Your Instant Pot Will Come in Handy For All These Mediterranean-Friendly Recipes

Once you've gotten in the swing of using your Instant Pot for quick, healthy dinners, it's hard to imagine how you survived those busy weeknights without one. You might want to start using the countertop appliance to fuel your Mediterranean diet recipes — it was voted the best overall diet of the year.

If this is your introduction to the Mediterranean diet, you'll be happy to know that it's one of the least diet-y diets out there. Like many, it urges you toward lean proteins and healthy fats, while limiting dairy and steering away from processed foods. Unlike many diets, however, the Mediterranean diet doesn't suggest swearing off carbs. Oats, whole-grain bread, whole-grain pasta, and brown rice get a thumbs up here! Continue on to discover easy Instant Pot recipes that comply with the diet.

01
Brazilian Fish Stew
Savory Tooth

Brazilian Fish Stew

You may have had a delicious beef stew before, but this fish one will have you never looking back. The base is a mix of seafood or fish broth, full-fat coconut milk, garlic, and plenty of spices. Once that's cooked, cut up your favorite firm white fish — like cod or halibut — into one-inch chunks, stir into the stew, and let cook for five minutes. Lunch or dinner will be on the table in under an hour.

Get the recipe: Brazilian fish stew

02
Tandoori Chicken Drumsticks
A Spicy Perspective

Tandoori Chicken Drumsticks

These tandoori chicken drumsticks stick to the Mediterranean diet guidelines with an alternative coating. Cover the chicken in a mixture of yogurt, lemon juice, smoked paprika, turmeric, cumin, and other spices before throwing into the Instant Pot for 13 minutes. If you want a supercrispy outside, broil it in the oven for five minutes afterward.

Get the recipe: tandoori chicken drumsticks

03
Artichokes With Spicy Garlic Mustard
Savory Tooth

Artichokes With Spicy Garlic Mustard

Don't let artichokes scare you — they're super easy to cook in an Instant Pot. You'll have to do a little prep work (goodbye, stems!) before and after cooking, but it'll be well worth the flavor once you drizzle them with olive oil, salt, and pepper. The spicy garlic mustard requires just four ingredients, so you'll be dipping in no time.

Get the recipe: artichokes with spicy garlic mustard

04
Chicken Tinga Tacos
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Chicken Tinga Tacos

Yes, tacos are OK on the Mediterranean diet — as long as you follow a recipe like this one. Butter lettuce leaves replace flour tortillas, but all the other ingredients ring true to a typical Taco Tuesday. Shredded chicken, fire-roasted tomatoes, onion, tomatillos, garlic, and spices guarantee there is plenty of flavor to go around. Did we mention the recipe requires just 35 minutes from start to finish?

Get the recipe: chicken tinga tacos

05
Summer Soup
Pinch of Yum

Summer Soup

It's always Summer with this soup filled with chicken, farro, tomatoes, carrots, zucchini, celery, and corn. Throw all of the ingredients into the Instant Pot (except the zucchini and corn, for now) and cook for 20 minutes. Top each bowl with parmesan cheese, plain yogurt, or other spices before diving in. Now all we need is warm weather!

Get the recipe: Summer soup

06
Shrimp Fra Diavolo Pasta
A Spicy Perspective

Shrimp Fra Diavolo Pasta

One of our favorite things about the Mediterranean diet is that we don't have to give up our beloved carbs altogether. Swap in whole-wheat or chickpea pasta, leave out the heavy cream, and follow the recipe instructions. The shrimp only needs two or three minutes at the end to cook through.

Get the recipe: shrimp fra diavolo pasta

07
Avocado Egg Salad
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Avocado Egg Salad

No more guessing how long eggs need to boil to become firm. Put the eggs in your Instant Pot for five minutes, cool them on ice, and peel. After that, it's only a matter of mixing avocado, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and fresh herbs together before combining with the eggs for an easy dish. The recipe also calls for mayonnaise, but we'd switch it out for a healthy alternative.

Get the recipe: avocado egg salad

08
Southwestern Split Pea Soup With Potatoes
Cookin Canuck

Southwestern Split Pea Soup With Potatoes

It's moments like these that we're thankful potatoes are part of the Mediterranean diet. Combine them with split peas, onion, carrots, celery, olive oil, and spices for a hearty soup that is low on the calorie scale.

Get the recipe: Southwestern split pea soup with potatoes

09
Salmon With Chili Lime Sauce
Savory Tooth

Salmon With Chili Lime Sauce

You're just 15 minutes away from a tasty salmon dish on your plate. Once you make the chili lime sauce (don't forget to remove the jalapeño seeds!), it takes five minutes to cook the salmon fillets. Drizzle as much of the homemade sauce as you'd like for a savory olive oil, honey, garlic, and lime finish.

Get the recipe: salmon with chili lime sauce

10
Black Beans and Brown Rice With Avocado Salsa
Cookin Canuck

Black Beans and Brown Rice With Avocado Salsa

Go meatless for your next dinner without losing out on protein. The combination of black beans, brown rice, and avocado salsa covers all bases by providing protein, carbs, and healthy fats. We're predicting this recipe will be on heavy rotation in your meal-prep routine.

Get the recipe: black beans and brown rice with avocado salsa

11
Beet Salad With Greek Yogurt Dressing
Platings and Pairings

Beet Salad With Greek Yogurt Dressing

A salad in an Instant Pot? Trust us, it gives the beets a much-needed soft texture. The simple homemade Greek yogurt dressing adds a creaminess without veering your health goals off track.

Get the recipe: beet salad with Greek yogurt dressing

12
Vegan Red Lentil Soup
Supergolden Bakes

Vegan Red Lentil Soup

There's something ultrasatisfying about a big bowl of soup, and you won't be disappointed with this vegan red lentil recipe. The total prep and cook time comes to only 10 minutes (!!!), and you can adjust the amount of curry powder to get the level of spice you like.

Get the recipe: vegan red lentil soup

13
Cauliflower Tikka Masala
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Cauliflower Tikka Masala

Classic Indian comfort dish chicken tikka masala is getting a plant-based makeover. The recipe takes 25 minutes from start to finish and makes four to six servings. Serve it over brown rice, farro, or whole-grain pasta for a filling, Mediterranean-approved meal.

Get the recipe: cauliflower tikka masala

14
Brown Rice With Soy Sauce Mix
Alexandra’s Cooks

Brown Rice With Soy Sauce Mix

Pro tip: make a big batch of this brown rice and use it for meals throughout the week. You can also make a batch of the dressing, made with soy sauce and sesame oil, to freshen it up every time you take it out of the refrigerator.

Get the recipe: brown rice with soy sauce mix

15
Steel-Cut Oats
Fit Foodie Finds

Steel-Cut Oats

Steel-cut oats is that reliable anytime meal that is bound to keep you full. This recipe requires three ingredients and 15 minutes of your time (talk about easy!). Top your creation with nut butter and fresh fruit to round it out.

Get the recipe: steel-cut oats