You can make meals that are bursting with flavor and packed with nutrients in your Instant Pot. If you own an Instant Pot and have chicken in your refrigerator, you can turn it into a tasty and nutritious meal in minutes. We asked registered dietitians for tips on how […]
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If you own an Instant Pot and have chicken in your refrigerator, you can turn it into a tasty and nutritious meal in minutes. We asked registered dietitians for tips on how to make the best Instant Pot chicken recipes even healthier so you can get inspired for your next weekly meal plan.
We've included pasta dishes, soups, tacos, sandwiches and more in this roundup, and they're all sure to satisfy your tastebuds. Keep scrolling for 20 protein-packed meal ideas to try.
This North African-inspired Instant Pot chicken breast recipe comes together in just 35 minutes. This meal is a great source of protein and vitamin B6 which is essential for insulin production, registered dietitian Andrea Mathis, RDN, says.
"Cinnamon contains several health benefits," Mathis says. "It has antioxidants with anti-inflammatory effects that have been linked to lower heart disease risk and its prebiotic properties may improve gut health."
Since the whole chicken is the star of this dish, it's important to use ingredients like herbs and spices to lock in flavor. "This dish includes a generous amount of garlic which contains compounds that may lower inflammation by inhibiting the activity of certain inflammatory proteins," Mathis says.
"Celery and carrots are used in this soup and they are a great source of vitamin C, which helps boost immunity and is beneficial to your overall health," Mathis says. If you're looking to cut back on the fat, use less heavy cream, omit it entirely or swap with a non-dairy alternative like almond or oat milk.
Skip the takeout and opt for this better-for-you version of your favorite Asian-inspired dish. It's chock-full of flavor thanks to the ginger and garlic base, which Mathis says provides antioxidants and antimicrobial properties that can help the body get rid of toxins.
"Even though this meal is low in calories, it is filling with high-fiber veggies, black beans and lean protein from chicken," Mia Syn, RDN, says.
"While many soups are made with a cream base which adds significant calories and fat, this dish uses lower-calorie flavor additions like spice, lime juice and veggies like onions, garlic and green chiles."
"If you're looking for a great source of vitamin A, this recipe is the perfect choice," Mathis says. "Vitamin A is essential for many processes in the body, including maintaining healthy vision, ensuring the normal function of your immune system and aiding in proper growth and development."
This recipe is gluten and dairy-free, thanks to coconut milk and coconut aminos. "Although coconut milk is high in saturated fat and calories, it is a great source of manganese, which is necessary for a functioning brain and nervous system," Mathis says.
"An easy way to make this dish more nutritious is to replace elbow macaroni with a whole wheat or even bean-based version," Syn says. She also suggests making a few swaps to cut back on fat content like replacing butter with olive oil, heavy cream for nonfat milk and pork bacon with turkey bacon.
The use of olive oil in this dish provides good-for-you fats. "I recommend using a high-quality extra virgin olive oil for the tomato topping and high-heat avocado oil for the chicken since you will be sautéing," Syn suggests. "Extra-virgin olive oil is best used for salad dressings or finishing a dish because of its low smoke point.
"The base of this dish is heavy cream which is particularly high in calories and saturated fat," Syn says. "While canned coconut milk is still a source of saturated fat, using it instead will save you calories and fat." You can also opt for light coconut milk to save even more calories.
If you're following a low-carb diet or you're looking for a meal to keep carbs to a minimum, this is a must-try recipe. "It's made with cauliflower rice, which is naturally high in fiber and B vitamins and provides antioxidants and phytonutrients that have shown to protect against cancer," Mathis says.
This chicken dish is full of flavor, but low in calories thanks to the addition of herbs, veggies and spices. "If you can omit or cut back on the brown sugar to save calories and added sugar on the final dish," Syn says.
This recipe is packed with flavor thanks to ingredients like garlic, onion and red bell peppers. "Red bell peppers are rich in vitamin C and carotenoids," Mathis says. "These nutrients help to support eye health and have been linked to a lower risk of chronic diseases."
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This chicken recipe is a great start to any meal. To make it a well-balanced lunch or dinner, consider adding a side of veggies like sugar snap peas, broccoli or kale. You can also serve alongside a grain like quinoa or brown rice, too.
"While the filling of this dish is nutritious, the pie crust makes it more of a hearty meal," Syn says. "To cut back on saturated fat, use avocado oil instead of butter and low-fat milk instead of whole milk."
This chicken is not only delicious, but it also makes for a great meal prep recipe. "The chicken base is simply made with spices and fresh herbs, plus salsa which is a flavorful low-calorie condiment," Syn says. To make this a well-balanced meal, Syn suggests serving with a side of veggies.
"This is a nutritious dish made with lean protein, spices, plant-based oil, low-sodium broth and mustard which is low in calories," Syn says. If you can, use less honey to cut back on added sugar and swap the heavy cream for low-fat milk.
This Instant Pot chicken thigh recipe is perfect on bread or over rice. Soy sauce, though flavorful, can be high in sodium, even when low-sodium versions are used. If you want to keep it to a minimum, try swapping out for coconut aminos. The taste is similar so it won't sacrifice the flavor, Syn suggests.
Ranch seasoning, bacon bits and cheese make up this creamy chicken dish. To dial back the fat and calories, consider swapping for turkey bacon and cutting the cheese in half without losing the creaminess and flavor of this recipe.
