Plant-Based Instant Pot Recipes
on Mar 16, 2020, Updated Apr 25, 2023
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These 25 healthy plant-based Instant Pot recipes are easy to make and work great for both pantry and fresh ingredients. From vegetables to beans and even dessert, the Instant Pot is a versatile and convenient addition to a plant-based kitchen.
What plant-based foods can you make in an Instant Pot?
You can make pretty much anything in an Instant Pot and while it’s not necessarily faster than cooking stovetop, I love how hands-off it is…just dump and go!
I even use it for preparing quickly cooked veggies like broccoli just because it’s less effort than dealing with various pots and pans. I love how I can have it going without having to monitor it while I prepare other items. It’s so handy!
Aside from recipes, here are some of the ways I use my Instant Pot to prepare plant-based foods:
- Steaming vegetables. Broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, beets, sweet potato, potato and even greens like kale are all quick and easy to make in an Instant Pot.
- Baking vegetables. I love baking whole squashes, potato and sweet potato in my Instant Pot. It’s so easy and perfect for food prep.
- Roasting vegetables. You can make wonderful roast veggies like potato, sweet potato, carrot and Brussels sprouts.
- Cooking whole grains. I frequently cook quinoa, brown rice, farro and steel-cut oats in my Instant Pot
- Cooking beans from scratch. The Instant Pot is wonderful from cooking any and all beans from scratch. You’ll never go back to canned again!
- Cooking lentils. Lentils are easy to make in an Instant Pot using endless flavor variations.
I searched the web high and low to find the best plant-based Instant Pot recipes and basic tutorials for you. These recipes are all:
- gluten-free
- vegan
- sugar-free or refined sugar-free
- oil-free or option to be oil-free
- easy to make
- made with simple ingredients
- well-reviewed
Instant Pot Rice Pilaf
Quick, easy, healthy and delicious, this Instant Pot rice pilaf is a great recipe to keep on hand. Excellent for meal prep too!
Instant Pot Kale Potato Soup
The potato kale soup is creamy, flavorful, packed with nutrition, low in calories and easy to make in your Instant Pot.
Cauliflower Potato Curry
This flavourful cauliflower potato curry is easy to make in the Instant Pot or stovetop. It's packed with spices, veggies and other feel-good ingredients. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner the whole family will enjoy!
Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
The Instant Pot is super handy for making whole baked potatoes. Top with ingredients like black beans, corn, salsa, kale, avocado or vegan chili for a quick, healthy plant-based meal.
Instant Pot Refried Black Beans
Instant Pot refried beans are easy, healthy and packed with flavor! These make a great dip, topping or addition to burritos, tacos and more.
Instant Pot Brown Rice Pudding
Extra comforting brown rice pudding that's super easy to make in the Instant Pot.
Instant Pot Lentil Tacos
I make a lentil taco mixture in my Instant Pot often. They're perfect for burritos bowls, burritos, tacos and salads, and even make a tasty, healthy, protein-rich snack.
Instant Pot Golden Lentil & Spinach Soup
A thick and hearty lentil soup packed full of flavor and made specifically for the Instant Pot. This is the perfect way to use up the bag of lentils in your pantry! To make the recipe oil-free, omit the oil and saute the onions, carrot and celery in water or broth.
Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice
These Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice features red beans cooked from scratch with veggies, flavorful cajun spices, and optional vegan sausage. Served with rice for a healthy & hearty lunch or dinner. This is perfect for meal prep!
Sweet Potato Curry With Spinach
This vegan sweet potato curry with spinach and creamy coconut milk is flavorful, delicious and makes a wonderful comfort meal for dinner. Perfect for meal prep too!
Instant Pot Potato Soup
This Instant Pot Potato Soup is the ultimate comfort Fall and Winter food. It’s loaded with delicious chunks of potatoes and other veggies. It’s creamy, delicious, healthy, and vegan, as well as oil-free and gluten-free/
Instant Pot Vegan Quinoa Burrito Bowls
These Instant Pot Vegan Quinoa Burrito Bowls are an easy and healthy make-ahead meal loaded with fiber and protein. Top with burrito favorites like cilantro, shredded lettuce and avocado to customize your make. For an oil-free recipe, omit the oil and saute in water or broth.
Vegetable Chow Mein
This recipe is super easy and has many excellent reviews. To make it refined sugar-free, swap the 1 tbsp brown sugar for maple syrup or coconut sugar. It also calls for 1 tsp of sesame oil, which can be left out but I do find it really enhances the flavor of Asian recipes such as this.
Vegan Instant Pot Pasta Recipe (One Pot Marinara)
This healthy and easy vegan one-pot pasta marinara is made with whole food plant-based ingredients. You'll need just 20 minutes to make this classic Italian comfort dish. It can be gluten-free if made with gluten-free pasta. Great for the whole family and an easy way to sneak in extra veggies!
Instant Pot Cauliflower Curry
Tender cauliflower, butternut squash, and red lentils cooked in a coconut-creamy red curry sauce and poured over a bowl of delicious, steamy rice.
Vegan Instant Pot Quinoa Chili
Hearty, healthy vegan chili that's easy to make in your Instant Pot. Dump everything in, turn it on and dinner is ready! This recipe is gluten-free, oil-free and great for meal prep.
Black Eyed Peas Curry
This is easy Black Eyed Peas Curry Recipe is so simple yet flavorful. It melts in your mouth, is made with delicious warming spices and it's perfect to serve on a chilly night. Both stovetop and 'no soaking' Instant Pot versions are included. Serve on its own or with rice, quinoa, roti or cauliflower rice.
Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
Steel-cut oats are probably my favorite thing to make in the Instant Pot. I love how you can just toss in oats and water, press a button and you're done! I make IP steel-cut oats often for meal prep as you can heat them up daily with different toppings like banana, berries, almond milk and nut butter.
Instant Pot Rolled Oats
One of my favourite breakfasts! Toss everything in, turn in on and enjoy a hot, healthy breakfast in under 15 minutes.
Instant Pot Brownies (Flourless & Fudgy!)
These Instant Pot Brownies require just one bowl and 10 minutes to stir together and are made without flour for a rich and fudgy texture! The recipe is vegan, oil-free, refined sugar-free and made with just a few simple ingredients.
Instant Pot Farro
Farro is one of my favorite whole grains. Try this easy Instant Pot method to prep farro for salads, stir-fries, bowls and more.
Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
This post covers everything you need to know about making perfect sweet potatoes in your Instant Pot. A must-try and so wonderful for meal prep! Enjoy them plain or with sweet or savory toppings for a quick and healthy meal.
Instant Pot Chickpeas
Once you learn how to make chickpeas in your Instant Pot, you'll never go back to canned. They're easy, flavorful, perfect for recipes and can made with or without soaking.
Instant Pot Whole Butternut Squash
Ever wondered how to cook a whole squash in the Instant Pot. This post will cover all your questions! Baked squash makes a wonderful, snack, breakfast, side dish, addition to salads and soups and so much more.
Perfect Instant Pot Brown Rice
Instant Pot brown rice is a must! It's easy to make the perfect addition to your weekly meal prep routine or a simple solution for dinner.
Perfect Quinoa in the Instant Pot
The Instant Pot makes easy work of quinoa. Toss it in and have fresh, fluffy quinoa ready for a side dish, salad, porridge or whatever else you need it for.
Instant Pot Steamed Broccoli
A super easy Instant Pot Steamed Broccoli recipe ready in less than 10 minutes. This is a great side to eat with some rice or protein.
LOVE the ease of the IP for Oats! Specifically, I made the Steel Cut version you posted (plain) so that everyone in my family could add their favorite additions afterwards! I dig that it makes so much (I doubled the recipe actually). Can’t wait to try the IP red beans and rice recipe next! Thanks so much for the all yummy things!
This is a wonderful post ! Thank you for the great recipes and tips ๐
Hi Deryn! Thanks so much for sharing my sweet potato curry recipe. ๐
Of course! Thanks for creating it. Can’t wait to try it.