Easy Instant Pot Meal Prep Ideas
Today I am sharing some easy Instant Pot meal prep ideas.
Spring is here. And if you are a busy mom of school-age kids, that means spring sports and activities are shifting into high gear.
Meal prep is one of my favorite ways to prepare for the week. It makes it easier to get healthy meals on the table FAST during the school week. It also helps to lessen the decision fatigue that comes with thinking about what we're going to eat every day. The weekday struggle is real!
By prepping a few basics on the weekend, you'll save time, money (no drive-thru needed), and your sanity during busy seasons.
More specifically, I'm sharing easy Instant Pot meal prep ideas, because an Instant Pot (or any other pressure cooker) is a kitchen tool that can make meal prepping basic healthy staples quicker and easier. I would say that I mainly use this tool for meal prep, as opposed to using it for making full meals.
These easy Instant Pot meal prep ideas are healthy, quick and versatile. There is nothing I love more than a full fridge at the start of the week to take some of the meal pressure off!
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What exactly does an Instant Pot do?
An instant pot is a multi-cooker, with a whole slew of functions. It can be used as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, and more. It works fast, and doesn't take up a ton of countertop space. There are different models and brands, but I use this Instant Pot Duo Multi-Cooker.
Is an Instant Pot good for meal prepping?
Yes! An Instant Pot is great for meal prepping because it cooks food faster than traditional methods, you can make larger portions with minimal effort, and the clean up is easy - just one pot!
What are the advantages of meal prepping?
Meal prepping has so many advantages!
Meal prepping saves you time and lightens the mental load on busy days.
When you have food prepared, or partially prepared, in advance, you will find it's easier and quicker to get meals on the table. Just preparing a few basic staples on the weekend can save you time and stress on busy weeknights. You will also take the guesswork out of dinner, as you'll already have a plan in place. This will help prevent decision fatigue, a feeling that busy moms know all to well!
Meal prepping helps you stick to your health goals.
If eating healthy and feeding your family healthy meals is a priority for you, then meal prepping is the way to go. Having meals or components of meals at the ready will help to prevent the temptation of eating out and help to keep you on track with your health goals.
Meal prepping saves you money.
When you meal prep, you are less likely to eat out. You are more likely to eat the food you have, and not waste as much.
Now that we know the advantages of meal prep, let's get some ideas for what you can meal prep in your Instant Pot.
Instant Pot Meal Prep Ideas
Here I'll share some of the staples that I make in my Instant Pot. I do not make all of these every week, but these are some tried-and-true foods that I like to have on hand depending on what I am planning to make that week. It's also important to note - you do need to do a bit of meal planning before meal prepping so you have an idea of what you want to make for that week.
Proteins
MY GO-TO: SHREDDED CHICKEN. Place chicken breasts or thighs in IP, season with salt and pepper, cover with broth or water. Cook on high pressure for 25 minutes and then let it release naturally. USE FOR: tacos, salads, wraps, quesadillas, soups, or grain bowls.
OTHER PROTEIN IDEAS:
Pulled pork for sandwiches, tacos, bowls or lettuce wraps.
Beef barbacoa for burritos, nachos, tacos or grain bowls.
Chicken or turkey meatballs to serve with pasta or in a sandwich.
Grains & Legumes
MY GO-TO: RICE. Put desired amount of rice in IP. You will need 2 cups of water for each cup of rice. Add a sprinkle of salt and 1 tbsp neutral oil (I use avocado oil). Use rice setting, quick release when it is finished, and fluff with a fork. USE FOR: a base for bowls, stir-fries, or side dishes.
OTHER GRAIN AND LEGUME IDEAS:
Quinoa for grain bowls or as a side dish.
Lentils for soups or salads.
Beans for tacos, soups, or bowls.
Vegetables
MY GO-TO: SWEET POTATOES. Pour 1 cup of water into IP, place sweet potatoes on top of trivet. Cook on high pressure for 15-25 minutes, depending on size of potatoes, natural release for 10 minutes.
OTHER VEGETABLE IDEAS:
Mashed potatoes or cauliflower mash for an easy side dish.
Breakfast Foods
MY GO-TO: HARD BOILED EGGS. Pour 1 cup of water into IP, place eggs on trivet (I do 6), and cook on high pressure for 6 minutes, quick release. Put in ice bath or right into the refrigerator after cooking. USE FOR: snacks, salads, or breakfast on the go.
OTHER BREAKFAST IDEAS:
Steel-cut oats for oatmeal bowls that you can top with berries, nuts or nut butter. Make a batch and have a warm breakfast all week.
A Kid Favorite
MY GO-TO: MAC AND CHEESE. Place 2 cups of elbow pasta (I use Barilla gluten free pasta) and 2 cups of water in IP. Add a tbsp of butter and a dash of salt. Cook on high pressure for 4 min and quick release. Remove the top and add 1/4 cup milk and 1 cup cheddar cheese. Mix well until cheese is melted.
ANOTHER KID-FRIENDLY OPTION:
Make plain pasta (with directions above) and then toss with butter, olive oil and salt, or your favorite sauce.
How do I store my meal prepped food?
I like to use glass containers. This set is my favorite - the lids seal tight and keep food fresh longer.
You can also freeze portions of your meal prepped foods for use on another day.
Let's get cooking.
Meal prepping with an Instant Pot is a lifesaver for busy moms. By cooking a few basic foods in advance, you can create easy, nutritious meals throughout the week with minimal effort.
For more meal prep resources, you can check out easy meal prep ideas for busy moms, my ten best tips for easy meal prep, and five healthy meal prep breakfast ideas for kids.
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