Special Diets Diabetes 12 Instant-Pot Meals for Healthy Blood Sugar Levels By Dillon Evans Dillon Evans Dillon Evans fell in love with cooking at a very young age. He remembers the novel experiences of microwaving a bowl of oatmeal without his parents' permission and asking to make his mother's morning pot of coffee. These moments became catalysts for his interest in cooking and baking. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 20, 2023 Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, is nutrition editor for EatingWell. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Jennifer Causey The types of meals you can make in an Instant Pot might surprise you. In this collection alone, you’ll find everything from satisfying soups and chilis to tangy chicken thighs and tostadas. Plus, these dishes have sodium-conscious ingredients and low counts of saturated fat to meet our diabetes-appropriate nutrition parameters. Recipes like our delicious Instant-Pot Mujadara and hearty Instant Pot Lentil Soup are simple and flavorful options to help maintain stable blood sugar levels. 01 of 12 Instant Pot Vegetarian White Chili Parsnips lend a wonderful sweet and nutty flavor to this healthy white bean chili. Using an Instant Pot (or any other pressure cooker) means this hearty chili can be ready in under an hour, but it still tastes like it's simmered away for hours. Pureeing some of the chili gives the stew a nice creaminess, but feel free to skip that step to save time. Garnish the chili with cheese and sour cream for a richer meal, or serve it as-is to keep it vegan. View Recipe 02 of 12 Instant-Pot Mujadara Jennifer Causey Lentils and rice have been served together across the Middle East for centuries; they make a nutritious and satisfying vegetarian meal. This Instant Pot version is inspired by Lebanese mujadara, a variation that combines lentils, rice and caramelized onions. View Recipe 03 of 12 Instant Pot Chicken Soup with Root Vegetables & Barley Be sure to use bone-in chicken here--it enhances the flavor of the broth, and the bones are easy to remove after cooking. This healthy chicken soup can be made in an Instant Pot or pressure cooker. View Recipe 04 of 12 Instant Pot Lentil Soup This Instant Pot lentil soup is quick enough to prepare when you get home from work for an easy weeknight dinner. This vegetarian soup recipe is full of aromatic vegetables, brown lentils and fresh spinach. A splash of balsamic vinegar brightens the flavor, and a garnish of radish and parsley gives this comforting soup a fresh finish. View Recipe 05 of 12 Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili This Instant Pot vegetarian chili recipe is full of healthy veggies and two kinds of beans. Chipotle chiles give it a hint of smoke and a nice kick. Top this quick and easy chili with cheese and sour cream, or enjoy it as a vegan chili by garnishing with veggies such as avocado, sliced jalapeños, onions, radishes and scallions or cilantro. View Recipe 06 of 12 Instant-Pot Teriyaki Chicken Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster This Instant Pot teriyaki chicken strikes a perfect balance of umami and sweetness. The savory sauce gets thickened in the end and coats the chicken beautifully. Serve with stir-fried peppers and snap peas to complete the meal. View Recipe 07 of 12 Instant Pot Split Pea & Ham Soup Freezer Pack Prep and freeze all the ingredients for this homey classic ahead of time, and it will be ready to cook and serve any night of the week--no lengthy simmering needed, thanks to the multicooker. Freezing the ingredients in a round container creates the perfect fit for an easy transfer into your pressure cooker without having to thaw first. View Recipe 08 of 12 Instant Pot Adobo Chicken Thighs with Bok Choy & Green Onions Use your multicooker to make a quick version of this Filipino dish that's traditionally marinated overnight. The sweet and spicy Instant Pot chicken is tender and juicy, while the bok choy keeps its flavor and crisp texture. View Recipe 09 of 12 Instant Pot Goulash Your Instant Pot (or other multicooker) cuts hours off the cooking time of this Hungarian beef stew recipe. This Instant Pot goulash, a saucy dish flavored with caraway and smoked paprika, is served over whole-wheat egg noodles that cook while your multicooker works its magic. It's comfort food at its best! View Recipe 10 of 12 Instant Pot Garlic-Scented Chicken & Farro with White Balsamic Vinaigrette Pair earthy, toothsome barley with tender chicken dressed in a tangy white balsamic vinaigrette for a hearty main dish. This Instant Pot chicken recipe comes together in just 40 minutes, making it perfect for easy weeknight dinners. View Recipe 11 of 12 Instant Pot Chicken & Vegetable Soup with Noodles Greg DuPree To make a flavorful base for this soup—while still using some shortcuts—we pressure-cook store-bought broth with ginger, garlic, scallions, soy sauce and Shaoxing rice wine. View Recipe 12 of 12 Instant Pot Beef & Poblano Tostadas Serve the tangy, peppery beef on crispy tostadas and top with colorful slaw. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! 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