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These Easy & Healthy Instant Pot Soups, Stews, and Chilis Are *So* Satisfying

By Tami Weiser
|
January 12, 2021
Photo Credit: Cotter Crunch

Winter is here and with it, the deep chill that works its way down to your bones. It’s time for the warming, cozy foods that will keep you healthy, satisfied, and full of energy. The easiest solution? Grab your Instant Pot and let it be your kitchen helper. The Instant Pot makes fast work of hearty soups, stews, and chilis, and requires so little clean up, it’s a dream for busy nights. Or, you can prep and cook a bunch of meals all at once, and freeze some in small single-serving containers so they’re ready to heat and eat even on your most tired nights.

Here are 10 Instant Pot soups, stews, and chilis we’re making on repeat.

1. Favorite Instant Pot Gumbo from Cotter Crunch

This plant-based soup is so hearty and filling, no one will miss the meat. The heat from the spices will take the chill right off. And leftovers are even better the next day for lunch.

instant pot soups

2. Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup from Feasting at Home

Think of this as chicken soup, souped up with a rich potion of tomato and cumin and chilis. You can use flour or corn tortillas, or even pre-made tortilla strips if you are short on time. If you want, add some cooked black beans for a fiber kick, frozen corn for a little natural sugar and complex carbs. Either way, be sure to garnish with a spoonful of plain yogurt or avocado and fresh herbs.

instant pot soups

3. Instant Pot Sweet Potato Kale and Sausage Soup from Simply Happy Foodie

Sage and sausage set this recipe apart from many sweet potato soup recipes, offering up depth of flavor and plenty of protein. You can use a different green if you don’t have kale on hand, but stick to thicker tougher greens like collards and chard to keep that deeply green, earthy flavor. And frozen kale works well here, too. For sausage, we love using chicken and turkey in this recipe; it’s a great way to use up some of those frozen ones in your freezer.

instant pot soups

4. Instant Pot Tuscan White Bean and Kale Soup from The Kitchen Girl

Hearty with beans, rich from tomatoes, and sweet from carrots, this soup is big on vitamins, high in minerals and fiber. And this veggie soup is more than delicious and healthy: It’s also super budget-friendly. It’s a great place to use some odds and ends in your veggie bin. For a protein boost, add some chicken meatballs and bone broth.

beef stew

5. Instant Pot Vegetable and Beef Stew from All the Nourishing Things

This recipe is a thoughtful and delicious version of a kitchen classic and a protein lover’s dream stew. The key to keeping this stew low in carbs in using celeriac instead of potatoes. Celeriac has a mild celery flavor and not a trace of bitterness. It’s low in calories and rich in vitamins.

instant pot stew

6. Easy Instant Pot Chicken Stew from Primavera Kitchen

This simple and fast dish sings with umami. It leans on jarred tomato sauce, but if you want, you can use 2 to 3 tablespoons of tomato paste and a little more stock.

beef stew

7. Beef and Butternut Squash Stew from Delicious Meets Healthy

Squash adds plenty of fiber, keeps the calories in check, and tastes naturally sweet enough to make this stew a winner even for kids. Marsala is a fortified wine, available both sweet and dry, so make sure you select a dry version to keep this stew lower-sugar. And, if you don’t have arrowroot for a thickener, use the equivalent amount of cornstarch or finely ground rice flour as the thickener.

instant pot chili

8. Instant Pot Beef and Bean Chili from Well Plated

This stew is full of nutrient-dense, fiber-rich ingredients that will fill you up and make you feel great. Chipotle chile powder gives this chili its smoky backbone. If you don’t have any on hand, you can also use canned chipotles or the adobo sauce it comes in or both. Just be careful of the salt in the canned version.

turkey chili

9. Healthy Turkey Instant Pot Chili from Oh Sweet Basil

This high-protein, fiber-packed chili has a smoky edge thanks to smoked paprika, fire-roasted roasted canned tomatoes, and Worcestershire sauce (look for gluten-free or sugar-free versions). With a variety of beans and inexpensive ground turkey, this recipe is just right for families who love bold flavors on a budget.

white chili

10. Instant Pot White Chicken Chili from Recipes Worth Repeating

Ready in less than an hour, this white chicken chili is a handy, quick weeknight staple that eats like a long-cooked dish. And there’s no need for cream cheese in this dairy-free version, which is packed with white beans and rotisserie chicken.

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