By: Denise Bustard12 Comments
Posted: 3/12/21Updated: 3/12/21
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Get your Instant Pot to do the hard work on Meal Prep Sunday with these 31 Healthy Instant Pot Recipes for Meal Prep! The pressure cooker will save you time by cooking your food quicker, and also has the benefit of freeing up your hands so that you can multitask in the kitchen.
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Friends, there was a time when I thought my Instant Pot was 'overrated' and was disappointed in it's inability to cook my food 'instantly'. It sat in my cupboard gathering dust for almost a year before I gave it another chance, and BOY am I glad I did!
The Instant Pot may not actually cook food 'instantly', but it is now my go-to hands-free device when it comes to cooking so many recipes these days. From steel cut oats to sweet potatoes to chicken breasts and so many more recipes, when it comes to the 'hands off' factor, the Instant Pot is where it's at.
Reasons we love our Instant Pot
- it makes cooking so hands off
- you never have to worry about things boiling over
- it cooks your food evenly
- you can cook a big batch easily
- it's a dream for freezer meals (you can even cook frozen food in it!)
Recipe video
Watch the video below to see four of my favorite Instant Pot meal prep recipes! They are simple to prepare, do not require sauteeing, and make for tasty lunches through the week. You can find more of my videos on my YouTube channel!
- Instant Pot Fiesta Rice Bowls
- Instant Pot Spicy Peanut Noodles
- Instant Pot Chickpea Curry
Today we're sharing more than 25 healthy meal prep Instant Pot recipes. Browse through the breakfast, chicken, pork, vegetarian and soup recipes.
And the best part is that these recipes can all work for meal prep. Pull up a chair and get inspired!
Breakfast recipes
It is not always the first thing I think of, but the Instant Pot is perfect for cooking healthy breakfast recipes. These breakfast recipes can be cooked ahead, making your morning go so smoothly.
Instant Pot Breakfast Casserole
With eggs, bacon, spinach, bell peppers and cheese, this Instant Pot breakfast casserole is simple to prep, healthy, and so flavorful. Make it ahead and reheat for easy breakfasts through the week.
Check out this recipe
Instant Pot Protein Pancake Bites
Instant Pot protein pancake bites are a fun alternative to pancakes that cook up in your Instant Pot! Works great for week day breakfasts, or for meal prep.
Check out this recipe
Instant Pot Baked Oatmeal
Instant Pot baked oatmeal is tender and lightly sweet, and cooks up without the need for your oven! Customize them with different add ins, and bake them up in a cake pan or silicone molds.
Check out this recipe
Instant Pot Egg Bites
Instant Pot egg bites are soft, creamy, and easy to customize with your favorite add ins! Perfect for breakfast or meal prep, they are low carb and freezer-friendly.
Check out this recipe
Instant Pot Hard and Soft Boiled Eggs
Easy to peel and ready in minutes, these Instant Pot hard and soft boiled eggs have become a staple in my meal prep routine! Prep a batch ahead and store in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Check out this recipe
Easiest Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
These Instant Pot steel cut oats are ready in less time than stovetop, are perfectly creamy, nutritious, and easy to customize with your favorite toppings. With just four simple ingredients, you can have easy reheat breakfasts for the week.
Check out this recipe
Instant Pot Applesauce
Instant Pot applesauce is the most hands off way to make it! This recipe is simple, has no added sugar, is loved by my kids, and works great for meal prep.
Check out this recipe
Chicken recipes
I love cooking chicken in the Instant Pot because it comes out perfectly juicy each time! Whether you enjoy these recipes for lunch or for dinner, they are going to be healthy and delicious.
Spicy Instant Pot Peanut Noodles
Spicy Instant Pot peanut noodles are an easy veggie-loaded recipe that is ready in under 30 minutes! Works great as a meal prep recipe.
Check out this recipe
Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken
Instant Pot honey garlic chicken has a deliciously sticky sauce that can be spooned over the chicken, rice and veggies. No sautéingand simple pantry ingredients mean you can get this onto your dinner table in under 30 minutes!
Check out this recipe
Freezer Asian Peanut Chicken
This easy recipe can be cooked on the stovetop or in an Instant Pot! No pre-cooking means you just need to toss everything in a heavy duty freezer bag.
Check out this recipe
Instant Pot Chicken Breasts with Sun Dried Tomato Cream Sauce
Instant Pot chicken breasts with sun dried tomato cream sauce makes a restaurant-quality meal in under 30 minutes! You can assemble it ahead to save time.
Check out this recipe
Spicy Instant Pot Thai Chicken Curry
This Instant Pot Thai curry has a creamy, spicy and flavorful sauce, and comes together quickly for a weeknight dinner. Rich, fragrant, and absolutely delicious.
Check out this recipe
Instant Pot Coconut Sweet Chili Chicken Stir Fry
Instant Pot coconut sweet chili chicken stir fry is easily ready in under 30 minutes! Made with a few simple ingredients, you can assemble freezer packs making for easy weeknight dinners.
Check out this recipe
Instant Pot Chicken Breast- 7 Flavors
How to cook the most juicy and delicious Instant Pot chicken breast, plus seven flavor options! Using the pressure cooker cooks your chicken breasts quickly, with no need for an oven, and they always come out perfectly.
Check out this recipe
Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs
These Instant Pot lemon garlic chicken thighs are tender and infused with lemon garlic flavor. Spoon the sauce over the chicken, rice and vegetables! Low carb and freezer friendly.
Check out this recipe
Pork recipes
The Instant Pot is a great way to cook tough cuts of meat, but can also be used for sausage-based recipes. Here are some easy meal prep recipes for lunches or dinners that use pork as the protein.
Instant Pot Cajun Rice and Sausage
This instant pot cajun rice and sausage is an easy one pot meal made with smoked andouille sausage, basmati rice, carrots, onion, tomatoes, and celery.
Check out this recipe
Pulled Pork Meal Prep Bowls
Pulled pork meal prep bowls are full of summery flavors: spicy Instant Pot pulled pork, roasted sweet potatoes, corn and fresh tomatoes! Gluten-free, paleo, and perfect for lunches.
Check out this recipe
Pulled Pork Burrito Bowls
Pulled pork burrito bowls are packed with southwestern flavor and lots of healthy ingredients for a complete one-bowl meal. Easily prep all of your ingredients ahead of time and assemble whenever you're ready to enjoy!
Check out this recipe
Vegetarian ideas
There are so many delicious vegetarian options that you can cook in your Instant Pot! From curries to chili and everything in between, these vegetarian Instant Pot recipes all look delicious.
Instant Pot Fiesta Rice Bowls
These instant Pot fiesta rice bowls are a vegetarian, gluten-free recipe that works great for meal prep! Just dump it all in the Instant Pot, press the button, and you're done!
Check out this recipe
Moroccan Instant Pot Lentils
Moroccan Instant Pot lentils made with sweet potato, tomatoes, carrots, and warming spices! Vegan comfort food at it's finest, this recipe is gluten-free, freezer-friendly, and delicious.
Check out this recipe
Spicy Slow Cooker Chickpea Chili (+ Instant Pot)
An easy and delicious 8-10 hour slow cooker chilli packed with chickpeas and sweet potato, and flavored with chipotle and lime. Ready when you walk in the door from work!
Check out this recipe
Instant Pot Quinoa Enchilada Casserole
Instant Pot quinoa enchilada casserole is a delicious and easy weeknight dinner! Prep freezer packs for a convenient freezer Instant Pot meal. Vegetarian, gluten-free, and easily made vegan!
Check out this recipe
Instant Pot Chickpea Curry (Vegan)
This Instant Pot vegan chickpea curry cooks chickpeas, carrots, potatoes and green beans in a fragrant Indian curry sauce. Made with vegan ingredients, the Instant Pot makes it hands off and simple to prepare.
Check out this recipe
Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili
Instant Pot vegetarian chili is hearty and flavorful! With pantry staples like sweet potatoes, black beans, corn and Tex-Mex spices, it's a 'dump and go' recipe that cuts way down on the cook time.
Check out this recipe
Soups, stews & chili
There is pretty much nothing easier than soups and stews to cook in your Instant Pot! Here are delicious Instant pot soups and stews to warm you up this winter.
Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
Creamy and rich, with fall apart tender chicken and flavor that will warm you up to the tips of your toes, this Instant Pot white chicken chili is simple to prep and reheats great!
Check out this recipe
Instant Pot Cauliflower Cheese Soup
Creamy, smooth, and sinfully cheesy, this Instant Pot cauliflower soup is easy to prep and tastes even better on day two! With just 235 calories per serving, it’s a healthy yet totally delicious lunch option.
Check out this recipe
Instant Pot Turkey Chili
With bold Tex Mex flavor and a simple ingredients list, this Instant Pot turkey chili is hands off to cook thanks to the Instant Pot! Cozy up with a bowl of this hearty, yet healthy chili.
Check out this recipe
Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
Cozy up with a bowl of Instant Pot butternut squash soup! Creamy and rich, with a hint of sage flavor to compliment the nutty and slightly sweet butternut squash. The pressure cooker helps cook this soup quickly and in a hands-off way, and it tastes even better on day 2!
Check out this recipe
Instant Pot Beef and Vegetable Soup
Hearty and healthy, this Instant Pot vegetable beef soup has tender chunks of beef and plenty of vegetables simmered in a flavorful broth. The pressure cooker gets this soup on your table quickly, and in a hands off way.
Check out this recipe
Incredible Instant Pot Lentil Soup
Instant Pot lentil soup tastes gourmet but uses simple pantry ingredients to build big flavors. Thick and hearty, this vegan recipe is nourishing and satisfying.
Check out this recipe
Instant Pot Tuscan Chicken Stew
Instant Pot Tuscan chicken stew is heathy comfort food at it's best! Full of veggies, with a boost of flavor from fennel seeds, rosemary and balsamic vinegar. Quick and simple to prepare!
Check out this recipe
Meet Denise Bustard
Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more.
Read more...
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Reader Interactions
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Beekite says
I think this is one of the best blog for me because this is really helpful for me. Thanks for sharing this valuable information for freeReply
Shay says
I’ve made this for myself and I love it! I want to make for my family. How can I double this recipe?
Reply
Denise says
Hi Shay! You can double the teriyaki recipe (all ingredients), and it should be the same cook time. You can check that your chicken has reached 165°F if you are unsure, and simmer for a few extra minutes in the sauce or add a few minutes back onto the cook time. The pot will come back to pressure quickly the second time around!
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Dawn says
I just bought an instant pot Andy have only used it’s once once but I’m so happy to have it. I haven’t done full-out meal prep either, but I really appreciate your site. I’m getting lots of idea s and I love how detailed you are with information and instructions. The ads are annoying, but I get why they’re there.
Thank you for doing this. It’s a great resource!Reply
Denise says
Hi Dawn! I have actually taken steps to remove a lot of the more intrusive ads, like the videos that cover your screen as you scroll on mobile, the ads in the recipe cards, and the ads in the header. I am actually losing out on a lot of money to make the user experience a lot nicer on my site. Which ads are you finding intrusive?
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Bryant says
This website is an absolute mess of ads. I can't read it for all the ads, and I can't even find what is advertised on the page. Would have loved to find it, but it seems like this is either a misleading title or horrible web design.
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Denise says
Hi Bryant! I’m sorry you are having trouble. It costs a significant amount of money to publish these recipes and articles. In order to keep it free for you, I rely on advertising to cover those expenses. I appreciate that you’ve experienced some frustration, but I will have to continue running those ads. I’ll try and keep them to a minimum. Thanks for understanding!
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Nick says
Bryant, have you ever tried an AdBlock Program? It doesn't get rid of all of them, but it's manageable. Don't begrudge the woman for trying to make ends meet. It's not like she's charging you for the recipe. You go girl!
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TEXIE COLE says
I have been trying to unsubscribe for months and you don't seem to have a place. There are far too many pop-up recipes for my lifestyle. Please email me instructions on how I can stop these pop-ups and unsubscribe. Thank you. Texie
Reply
Denise says
Hi Texie! Sounds like you subscribed to push notifications from my site!
Here's how to unsubscribe:
-go to my site, look for the little blue bar in the bottom right hand corner of the screen (I've attached a screenshot), and click 'unsubscribe to notifications'
-you can also unsubscribe when you receive a notificationUnfortunately this is not something I can do from my end, so you'll have to do this yourself.
I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any issues.
I will email you these directions as well.
Take care,
Denise
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Debbie says
I can't wait to try these!Reply
Denise says
I hope you enjoy!
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