Heading into 2021 with the pandemic not-yet over means we’re still collectively cooking almost every meal at home. That’s a heck of a lot of time figuring out what to make—and then doing the actual work to get it on the table. If you are a proud Instant Pot owner, you’ve likely found a home for the kitchen tool right on your counter and have been putting it to use on a regular basis. We’re also willing to be that you’re in need of some new ideas for what to make in your IP.
If you’ve stocked up on beans, half the work is already done. Bean sales are way up thanks to the fact that they can hang out in your pantry for a much longer time than what’s stored a few steps away in the fridge. They’re also uber nutrient-rich, full of protein, vitamin B, and fiber. If you’ve spent even five minutes looking into gut health, you know that fiber is key for maintaining good digestion and keeping your gut happy.
Watch the video below for a registered dietitian’s advice on what to eat for gut health:
Okay, so you have your Instant Pot and your beans. How do you combine them to create a quick meal? You’re going to want to bookmark this article because the Instant Pot beans recipes rounded up here will be the answer to the endless whats-for-dinner question all winter long. Grab your beans and get ready to cook up some gut-healthy meals.
8 Instant Pot beans recipes
What would a beans recipe roundup be without a classic chili recipe? If you’re still hunting around for a good one to try, this is it. It’s vegan, gluten-free, and doesn’t take much time to make. The recipe calls for two types of beans (kidney and black), bell peppers, onions, and jalapenos, and of course a range of spices. It also includes quinoa, which ups the fiber content even more.
Get the recipe: Vegetarian chili
Rice and beans is another weeknight win. It’s simple, quick, and nutrient-rich. This recipe has a Mexican-inspired flavor, with salsa, frozen corn, onion, cumin, and chili powder all mixed in with the rice and beans.
Get the recipe: Black beans and rice
Give taco night a new twist with this recipe, which incorporates all the classic taco night essentials into a protein- and fiber-rich soup. Besides the beans, this recipe uses chickpea pasta as well as plenty of veggies, including tomatoes, corn, and green peppers. Top off your soup with more of your favorite taco ingredients, like salsa, cheese, sour cream, or avocados.
Get the recipe: Taco soup
Despite their name, black-eyed peas are actually beans and just like their cousins kidney, pinto, navy, and the others, they’re full of protein and fiber. Here, they’re used to make a vegan curry, paired with shredded coconut, onion, tomatoes, turmeric, garlic, ginger, and masala. The end result is the perfect mixture of spicy and sweet that’s downright delicious.
Get the recipe: Black-eyed peas and coconut curry
If you really want to up your fiber intake, this dish will help you get there—quinoa is even higher in fiber than rice. The quinoa and beans cook at the same time in the Instant Pot, along with tomatoes and corn. After cooking, top everything off with sliced avocado to add a creamy layer of texture.
Get the recipe: Mexican quinoa
If you tend to do a lot of cooking with potatoes, switch mealtime up by using butternut squash, which has a different nutrient profile and adds a hint of sweetness to your meal. Here, the squash is paired with black beans to make a vegetarian chili. The prep time only takes five minutes and the whole meal comes together in 15.
Get the recipe: Butternut squash and beans
Minestrone soup is a winter-weather classic. Use whatever veggies are in your crisper or follow this recipe, which calls for zucchini, carrots, celery, spinach, tomatoes, and of course, beans. Thyme, bay leaf, garlic, and oregano make the soup taste like it’s been simmering all day even though it only takes 20 minutes.
Get the recipe: Minestrone soup
This recipe is so easy that it almost feels like cheating, but taste isn’t sacrificed in any way. Beans, rice, corn, salsa, onion, bell pepper, and taco mix are all cooked together in the Instant Pot for a quick 10 minutes and then dinner is served. Seriously, that’s it! Top it off with tortilla chips, cheese, sour cream, or avocado.
Get the recipe: Burrito bowls
Get more healthy dinner ideas in Well+Good’s Cook With Us Facebook group.