An Introduction to Low Carb Instant Pot Recipes
The instant pot has revolutionized home cooking, making it quick and easy to prepare delicious meals. For those following low carb or keto diets, the instant pot is invaluable. It allows you to create flavorful low carb dishes in a fraction of the traditional cooking time.
The instant pot uses pressure cooking to drastically speed up cooking times. Foods cook faster when under pressure because the boiling point of water is raised, reaching higher temperatures. This means meat becomes fall-off-the-bone tender and vegetables cook to perfection in minutes.
When paired with low carb ingredients, the instant pot is the perfect tool for fast keto cooking. Read on to learn more about how the instant pot can benefit a low carb lifestyle and to find a collection of delicious low carb instant pot recipes to make tonight!
Benefits of Low Carb Instant Pot Cooking
Here are some of the reasons the instant pot is useful for low carb diets:
- Saves time - Create entire meals in a fraction of the normal cooking time.
- Hands-free - Food cooks unattended freeing you up for other tasks.
- Easy clean up - Pressure cooking contains messes to the pot insert.
- Nutrient retention - Vitamins and minerals are preserved unlike other cooking methods.
- Tenderizes - Meats become fall-apart tender in the pressure cooker.
- No thawing - Frozen meats and vegetables can go straight into the pot.
Tips for Low Carb Instant Pot Success
Follow these tips to get the most out of the instant pot for your low carb diet:
- Cut food uniformly - This ensures even cooking.
- Avoid overfilling - For safety, do not pass the max fill line.
- Use natural release - Let pressure release naturally to prevent boiling over.
- Adjust cooking time - Reduce time for small pieces and increase for larger.
- Use steamer rack - Keeps items like eggs out of water.
- Check seals - Confirm the lid seal and valves are clean for proper sealing.
Top Low Carb Instant Pot Recipes
Instant Pot Butter Chicken
This Indian butter chicken is rich, flavorful and easy to make in the instant pot. Serve it over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles for a low carb meal.
Instant Pot Beef Stew
Tender beef and vegetables come together in this comforting stew finished with a hint of red wine. It's a fast one-pot meal with only 5g net carbs per serving.
Instant Pot Chili
Hearty ground beef chili with tomato, beans, onions, garlic and spices. Top it with cheese, avocado and cilantro for the perfect low carb chili.
Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Pork
Shred fall-apart tender pork shoulder in a sweet and tangy homemade BBQ sauce. Pile it onto low carb buns or cauliflower rice.
Instant Pot Egg Bites
Use the instant pot to make fast and easy copycat Starbucks sous vide egg bites. They're packed with protein and customize them however you like.
Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Soup
Shredded buffalo chicken meat simmers in a rich and creamy broth with ranch flavoring. This keto soup will become a new family favorite.
Instant Pot Lasagna Soup
All the flavors of lasagna in an easy, hearty soup. Ground meat, tomatoes, spinach and spices come together quickly in the pressure cooker.
Instant Pot Bacon and Cabbage
Cook tender cabbage wedges and meaty bacon together in minutes. It's a simple low carb side or light meal everyone will love.
Instant Pot Cheesecake
Make the most decadent low carb New York style cheesecake in the instant pot. It cooks up smooth and creamy in under an hour.
Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
Perfect hard boiled eggs in just 5 minutes in the pressure cooker. They peel easily for a quick high protein snack or meal component.
Instant Pot Chicken Recipes
Chicken adapts beautifully to the instant pot. Try these quick keto chicken recipes:
Instant Pot Chicken Cordon Bleu
Breaded chicken breasts stuffed with deli ham and melty Swiss cook up tender and golden brown in no time.
Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala
Chicken in a rich and aromatic Indian masala sauce. Best served over riced cauliflower or low carb naan bread.
Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas
Quick chicken fajitas with bell peppers and onions in homemade taco seasoning. Wrap in low carb tortillas or lettuce leaves.
Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings
Tender chicken and fluffy dumplings in one pot. This classic comfort food can be prepped start to finish in under an hour.
Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken
Shredded chicken tossed in a homemade hot sauce is perfect served over a salad or wrap. A quick slimmed-down buffalo chicken.
Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
Zesty Mexican-inspired soup with chicken breast, black beans, corn, zucchini and topped with avocado.
Instant Pot Chicken Piccata
Chicken breasts in a bright lemon caper sauce. An easy low carb Italian recipe made fast in the pressure cooker.
Instant Pot Chicken Parmesan
Crispy breaded chicken topped with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. Serve over zucchini noodles for a fast keto friendly dinner.
Instant Pot Thai Coconut Curry Chicken
Chicken cooked in an aromatic Thai red curry coconut sauce with vegetables. Simple 30 minute meal with only 5g net carbs.
Instant Pot Salsa Chicken
Shredded Mexican seasoned chicken breast with salsa makes the perfect instant pot taco filling. Serve in lettuce wraps.
Instant Pot Ground Beef Recipes
Ground beef cooks up quickly in the instant pot. Here are tasty low carb ground beef dishes:
Instant Pot Cheeseburger Casserole
All the flavors of a juicy cheeseburger in easy casserole form. Ground beef, cheese, pickles, mustard and onions.
Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana
Hearty Italian sausage and kale soup with cream and crushed red pepper. A quick slimmed-down version of the Olive Garden favorite.
Instant Pot Meatballs
Perfectly tender Italian-style beef meatballs in a simple tomato sauce finished with fresh basil.
Instant Pot Chili Mac
Savory ground beef and beans in a tomato sauce served over spiralized zucchini noodles. Top with cheese and avocado.
Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers
Ground meat, rice, tomatoes and seasonings stuffed in halved bell peppers. An easy hands-off low carb dinner.
Instant Pot Shepherd's Pie
Hearty ground beef topped with creamy cauliflower mash and cheese. A fast one-pot low carb shepherd's pie.
Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff
Tender beef in a creamy mushroom sauce served over zucchini noodles. A warm and comforting 20 minute low carb meal.
Instant Pot Cheeseburger Soup
Recreate the flavors of a cheeseburger in soup form. Ground beef, tomatoes, onions, pickles and cheese.
Instant Pot Bolognese Sauce
Rich meat sauce made with tomatoes, wine, garlic, herbs and beef. Serve over low carb vegetables noodles.
Instant Pot Cabbage Roll Soup
Simmer ground meat and rice together with cabbage, tomatoes and seasonings for a fast unload carb soup.
Instant Pot Pork and Lamb Recipes
Pork and lamb shine in the instant pot. Enjoy these fast keto recipes:
Instant Pot Pulled Pork
Tender, fall-apart pulled pork in your choice of barbecue sauce. Simply shred and serve over coleslaw or cauliflower rice.
Instant Pot Carnitas
Mexican pulled pork seasoned with garlic, citrus and cumin. Pile into low carb taco shells or lettuce wraps.
Instant Pot Pork Ragu
Hearty ragu sauce made with ground pork, tomatoes, red wine, garlic and herbs. Serve over shirataki noodles or zucchini noodles.
Instant Pot Pork Chops
Juicy, tender bone-in pork chops coated in a dijon herb sauce. A fast and easy low carb dinner.
Instant Pot Lamb Shanks
Falling-off-the-bone lamb shanks braised in a red wine tomato sauce. Serve this succulent dish over cauliflower mash.
Instant Pot Carnitas Soup
Mexican seasoned pulled pork simmered in tomato broth with onions, peppers and zucchini. Garnish with avocado.
Instant Pot Green Chili Pork
Pork shoulder with hatch chilis and Mexican spices. Shred for tacos or serve over cauliflower rice.
Instant Pot Pork Ribs
Fall-off-the-bone tender bbq ribs made quickly in the pressure cooker. Choose your favorite barbecue sauce.
Instant Pot Bacon and Cabbage
Corned beef brisket, bacon, cabbage and seasonings come together for a fast low carb Reuben-inspired dish.
Instant Pot Seafood Dishes
Try these easy keto friendly instant pot seafood recipes:
Instant Pot Lobster Tails
Perfectly cooked lobster tails ready in minutes. Serve with drawn lemon butter for an impressive low carb meal.
Instant Pot Crab Legs
Steamed king crab legs ready in just 10 minutes. A quick keto friendly seafood feast.
Instant Pot Shrimp Boil
All your favorite shrimp boil flavors without the carbs. Shrimp, sausage, corn, potatoes and cajun seasoning.
Instant Pot Shrimp Scampi
Garlic butter shrimp over zucchini noodles. A fast and easy weeknight keto friendly dinner.
Instant Pot Salmon
Flavorful salmon fillets with lemon and herbs cook to tender perfection in minutes. Eat as is or served over veggies.
Instant Pot Fish Stew
Hearty chunky seafood stew with whitefish, shrimp, mussels and fire roasted tomatoes. Low carb and comforting.
Instant Pot Seafood Chili
Spicy chili loaded with shrimp, scallops, whitefish and calamari. Top with avocado and cilantro.
Instant Pot Clam Chowder
Creamy, comforting clam chowder made quickly in the pressure cooker. Serve with a side salad for a fast keto meal.
Instant Pot Side Dishes
Round out your low carb instant pot meals with these fast side dish recipes:
Instant Pot Green Beans
Fresh green beans with garlic, onions and seasoning ready in only 5 minutes.
Instant Pot Brussels Sprouts
Caramelized and tender brussels sprouts with bacon in 10 minutes - no steaming necessary!
Instant Pot Cauliflower Rice
Quick cauliflower rice with cumin, garlic and lime. The perfect low carb side dish or base.
Instant Pot Cheesy Cauliflower
Creamy cauliflower florets in a rich and cheesy sauce. Comfort food without the carbs.
Instant Pot Butternut Squash
Maple cinnamon butternut squash puree ready in minutes. A naturally sweetened keto side dish.
Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup
Creamy broccoli florets in a smooth cheesy soup with bacon. Fast low carb comfort in a bowl.
Instant Pot Creamed Spinach
Creamed spinach made easily with only 5 ingredients. Serve it alongside chicken, fish or steak.
Instant Pot Ratatouille
Vegetable ratatouille with zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers, garlic, basil and tomato. An easy low carb side.
Instant Pot Collard Greens
Southern-style collard greens with smoked turkey. A fast low carb alternative to slow cooked greens.
Conclusion
The instant pot can help simplify sticking to a low carb or keto diet. It cooks foods rapidly while still retaining moisture and flavor. Use the instant pot to quickly prepare delicious low carb dinners, sides, snacks and desserts.
Experiment with the wide range of recipes detailed here for instant pot chicken, beef, pork, seafood, vegetables and more. Pressure cooking makes whipping up tasty low carb meals a breeze. Get ready to enjoy fast, healthy keto meals every night of the week!
FAQs
What are the benefits of using an instant pot for a low carb diet?
The instant pot cooks food rapidly under pressure, which is perfect for low carb diets. It tenderizes meats, cooks vegetables quickly, and allows you to make entire meals easily in minutes.
What can I make in an instant pot on a keto diet?
You can make almost anything in an instant pot while following a keto diet! Meats like chicken, beef, and pork, seafood, vegetable sides, soups, chilis, and even cheesecake.
Do you need any special instant pot accessories for low carb cooking?
A steamer rack or basket is useful for keeping items like eggs from direct contact with water when pressure cooking. Otherwise, the basic instant pot is all you need.
Can you cook frozen meats in an instant pot?
Yes, you can cook frozen meats and vegetables directly in the instant pot! No need to thaw them first, just add a bit more cooking time.
What are some common instant pot mistakes to avoid?
Don't overfill past the max line, allow for natural release to prevent overflow, adjust cook times as needed, and check that seals are clean. Follow the manufacturer's safety guidelines.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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