• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Natural Nurturer

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Home
  • Info
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Contact
  • Recipes
    • Recipes by Type
      • Breakfast
        • Muffins
        • Oatmeal
        • Pancakes & Waffles
      • Desserts
      • Dinner
      • Dips, Sauces & Spreads
      • How To
      • Salads
      • Side Dishes
      • Smoothies & Drinks
      • Snacks
      • Soups
    • Recipes by Diet
      • Dairy-Free
      • Gluten-Free
      • Grain Free
      • Nut-Free
      • Paleo
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
      • Whole30
    • Recipes by Cooking Method
      • Air Fryer
      • Instant Pot
      • Meal Prep
      • No Cook
      • Roasted
      • Slow Cooker
    • Recipe Search
    • Recipe Index
    • Recipe Stories
  • Shop
    • Ebooks and Meal Plans
    • Recommended Products
  • Blog
    • Food For Thought
Home » Recipes » Dinner » Healthy Family Instant Pot Recipes

Healthy Family Instant Pot Recipes

By Taesha Butler March 31, 2020 (Updated April 14, 2022) 1 Comment

Servings6 servings
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time18 mins
Jump to Recipe
No ratings yet

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 collage of four images with text overlay

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

  • Instant Pot
  • Immersion Blender
  • Wooden Spoons
  • Chef’s Knife
  • Epicurean Cutting Board
  • Canned Coconut Milk
  • Chicken Broth
  • Vegetable Broth

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

Instant Pot Breakfast Recipes

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.
View Recipe

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!
View Recipe

Instant Pot Soups

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.
View Recipe

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!
View Recipe

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.
View Recipe

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!
View Recipe

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.
View Recipe

Instant Pot Side Dishes

Mashed Instant Pot Potatoes with Cauliflower

These Mashed 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!
View Recipe

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.
View Recipe

Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes

View Recipe

Instant Pot Beets

Have you ever made Instant Pot Beets? It is one of my favorite ways to make this delicious vegetable and cooking beets in your pressure cooker is easy!
View Recipe

Instant Pot Butternut Squash Risotto

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. 
View Recipe

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!
View Recipe

Instant Pot Main Dishes

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.
View Recipe

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!
View Recipe

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.
View Recipe

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.
View Recipe
Overhead on the delicious Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Salmon served in a white plate with two lemons on the side

Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Salmon (from frozen!)

This Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Salmon is 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!
View Recipe

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

Loving these healthy family Instant Pot recipes and hungry for more?

Sign up so that my newsletter is delivered straight to your inbox. And be sure to follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all kinds of veggie-loaded living ideas!

Print Recipe
No ratings yet

Family Instant Pot Recipes: Instant Pot Butternut Squash Risotto

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. 
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time18 mins
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Diet: Vegetarian
Keyword: butternut squash, Instant Pot risotto
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 340kcal
Author: Taesha Butler

Equipment

  • Instant Pot

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

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.

Nutrition

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

The nutritional information is provided as an estimate only and may vary based on the product type, servings and other factors. If you are following a diet, please consult with a professional nutritionist or your doctor. Stay healthy!

Sharing is caring!

335 shares
  • Share253
  • Tweet

Filed Under: Dinner, Instant Pot, Recipe Roundups

Previous Post: « Easy Baking Substitutions
Next Post: Veggie-Loaded Instant Pot Tomato Soup »

Reader Interactions

    Leave a comment & rate this recipe Cancel reply

    Did you make this recipe? So good, right? It would mean the world to me if you left a comment and star rating so that more people can see how delicious veggie-loading can be. Plus, it helps me to see what recipes you are all loving so I can make more like them.

    Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback.

    Recipe Rating




    Comments

  1. Helena

    December 27, 2020 at 10:03 pm

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

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Hi! I'm Taesha! I help busy people fall in love with healthy eating with my simple, family-friendly, veggie-loaded recipes. I believe vegetables can and SHOULD be delicious. Here, let me show you how!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Categories

Newsletter

Subscribe to our email list.

Never miss a new veggie-loaded recipe or natural living rambling.

Once you have subscribed, you will receive an email asking you to confirm. Please click "yes" and you'll be added to my list. And just my list. Your privacy is important and I totally respect it. I won't be sharing your email with anyone else....no matter how nicely they ask.

Footer

As seen in…

As seen in brand wall collage

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

© 2023 The Natural Nurturer - Privacy Policy - Accessibility Policy - Support by Foodie Digital

  • 253