20 Vegetarian Instant Pot Recipes to get you inspired to use your pressure cooker! Make healthy, easy, and approachable meals including soups, stews, pasta, rice, and curries. This is a great selection of Instant Pot Vegetarian Recipes to get you started, with many vegan recipes too!
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I got my Instant Pot a little over a year ago, and it quickly became one of the most used and most loved appliances in my kitchen.
If you recently got an Instant Pot and it's still in the box, or perhaps it's out of the box but all you've done is gingerly poke at the pressure release valve and then quickly back away from the thing, I get you. The first time I used mine I had to text a friend step by step to make sure I wasn't doing anything wrong that would result in the thing exploding in my kitchen.
The words "pressure cooker" can get in your head and make it seem pretty daunting, but I assure you that the Instant Pot is a breeze to use. If you're just getting started, my friend Sarah from Sustainable Cooks has put together an Instant Pot Beginner's Guide that's worth reading through.
There are a gazillion good Instant Pot Recipes on the web, so it can be overwhelming to know where to start. Not to worry, though! I've sifted through dozens of websites and chosen some really amazing Vegetarian Instant Pot Recipes to get you going.
20 Vegetarian Instant Pot Recipes
1. Mung Bean and Coconut Curry
This Mung Bean and Coconut Curry is far and away the most popular recipe on Hey Nutrition Lady, and it was also the very first recipe I tested out in my Instant Pot. It turns out beautifully, with perfectly cooked mung beans every time.

2. Instant Pot Pasta Sauce
I love this simple Instant Pot Pasta Sauce recipe. Not only is it loaded with veggies, it's got a deep, rich, all-day simmered flavour with just 30 minutes in the Instant Pot. Leave it chunky if you like, or purée for a smooth sauce.

3. Instant Pot Tortellini
I love me a one-pot pasta recipe, and I'm sure you are the same. The great thing about this easy Instant Pot Tortellini recipe from Sustainable Cooks is that it's even better the next day!

4. Red Lentil Stew
This Red Lentil Stew is one of my favourite quick and easy weeknight dinners. It's a perfect Instant Pot Vegetarian Recipe, cooking the lentils like a dream and melting the veggies right in there.

5. Vegan Chickpea Noodle Soup
This cozy Vegan Chickpea Noodle Soup recipe is one of my favourites during the cooler months. Made with dried chickpeas that are pressure-cooked right into the soup - no soaking required - this soup has a wonderful vegan broth, lots of veggies, and of course some pasta.

6. Tofu Tikka Masala
Indian flavours work really brilliant in vegetarian Instant Pot Recipes, and this Tofu Tikka Masala is no exception. Grab the recipe from Yup, It's Vegan.

7. Carrot Ginger Soup with Red Lentils
I love the way that lentils turn out in the Instant Pot. This Carrot Ginger Soup with Red Lentils is super simple to make, and doesn't require any sautéing. Just dump, set, and go!

8. Red Lentil Dal
I first published this easy Red Lentil Dal recipe with slow cooker instructions (and they're still there!) but recently re-tested it in the Instant Pot and it's a real winner. Deeply flavoured and packed with plant-based protein, this one is one of my favourites.

9. Smoky Lentil Stew
This Smoky Lentil Stew from The Cook Report is the ultimate cold weather warmer. Simple, healthy and suitable for vegans, this lentil stew takes just 10 minutes in the pressure cooker!

10. Indonesian Black Rice Pudding
This Indonesian Black Rice Pudding is traditionally served for breakfast, but I also love it as an afternoon snack or dessert. It's easy to make on the stovetop, but it's sooooo much faster made in the Instant Pot.

11. Instant Pot Farro
If you're looking to add more healthy whole grains into your diet, give this Instant Pot Farro from Sustainable Cooks a try! It takes the guesswork out of cooking this ancient grain, and is much faster than cooking farro on the stove top.

12. Spicy Instant Pot Black Beans
If you've ever wondered how to replicate that puddle of black beans you get at a Mexican restaurant in your own home, wonder no more! These Spicy Instant Pot Black Beans are the real deal, made with un-soaked black beans and lots of spices and aromatics.

13. Vegan Lentil Soup
I have a bunch of different lentil soups in my repertoire, but this Vegan Lentil Soup is one I come back to again and again. Made in the pressure cooker, this is an Instant Pot Vegetarian Recipe you'll be sure to get on board with.
14. Intant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
This Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup from Curry Trail is velvety smooth soup, perfect for lunch or dinner. It’s a great winter meal with crusty bread. It only takes a few minutes in your Instant Pot to get this soup ready.

15. Lentil Shepherd's Pie
I make the filling for this Lentil Shepherd's Pie in my Instant Pot. It's so fast and so easy, when it's done it's simply a matter of topping with mashed potatoes and baking in the oven.

16. Vegetarian Fajita Pasta
Loaded with veggies and lots of flavour, this Vegetarian Fajita Pasta from Piping Pot is a one-pot dish in the Instant Pot. Fire-roasted tomatoes, black beans, bell peppers, sour cream and cheese make this delicious pasta dish.

17. Instant Pot Carrot Soup
This velvety smooth Instant Pot Carrot Soup is super creamy and delicious thanks to the addition of tahini, and a full meal topped with garlicky greens. Give it a try!

18. Instant Pot Mexican Rice
This recipe for Instant Pot Mexican Rice from Upstate Ramblings is quick and easy! It's a one pot meal that makes a delicious side dish and goes well with tacos, burritos, refried beans or your favourite Mexican dinner.

19. Instant Pot Chickpeas
One of my favourite things to do with the Instant Pot is cook up a big batch of beans to use in various recipes throughout the week. These Instant Pot Chickpeas are simple, flavoured just a tiny bit, and ready to use however you like.

20. Instant Pot Butternut Squash
Did you know that you can throw a whole butternut squash into your Instant Pot and cook it just like that? This easy Instant Pot Butternut Squash recipe will show you how!

This recipe collection was originally published January 11, 2019. It was last edited and updated on December 26, 2020.
Rita Claar
Just as an FYI - the CREAMY TOMATO TORTELLINI SOUP has Turkey sausage in it, so it's not vegetarian.
Katie Trant
Oh dear! I don't know how I missed that. I'll replace it with something else. Thanks for the heads up!
Natalie
Brilliant timing for me! My instant Pot was only delivered a week ago and I have been chomping at the bit to make some proper meals in it. My fussy family should eat most of the meals on your list (as long as I can master the witchcraft of the Pot). Thank you so much!
Katie Trant
You can do it! It's not nearly as intimidating as you might think it is, and you'll love what you can crank out of that thing.
Natalie
Thank you. You were right - it’s nowhere near as scary as it looks!
I’ve already tried 3 recipes in this collection. They went down very well but didn’t produce quite enough for the five of us (I love leftovers too). If I increase the quantity of ingredients do I have to increase the cooking time?
Katie Trant
Yay, I'm so glad! Which recipes did you try? If you double the recipe you don't have to increase the cooking time, but it will take longer for the IP to come up to pressure and will therefore cook for longer.
Natalie
I can’t see our last couple of comments but, in response to your question: I have made the lentil soup, the smoky lentil stew and the fajita pasta. I will be making them all again but the smoky lentil stew was a particular hit!
Thank you so much for answering my question too ????
This post has got me off to a flying start!
Would love more along similar lines.
christine
YES! Love my instant pot too and I was hoping you'd do a "best veggie IP" post. Thanks so much 🙂