7 Low-Carb Instant Pot Recipes That Make Weekday Dinners a Breeze

If you're trying to cut carbs, you may find yourself in a dinner rut consisting of plain old chicken breast and steamed broccoli. Because let's be honest, low-carb meals that are actually tasty take some planning and strategy.

Thankfully, there's a slew of recipes that are not only family-friendly but also quick to make thanks to the handy Instant Pot — all you have to do is prep the ingredients, add them to your pot and let the pressure cooker do all the work.

From jerk chicken to creamy smothered pork chops, keep scrolling to see our top low-carb Instant Pot recipes that clock in under 12 grams of carbs.

• ‌5 grams of carbs‌

There's something comforting about soup — especially when you can make a whole pot in just 40 minutes. "With 44 grams of protein and leafy greens, this recipe is sure to be satisfying," says Kim Hoban, RDN of KH Nutrition. If you're looking to cut back on fat content, consider using less cheese and bacon.

• ‌10 grams of carbs‌

This jerk chicken recipe isn't for the faint of heart as it calls for either Scotch bonnet or habanero peppers. "It relies on the powerful flavors garlic, citrus and herbs while minimizing the total added salt and sugar," Hoban says. She also notes that chicken thighs contain key nutrients like iron and zinc, which are helpful for immunity and overall health.

• ‌11 grams of carbs‌

If you're a fan of buffalo wings, you'll love this pasta-like dish. It's filled with lean chicken breast, rich cream cheese and spicy buffalo sauce atop a bed of spaghetti squash. "Spaghetti squash is a high-fiber and low-glycemic option that can help promote gut health, boost immunity and manage blood sugar," Hoban says. And because this low-carb recipe has 27 grams of protein, you'll be satisfied for hours.

• ‌4 grams of carbs‌

In most cases, smothered pork chops aren't exactly a low-carb meal option, but this Instant Pot rendition fits the bill and doesn't lack in flavor. "Pork is an excellent source of vitamin B6, which is key for brain health and metabolic processes," Hoban says, adding that it's also a good source of zinc and potassium. To lighten up this recipe, swap the heavy cream for half-and-half or milk.

• ‌5.8 grams of carbs‌

One-pot wonders like this come in handy when you're pressed for time during the week, and this recipe cooks up in under 10 minutes! And we love that this dish packs two types of vegetables for extra nutrients. "Asparagus contains antioxidants like anthocyanins that help fight free radicals and artichokes contain potassium and vitamins A and C," Hoban says. Not to mention, this meal is gluten-free, paleo and Whole30-friendly.

• ‌8 grams of carbs‌

Subbing ground turkey for beef makes a pot of chili a lot lighter and lower in calories and fat. "This chili offers a lean protein source and at least a half cup of vegetables per serving," Hoban says. And hidden veggies come in handy if you're serving picky eaters. She recommends adding beans to bulk up the protein and fiber content.

• ‌10 grams of carbs‌

Beef is rich and iron and broccoli is a great source of vitamin C — and pairing the two together helps increase the absorption of both nutrients, Hoban says. To make this meal complete, you can serve it alongside a side salad or additional veggies to keep your carb content low, but you could also add a small serving of healthy carbohydrates like quinoa or brown rice.