10 Healthy (And Vegetarian!) Instant Pot Recipes That’ll Simplify Your Week

When my Instant Pot first came into my life, my world transformed. Meal prep was suddenly stress-free and it was within the realm of possibility to get a (delicious) dinner on the table in under 30 minutes. And the majority of that time? Totally hands-off. The world of gadgets geared toward home cooks is wide and expansive—it seems like there’s something for every single need that can come up over the course of a recipe. Garlic press? Check. Kale and greens stripper? Definitely a necessity. Avocado slicer? I have three. But nothing has changed the game more than my Instant Pot, and I’m definitely not alone in coming to that convenient conclusion. It’s the #1 electric pressure cooker that spans the ability of all culinary functions (steam, sauté, slow cook, ferment, bake, braise—you name it!). And boy, the recipes you can make… don’t get me started. But start, I will, and there’s no better place to begin than with these 10 healthy vegetarian instant pot recipes.

Dive into a world of easy deliciousness with these 10 healthy vegetarian Instant Pot recipes.

Instant Pot Butternut Squash Lentil Curry from Rainbow Plant Life

Why We Love It: One of my favorite things about cooking with my Instant Pot is that all it takes are a few minutes of hands-on prep to turn out a masterpiece of a meal. Total prep time for this vibrant, veggie-filled recipe? 15 minutes. And when the final product is a gorgeous bowl of perfectly-spiced curry, you’ll do what you can to carve out 15 minutes in your day.

Hero Ingredient: You can thank quite a few of the ingredients for the stunning, sunshine-soaked color on your curry. But in terms of flavor and presentation, nothing gets the job done quite like turmeric.

Get the recipe for Instant Pot Butternut Squash Lentil Curry.

Mujadara from Feasting at Home

Why We Love It: Again with the ratio of low-effort to high-reward. Mujadara is a classic Arabic recipe that does delicious simplicity to a tee. The dish consists of a humble mix of lentils and rice, and gets all the more crave-worthy thanks to a mix of Moroccan spices. It’s cozy and comforting—as all the best things in life are.

Hero Ingredient: Leave it to lemon zest to always brighten things up.

Get the recipe for Mujadara.

Millet and Amaranth Porridge with Figs and Papaya

Why We Love It: If you’ve given up on the possibility of porridge being a sexy breakfast, this recipe will transform how you think about the morning staple. Instead of the expected oats, this recipe swaps in the combo of millet and amaranth,. While any pair of grains will do, it’s noted that grains become a bit more palatable when there’s more in the mix. Hey, variety’s the spice of life, right?

Hero Ingredient: I love topping off my porridge with a spoonful of yogurt. The creamier, the better.

Get the recipe for Millet and Amaranth Porridge with Figs and Papaya.

Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto from Damn Delicious

Why We Love It: This gal is a forever fan of mushroom risotto. Well, any risotto really, but the combo of hearty, almost meat-like mushrooms mixed with luscious, but-with-a-bite arborio rice is truly food heaven. Bonus: This recipe weaves a little green into your plate thanks to the addition of spinach and peas.

Hero Ingredient: Parmesan is the perfect match for all the creamy components of this risotto.

Get the recipe for Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto.

Instant Pot Lentil Soup from Love & Lemons

Why We Love It: In all my years, I’m not sure I’ve ever met a lentil soup I didn’t love with all my heart. The tried-and-true formula relies on the humble pulse (lentils are a fave here at CS!) for all the meaty texture—minus the meat. This recipe takes things a step further with a rainbow of beautiful veggies. Be sure to snap a pic of the inside of your Instant Pot before setting it to work: the aesthetic quality of this dish is unmatched. Second thought, don’t worry—every bowl’s a stunner.

Hero Ingredient: A can of diced, fire-roasted tomatoes keeps things rich, fiery, and full of flavor.

Get the recipe for Instant Pot Lentil Soup.

Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes With Thai Peanut Butter Sauce from A Couple Cooks

Why We Love It: Sweet potatoes are the endlessly customizable tuber of my dreams. I could eat them again and again, meal after meal thanks to all the different spins you can put on them. With the help of the Instant Pot, the potatoes get super creamy. Plus that Thai-inspired peanut sauce? An easy, delicious win.

Hero Ingredient: Lime juice gives everything a bit of zippy, sour zest.

Get the recipe for Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes With Thai Peanut Butter Sauce.

Channa Masala

Why We Love It: Suruchi, our Food Editor and resident kitchen genius, sought out to recreate the Channa Masala of her childhood. While her mom’s recipe is inexact, more so relying on taste and a deeply-held appreciation and knowledge of food, Suruchi translated her early food memories into this genius recipe. And thank goodness she did—it doesn’t get more delicious than this.

Hero Ingredient: For me, it’s all about the masala. While the channa gives this dish major spice, cooking the tomato sauce in olive oil gives everything a richer, deeper flavor.

Get the recipe for Channa Masala.

Miso Oatmeal With Kale and Avocado from Love & Good Stuff

Why We Love It: Holding out on joining our sweeping obsession with savory oatmeal? Time to take the plunge. Ditch the apples and cinnamon or maple syrup and brown sugar mess of a sweets-induced energy dip and discover this gut health-promoting recipe.

Hero Ingredient: I’ve always loved the common Japanese practice of leaning into savory dishes for the first meal of the day. While I’ve historically opted for sweet, it’s the miso paste in this recipe that has me changing my tune. Fermented and filled with plenty of probiotics, miso will make your digestive system work for you.

Get the recipe for Miso Oatmeal With Kale and Avocado.

Instant Pot Cauliflower Tikka Masala from Full of Plants

Why We Love It: I love the warming comfort and spice of a just-from-the-stovetop bowl of Tikka Masala. And though I may be outnumbered in this opinion, I love the plant-based magic of relying on a whole head of cauliflower for the main source of mouthfeel this dish gives. 30 minutes in your Instant Pot and the result is tender, melt-in-your mouth cauliflower. Fully filling, minus the chicken.

Hero Ingredient: Looking for a way to make fenugreek leaves a part of your regular dinner rotation? Start with this recipe. The taste profile is fascinating, and will send your taste buds along a flavor-forward journey of delicious epiphany. Get ready for something surprisingly similar to maple syrup. Bitter and nutty, but wonderfully sweet.

Get the recipe for Instant Pot Cauliflower Tikka Masala.

Instant Pot Mexican Pinto Beans from The Modern Proper

Why We Love It: There’s nothing better than a pot of well-cooked beans. In search of more (and better) flavor, I ditched canned beans in favor of dry years ago. The result? Creamy, hearty beans that can serve as the base for so many meals. Oh, and did I mention they’re ready in under an hour? Beats the whole “soak overnight” thing.

Hero Ingredient: Taco seasoning does the trick.

Get the recipe for Instant Pot Mexican Pinto Beans.

Love your Instant Pot, too? Share your go-to vegetarian recipes!