Pressure Cooker Chicken and Quinoa (Beginner Meal Prep Recipe)

New to meal prepping and looking to experiment with a pressure cooker? Trust me, once you realize you can toss everything in, press a button, and walk away, it’s a total game changer for meal prep. This recipe was prepared using the Instant Pot Pro Plus (my favorite so far!), but I used the Ninja Foodi for years and it would also be a great addition to your kitchen arsenal.

PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES
COOK TIME: 20 MINUTES
TOTAL TIME: ~30 MINUTES
SERVINGS: 4 MEAL PREP PORTIONS

If you’re new to using a pressure cooker or looking to shake up your meal prep routine, this recipe is for you. It's healthy, fast, and makes multiple meals in one go without sacrificing taste.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces or leave whole)

• 1 cup quinoa, rinsed

• 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth (or water)

• 1 cup diced carrots

• 1 cup diced bell peppers

• 1 cup frozen peas or corn

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• 1 tsp onion powder

• 1 tsp paprika

• 1 tsp Italian seasoning (or dried herbs)

• Salt & black pepper, to taste

• Optional: 1-2 tbsp soy sauce or teriyaki sauce for extra flavor

Optional add-ons for extra nutrition or carbs:

• Extra steamed vegetables or salad

• Roasted sweet potato cubes

Instructions:

1. Press the sauté function on your pressure cooker. Add the olive oil and chicken, and sauté for 2–3 minutes until the chicken starts to color.

2. Add the rinsed quinoa, diced carrots, bell peppers, peas (or corn), chicken broth, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and soy or teriyaki sauce (if using).

3. Give everything a quick stir, then secure the lid and set the pressure valve to “Sealing."

4. Cook on High Pressure for 8 minutes.

5. When the cooking time is up, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes before carefully switching the valve to “Venting” to release any remaining pressure.

6. Open the lid and fluff the quinoa with a fork. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.

7. Optional: drizzle a little extra soy sauce or teriyaki sauce over the mixture while it’s still warm for extra flavor.

Meal Prep Instructions:

• Divide the chicken and quinoa evenly into 4 meal prep containers.

• Let the food cool completely before sealing the lids.

• Store in the fridge for up to 4 days (or freeze portions for later).

How to Reheat:
Microwave individual portions for 1–2 minutes, stirring halfway. Add a splash of broth or water if things look dry.

Beginner Meal Prep Tip:
Pressure cookers sound complicated, but they’re basically magic. Once you dump everything in and hit start, you can walk away. If you end up with four meals in less than half an hour, you’re winning.