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25 Cozy Instant Pot Recipes Perfect for Weight Loss

Put your pressure cooker to work with these comforting recipes!
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Sure, the slow cooker is pretty much made for cozy recipes. But the whole part about it being "slow" doesn't exactly help you when you need dinner on the table—fast. It's nice to be prepared to put something in the slow cooker for a few hours, but if you're not prepared in the slightest and you're still in the mood for a cozy meal, the Instant Pot certainly has your back.

Not only is the Instant Pot massively convenient when you need a quick meal, but it can also be an incredible tool if you're trying to lose weight. Making healthy recipes in the Instant Pot is a lot easier than you think, and quite frankly, they can easily fit into whatever type of meal plan you want to follow.

Even if weight loss isn't the goal, having a few healthy Instant Pot recipes in your arsenal can be ideal when you have a hankering for a cozy soup but don't have all day to sit in front of a hot stove—or don't have hours to wait for the slow cooker.

So here are some of our favorite cozy Instant Pot recipes to make in the chilly months ahead. And if you're on the hunt for even more easy recipe ideas, check out these 21 Easy Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners.

Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Wings

finished chicken wings with blue cheese dip and celery on a plate
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

You may not think you can make chicken wings in an Instant Pot, but this recipe is a quicker, healthier way of enjoying wings than what many people are used to. Just grab chicken, seasonings, and butter and you'll have deliciously crispy buffalo wings in no time.

Get our recipe for Buffalo Wings.

Tilapia With Vegetables

cooked tilapia with vegetables on a plate garnished with parsley
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Tilapia can sometimes lack flavor on its own, but this recipe uses butter and vegetable broth to bring in the extra flavor. You can keep this recipe Keto-friendly by just adding vegetables, or you can add another side of your choice like potatoes for some extra carbs.

Get our recipe for Instant-Pot Tilapia.

Spicy Peanut Soup With Sweet Potato and Kale

Spicy Peanut Soup
Courtesy of Pinch of Yum

This creamy soup is the perfect comfort food, especially if you're enjoying during the colder months. Not only is it delicious, but it's packed full of nutritional value as well.

Get the recipe from Pinch of Yum.

10-Minute Chocolate Pudding Cake

Whole30 instant pot chocolate pudding cakes in ramekins on table
Posie Brien / Eat This, Not That!

When you're trying to lose weight, you want to be able to still treat yourself to your favorite desserts from time to time. This Instant Pot chocolate cake recipe is perfect for chocolate lovers, and it's even Whole30-friendly.

Get our recipe for Chocolate Pudding Cake.

French Onion Soup

instant pot french onion soup with bread slices and melted cheese
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Use your Instant Pot to make the base of this delicious French onion soup—the perfect cozy little appetizer to serve on any occasion.

Get our recipe for French Onion Soup.

Chicken and Rice Soup

two bowls of instant pot chicken and rice soup with bread
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Looking for a cozy soup for a quiet weeknight at home? This chicken and rice soup is massively easy to throw together and will have a filling meal on the table in a matter of minutes.

Get our recipe for Chicken and Rice Soup.

Mug Cakes in Mason Jars

four Mason jars of mug cakes
Courtesy of The Lighter Step-By-Step Instant Pot Cookbook

Nothing says cozy like a little mini cake in a jar! These cakes can be made in all kinds of flavors with the mix-ins of your choice.

Get our recipe for Mug Cakes in Mason Jars.

Chicken Zoodle Soup

Whole30 instant pot chicken zoodle soup
Posie Brien/Eat This, Not That!

If you're looking for something cozy and low-carb, this chicken zoodle soup will satisfy your craving while keeping that carb count low.

Get our recipe for Chicken Zoodle Soup.

Parmesan-Mushroom Risotto with Peas

parmesan mushroom risotto
James Stefiuk

Thanks to the Instant Pot, throwing together a mushroom risotto on a weeknight just got a whole lot easier.

Get our recipe for Parmesan-Mushroom Risotto with Peas.

Molten Lava Chocolate-Cherry Cake

molten lava cherry chocolate cake with frozen yogurt and spoon on black plate
Jason Donnelly

Molten lava cake? In an Instant Pot? Say no more.

Get our recipe for Molten Lava Chocolate-Cherry Cake.

Keto Cheeseburger Soup

cheeseburger soup topped with cheese and bacon
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

This fatty cheeseburger soup is perfect for the keto recipe lovers out there. Full of fatty meat, cream, cheese, and hearty vegetables.

Get our recipe for Keto Cheeseburger Soup.

Lemon Chicken

cooked lemon chicken inside an Instant Pot
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

This lemon chicken makes for an easy weeknight meal! Serve with a side of roasted Brussels sprouts or potatoes. Or both!

Get our recipe for Lemon Chicken.

Steak Fajitas

holding steak fajita filling with tongs from an Instant Pot
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

If you're looking for a cozy crowd-pleaser, you can't ever go wrong with a taco night. Especially with these easy Instant Pot steak fajitas!

Get our recipe for Steak Fajitas.

Creamy Cauliflower "Mac" and Cheese.

scoop of cheesy cauliflower mac and cheese from an instant pot
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

For an easy, cheesy side, this creamy cauliflower is the perfect side dish for any meal.

Get our recipe for Creamy Cauliflower "Mac" and Cheese.

Keto Chili

spoon holding up chili from a bowl
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Just because you're craving something cozy doesn't mean you have to settle for a starchy meal! This keto chili keeps it low carb without sacrificing any of the flavors you love.

Get our recipe for Keto Chili.

Shrimp and Broccoli

shrimp and broccoli with cauliflower rice sprinkled with sesame seeds green onions and sriracha
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

This spicy, savory shrimp dish is the perfect when you're looking for a takeout alternative.

Get our recipe for Shrimp and Broccoli.

Creamy Chicken with Spinach

creamy chicken with spinach and cracked black pepper from an instant pot
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

This cozy creamy chicken recipe is quick enough for a weeknight meal, but tasty enough to impress a dinner party.

Get our recipe for Creamy Chicken with Spinach.

Chicken Tikka Masala

chicken tikka masala with naan bread
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

If you're looking for something savory, spicy, creamy, and of course, cozy, this chicken tikka masala recipe has it all.

Get our recipe for Chicken Tikka Masala.

White Chicken Chili

white chicken chili in two bowls with cilantro
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

For a different twist on your usual cozy chili, this Instant Pot recipe gives the chili a creamy finish that you'll absolutely love.

Get our recipe for White Chicken Chili.

Zuppa Toscana Recipe

instant pot zuppa toscana in a bowl with red pepper flakes
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Dreaming about the zuppa toscana from Olive Garden, are you? Our Instant Pot version of this soup is about to be your new favorite soup to cozy up with.

Get our recipe for Zuppa Toscana Recipe.

Tofu Tikka Masala

instant pot tofu tikka masala
Courtesy of The Lighter Step-by-Step Instant Pot Cookbook

Looking for a few cozy vegetarian Instant Pot recipes? This tofu tikka masala is here to the rescue!

Get our recipe for Tofu Tikka Masala.

Cacio e Pepe Spaghetti Squash

cacio e pepe spaghetti squash
Courtesy of The Lighter Step-By-Step Instant Pot Cookbook

Another delicious vegetarian option is this Cacio e Pepe spaghetti squash! Made with very few ingredients, this squash is the perfect mix of cozy, tasty, and healthy.

Get our recipe for Cacio e Pepe Spaghetti Squash.

Greek Chicken Rice Bowl with Tzatziki Sauce

greek chicken rice bowl
Courtesy of James Stefiuk

Looking for a warm cozy lunch bowl to replace your cold, boring salad? This chicken and rice bowl is here to save you!

Get our recipe for Greek Chicken Rice Bowl with Tzatziki Sauce.

Two Layered Creamy Pumpkin Yogurt

two layered creamy pumpkin yogurt
James Stefiuk

Dying to use the Yogurt feature on your Instant Pot? This creamy pumpkin yogurt makes the perfect opportunity to finally give it a try!

Get our recipe for Two Layered Creamy Pumpkin Yogurt.

Quick & Easy Lemon Cake

whole 30 lemon cake in pan
Posie Brien/Eat This, Not That!

For an easy-peasy dessert that doesn't overdo it on the calories, this lemon cake will satisfy that sweet craving—and still help you reach those weight loss goals.

Get our recipe for Quick & Easy Lemon Cake.

The Instant Pot can seem intimidating if you don't have a recipe or an easy place to start. With these 25 recipes mentioned above, you have something to choose from for any mood, craving, or time of day. Enjoy these meals on your own, share with a loved one, or take to your next holiday party. Whatever you choose to make will help you feel confident in the kitchen while also helping you stick to your personal weight loss goals.

A previous version of this article was published in November 2021 and has since been updated to include more entries.

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Kiersten Hickman
Kiersten Hickman is a freelance health and nutrition journalist. Read more about Kiersten