20+ Healthy Instant Pot Side Dishes
Find the very best easy and healthy Instant Pot side dishes in this recipe round-up. All of these recipes are gluten-free using real food ingredients. Whether you’re cooking for a family meal, potluck, barbecue, or holiday gathering, you’re sure to find a delicious recipe to take along.
Healthy Side Dishes
No matter what type of diet you’re on, if you’re looking for real food, easy side dishes, then you are in the right place. The Instant Pot is particularly great for making side dishes, as you can set it and forget it.
If you haven’t yet jumped on the Instant Pot bandwagon, I recommend getting a 6-quart Duo. In my opinion, this is the easiest model for getting started. You might also want to check out my post on how to use the Instant Pot.
Pro Tips
- As with any Instant Pot dish, you always need 1 cup of liquid to make sure the pot can come up to pressure. That’s because a pressure cooker works by trapping the steam made by heating up the liquid.
- So, even when you are making a side dish, it’s important to have liquid which can come from water, broth, canned tomatoes, or other liquid ingredients.
- You might also benefit from getting a few Instant Pot accessories. A steamer basket is great for cooking vegetables. A 2nd insert for your Instant Pot can help with meal prep.
Now, let’s get to the round-up of the best healthy Instant Pot side dishes! Whether you’re going to a potluck, barbecue, or a holiday gathering, there is certainly a recipe here that will make your cooking easier.
Instant Pot Side Dishes
1. Instant Pot Whole Red Potatoes
You’re going to love how easy it is to make red potatoes in the pressure cooker. They get cooked perfectly and are an easy, healthy side dish.
2. Instant Pot Artichokes
Cooking artichokes has never been easier than using the pressure cooker. They turn out tender and sooooo delicious.
3. Instant Pot Carrots
Even kids will eat this healthy carrot side dish that has just a few simple ingredients.
4. Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
Everyone loves these delcicious, tender baked potatoes that get cooked perfectly in the pressure cooker. Serve them with your favorite toppings.
5. Instant Pot Cauliflower Mash (Low-Carb)
This is a low-carb version of mashed potatoes, but using cauliflower instead! This healthy side dish is full of fiber and flavor.
6. Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
Making mashed potatoes has never been easier. This recipe is perfect for holidays, or any special occasion when you want a batch of mashed potatoes.
7. Instant Pot Sweet Potato Mash
You’re going to love this easy recipe for Mashed Sweet Potatoes that is both paleo and vegan diet friendly.
8. Instant Pot Basmati Rice
Everyone needs this easy recipe in their back pocket. This pressure cooker rice is such an easy side dish. And, the rice is so fluffy!
9. Instant Pot Beets
Making cooked beets has never been easier. This mess-free method is so great. And, cooked beets are absolutely delicious!
10. Instant Pot Whole Sweet Potatoes
Make a big batch of sweet potatoes in your pressure cooker. This is the easiest method for cooking them.
11. Instant Pot Whole Butternut Squash
Cooked butternut squash is a great healthy side dish. Cook the squash whole and then mash it with your favorite butter, ghee, or vegan butter.
12. Instant Pot Cabbage
Don’t wait for St. Patrick’s Day to make cook cabbage. This is a great healthy side dish.
13. Instant Pot Mexican Rice
This rice dish goes with almost any main dish. It’s flavorful and easy to make.
14. Instant Pot Coconut Rice
Here’s another easy rice dish you can make in your pressure cooker.
15. Instant Pot Potato Salad
This Instant Pot Potato Salad is a summertime favorite. This recipe is vegan and gluten-free.
16. Instant Pot Asparagus
Everyone loves tender asparagus! Skip the oven and cook in the pressure cooker instead. It’s a simple and tasty side dish.
17. Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
You’ll never boil corn on the stovetop again after you’ve made it in the pressure cooker. It turns out crisp and perfectly cooked. So easy!!!
18. Instant Pot Stuffing
This Instant Pot side dish is great for holidays, but can be served at other times of the year, too. This recipe is made gluten-free and is full of flavor.
19. Instant Pot Hard-Boiled Eggs
Use the 2-minute method to make hard boiled eggs for snacks. You can also try my Healthy Egg Salad for a great meal prep lunch recipe.
20. Instant Pot Acorn Squash
Don’t worry about cutting squash in half anymore. Cook them whole in the Instant Pot and then easily slice through them with a butter knife.
21. Instant Pot Cauliflower Florets
One of my favorite hacks for making healthy breakfast smoothies is to steam and then freeze cauliflower to add to my blended drinks. Steam cauliflower florets in the Instant Pot and then lay them on a baking sheet to freeze. So easy!
22. Instant Pot Zucchini Slices
Zucchini slices are also great for steaming and freezing for smoothies. Or, you can serve the steamed zucchini as a super easy side dish.
23. Instant Pot Zucchini & Tomatoes
This is one of my favorite ways to use up abundant zucchini in the summertime. Cooked with chopped canned tomatoes, onion, and garlic, this dish screams summer flavors.
FAQs
Most recipes are written for a 6-quart Instant Pot, but can be adapted to using the 3-quart. It might take some tinkering. You can start by cutting the ingredients in half. Just always remember to include 1 cup of liquid to ensure your pot comes up to pressure.
Conclusions
I hope you found this round-up of Instant Pot Side Dish recipes helpful.
Whether you’re meal prepping for the week or you’re cooking side dishes for Sunday dinner, you should have plenty of recipes to choose from. I think you’ll find that a pressure cooker cuts down on the work, but still produces side dishes that are healthy, easy, and delicious!
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