-free, gluten free and even a Whole30 option.

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Healthy Family Instant Pot Recipes (18)

Slow Cooker + Instant Pot Butternut Squash Chicken Curry

Super fast to make, veggie-loaded and full of warm flavors, Slow Cooker/Instant Pot Butternut Squash Chicken Curry is the perfect dinner any night of the week! Heavenly over cauliflower rice, jasmine rice or completely on its own, this dinner will dazzle your tastebud while saving you time in the kitchen.

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Healthy Family Instant Pot Recipes (19)

Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Salmon (from frozen!)

ThisInstant Pot Lemon Garlic Salmonis going to rock your socks then! Wildly easy to throw together, super flavorful and cooked to perfections FROM FROZEN in your handy dandy IP….this going to be your new fast food!

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Other healthy recipes you are going to love…

  • Veggie-Loaded Whole30 Recipes
  • 15 Family-Friendly Whole30 Soup Recipes
  • Kid-Friendly Vegetable Soup (+ how to serve it to picky eaters)
  • Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes

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Healthy Family Instant Pot Recipes (20)

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Family Instant Pot Recipes: Instant Pot Butternut Squash Risotto

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 18 minutes mins

Cuisine: Italian

Course: Side Dish

Author: Taesha Butler

Perfect as a side to any weeknight dinner, this Instant Pot Butternut Squash Risotto is flavorful, easy, and is done cooking in about 20 minutes. Naturally vegetarian and gluten-free.

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Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, sub extra olive oil
  • 1 cup finely chopped onions, or shallots
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoons finely chopped fresh sage, plus extra for garnish
  • 1 ½ cups Arborio rice
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 1 pound peeled butternut squash , cut into ½-inch dice (about 4 cups)
  • 2/3 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish
  • Ground black pepper, to taste

Equipment

  • Instant Pot

Instructions

  • Set Instant Pot (or other multi-cooker) to SAUTE function. Add the olive and butter. Once hot, add the onion or shallot and stir occasionally until golden brown around the edges, about 4 to 5 minutes.

  • Add the garlic, sage, and salt. Cook for an additional minute. If the pot begins to brown too quickly, add a splash of water.

  • Add rice to the pot and stir for 2 minutes to lightly toast the rice. Stir in the vinegar and then the broth. Add the butternut squash. Cancel the SAUTE function.

  • Place lid on the Instant Pot then set to MANUAL high pressure for 5 minutes. It will take your Instant Pot about 6 minutes to get up to pressure.

  • Once time is up, quick release the pressure and remove the lid. Stir in the grated parmesan cheese and season with a few grinds of black pepper. Taste and add more salt or parmesan cheese if needed.

  • Let risotto sit in the Instant Pot for 5-10 minutes to thicken up and absorb more of the liquid. Serve risotto with a sprinkle of extra chopped sage and parmesan on top, if desired.

Serving: 1cup, Calories: 340kcal, Carbohydrates: 54g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 20mg, Sodium: 466mg, Potassium: 370mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 8250IU, Vitamin C: 18mg, Calcium: 178mg, Iron: 3mg

Dinner Instant Pot Recipe Roundups

originally published on Mar 31, 2020 (last updated Apr 14, 2022)

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  1. Healthy Family Instant Pot Recipes (21)

    HelenaReply

    This is the most comprehensive collection of Instant Pot recipes that I’ve seen to date!

Healthy Family Instant Pot Recipes (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. The shorter cooking time may also result in the greater preservation of vitamins and minerals when compared to other longer types of cooking.

Can I use Pyrex in an Instant Pot? ›

Your Instant Pot. A trivet. A sling (you'll need aluminum foil) An oven safe dish (like Pyrex or a Springform pan)

Does Instant Pot count down when cooking? ›

Depending upon what and how much is in the pot, it can take up to 10 minutes to see the pot start to count down. If it starts counting down and you are sure that it's not at pressure, watch for a BURN message.

What cooks good in an Instant Pot? ›

Whether you're short on time, hungry, or just impatient, these recipes are for you.
  • Instant Pot Chicken Bone Broth. tasty.co. ...
  • Instant Pot Lasagna. ...
  • Instant Pot Mac & Cheese. ...
  • Instant Pot Chicken Biryani. ...
  • Instant Pot Summer Corn and Bacon Soup. ...
  • Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup. ...
  • Instant Pot Pulled Chicken. ...
  • Instant Pot Beef Chili.
Dec 13, 2023

What foods should not be cooked in an Instant Pot? ›

6 Things You Should Never Cook in an Instant Pot
  1. Creamy Sauces. If there's one food group you should avoid in the Instant Pot, it's dairy. ...
  2. Fried Chicken. The best fried chicken is crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside and perfectly golden brown. ...
  3. Cookies. ...
  4. Burgers. ...
  5. Pie. ...
  6. Steak.

What is the disadvantage of Instant Pot? ›

Not good for cooking everything: Just like no one method is great for cooking everything, the Instant Pot isn't build to do it all. If you are not a fan of like stews and saucy things then pressure cooking might not be for you.

Can I put aluminum foil in my Instant Pot? ›

The short answer is good news. It is generally safe to use aluminum foil in an Instant Pot, but it is important to use it properly to avoid damaging the appliance or creating a potential safety hazard.

Can you use regular baking pans in Instant Pot? ›

Instant Pot says you can use any container that is labeled “Oven Safe”. This includes containers made from metal, silicone, ceramic & glass.

Can I put a metal mixing bowl in an Instant Pot? ›

You will need to add 3-4 minutes more cooking time with a glass bowl. For PIP cooking, silicone cupcake liners, ramekins, stainless steel bowls, a springform pan, or even a casserole dish are all acceptable substitutes and you really do not need to buy a special container.

Does Instant Pot cooking destroy nutrients? ›

In the case of grains and legumes, although the vitamins and heat-sensitive vitamins and phytonutrients are vulnerable to deterioration, the net result of pressure-cooking is a positive nutritional gain-from the increased digestibility of the macronutrients (protein, fiber and starch) and the increased bioavailability ...

Can I leave the house while my Instant Pot is cooking? ›

Treat your IP just like you would any other kitchen appliance. We would never suggest leaving the house with any kitchen appliance (including pressure cookers) active. However, many Instant Pot fans on Facebook report that they frequently leave their pot cooking while running quick errands.

What does the L mean on Instant Pot? ›

L just stands for lapsed time. My Instant Pot automatically switches to Keep Warm at this point. This is very handy since I can get my food cooking, go do errands and come home to food that is sitting in the pot warm and ready to go.

What is the most popular Instant Pot? ›

In general, the Instant Pot Duo seems to be the most popular, because it offers excellent value — it's the most affordable model but still cooks seven ways and has basic, intuitive controls. The Duo also offers the Duo Crisp model that can also air fry.

Is an Instant Pot better than a crockpot? ›

An Instant Pot is a countertop appliance that slow-cooks—and then some. It is a brand of multicooker, an appliance known for having lots of features, typically including slow cooking, pressure cooking, rice cooking, steaming, searing, fermenting, and more. In sum, multicookers do more than slow cookers.

Can you put frozen chicken in an Instant Pot? ›

Meat, like chicken or salmon, can go straight from the freezer into the Instant Pot. The reason? A pressure cooker, like the Instant Pot, quickly brings food to a safe temperature. This is different from a slow cooker, which can allow frozen foods to sit at an unsafe temperature for prolonged periods of time.

Is cooking in a pressure cooker unhealthy? ›

1. Is cooking 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.

Are Instant Pots safe to eat from? ›

Yes, electric pressure cookers like the Instant Pot are generally safe and easy to use.

How healthy are cook ready meals? ›

Whatever your reasons, ready meals aren't always as nutritious as cooking a meal from scratch. This is because they don't always provide your body with the nutrients it needs to stay healthy. Ready meals can be high in salt and fat and low in other nutrients.

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