Hi Hungry Girl,
I’ve made a few of your Instant Pot recipes (YUM), and I’d love to use my IP more often to quickly cook up healthy everyday staples. Do you have some basic how-tos?
Instant Pot of Gold
Hi Instant Pot of Gold,
Thanks for your email! It inspired us to put together some simple recipitos (a.k.a. mini recipes) for everyday basics. Check ‘em out… and for full printable versions of each, click “GET THE RECIPE!”
HG Heads Up: Always be careful when venting your Instant Pot. That burst of steam is hot, Hot, HOT!
How to Cook Frozen Chicken in an Instant Pot
1/5th of recipe (about 3/4 cup): 167 calories, 3.5g total fat (0.5g sat. fat), 420mg sodium, 0.5g carbs, 0g fiber, <0.5g sugars, 31g protein
Green Plan SmartPoints® value 2*
Blue Plan (Freestyle™
) SmartPoints® value 0*
Purple Plan SmartPoints® value 0*
Keep a bag of chicken breast in the freezer, and you’ll always have delicious lean protein on hand. But what if you forgot to defrost it? No worries! Just put the frozen raw chicken breast right in your Instant Pot, add salt and pepper, and top with some chicken broth. Seal with lid. Press Manual/Pressure Cook, and set the time for 12 minutes. It’ll take about 15 minutes to preheat, but you’ll have tender ready-to-eat chicken in about 30 minutes. (If you’ve got fresh chicken, check out this
Go-To Garlic 'n Herb Shredded Chicken.)
GET THE RECIPE!
How to Make Oatmeal in an Instant Pot
1/4th of recipe (about 1 1/2 cups): 185 calories, 4g total fat (0.5g sat. fat), 235mg sodium, 30g carbs, 5g fiber, 1.5g sugars, 6.5g protein
Green Plan SmartPoints® value 5*
Blue Plan (Freestyle™
) SmartPoints® value 5*
Purple Plan SmartPoints® value 1*
Whenever I make oatmeal, I like to super-size the portion (without super-sizing the calories) by using extra liquid, cooking it longer, and letting it thicken. This set & forget method is no exception. Spray your pot with nonstick spray. Then add 4 cups water, 2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 2 cups old-fashioned oats, 5 no-calorie sweetener packets, 1 tbsp. vanilla extract, 2 tsp. cinnamon, and 1/4 tsp. salt. Mix and seal with lid. Press Manual/Pressure Cook, and set for 6 minutes. Then let it thicken for 5 - 10 minutes. Now you’ve got a big batch of classic creamy oatmeal that you can dress up anyway you like. I love it topped with chopped Fuji apples and extra cinnamon.
GET THE RECIPE!
How to Make “Hard-Boiled” Eggs in an Instant Pot
1/12th of recipe (1 egg): 72 calories, 4.5g total fat (1.5g sat. fat), 71mg sodium, 0.5g carbs, 0g fiber, <0.5g sugars, 6g protein
Green Plan SmartPoints® value 2*
Blue Plan (Freestyle™
) SmartPoints® value 0*
Purple Plan SmartPoints® value 0*
I. LOVE. HARD-BOILED EGGS. I pretty much always have them in the fridge for snacking. (I like to pop out the yolks and fill them with hummus or sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning!) Here’s how to make hard-cooked eggs in your IP. Add 3/4 cup water, and place a stainless-steel steamer basket in the pot. Add your eggs, and seal with lid. Press Manual/Pressure Cook, and set for 7 minutes. To easily peel them, place in a bowl of ice water for 20 minutes or so first before peeling.
GET THE RECIPE!
How to Make Spaghetti Squash in an Instant Pot
1 cup cooked strands: 42 calories, <0.5g total fat (0g sat. fat), 28mg sodium, 10g carbs, 2g fiber, 4g sugars, 1g protein
Green Plan SmartPoints® value 0*
Blue Plan (Freestyle™
) SmartPoints® value 0*
Purple Plan SmartPoints® value 0*
Ah, spaghetti squash. Great to eat, but it’s not exactly an intuitive veggie to prepare. Here’s an easy Instant Pot method. First, microwave the squash for 6 minutes, so it’s easier to cut. Once cool, slice it in half and remove the seeds. Place the halves in the pot, cut sides up, and add 1 cup water. Seal with lid. Press Manual/Pressure Cook, and set for 8 minutes. Then scrape out the strands for a carb-slashed pasta swap!
GET THE RECIPE!
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I wouldn’t leave you without my Instant Pot pick! Here’s why
this 6-qt. 7-in-1 Instant Pot deserves a spot in your Amazon cart…
⭑ Over 30,000 reviews with an average of 4 1/2 stars
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⭑ Works as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer & more
⭑ 14 one-touch smart programs (like Soup, Steam, and Keep Warm)
CLICK TO SHOP!
We hope you love your Instant Pot as much as we do! FYI: As an Amazon Associate, we may receive compensation from some of these links.
We may receive affiliate compensation from some of these links. Prices and availability are subject to change.
We may have received free samples of food, which in no way influences whether these products are reviewed favorably, unfavorably, mentioned with indifference, or mentioned at all. Click for more about our editorial and advertising policies.
*The WW Points® values for these products and/or recipes were calculated by Hungry Girl and are not an endorsement or approval of the product, recipe or its manufacturer or developer by WW International, Inc., the owner of the Points® trademark.
Questions on the WW Points® values listed? Click here.
Hungry Girl provides general information about food and lifestyle. This information and any linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is the information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. Click here for more information.
