21 Day Fix Yellow Container Recipes : My Crazy Good Life https://mycrazygoodlife.com/category/21-day-fix/21-day-fix-yellow-container-recipes/ Healthy Living Made Easy Mon, 04 Mar 2024 17:04:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://mycrazygoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/favicon.png 21 Day Fix Yellow Container Recipes : My Crazy Good Life https://mycrazygoodlife.com/category/21-day-fix/21-day-fix-yellow-container-recipes/ 32 32 Instant Pot Vegetable Fried Rice https://mycrazygoodlife.com/instant-pot-vegetable-fried-rice/ https://mycrazygoodlife.com/instant-pot-vegetable-fried-rice/#respond Mon, 04 Mar 2024 17:04:13 +0000 https://mycrazygoodlife.com/?p=61703 This Instant Pot Vegetable Fried Rice is quick, easy, and egg free. It’s a delicious main dish or side dish, and will crush your take-out cravings without the guilt. Our Instant Pot Vegetable Fried Rice is loaded with flavor and the recipe is versatile. I love this vegan fried rice recipe because it’s packed with...

The post Instant Pot Vegetable Fried Rice appeared first on My Crazy Good Life.

]]>
This Instant Pot Vegetable Fried Rice is quick, easy, and egg free. It’s a delicious main dish or side dish, and will crush your take-out cravings without the guilt.

Our Instant Pot Vegetable Fried Rice is loaded with flavor and the recipe is versatile. I love this vegan fried rice recipe because it’s packed with vegetables and easy to modify by adding in a protein like tofu, egg, or even chicken if you have carnivores in the house.

Image shows two pictures. On the top picture there is a white bowl of fried rice. Two chopsticks are sitting on top. The words in the middle banner read Instant Pot Vegetable Fried Rice. Below image is a close up of bowl of fried rice garnished with green onions.

Using the Instant Pot to make our Instant Pot Fried Rice means you only have one dish to clean up at the end of meal time. I love to make fried rice in the Instant Pot, and it’s the only way I will make fried rice now!

Where’s the recipe?

To better serve my community of all levels of experience here at My Crazy Good Life, I’ve made a commitment to put a ton of helpful information in all of my posts. This includes healthy eating plan information, how to meal prep, and how to easily substitute ingredients. 

If you’d like to skip over the extra information, please simply scroll to the bottom of the page, where you will find the printable Instant Pot Vegetable Fried Rice recipe.

Ingredients in Instant Pot Vegetable Fried Rice:

  • White Rice: There’s a long standing debate over whether white rice is healthy or not. While it does have some short comings, it also has some benefits.
  • Stir-Fry Vegetables: Usually a mixture of frozen peas, carrots, and broccoli. Some contain water chestnuts and baby corn.
  • Coconut Aminos: We love using coconut aminos in our Instant Pot fried rice recipe. We find it tastes less salty than using the traditional soy sauce.
  • Roasted Sesame Oil: Sesame oil provides a light nutty flavor to this recipe. We choose roasted or toasted sesame oil, but you are welcome to use regular sesame oil too.
  • Ginger: We love fresh ginger, but also understand that it can take a while to properly mince. When we are running short on time, we use the frozen ginger cubes.
  • Garlic: Minced garlic is a must in this recipe. We prefer using it over garlic powder in all of our Asian food recipes.
  • Rice Vinegar: The riced vinegar in the recipe helps balance out the slightly sweet tone of the coconut aminos – look for the one without the added flavorings and sugar.
Image of ingredients in fried rice recipe. Bowls of frozen vegetable, water, white rice, coconut aminos, and sesame oil. On the counter is a few stalks of green onions and a bowl of peanuts.

How to make Instant Pot Vegetable Fried Rice:

  1. Add the white rice and water to the Instant Pot.
  2. Attach the lid and ensure the vent is in the “sealing” position.
  3. Heat the Instant Pot using the Manual Pressure / Normal / High Pressure function and set the timer for 5 minutes. The Instant Pot will take about 10 minutes to come to pressure and will then begin counting down from 5. Turn off the “keep warm” button if you have one. This will help the rice release from the bottom of the pot as it cools.
  4. Once the Instant Pot has finished cooking, release the pressure manually by switching the valve to the “venting” position. Be careful— the valve will steam and my splatter.
  5. Turn the Instant Pot to the sauté function. Move the rice to one side of the Instant Pot. In the empty half, pour 1 tbsp roasted sesame oil. Let the sesame oil heat slightly, then add ginger and garlic. Sauté the ginger and garlic for one minute.
  6. Add the frozen vegetables, coconut aminos. rice vinegar, and remaining sesame oil. Sauté the rice and vegetables, stirring occasionally for 5-8 minutes, or until the rice has started to crisp in some areas and the vegetables are hot and cooked through.
  7. Top with chopped green onions and sesame seeds. Serve fried rice warm.
Three images of how to make fried rice. First image is uncooked white rice in Instant Pot. Second Image is cooked rice with stir fry vegetables included. The last image is cooked bowl of fried rice.

Recipe Tips:

  • You can also make this recipe with jasmine rice. We prefer using jasmine rice in our Instant Pot Fried Rice recipe. Although we love using jasmine rice for for this recipe, you can also use basmati rice, brown rice, or long grain white rice. Brown rice has a different cooking time than white, this posts tells you How to Cook Brown Rice in the Instant Pot.
  • Using the pressure cooker to cook your rice helps cut down on extra dishes to wash. The cooked rice in the instant pot comes out perfectly every time.
  • You can use fresh vegetables for this recipe, but I don’t recommend canned. They tend to get mushy. We use frozen veggies for convenience and a variety of vegetables. We prefer the stir fry frozen vegetables, but you can also go for the classic mixed frozen vegetables.
  • You can omit the sesame oil if you don’t have any, but I love the nutty flavor it gives.
  • If you like eggs in your fried rice, remove the rice after it is finished cooking and scramble as many eggs as you prefer before adding back the rice and vegetables. You may also move the fried rice to one side of the Instant Pot, scramble the egg on the empty side, then mix together when the egg has cooked.
  • This recipe can easily be modified to add additional protein. We love making chicken fried rice when we have any leftover chicken.
  • This recipe is easy to customize to your preference. I love adding bell peppers, green beans, and onions to this rice recipe.
  • Store leftover rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Our Instant Pot Fried Rice recipe will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Image of a white counter top. On top of counter top is a tan napkin next to a white and brown bowl filled with fried rice. Chopsticks sit on the right side of bowl. Two small bowls of green onions and peanuts are to the right. There are peanuts and green onions scattered on the counter.

Healthy Eating Plans:

Weight Watchers:

We calculated these points using the WW calculator. We use ingredients to calculate our points, not nutrition information.

Weight Watchers has told us that this is the most accurate way to calculate points for a recipe since ingredient brands can vary so much. Points were figured following the recipe exactly as written and dividing into 4 servings.

Our Instant Pot Vegetable Fried Rice is 14 points per serving.

Ultimate Portion Fix:

White rice is not on the 21 Day Fix food list. If you swapped for brown rice, this would be a compliant recipe. The cooking time for brown rice is 20 minutes.

For the entire recipe, total counts are 8 yellow containers, 2 green containers, and 30 oil teaspoons. Per serving, 2 yellow containers, 1/2 green containers, 7 teaspoons.

Reducing the aminos and oil will reduce the teaspoons.

2B Mindset

This is a 2B Mindset lunch recipe.

Other Rice Recipes

Image of a white counter top. On top of counter top is a tan napkin next to a white and brown bowl filled with fried rice. Chopsticks sit on the right side of bowl. Two small bowls of green onions and peanuts are to the right. There are peanuts and green onions scattered on the counter.
Print

Instant Pot Vegetable Fried Rice

This Instant Pot Vegetable Fried Rice is quick, easy, vegan, and egg free. It's seriously the best fried rice, and will crush your take-out cravings without the guilt.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 403kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 c white rice dry
  • 2 c water
  • 2 tbsp roasted sesame oil divided
  • 2 tsp ginger minced
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 2 c stir-fry vegetables frozen
  • 1/4 c coconut aminos
  • 1 tsp rice vinegar

Instructions

  • Add the white rice and water to the Instant Pot. Attach the lid and ensure the vent is in the “sealing” position. 2 c white rice, 2 c water
  • Heat the Instant Pot using the Manual Pressure-Normal-High Pressure function and set the timer for 5 minutes.
  • Once the Instant Pot has finished cooking, release the pressure manually.
  • Turn the Instant Pot to the Sauté function. Move the rice to one side of the Instant Pot. In the empty half, pour 1 tbsp roasted sesame oil. Let the sesame oil heat slightly, then add ginger and garlic. Sauté the ginger and garlic for one minute. 2 tbsp roasted sesame oil, 2 tsp ginger, 2 cloves garlic
  • Add the frozen vegetables, coconut aminos. rice vinegar, and remaining sesame oil. 2 c stir-fry vegetables , 1/4 c coconut aminos, 1 tsp rice vinegar
  • Sauté the mixture stirring occasionally for 5-8 minutes, or until the rice has started to crisp in some areas.
  • Top with chopped green onions and sesame seeds. Serve fried rice warm.

Notes

  • You can make this recipe with brown rice. This posts tells you How to Cook Brown Rice in the Instant Pot.
  • You can use fresh vegetables for this recipe, but I don’t recommend canned. They tend to get mushy.
  • You can omit the sesame oil if you don’t have any, but I love the nutty flavor it gives.
  • If you like eggs in your fried rice, remove the rice after it is finished cooking and scramble as many eggs as you prefer before adding back the rice and vegetables.
  • This recipe is easy to customize to your preference, I love adding bell peppers and onions. 
Weight Watchers: 
Our Instant Pot Vegetable Fried Rice is 14 2023 points per serving.
Ultimate Portion Fix:
 Per serving, 2 yellow containers, 1/2 green containers, 7 teaspoons.
 
 

Nutrition

Calories: 403kcal | Carbohydrates: 75g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 117mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 0.1IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Instant Pot Vegetable Fried Rice appeared first on My Crazy Good Life.

]]>
https://mycrazygoodlife.com/instant-pot-vegetable-fried-rice/feed/ 0
Instant Pot Lemon Chicken https://mycrazygoodlife.com/lemon-chicken/ https://mycrazygoodlife.com/lemon-chicken/#respond Thu, 04 Jan 2024 16:32:23 +0000 https://mycrazygoodlife.com/?p=73940 This Instant Pot Lemon Chicken is an easy dish bursting with fresh flavors from a delicious lemon garlic sauce. Juicy lemon garlic chicken thighs are paired together with nutrient rich vegetables for a healthy and easy dinner that your whole family will enjoy. Lemon juice and garlic are a flavor combo that just works. When...

The post Instant Pot Lemon Chicken appeared first on My Crazy Good Life.

]]>
This Instant Pot Lemon Chicken is an easy dish bursting with fresh flavors from a delicious lemon garlic sauce. Juicy lemon garlic chicken thighs are paired together with nutrient rich vegetables for a healthy and easy dinner that your whole family will enjoy.

Lemon juice and garlic are a flavor combo that just works. When you pressure cook the two together you will create the most delicious sauce to top your golden brown chicken thighs and vegetables with.

images and text of Instant Pot Lemon Chicken for pinterest

If you are looking for a healthy one pot dinner recipe, look no further than this Instant Pot lemon chicken. Everything cooks in one pan for an easy, healthy dinner that you can have on the table in no time.

I love using my trusty pressure cooker to make a quick and easy dish on busy weeknights. Not only is this lemon chicken great for school nights, it’s also a great recipe for meal prep!

Where’s the Recipe?

Here at My Crazy Good Life we have visitors of all different comfort levels in the kitchen. Whether you’re new to pressure cooking, or just new to cooking in general, we want you to be able to recreate our recipes with ease.

To help our readers have a successful experience cooking, we provide a lot of information in our articles. Below you will find an informative list of ingredients, detailed cooking instructions, recipe tips, as well as healthy eating plan calculations for a couple popular programs.

If you’re comfortable in the kitchen, and with pressure cooking, and would like to skip past all of that, please go ahead and scroll to the bottom of the page where you will find our easy to print recipe card for this Instant Pot Lemon Chicken Thighs recipe.

Ingredients in Instant Pot Lemon Chicken

  • Garlic cloves: For this lemon garlic chicken recipe we use a spice rub that gives the chicken thighs so much flavor. This recipe calls for minced garlic as opposed to garlic powder. Fresh garlic helps to season chicken thighs and the lemon sauce for an absolutely delicious flavor. Garlic powder can be used but you won’t get as much of a fresh garlic taste.
  • Paprika: Paprika is rich in antioxidants as well as vitamins and minerals. It adds a sweet and peppery taste to the chicken thigh rub. Feel free to use sweet or smoked paprika. Smoked will give you an additional layer of flavor.
  • Oregano: Dried oregano is used in Italian seasoning and adds a delicious earthy flavor to the chicken thighs.
  • Marjoram: Dried marjoram is another Italian seasoning that is a great addition to this Instant Pot lemon chicken recipe.
  • Salt: We use just a little salt to help bring out the flavors in this Instant Pot lemon chicken recipe.
  • Pepper: Black pepper adds a subtle layer of heat to our chicken thighs rub.
  • Chicken thighs: I love using chicken thighs when I cook in the Instant Pot. If you think you’re not a fan of dark meat, I urge you to try this recipe using boneless skinless chicken thighs. Skinless chicken breasts can become dry and rubbery as the chicken cooks. One of the things I love most about cooking chicken thighs is, even if they are slightly over-cooked, you have moist, tender chicken when the cooking time is complete.
  • Lemon juice: Our Instant Pot lemon chicken uses fresh lemon juice from about 3 lemons to create a delicious lemon garlic sauce. Not only does lemon juice add bright and fresh flavors, lemon juice is also high in Vitamin C, which may give your immune system a boost!
  • Chicken broth: I use chicken broth or chicken stock for this Instant Pot chicken thighs recipe.
  • Potatoes: Use mini or baby potatoes for this Instant pot lemon chicken thighs recipe.
  • Baby bella mushrooms: You can’t go wrong with mushrooms. They’re fat-free, low-sodium, low-calorie, and cholesterol-free. They’re also packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
  • Asparagus: Asparagus is a tasty vegetable that’s also a great source of vitamins and minerals, especially folate and vitamins A, C and K.
  • Cornstarch: We add this at the end of our cooking time to create a cornstarch slurry, which helps to thicken the delicious lemon garlic sauce.
ingredients needed to make Instant Pot Lemon Chicken

How to Make Instant Pot Lemon Chicken

  1. Prep the Pot Start by spraying the bottom of the inner pot to your Instant Pot with a nonstick cooking spray, and then press sauté. You can also use a small amount of olive oil or avocado oil to lightly coat the bottom of your inner pot.
  2. Make the Rub In a small bowl, combine the minced garlic, paprika, oregano, marjoram, salt, and black pepper. Then rub the mixture into the tops of your chicken thighs.
  3. Sear the Chicken Take care not to crowd your chicken together, you may need to repeat this process several times so that the chicken thighs can sear properly. Starting with the seasoned side down, place chicken thighs into your pot. Sear for 30 seconds to 1 minute per side. Set the seared and golden brown chicken thighs aside and, when you are done searing all of the thighs, add lemon juice and chicken broth to the pot. Use a wooden spoon to loosen any brown bits from the bottom of the pot.
  4. Add the Potatoes Next, place the baby potatoes in the bottom of the pot, and then set the seared chicken thighs directly on top of the potatoes. Close and lock the Instant Pot lid and turn the steam release valve to sealing. Select Pressure Cook (high) and set the cooking time for 5 minutes. When the cooking time is complete, quick release the pressure and carefully remove the lid.
  5. Add the Mushrooms & Asparagus Now it’s time to add the mushrooms and asparagus directly on top of the chicken thighs. Close and lock the Instant Pot lid and again turn the steam release valve to sealing. Pressure cook (high) and set the cooking time for 1 minute.
  6. Make the Cornstarch Slurry When the cooking time is complete, quick release the pressure and remove chicken, vegetables, and potatoes to a large platter. On your Instant Pot, select Sauté and add the corn starch to the pot. Whisk together with the chicken broth to make your cornstarch slurry. Once the lemon sauce has thickened you can remove the inner pot from the Instant Pot base.
  7. Serve Place the lemon garlic chicken, vegetables, and potatoes into individual bowls or plates, and spoon sauce on top of each serving. Serve immediately or see below for tips on storing for meal prep.
collage of images showing steps to make Instant Pot Lemon Chicken

Recipe Tips

  • This Instant Pot Lemon Chicken is a delicious and healthy recipe for meal prep. To prep, divide equal portions of lemon chicken, vegetables, and potatoes into meal prep containers. You can serve the gravy on the side, or spoon it over the top of each serving before storing.
  • Instant Pot Lemon Chicken and vegetables keeps in the fridge for up to 6 days, or it can be frozen for up to 2 months. To reheat, microwave each thawed serving for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes.
  • This recipe uses a quick release to release the pressure from the Instant Pot. If you’d like to learn more about quick release vs. natural release you can read this post.
Instant Pot Lemon Chicken served in a glass meal prep container

Healthy Eating Plans

This Instant Pot chicken recipe serves 6.

21 Day Fix Instant Pot Lemon Chicken

Entire recipe: 6 red containers, 6 yellow containers, 6 green containers

Per serving: 1 red container, 1 yellow container, 1 green container

Weight Watchers Instant Pot Lemon Chicken

8 2023 Plan Points | 8 Blue Plan Points | 8 Green Plan Points | 5 Purple Plan Points

Looking for more Instant Pot recipes?

Instant Pot Lemon Chicken served in a glass meal prep container
Print

Instant Pot Lemon Chicken

This Instant Pot Lemon Chicken is an easy dish bursting with fresh flavors from a delicious lemon garlic sauce. Juicy lemon garlic chicken thighs are paired together with nutrient rich vegetables for a healthy and easy dinner that your whole family will enjoy.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword instant pot lemon chicken
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
5 minutes
Total Time 21 minutes
Servings 6 people
Calories 401kcal

Equipment

  • Instant Pot 6 qt
  • Cutting Board
  • Kitchen Knife

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp marjoram
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 3 lb chicken thighs boneless, skinless
  • 3 lemons juice from
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth
  • 1 1/2 lb mini potatoes any variety
  • 1 lb baby bella mushrooms halved
  • 1 lb asparagus halved and woody ends removed
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch

Instructions

  • Start by spraying the bottom of the inner pot to your Instant Pot with a nonstick cooking spray, and then press sauté. You can also use a small amount of olive oil or avocado oil to lightly coat the bottom of your inner pot.
  • In a small bowl, combine the minced garlic, paprika, oregano, marjoram, salt, and black pepper. Then rub the mixture into the tops of your chicken thighs. 2 tbsp minced garlic 1 tsp paprika 2 tsp dried oregano 1 tsp marjoram 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • Take care not to crowd your chicken together, you may need to repeat this process several times so that the chicken thighs can sear properly.
    Starting with the seasoned side down, place chicken thighs into your pot. Sear for 30 seconds to 1 minute per side. Set the seared and golden brown chicken thighs aside and, when you are done searing all of the thighs, add lemon juice and chicken broth to the pot. Use a wooden spoon to loosen any brown bits from the bottom of the pot. 3 lb chicken thighs 3 lemons 1/4 cup chicken broth
  • Next, place the baby potatoes in the bottom of the pot, and then set the seared chicken thighs directly on top of the potatoes. Close and lock the Instant Pot lid and turn the steam release valve to sealing. Select Pressure Cook (high) and set the cooking time for 5 minutes. When the cooking time is complete, quick release the pressure and carefully remove the lid. 1 1/2 lb mini potatoes
  • Now it's time to add the mushrooms and asparagus directly on top of the chicken thighs. Close and lock the Instant Pot lid and again turn the steam release valve to sealing. Pressure cook (high) and set the cooking time for 1 minute. 1 lb baby bella mushrooms 1 lb asparagus
  • When the cooking time is complete, quick release the pressure and remove chicken, vegetables, and potatoes to a large platter. On your Instant Pot, select Sauté and add the corn starch to the pot. Whisk together with the chicken broth to make your cornstarch slurry. Once the lemon sauce has thickened you can remove the inner pot from the Instant Pot base. 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • Place the lemon garlic chicken, vegetables, and potatoes into individual bowls or plates, and spoon sauce on top of each serving. Serve immediately or see below for tips on storing for meal prep.

Notes

Recipe Tips
  • This Instant Pot Lemon Chicken is a delicious and healthy recipe for meal prep. To prep, divide equal portions of lemon chicken, vegetables, and potatoes into meal prep containers. You can serve the gravy on the side, or spoon it over the top of each serving before storing.
  • Instant Pot Lemon Chicken and vegetables keeps in the fridge for up to 6 days, or it can be frozen for up to 2 months. To reheat, microwave each thawed serving for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes.
  • This recipe uses a quick release to release the pressure from the Instant Pot. If you’d like to learn more about quick release vs. natural release you can read this post.
Healthy Eating Plans
This Instant Pot chicken recipe serves 6
21 Day Fix Instant Pot Lemon Chicken
Entire recipe: 6 red containers, 6 yellow containers, 6 green containers
Per serving: 1 red container, 1 yellow container, 1 green container
Weight Watchers Instant Pot Lemon Chicken
8 2023 Plan Points | 8 Blue Plan Points | 8 Green Plan Points | 5 Purple Plan Points

Nutrition

Calories: 401kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 50g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 215mg | Sodium: 218mg | Fiber: 5g

The post Instant Pot Lemon Chicken appeared first on My Crazy Good Life.

]]>
https://mycrazygoodlife.com/lemon-chicken/feed/ 0
Instant Pot Garlic Pork Tenderloin with Potatoes https://mycrazygoodlife.com/instant-pot-garlic-pork-tenderloin-with-potatoes/ https://mycrazygoodlife.com/instant-pot-garlic-pork-tenderloin-with-potatoes/#respond Tue, 10 Oct 2023 20:16:55 +0000 https://mycrazygoodlife.com/?p=73244 This Instant Pot Garlic Pork Tenderloin with Potatoes is an easy and delicious meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights. Cooked perfectly, this garlic pork tenderloin is paired with mashed sweet potatoes, steamed broccoli, and a quick gravy – all in the same pot. It’s an easy one pot meal that the whole family will love....

The post Instant Pot Garlic Pork Tenderloin with Potatoes appeared first on My Crazy Good Life.

]]>
This Instant Pot Garlic Pork Tenderloin with Potatoes is an easy and delicious meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights.

Cooked perfectly, this garlic pork tenderloin is paired with mashed sweet potatoes, steamed broccoli, and a quick gravy – all in the same pot. It’s an easy one pot meal that the whole family will love.

images and text of Instant Pot Garlic Pork Tenderloin with Potatoes for pinterest

If you’re new to pressure cooking, this is a great recipe to start with. It uses simple ingredients and yields results delicious enough to serve at a dinner party or for an easy family recipe tonight.

This Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin is one of my family’s favorite pork recipes. I love that it’s easy to make in the Instant Pot and is also a healthy recipe to keep in my weekly recipe rotation.

Where’s the recipe?

Here at My Crazy Good Life we have readers of all different comfort levels in the kitchen. Because of that, we write our recipes for all cooks, whether you’re experienced or new to cooking.

In this article you will find ingredient information, detailed cooking instructions, recipe tips, and healthy eating plan calculations. If you’d like to skip over all of that and get right to cooking, simply scroll to the bottom of the page where you will find our easy to print recipe card for Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin and Potatoes.

Ingredients in Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin with Vegetables

  • Garlic: I recommend using fresh minced garlic over garlic powder for this instant pot pork tenderloin recipe. In addition to it tasting great, garlic may have some real health benefits, such as protection against the common cold and the ability to help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. You may get some benefits from garlic powder, but you get the biggest bang for your buck from fresh garlic.
  • Basil: I love fresh basil, but for this instant pot pork tenderloin recipe we’ll be using dried basil.
  • Parsley: Dried parsley works great for these pork tenderloins.
  • Oregano: We’re using dried herbs again here. Dried oregano is perfect with this Instant pot pork tenderloin recipe.
  • Salt: Your body needs salt to function properly. Consuming too much or too little can lead to health issues. To avoid this, it’s important to read food labels to make sure you’re not consuming too much sodium in your day. This pork recipe uses just a tiny amount of salt, but feel free to skip it if you’d like.
  • Black pepper: Black pepper is a great way to add flavor and spice to all kinds of recipes.
  • Pork tenderloin: Pork tenderloin meat is one of the leanest cuts of pork available. Pork is a great source of protein and also contains many important minerals and nutrients like thiamine, vitamin B6 and B12, potassium, iron, and magnesium.
  • Olive oil: Olive oil is a good source of monounsaturated fatty acids and medium-chain triglycerides, both of which have been shown to offer potential benefits when included in a healthy lifestyle. If you’d like to use another type, just stick to to one that’s less processed.
  • Chicken broth: I use low sodium chicken stock or chicken broth in this recipe. The chicken stock, along with the cooking liquid, creates a mouthwatering pork gravy that is delicious with the pork tenderloin and potatoes.
  • Sweet potatoes: Move over traditional mashed potatoes, we’re changing things up for this particular recipe and using sweet potatoes in this pork loin roast. Sweet potatoes are rich in antioxidants and a great source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
  • Broccoli: Broccoli is high in many nutrients, including fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, iron, and potassium. I love adding it to this instant pot pork tenderloin recipe, knowing my whole family will get a nutrient boost eating it.
  • Butter: butter is high in saturated fat, but most research shows that butter can be included in moderation as part of a balanced diet and may even be associated with several health benefits.
  • Almond Milk: I prefer to use plain, unsweetened almond milk in this mashed sweet potatoes recipe. Since we’ll add milk after cooking the potatoes, you can use your favorite milk type without worrying about it curdling in the Instant Pot like animal milk can. Just be sure to adjust your points, container counts, or nutrition calculations if you make any changes.
  • Corn starch: we’ll use corn starch to thicken up our pork gravy.
ingredients needed to make Instant Pot Garlic Pork Tenderloin with Potatoes

How to Cook Pork Tenderloin in the Instant Pot

  1. Using a cutting board, peel and cube your sweet potatoes into 1-inch pieces and then set aside.
  2. Place your pork tenderloin on a cutting board and, using a sharp knife, cut the tenderloin into 2 pieces. This will make it quicker and easier to pressure cook than a big pork loin.
  3. In a small bowl mix together the minced garlic, basil, oregano, salt, and black pepper to create your pork seasoning. Rub the seasonings into the tops of the pork tenderloin pieces.
  4. Turn your Instant Pot to sauté and add the olive oil to your inner pot. When the olive oil is hot, add the pork tenderloin pieces, seasoned side down. Sauté for 1 minute, and then flip the pork tenderloins and sauté the bottom sides for 1 more minute. Transfer the browned pork tenderloin pieces to a plate and turn the Instant Pot off.
  5. Add the chicken broth to your pot and while it’s still hot use a spatula to deglaze it, getting all the yummy cooked pork tenderloin pieces mixed together with the broth. Now, place the trivet into your pot and set the pork tenderloin pieces on top of the trivet.
  6. The next thing you will want to do is make a foil bowl for the sweet potatoes. To do that I get a sheet of foil about 14 inches long and spray it with nonstick cooking spray. Then add potatoes on top of the foil and roll the sides of the foil in to create a bowl. Place the foil bowl on top of the pork tenderloin. There are pictures of this step below.
  7. Close and lock the lid to your Instant Pot pressure cooker, and turn the valve to sealing.
  8. Select pressure cook mode (high pressure) and set the cook time for 10 minutes to cook pork tenderloin and potatoes.
  9. When the cook time is complete, let the pressure naturally release for 5 minutes. After the natural release, do a quick release using a wooden spoon to turn the valve.
  10. Remove the lid and, using oven mitts, carefully transfer the foil bowl of cooked sweet potatoes to a large bowl. Add the broccoli to your pot right on top of the pork tenderloin.
  11. Close and lock the lid to the Instant Pot and, again, turn the pressure valve to sealing. Choose the high pressure mode and set the cook time for 1 minute to cook pork tenderloins and broccoli.
  12. While the broccoli and pork tenderloin cooks, add butter to the cooked potatoes. Use a potato masher to mash the potatoes while you slowly add milk. Continue to mix the potatoes until you have creamy mashed potatoes.
  13. When the Instant Pot cooking time is done, quick release the pressure and transfer the cooked broccoli and the cooked pork tenderloin meat to a plate. Remove the trivet from the pot.
  14. Turn your Instant Pot to sauté, add the corn starch to your remaining broth, and whisk vigorously until your gravy thickens.
  15. Turn the Instant Pot off and carefully remove the inner pot with your gravy.
  16. Slice the pork tenderloin and top with gravy. Plate the cooked broccoli and mashed potatoes with your pork tenderloin and serve warm.
collage of steps to make Instant Pot Garlic Pork Tenderloin with Potatoes

Recipe Tips for Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin

  • This Instant pot pork tenderloin and mashed potatoes is an awesome recipe for meal prep. It doesn’t require a lot of prep time and keeps well stored in the fridge for up to 6 days, or the freezer for up to 2 months.
  • For meal prep, I slice the cooked leftover pork tenderloin and place it in airtight meal prep containers, then top with the gravy and add mashed potatoes and broccoli.
  • If you do freeze this Instant Pot pork tenderloin and potatoes, thaw the frozen pork and mashed potatoes and then heat each thawed serving for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes in the microwave.
  • The National Pork Board recommends cooking pork tenderloin meat to an internal temperature between 145° F and 160° F. You can use a meat thermometer to check your pork tenderloin temperature.
three meal prep containers full of mashed sweet potatoes, broccoli and pork

Healthy Eating Plans

21 Day Fix Instant Pot Garlic Pork Tenderloin with Potatoes

Per serving this Instant Pot pork tenderloin and mashed potatoes is: 2 red containers, 1 green container, 1 yellow container, and 2 teaspoons.

Weight Watchers Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin and Potatoes

11 2023 Plan Points | 11 Blue Plan Points | 11 Green Plan Points | 6 Purple Plan Points

white plate with cooked pork and gravy with mashed sweet potatoes and broccoli

Looking for more Instant Pot recipes?

  • Instant Pot Ramen Stir Fry with Chicken and Broccoli This Instant Pot Ramen Stir Fry with Chicken and Broccoli has a quick cooking time and is full of soy sauce flavor and healthy ingredients. It’s one of our favorite pressure cooking recipes.
  • Instant Pot Apple Sauce If you’ve ever wanted to make your own applesauce, you have to give this Instant Pot Apple Sauce recipe a try. With just 2 ingredients and 14 minutes of cooking time in the Instant Pot, you will have delicious homemade applesauce on the table in no time.
  • Vegan Minestrone Soup This Vegan Minestrone Soup Recipe has no meat but will satisfy even the biggest meat lover with its chunky veggies and whole wheat pasta.
  • Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes Wondering how to make sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot? It’s an easy Instant Pot recipe. I love to meal prep several Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes at once so I can eat them all week.
white plate with cooked pork and gravy with mashed sweet potatoes and broccoli
Print

Instant Pot Garlic Pork Tenderloin with Potatoes

This Instant Pot Garlic Pork Tenderloin with Potatoes is an easy and delicious meal that's perfect for busy weeknights.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword Instant Pot Garlic Pork Tenderloin with Potatoes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 11 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6 people
Calories 520kcal

Equipment

  • Instant Pot 6 qt
  • Kitchen Knife
  • Cutting Board

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup minced garlic about 8 cloves
  • 2 tbsp dried basil
  • 2 tsp dried parsley
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 3 lb pork tenderloin cut into 2 pieces
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 lb sweet potatoes (about 3 medium), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 2 heads broccoli cut into small florets
  • 1/2 cup almond milk plain, unsweetened
  • 2 tbsp corn starch

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, combine the garlic, basil, parsley, oregano, salt and pepper. Use a fork to mix, then rub the seasonings into the tops of the pork pieces. 1/4 cup minced garlic 2 tbsp dried basil 2 tsp dried parsley 2 tsp dried oregano 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp black pepper 3 lb pork tenderloin
  • Select sauté and add the olive oil to the inner pot. When the oil begins to shimmer, place the pork pieces, seasoned side down, in the pot. Sauté for 1 minute, flip the pieces and sauté the bottoms for 1 more minute, then transfer the pieces to a plate and turn off the pot. 1 tbsp olive oil 3 lb pork tenderloin
  • Add the chicken broth to the pot and use a spatula to deglaze the pot, then stir. Place the trivet in the pot and put the pork pieces on top of the trivet. 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth 3 lb pork tenderloin
  • Make a foil bowl for the sweet potatoes by placing a 14-inch piece of aluminum foil on a flat surface and spraying it with nonstick cooking spray. Place the cubed sweet potatoes on the foil and slowly roll the sides in to make a bowl. Place the bowl directly on top of the pork. 2 lb sweet potatoes
  • Close and lock the lid, then turn the steam release valve to sealing. Select pressure cook (high) and set the cook time for 10 minutes. When the cook time is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes, then quick release the remaining pressure and remove the lid.
  • Using oven mitts, carefully transfer the potatoes to a large bowl. Add the broccoli to the pot, directly on top of the pork. Close and lock the lid again, then turn the steam release valve to sealing. Select pressure cook (high) and set the cook time for 1 minute. 2 heads broccoli
  • While the broccoli is cooking, add the butter to the bowl with the sweet potatoes. Use a potato masher to mash the potatoes while slowly adding the almond milk until a creamy consistency is achieved. 1/2 cup almond milk
  • When the broccoli is done cooking, quick release the pressure, transfer the broccoli and pork to a plate, and remove the trivet.
  • Select sauté on the Instant Pot and add the corn starch. Whisk vigorously until the gravy thickens. Then turn off the pot and use oven mitts to remove the inner pot from the base.
  • Slice the pork and place it on a plate. Top the pork with gravy and plate broccoli and mashed sweet potatoes with it.

Notes

21 Day Fix
Per serving this Instant Pot pork tenderloin and mashed potatoes is: 2 red containers, 1 green container, 1 yellow container, and 2 teaspoons.
Weight Watchers
11 2023 Plan Points | 11 Blue Plan Points | 11 Green Plan Points | 6 Purple Plan Points

Nutrition

Calories: 520kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 57g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 158mg | Sodium: 310mg | Fiber: 10g

The post Instant Pot Garlic Pork Tenderloin with Potatoes appeared first on My Crazy Good Life.

]]>
https://mycrazygoodlife.com/instant-pot-garlic-pork-tenderloin-with-potatoes/feed/ 0
How to Make Sweet Potato Pasta https://mycrazygoodlife.com/sweet-potato-pasta/ https://mycrazygoodlife.com/sweet-potato-pasta/#comments Tue, 03 Oct 2023 17:27:46 +0000 https://mycrazygoodlife.com/?p=36383 Sometimes I get a craving for pasta…when the craving strikes I like to try out some sweet potato pasta first! This is a great recipe for sweet potato pasta that is 21 Day Fix and 2B Mindset friendly. It’s loaded with great flavors and has lots of good nutrients for your body instead of all...

The post How to Make Sweet Potato Pasta appeared first on My Crazy Good Life.

]]>
Sometimes I get a craving for pasta…when the craving strikes I like to try out some sweet potato pasta first! This is a great recipe for sweet potato pasta that is 21 Day Fix and 2B Mindset friendly. It’s loaded with great flavors and has lots of good nutrients for your body instead of all the sugar in processed pasta.

I know that zoodles and sweet potato pasta are not the same as real linguini or spaghetti but I can’t feasibly eat those things everyday and still maintain my healthy lifestyle…so I make the best of it with delicious recipes like this!

images and text of How to Make Sweet Potato Pasta for pinterest

If you’ve never tried a spiralized veggie in place of your traditional cooked pasta you should give it a go. Zoodles can be a key ingredient, along with some protein and veggies, can make a delicious and healthy alternative that you and your whole family actually enjoys!

I personally think our sweet potato pasta has more delicious flavors than any roasted sweet potatoes recipe i’ve found online. Our sweet potato pasta is also healthier and more delicious than cooked pasta.

Where’s the Recipe?

Here at My Crazy Good Life we write our recipes to all of our readers. We realize that we have a wide variety of readers who are either starting out their cooking journey, or those that are experts in the kitchen.

To help support all readers, we strive to included detailed instructions, top tips and tricks, healthy eating plan point information, as well as nutritional information. If you are ready to start cooking with the more basic version of this recipe, simply scroll down to the bottom of the page where you’ll find our easy to print How to Make Sweet Potato Pasta recipe.

Ingredients in Sweet Potato Pasta

  • Butter
  • Ground sage: Sage is such the perfect match for sweet potatoes. This combination reminds me of all things Fall and delicious.
  • Garlic powder
  • Sweet potatoes: Sweet potatoes and yams are not the same. We like sweet potatoes because they have an abundance of health benefits.
  • Salt & pepper: (to taste)
four whole sweet potatoes

Spiralizer – How to make Vegetable pasta

You can make any kind of vegetable pasta easily with a spiralizer. I love this one, I use it pretty regularly to make zoodles and all variety of other spiralized vegetables! It’s really simple. Once you have your potatoes peeled you insert them into the spiralizer and turn the crank. Smooth motions will keep your sweet potato pasta in long strands just like noodles.

I’ve found that using vegetable pasta really cuts down on carbs and helps me keep my healthy lifestyle goals on point. You’ll end up with a long core that comes out during the spiralizing process, you can chop that up a bit and include it or you can compost it or toss it. Just be aware if you’ve never made zoodles before that it’s totally normal!

If you decide you like making sweet potato pasta you have to try out this recipe for steak fajita zoodles, it’ll further solidify your obsession with spiralizing, I promise! Sweet potato linguini and other zoodle recipes are great for anyone who might be dealing with a gluten intolerance too! They can be cooked up dairy free as well so they’re amazing for special dietary needs.

sweet potato being cut into pasta using spiralizer

How to Make Sweet Potato Pasta

  1. Peel sweet potatoes.
  2. Use a spiralizer with a coarse shred or flat blade to make the sweet potato pasta.
  3. Melt butter in large skillet over medium high heat.
  4. Add sage, garlic powder, and salt (if using).
  5. Add sweet potato zoodles.
  6. Stir and toss until tender (approx. 3 to 5 min).
collage of images showing How to Make Sweet Potato Pasta

Recipe Tips

  • Our sweet potato pasta noodles are the most flavorful when you serve immediately.
  • If you love roasted sweet potato, you’re going to love this pasta swap. We prefer sweet potatoes over white potatoes, although those can also have nutritional value too!
  • You could serve the sweet potato pasta with a creamy sauce, or a simple pasta sauce. We think these are perfectly wonderful without an additional pasta sauce.

Healthy Eating Plan Points

Weight Watchers Points

3 2023 Plan Points | 5 Freestyle Points

21 Day Fix Sweet Potato Pasta

The entire recipe is 6 Teaspoons and 6 Yellow depending on the size of your sweet potatoes. Use your containers to measure the potatoes if you are unsure!

Depending how you decide to use this recipe, as a base, a side dish, etc. you can measure accordingly with your yellow containers. Just remember that for each Yellow you need to count a Teaspoon as well!

2B Mindset

This recipe makes an excellent choice for Fiber Filled Carbohydrates. Your FFC’s vary based on which meal of the day so you can measure out your portions accordingly! Add some protein like these teriyaki turkey meatballs and some veggies and you’ll be on your way to an excellent 2B Mindset meal.  

sweet potato pasta being cooked in a cast iron skillet

Looking for more healthy recipes?

If you are searching for more delicious 21 Day Fix recipes you can find them right here. I’ve included a few that would go great with sweet potato pasta zoodles!

cooked sweet potato pasta on a while plate
Print

How to Make Sweet Potato Pasta

Our sweet potato pasta is a healthy, gluten free pasta alternative that tastes delicious.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword Sweet Potato Linguini
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 6 Servings
Calories 92kcal

Equipment

  • Spiralizer
  • Enameled Cast Iron Pan
  • Kitchen Knife

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 tsp sage ground
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • salt to taste
  • 3 sweet potatoes long ones make for pretty noodles!

Instructions

  • Peel potatos 3 sweet potatoes
  • Use a spiralizer with a coarse shred or flat blade to make the sweet potato pasta
  • Melt butter in large skillet 2 tbsp butter
  • Add sage, garlic powder, and salt 1 tsp sage, 1 tsp garlic powder, salt
  • Add potato zoodles
  • Stir and toss over medium high heat until tender (approx. 3 to 5 min)

Notes

21 Day Fix: Entire Recipe is 6 T and 6 Y
WW: 3 2023 Plan Points | 5 Freestyle Points

Nutrition

Calories: 92kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 70mg | Potassium: 225mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 9340IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg

The post How to Make Sweet Potato Pasta appeared first on My Crazy Good Life.

]]>
https://mycrazygoodlife.com/sweet-potato-pasta/feed/ 10
Healthy French Toast Casserole https://mycrazygoodlife.com/healthy-french-toast-casserole/ https://mycrazygoodlife.com/healthy-french-toast-casserole/#respond Mon, 25 Sep 2023 19:17:21 +0000 https://mycrazygoodlife.com/?p=73074 This Healthy French Toast Casserole recipe is a healthy breakfast made with whole grain bread cubes, eggs, and almond milk. I really like classic french toast, but this healthy french toast casserole has become my new favorite. Cinnamon and coconut sugar combine to make this healthy french toast casserole an absolutely delicious breakfast that your...

The post Healthy French Toast Casserole appeared first on My Crazy Good Life.

]]>
This Healthy French Toast Casserole recipe is a healthy breakfast made with whole grain bread cubes, eggs, and almond milk. I really like classic french toast, but this healthy french toast casserole has become my new favorite.

Cinnamon and coconut sugar combine to make this healthy french toast casserole an absolutely delicious breakfast that your whole family will love.

images and text of Healthy French Toast Casserole for pinterest

This French toast casserole is one of my favorite breakfast recipes to make for meal prep. It keeps well in the fridge overnight or even in the freezer for a couple months. Just microwave it when you’re ready to eat and top with fresh berries or fresh fruit for a healthy meal.

Where’s the recipe?

Here at My Crazy Good Life we have readers of all comfort levels in the kitchen. To better serve everyone, we write our posts will lots of helpful information.

In this article you will find ingredient information, detailed cooking instructions, recipe tips, and healthy eating plan calculations. If you want skip past all of that and get straight to the recipe, scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the easy to print Healthy French Toast Casserole recipe card.

Ingredients in Healthy French Toast Casserole

  • Bread: choose your favorite whole grain bread for this french toast casserole. Whole grains are a great source of fiber and can have positive health effects. Stale bread is preferred to fresh bread when making baked french toast casserole. You can use other bread options like sourdough bread, french bread, gluten free bread, brioche bread, or challah bread. Just be sure to adjust your points and nutrition serving calculations if you make any changes.
  • Eggs: eggs are loaded with vitamins, minerals, high-quality protein, good fats and other nutrients that are good for us.
  • Almond milk: I substitute almond milk for a lot of recipes that call for milk. It’s a healthy plant-based alternative to cow’s milk and is naturally high in vitamin E. You can use regular milk, or another dairy substitute like oat milk or soy milk.
  • Cinnamon: Is it even french toast if there isn’t any cinnamon? I think not. Cinnamon adds the perfect spice to this healthy french toast casserole.
  • Nutmeg: I like to add nutmeg to this french toast casserole because it adds a warm, nutty flavor to the dish. This baked french toast casserole is the breakfast I make on Christmas morning, and the nutmeg in it is the perfect spice to really say Christmas breakfast.
  • Vanilla extract: vanilla extract is another non negotiable ingredient in french toast. Make sure to use pure vanilla extract.
  • Coconut sugar: coconut sugar is very similar to regular white sugar, although it is less processed and contains trace amounts of nutrients. While it is still sugar, it may have a lower glycemic index than white sugar.
  • Maple syrup: use pure maple syrup – it contains small amounts of minerals like manganese and zinc.
ingredients needed to make Healthy French Toast Casserole

How to Make French Toast Casserole in the Instant Pot

  1. We need to start by getting the bread slices or cubes really dry and crusty, so preheat your oven to 200ºF. (If your bread slices are already sufficiently dry, you can skip this step.)
  2. Scatter the bread cubes or chunks in a single layer on top of a large baking dish or sheet. Place in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until your bread cubes are dry.
  3. Next, place your trivet into the inner pot of your Instant Pot, and add 1 1/2 cups of water to the pot.
  4. Now coat a 7-inch round baking pan or oven-safe dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
  5. In a large bowl add the eggs and use a fork to whisk. Then add the almond milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, coconut sugar, and maple syrup and stir to combine.
  6. Now add bread cubes to the bowl and using a large spoon, stir gently to coat the cubed bread with the egg mixture.
  7. Next, transfer the egg mixture soaked bread cubes to the prepared 7-inch round baking dish, lightly pressing the bread cubes down into the pan so that they are well packed. Cover the pan with foil and place it on the trivet. Using the trivet handles, lower the trivet – holding the baking dish – into the Instant Pot.
  8. Close and lock the lid, then turn the steam release valve to sealing. Set the Instant Pot to Pressure Cook on high pressure and set the cooking time for 65 minutes.
  9. When the cook time is complete, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then quick release the remaining pressure and remove the lid.
  10. Using oven mitts, carefully remove the baking dish using the trivet handles. Take the foil off and let the french toast casserole cool for 5 minutes before serving.
collage of images showing steps to make Healthy French Toast Casserole

How to Make Baked French Toast Casserole

Same delicious taste without a pressure cooker. You’re going to love this Baked French Toast recipe.

  1. Get the bread slices ready as you would in the Instant Pot directions above. Preheat your oven to 350º.
  2. Coat your casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. I prefer to use a more shallow pan that is larger rather than a smaller deep pan, as it takes less time to cook and the more shallow pan won’t make your french toast casserole soggy.
  3. In a large bowl, make the french toast batter by combining the eggs, almond milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, coconut sugar, and maple syrup. Use a fork to whisk.
  4. Add bread cubes to the bowl and using a large spoon, stir gently to coat the cubed bread with the egg mixture.
  5. Next, transfer the soaked bread cubes to the prepared casserole dish. Cover the pan with foil and place it in the preheated oven.
  6. Bake for 25 minutes, then remove the foil so the casserole can get that golden brown topping we all love so much.
  7. After another 15-25 minutes, test for doneness with a butter knife poked into the center of the dish – if your knife comes out clean (or mostly clean), the French Toast Casserole is finished!
  8. This recipe typically takes about 40 minutes to cook for me, but your timing might be a little different based on the pan you used and how your oven cooks.
close up of cooked Healthy French Toast Casserole

Recipe Tips

  • This easy French toast casserole is perfect for meal prepping. I cook the french toast and then let it cool before I cut it up into 8 equal-sized servings. Then I place the French toast into meal prepping containers and refrigerator overnight or for up to 6 days.
  • This French toast casserole can also be frozen in individual serving sized containers for 2 months. When you’re ready to eat, just thaw and microwave for 30 to 60 seconds. Serve with fresh berries or fresh fruit for a healthy meal.
  • This recipe can also be made into French Toast Cups using egg bite molds in your Instant Pot. Pack 3 molds with the bread soaked mixture, then cover the molds with foil. Cook 2 molds on high pressure for 30 minutes with a natural release. Remove the 2 molds and cook the third mold for 20 minutes, also with a natural release.
  • If you love maple syrup you can add more maple syrup after the French toast casserole has cooked, just be sure to adjust your points and containers if you do.
  • Another addition that we sometimes add is chopped pecans. That little crunch on top of the French toast casserole is delicious.

Top this recipe with:

  • Pumpkin Pie Spice
  • Sliced bananas and peanut butter
  • Unflavored or Vanilla Greek yogurt
  • Orange zest
  • Powdered sugar and fresh berries
Healthy French Toast Casserole with powdered sugar on top and blueberries in the background

Healthy Eating Plans

21 Day Fix Healthy French Toast Casserole

Entire recipe of French toast casserole (serves 8): 2 red containers, 12 yellow containers, 2 teaspoons

Per serving: 1/4 red container, 1 1/2 yellow containers, and 1/4 teaspoon

Weight Watchers

8 2023 Plan Points | 8 Blue Plan Points | 9 Green Plan Points | 8 Purple Plan Points

Looking for more healthy breakfast recipes like this French Toast?

  • Easy Breakfast Casserole with Potatoes – This easy breakfast casserole with potatoes is a delicious breakfast recipe that has a southwest twist you are going to love.
  • Egg Free Whole Wheat Pancakes – One of my very favorite recipes to make and freeze! We always have these ready in our freezer.
  • Healthy Donuts in a Blender – This healthy donut in a blender is one of my favorite recipes to make for weekend breakfast. It’s a gluten free donut recipe that has no refined sugar and is made with simple ingredients.
  • Easy Chicken Apple Sausage Patties – Our easy chicken apple sausage patties are healthier than those found at the grocery store and they taste delicious. This is a great side dish option to healthy french toast casserole.
  • Instant Pot Baked Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal – This healthy baked oatmeal recipe contains no refined sugar like brown sugar, but instead uses maple syrup to sweeten it.
  • Zucchini Breakfast Casserole with Sausage and Egg – This Zucchini Breakfast Casserole recipe is so easy to make and perfect for meal prep! It’s my favorite way to make breakfast ahead of time for the week, and I love that it contains sausage and eggs.
Healthy French Toast Casserole with powdered sugar on top and blueberries in the background
Print

Healthy French Toast Casserole

Cinnamon and coconut sugar combine to make this healthy french toast casserole an absolutely delicious breakfast that your whole family will love.
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Keyword French Toast Casserole, healthy french toast casserole
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Natural Release 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings 8 people
Calories 253kcal

Equipment

  • Instant Pot 6 qt
  • Round Instant Pot Pan
  • Instant Pot Trivet

Ingredients

  • 20 oz loaf whole-grain bread (preferably stale), torn into small chunks
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 cups almond milk plain, unsweetened
  • 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 2 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp coconut sugar
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup

Instructions

Instant Pot Instructions

  • Preheat the oven on the lowest setting to 200ºF (95ºC). Place the trivet in the inner pot and add 1 1/2 cups of water. Coat a 7-inch round baking pan or oven safe dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
  • Scatter the bread chunks in a single layer across a large baking sheet. Place in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until the bread becomes dry and crusty. 20 oz loaf whole-grain bread
  • Whisk the eggs with the almond milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, coconut sugar, and maple syrup. 4 eggs 2 cups almond milk 2 tbsp ground cinnamon 2 tsp ground nutmeg 2 tbsp vanilla extract 2 tbsp coconut sugar 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • Add the bread pieces to the egg mixture and stir to coat the bread evenly.
  • Transfer the bread pieces to your prepared baking pan, lightly pressing them so they're well packed. Cover the pan with foil, place it on the trivet, and then lower it into the Instant Pot.
  • Close and lock the lid, and then turn the pressure valve to sealing. Select pressure cook (high) and cook for 65 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, and then quick release the remaining pressure.
  • Using oven mitts, carefully remove the trivet holding the pan. Let sit for 5 minutes and serve immediately, or store in an airtight container for meal prep.

Oven Instructions

  • Get the bread slices ready as you would in the Instant Pot directions above. Preheat your oven to 350º. 20 oz loaf whole-grain bread
  • Coat your casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
  • Whisk together the eggs, almond milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, coconut sugar, and maple syrup. 4 eggs 2 cups almond milk 2 tbsp ground cinnamon 2 tsp ground nutmeg 2 tbsp vanilla extract 2 tbsp coconut sugar 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • Add bread cubes to the bowl and using a large spoon, stir gently to coat the cubed bread with the egg mixture.
  • Transfer the soaked bread cubes to the prepared casserole dish. Cover the pan with foil and place it in the preheated oven.
  • Bake for 25 minutes and then remove the foil.
  • Bake for another 15-25 minutes. Test for doneness with a butter knife poked into the center of the dish.
  • Serve immediately or cool and store in an airtight container for meal prep.

Notes

21 Day Fix Healthy French Toast Casserole
Entire recipe of French toast casserole (serves 8): 2 red containers, 12 yellow containers, 2 teaspoons
Per serving: 1/4 red container, 1 1/2 yellow containers, and 1/4 teaspoon
Weight Watchers
8 2023 Plan Points | 8 Blue Plan Points | 9 Green Plan Points | 8 Purple Plan Points

Nutrition

Calories: 253kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 403mg | Potassium: 224mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 16.8g | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 2mg

The post Healthy French Toast Casserole appeared first on My Crazy Good Life.

]]>
https://mycrazygoodlife.com/healthy-french-toast-casserole/feed/ 0
Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes https://mycrazygoodlife.com/instant-pot-sweet-potatoes/ https://mycrazygoodlife.com/instant-pot-sweet-potatoes/#respond Sun, 17 Sep 2023 19:54:58 +0000 https://mycrazygoodlife.com/?p=61066 Wondering how to make sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot? It’s so easy. I love to meal prep several Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes at once so I can eat them all week. The electric pressure cooker is my favorite way to make steamed sweet potatoes. I love that I can “set it and forget it.”...

The post Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes appeared first on My Crazy Good Life.

]]>
Wondering how to make sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot? It’s so easy. I love to meal prep several Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes at once so I can eat them all week.

The electric pressure cooker is my favorite way to make steamed sweet potatoes. I love that I can “set it and forget it.”

collage showing raw and cooked and dressed instant pot sweet potatoes, as well as text for Pinterest

Where is the recipe?

Here at My Crazy Good Life, we write our recipes so that anyone can easily make them. In the article below, you’ll find lots of cooking tips, details that are helpful to those who are new to the Instant Pot, and even special diet information for the 21 Day Fix, Weight Watchers, and 2B Mindset.

If you don’t need all of the extra information, simply scroll down to the bottom of the post to view the ingredient amounts and instructions for these Perfect Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes.

How long does it take for potatoes to soften in the Instant Pot?

Your cooking time will depend on the size of your sweet potatoes. Try to find potatoes that are roughly the same size so that your cooking time is the same for all of the potatoes. You’ll also want to allow a 10 minute natural pressure release at the end of cooking.

These cook times work for one sweet potato or however many you can safely fit inside your pressure cooker.

  • For small sweet potatoes (less than 2 inches wide) I recommend cooking on high pressure for 15 minutes to 18 minutes of cook time (not counting the natural pressure release)
  • For medium sweet potatoes (2-3 inches wide) I recommend cooking on high pressure for 30 minutes of cook time (not counting the natural pressure release)
  • For large sweet potatoes (wider than 3 inches) I recommend cooking on high pressure for 60 minutes of cook time (not counting the natural pressure release)

It’s always best to cook for less time when you’re getting used to cooking with your Instant Pot. You can always cook the food for longer, but once it’s over cooked it can’t be undone.

I like to cook the sweet potatoes, open the pot and test for doneness, and then cook for longer if necessary. Did you know that you can even cook something for 0 (that’s zero) minutes if it just needs a little more time? It will cook as it comes to pressure, then it will immediately begin releasing pressure, continuing to cook.

My potatoes are medium sized and took 30 minutes to cook with a 10 minute NPR.

Ingredients in Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes:

  • Sweet Potatoes: A powerhouse of vitamins and minerals sweet potatoes contain 400% of your daily recommended Vitamin A alone. Sweet potatoes are slow burning carbs, which help level blood sugar, and have tons of beta-carotene which studies show helps with vision.
four raw sweet potatoes on a white marble countertop

How to cook whole sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot

  1. Wash your raw sweet potatoes. Scrub sweet potatoes with a clean brush or sponge.
  2. Add one cup of water to the Instant Pot to the bottom of your Instant Pot. Place your trivet or steamer basket in the bottom of the pot. Place your potatoes on top of the trivet.
  3. Close and lock the lid and turn your pressure valve to sealing. Cook on high pressure for 15-60 minutes depending on the size of your potatoes (specific cooking times can be found above).
  4. Once the cook time is complete, allow the pot to release naturally for 10 minutes before quick releasing the remaining pressure. This means that when it’s done cooking, don’t touch the pot or release valve. Set a time for 10 minutes (or watch your pot count up to 10 minutes) before moving the release valve from Sealing to Venting with the end of a wooden to spoon. When you do this, hot steam will come out of the pot.
  5. Remove the lid and use the handles of your trivet to carefully remove your perfectly tender cooked sweet potatoes. Serve immediately or allow to cool and transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge up to 5 days.
collage showing how to make instant pot sweet potatoes in three pictures

Recipe Tips:

  • Find potatoes that are the same size so that they all cook in the same amount of time.
  • I used my 6 quart Instant Pot, but cooking times should stay the same for the 3 or 8 quart.
  • I love this recipe during the holidays. It saves so much time making sweet potato casserole!
  • For the natural release, I recommend allowing the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes. If after 10 minutes there is still pressure in your pot, you can go ahead and manually release (also called quick release) it by moving the Valve over to the venting position.

Once you make Instant Pot sweet potatoes once, you’ll find the perfect time and it’ll be easier to cook them from here on out. This is actually the way it works with almost all recipes – each pot and elevation cook a tad different, and you’ll get to know your pot in no time.

I love that the potatoes cook evenly, and this is such an easy recipe to use to get healthy food on the table (or in meal prep containers).

two cooked whole sweet potatoes, cut in half and dressed with butter and dried parsley.

Top your cooked Instant Pot Sweet Potato with:

  • butter
  • maple syrup and peanut butter for a perfect breakfast
  • brown sugar and honey
  • sour cream and green onions
  • veggies – I love adding broccoli

Healthy Eating Plans:

21 Day Fix/Ultimate Portion Fix:

Potato sizes can vary drastically, so for the most accurate container counts, count each 1/2 cup serving as 1 Yellow Container.

Weight Watchers:

Points were figured using the WW recipe creator with the serving size figured as 1/2 cup. 2 Points on the 2023 Plan | 3 Blue Plan Points | 3 Green Plan Points | 0 Purple Plan Points

2B Mindset:

These are great for breakfast or lunch when following 2B Mindset. For breakfast add 50% protein for a complete meal. For lunch, add 50% vegetables and 25% protein for a complete meal.

More healthy Sweet Potato recipes

More basic Instant Pot recipes:

two cooked whole sweet potatoes, cut in half and dressed with butter and dried parsley.
Print

Perfect Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes

Making perfect Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes is quick and easy. I love to meal prep several at once so I can eat them all week.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword instant pot, sweet potato
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 447kcal

Equipment

  • Instant Pot 6 qt
  • Instant Pot Trivet

Ingredients

  • 4 sweet potatoes
  • 1 cup water

Instructions

  • Wash your potatoes. 4 sweet potatoes
  • Add water to the bottom of your Instant Pot. 1 cup water
  • Place your trivet or steamer basket in the bottom of the pot, and your potatoes on top of the trivet.
  • Close and lock the lid and turn you pressure valve to sealing. Cook on high pressure for 15-60 minutes depending on the size of your potatoes (cooking times can be found in recipe notes).
  • Once the cook time is complete, allow the pot to release naturally for 10 minutes before quick releasing the remaining pressure. Remove the lid and use the handles of your trivet to remove the potatoes.
  • Serve immediately or transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge up to 5 days.

Notes

  • For small potatoes (less than 2 inches wide) I recommend cooking 15 minutes to 18 minutes.
  • For medium sweet potatoes (2-3 inches wide) I recommend cooking for 30 minutes.
  • For large sweet potatoes (wider than 3 inches) I recommend cooking for 60 minutes.
Recipe Tips:
  • Find potatoes that are the same size so that they all cook for the same amount of time.
  • I used my 6 quart Instant Pot, but cooking times should stay the same for the 3 or 8 quart.
Healthy Eating Plans:
21 Day Fix/Ultimate Portion Fix:
Potato sizes can vary drastically, so for the most accurate container counts, count each 1/2 cup serving as 1 Yellow Container.
Weight Watchers:
Points were figured using the WW recipe creator with the serving size figured as 1/2 cup. 2 Points on the 2023 Plan | 3 Blue Plan Points | 3 Green Plan Points | 0 Purple Plan Points
2B Mindset:
These are great for breakfast or lunch when following 2B Mindset. For breakfast add 50% protein for a complete meal. For lunch, add 50% vegetables and 25% protein for a complete meal.

Nutrition

Serving: 4g | Calories: 447kcal | Carbohydrates: 105g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 298mg | Potassium: 1752mg | Fiber: 16g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 73772IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 163mg | Iron: 3mg

The post Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes appeared first on My Crazy Good Life.

]]>
https://mycrazygoodlife.com/instant-pot-sweet-potatoes/feed/ 0
Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta https://mycrazygoodlife.com/healthy-bang-bang-shrimp-pasta/ https://mycrazygoodlife.com/healthy-bang-bang-shrimp-pasta/#comments Fri, 08 Sep 2023 17:15:30 +0000 https://mycrazygoodlife.com/?p=36621 I love making Chinese food at home, and this healthy Bang Bang Shrimp pasta is one of my favorite shrimp recipes to make. With just the right amount of sweet, spicy, and creamy, this Instant Pot Chinese food recipe will be a hit with the whole family. Plus, this great recipe uses a lower calorie...

The post Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta appeared first on My Crazy Good Life.

]]>
I love making Chinese food at home, and this healthy Bang Bang Shrimp pasta is one of my favorite shrimp recipes to make.

With just the right amount of sweet, spicy, and creamy, this Instant Pot Chinese food recipe will be a hit with the whole family. Plus, this great recipe uses a lower calorie Greek yogurt instead of mayo, cream cheese, or heavy cream, so you can keep the dish creamy while making it healthier.

images and text of Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta for pinterest

My family requests that I make my Healthy Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta often, as it is one of their favorite pasta recipes. I especially love this shrimp pasta dish for busy weeknights because it’s quick and easy to make, whether you cook it in the Instant Pot, on the stove, or in a slow cooker.

Where’s the Recipe?

Readers with all levels of comfort and experience in the kitchen visit My Crazy Good Life for healthy and delicious recipes. To make sure you get great results, whether you just started cooking or have made this recipe before, I like to provide a ton of helpful information in my recipes.

However, if you’d like to skip over different variations for making this dish, as well as recipe tips and healthy eating plan information, please just scroll to the bottom of the post where you’ll find an easy-to-print version of this healthier Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta recipe!

Ingredients in Healthy Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta

  • Dry whole wheat spaghetti noodles: Whole wheat noodles are packed with 3x the fiber and also contain protein, iron, and zinc. You can use angel hair pasta instead of spaghetti if you like. Just note that angel hair pasta doesn’t boil as long as cooked spaghetti noodles.
  • Raw FROZEN jumbo, peeled and deveined shrimp: You’ll want to make sure you use raw frozen shrimp because using raw unfrozen or pre-cooked shrimp will affect your cooking times. Definitely make sure to use deveined and peeled shrimp, too. Do not let the frozen shrimp thaw before cooking.
  • Minced garlic: Use fresh minced garlic if you can, as it will give a great punch of flavor to this dish. If you’re out of fresh minced garlic, though, garlic powder will do in a pinch.
  • Coconut oil: Coconut oil will add a fresh, tropical flavor to this creamy pasta dish. If you don’t have coconut oil, you can swap it for olive oil (but remember that this will change the nutritional counts).
  • Honey: A little honey adds just a touch of sweetness to this delicious dish!
  • Fresno PepperA Fresno pepper is a lot like a jalapeño, but is slightly spicier with smokey undertones. It can add wonderfully complex flavor to a dish. If you prefer, though, a jalapeño will work well in this dish, too! If you don’t want your pasta too spicy or don’t have any peppers on hand, chili powder or red pepper flakes will do, but they will slightly change the flavor of the meal.
  • Lime juice: Fresh lime juice will perfectly complement the coconut oil in adding a tropical zing to your pasta.
  • Black Pepper: Fresh ground black pepper contrasts so well with the sweetness of the honey.
  • Rice vinegar: Look for unsweetened or unflavored rice vinegar to add a bit of tang to this dish.
  • Plain 2% Greek yogurt: Instead of using mayo or cream cheese, this healthy version of Bang Bang Shrimp pasta substitutes plain Greek yogurt. Be sure to purchase the 2%.
  • Sriracha sauce or other hot sauce: Sriracha sauce is easy to get at most grocery stores, but other hot sauces such as Thai sweet chili sauce will work well, too.
  • Green onion: I like using green onions to bring a bit of color and crunch to this pasta dish.
ingredients to make Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta

How to Make Healthy Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta in the Instant Pot

When calculating your total cooking time, don’t forget to allow a few minutes for your pressure cooker to come to pressure!

  1. Turn the Instant Pot to sauté. Add the coconut oil and allow it to melt and heat up.
  2. Next, add the garlic and Fresno peppers. Sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Break the spaghetti noodles in half and arrange in the Instant Pot. Pour the water over the noodles.
  4. Toss in the frozen shrimp, salt, pepper, rice vinegar, honey, and lime on top of the noodles.
  5. Close the lid and turn the pressure valve to sealing.
  6. Cook on high pressure using the manual setting for 3 minutes.
  7. Release the pressure using a controlled quick release method. To do this use a utensil to open and close the pressure valve so that only a little pressure releases at a time. This will prevent liquid from sputtering out the top.
  8. Slowly mix in the Greek yogurt, sriracha, and green onions. If you like your pasta less creamy, use less yogurt.
  9. Serve while still hot.
collage of images showing steps to make Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta

How to Make Healthy Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta in a Slow Cooker

  1. In the slow cooker, combine all the ingredients except the Greek yogurt and green onions.
  2. Add the lid to the slow cooker.
  3. Cook on low heat for 2 1/2 hours or high heat for 1 1/2 hours.
  4. Remove the lid and stir in the Greek yogurt and green onions.
  5. Serve.

How to Make Healthy Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta on the Stove Top

  1. Cook pasta until al dente in a large pot according to the directions on the box. Drain the cooked pasta and rinse in cool water.
  2. In a large skillet, heat the coconut oil (or olive oil) on medium-high heat.
  3. Sauté the garlic and Fresno peppers. Add the shrimp, lime juice, salt and pepper to the skillet.
  4. Mix it up and allow the spices to coat the shrimp, and then cover and let cook for 2-3 minutes until the shrimp is defrosted.
  5. Remove the lid. Mix the honey, rice vinegar, and Sriracha or other hot sauce in a small mixing bowl, and then add to the shrimp.
  6. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until the shrimp are pink and opaque.
  7. Turn off the heat. Add the hot pasta noodles to the pan with the shrimp. Mix in the Greek yogurt and green onions.
  8. Garnish and serve immediately.
black bowl with Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta

Recipe Tips

  • This delicious recipe has shrimp. We love to eat shrimp, however cooking shrimp can be a little tricky the first time, but you’ll quickly get the hang of it. You’ll be looking for the shrimp to turn pink and a little bit white instead of gray and translucent or “clear.” Uncooked shrimp is usually gray and translucent, so if you are still seeing that color they are not cooked enough. If your shrimp are bright white, you may have overcooked them.
  • The internal temperature of shrimp when fully cooked is 120º, as measured by a meat thermometer. You’re looking for the shrimp to form a C shape when they’re finished cooking. If you see an O shape, they’re overcooked.
  • The Fresno peppers make this a spicy dish! You can use peppers with less spice or omit the peppers entirely if you’d rather not have spice in this dish, and it won’t affect the cooking time or quality of the dish.
  • If, on the other hand, you’d rather this pasta be a bit spicier, I’d recommend using a spicer pepper like serrano instead of Fresno peppers, and adding a teaspoon or two more of red pepper flakes for some serious spice. Do note that using red pepper flakes will modify the overall flavors of the original sauce ingredients.
  • This pasta can be made gluten free by using brown rice noodles or zucchini noodles. Both have a much shorter cook time, as do zucchini noodles, so keep that in mind while you’re making this recipe. The sauce recipe will stay the same as it is gluten free already.
  • This dish is not dairy free because of the Greek yogurt. You can substitute plain greek yogurt with a dairy free yogurt if you have one that you like, or add an extra bit of olive oil for a dairy free Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta that isn’t dry.
image from above with black bowl full of Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta

Healthy Eating Plans

Portion Fix & 21 Day Fix

Entire recipe: 6 yellow containers | 4 red containers | 1/2 green containers | 1 tsp | 12 sweetener teaspoons

Per serving: 1 yellow container | Just over 1/2 red container | negligible green container | negligible teaspoon | 2 sweetener teaspoons

2B Mindset

This makes a great lunch, you’ll need to add some extra veggies to make sure you hit your percentages for those.

Weight Watchers

9 2023 Points | 9 Blue Plan Points | 10 Green plan Points | 3 Purple Plan Points per serving using sugar free syrup instead of honey, and fat free Greek yogurt.

bowl of Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta in front of Instant Pot

More Healthy Recipes

image from above with black bowl full of Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta
Print

Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta

This Healthy Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta will satisfy your restaurant cravings without all of the calories you might find in Chinese takeout.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6 Servings
Calories 405kcal

Equipment

  • Instant Pot 6 qt
  • Kitchen Knife
  • Cutting Board

Ingredients

  • 1 tsp coconut oil
  • 3 tsp garlic minced
  • 1/4 cup Fresno peppers diced
  • 13 oz whole wheat pasta spaghetti noodles, dry
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 lb shrimp jumbo, raw and FROZEN, peeled & deveined
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1 tbsp vinegar rice
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1 lime juiced
  • 1 1/2 cups Greek yogurt plain, 2%
  • 1 tbsp sriracha or other hot sauce
  • 1/2 cup green onions

Instructions

  • Turn the Instant Pot to saute. Add the coconut oil and allow it to melt and heat up. 1 tsp coconut oil
  • Next add the garlic and Fresno peppers. Saute for about 30 seconds until fragrant. 3 tsp garlic, 1/4 cup Fresno peppers
  • Break the spaghetti noodles in half and arrange in the Instant Pot. Pour the water over the noodles. 13 oz whole wheat pasta, 4 cups water
  • Toss in the frozen shrimp, pepper, rice vinegar, honey, and lime on top of the noodles. Close the lid and turn the pressure valve to sealing. 1 lb shrimp, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1 tbsp vinegar, 1/4 cup honey, 1 lime
  • Cook on high pressure using the manual setting for 3 minutes. Release the pressure using a controlled quick release method. To do this use a utensil to open and close the pressure valve so that only a little pressure releases at a time. This will prevent liquid from sputtering out the top.
  • Mix in the Greek yogurt, sriracha, and green onions. Serve while still hot. 1 1/2 cups Greek yogurt, 1 tbsp sriracha , 1/2 cup green onions

Stove top:

  • Cook the spaghetti noodles according to the directions on the box. Drain and rinse in cool water. 13 oz whole wheat pasta
  • In a skillet heat to coconut oil on medium high heat. Saute the garlic and Fresno peppers. Add the shrimp, lime juice, and pepper to the skillet. Mix it up and then cover and let cook for 2-3 minutes until the shrimp is defrosted. 1 tsp coconut oil, 3 tsp garlic, 1/4 cup Fresno peppers, 1 lb shrimp, 1 lime, 1/4 tsp pepper
  • Remove the lid. Mix in the honey, rice vinegar, and sriracha. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until the shrimp is pink and opaque. 1/4 cup honey, 1 tbsp vinegar, 1 tbsp sriracha
  • Turn off the heat. Add the noodles to the pan with the shrimp. Mix in the Greek yogurt and green onions. Garnish and serve warm. 1 1/2 cups Greek yogurt, 1/2 cup green onions

Slow cooker:

  • In the slow cooker insert combine all the ingredients except the Greek yogurt and green onions. 1 tsp coconut oil, 3 tsp garlic, 1/4 cup Fresno peppers, 13 oz whole wheat pasta, 4 cups water, 1 lb shrimp, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1 tbsp vinegar, 1/4 cup honey, 1 lime, 1 tbsp sriracha
  • Add the lid to the slow cooker. Cook on low heat for 2 1/2 hours or high heat for 1 1/2 hours.
  • Remove the lid and stir in the Greek yogurt and green onions. Serve. 1 1/2 cups Greek yogurt, 1/2 cup green onions

Video

Notes

Serves 6
21 Day Fix counts for the entire recipe: 6 yellow containers, 4 red containers, 1 tsp, 12 sweetener teaspoons, 1/2G  green container.
Per serving: 1 yellow container, Just over 1/2 red container, negligible teaspoon, 2 sweetener teaspoons, negligible green container.
Weight Watchers: 9 2023 Points | 9 Blue Plan Points | 10 Green plan Points | 3 Purple Plan Points per serving using sugar free syrup instead of honey, and fat free Greek yogurt.
 
 

Nutrition

Calories: 405kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 194mg | Sodium: 682mg | Potassium: 239mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 116IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 206mg | Iron: 3mg

SaveSave

The post Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta appeared first on My Crazy Good Life.

]]>
https://mycrazygoodlife.com/healthy-bang-bang-shrimp-pasta/feed/ 27
Instant Pot Lasagna with Cottage Cheese https://mycrazygoodlife.com/21-day-fix-instant-pot-lasagna-a-healthier-lasagna-recipe/ https://mycrazygoodlife.com/21-day-fix-instant-pot-lasagna-a-healthier-lasagna-recipe/#comments Sat, 02 Sep 2023 19:24:57 +0000 https://mycrazygoodlife.com/?p=28022 This Healthy Instant Pot Lasagna with Cottage Cheese is a delicious recipes that is so easy to cook! Cottage cheese boasts some great health benefits when compared to ricotta, so we’re taking advantage of cottage cheese in this recipe! No boiling noodles, no watching the oven. Everything cooks together right in the pot – even...

The post Instant Pot Lasagna with Cottage Cheese appeared first on My Crazy Good Life.

]]>
This Healthy Instant Pot Lasagna with Cottage Cheese is a delicious recipes that is so easy to cook! Cottage cheese boasts some great health benefits when compared to ricotta, so we’re taking advantage of cottage cheese in this recipe!

No boiling noodles, no watching the oven. Everything cooks together right in the pot – even the meat! Nothing beats a homemade lasagna on a busy night.

collage and text for healthy instant pot lasagna - slice being pulled out of a pan for the top image and a cooked whole lasagna for the bottom image

Where is the recipe? 

I have readers from all levels of comfort and experience in the kitchen, and I receive a lot of questions about recipes. To better serve everyone here at My Crazy Good Life, I’ve made a commitment to put a ton of helpful information and tips in my posts.

If you’d like to skip over the information about freezing, swapping ingredients, and how this fits into popular diet plans, please simply scroll to the bottom of the page, where you will find the recipe for this healthy Instant Pot Lasagna with Cottage Cheese.

Instant Pot Lasagna Ingredients 

This recipe is full of minimally processed ingredients. Whole grain lasagna noodles, homemade pasta sauce, and lean ground turkey are some of the ingredients that make up this dish.

You’ll find some substitutions mentioned in the ingredient section below as well as the Recipe Tips.

  • Cottage cheese or ricotta cheese: This recipe and nutrition information is based on 2% cottage cheese. Cottage cheese has less saturated fat and cholesterol than ricotta. I like to rinse my cottage cheese to help lower the sodium in it. You can use ricotta cheese instead, if you’d like.
  • Mozzarella cheese I prefer to buy it unshredded, as it doesn’t have as many ingredients. Shredded cheese contains additional ingredients that help the cheese no stick together or clump. You can shred cheese easily in a food processor or with a hand grater.
  • Crushed tomatoes: Be sure and use crushed, not whole or diced. Crushed creates the perfect amount of liquid for your noodles to cook. If you’d like to use store bought spaghetti sauce, peek a the Recipe Tips for instructions.
  • Dry spices: Oregano, Thyme, Parsley, Onion powder, Garlic powder
  • Whole wheat lasagna noodles: You can use regular or oven ready lasagna noodles (also called no boil noodles), just be sure and grab whole wheat. They’re going to cook differently than regular lasagna noodles, as well. This lasagna recipe is specifically written for wheat noodles.
  • Ground turkey: You can add this to the recipe cooked or raw. If using raw, please make the chunks of turkey very thin so they cook all the way through.
  • Spinach: A powerhouse of fiber, vitamins A, C and K.
ingredients needed for healthy Instant Pot Lasagna: whole wheat noodles, mozzarella cheese, cottage cheese, tomato sauce, and meat.

Recipe Tips

  • This recipe is wonderful for meal prep. You can assemble it and freeze before or after cooking. 
  • If you’re looking for a 21 Day Fix lasagna, the container calculations below are based on using 6 whole grain lasagna noodles for the entire recipe. 
  • Hiding extra vegetables is super easy in this recipe. I love adding extra spinach, grated carrots, or finely chopped bell peppers. 
  • You’ll need to cook ground beef or ground Italian sausage and drain before adding them to this recipe. Beef releases too much liquid while cooking to use raw in the Instant Pot. 
  • Use fresh spinach for this recipe, not frozen, to reduce the amount of liquid. 
  • I love making homemade tomato sauce, but if you buy store bought look for one that has no added sugar. Do not add the tomatoes or Italian seasonings from this recipe if you use store bought marinara sauce.
  • If making this recipe right in your Instant Pot liner, do not begin your layers with sauce, as it can cause a burn warning. Add 1/2 cup water to the pot, followed by turkey, then pasta, spinach, cheese, then sauce. You can make more layers, but be sure to start with water and then meat.
  • Spray your foil with cooking spray before covering your lasagna to prevent the cheese from sticking to it. 
  • If your trivet does not have handles, you can make your own sling by folding a 20” long piece of aluminum foil in thirds, lengthwise. Set your pan in the middle of the foil and carefully use the ends to raise and lower in and out of the Instant Pot.
  • Top this recipe with freshly grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil, if desired.
  • Naturally releasing the pressure in your pressure cooker is important to this recipe – it allows you to let the entire cooked lasagna sit and the noodles to absorb any extra liquid from the recipe. It also allows for a few more minutes of cook time to make sure your noodles and meat are finished cooking. Skipping the natural release step can result in an undercooked and soggy lasagna.
  • Refrigerate leftover lasagna in an airtight container for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
top down image of whole lasagna in a pan on a wood table

Instant Pot Cooking Instructions

The time estimate includes prep time, cook time, and time for your pot to come to pressure and release pressure. Of course, this changes a bit depending on the size of the Instant Pot you use and your altitude.

  1. Make your cottage cheese layer In a small bowl, mix together the cottage cheese and ⅔ cup shredded mozzarella cheese.
  2. Prepare your homemade tomato sauce Skip this step if using jarred pasta sauce. In a separate bowl, mix the crushed tomatoes, oregano, thyme, parsley, onion powder and garlic together.
  3. Make your layers Add half of the sauce to the bottom of a 7 inch springform pan. Break your noodles into pieces that will cover the sauce in a single layer. Top with half of the cottage cheese mixture, half the ground meat, and half of the spinach.
  4. Repeat Continue to layer lasagna until the pan is full. Cover the top of the pan with foil. This stops liquid from getting into the pan.
  5. Prepare your pot Place a trivet in the bottom of the Instant Pot insert and pour 2 cups of water in the bottom.
  6. Pressure Cook Place the uncooked lasagna on top of the trivet and close and lock the lid. Turn your pressure valve to sealing. Select high Pressure Cook and set the cook time for 20 minutes.
  7. Natural Release Once the cooking time is complete, allow pressure to naturally release. If after 20 minutes the pressure has not completely released, then quick release the remaining pressure. Once the pressure valve drops, remove the lid and carefully remove your cooked lasagna.
  8. Broil This step isn’t necessary, but it only takes a couple of extra minutes and really does make the lasagna look and taste better. Remove the foil cover from the lasagna and place the pan under the broiler for 1-2 minutes to brown the cheese. Keep a close eye on your lasagna – the broil setting on most ovens is very fast.
collage of how to make this lasagna
collage of 9 images showing how to layer a lasagna

Oven Instructions for this Cottage Cheese Lasagna Recipe:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F
  2. In a small bowl, mix together the cottage cheese and ⅔ cup mozzarella cheese. 
  3. Make your homemade marinara sauce by mixing crushed tomatoes, oregano, thyme, parsley, onion powder and garlic together in a separate bowl to make your tomato sauce. If using jarred sauce, you can skip this step. 
  4. Add half of your sauce to the bottom of an oven safe casserole dish. Place a layer of noodles on top of the sauce, top with half of the cottage cheese mixture, half the ground turkey, and half of the spinach, repeat. Top your lasagna with remaining ⅓ cup of mozzarella cheese, then cover your pan very tightly with aluminum foil. 
  5. Bake for 60 minutes. Remove the foil and check your noodles by sticking a sharp knife into the lasagna. If it moves to the bottom of the pan quickly, the noodles are soft enough to eat. 
  6. Turn your oven to the broil setting and broil your lasagna for 1-2 minutes until the cheese is lightly browned. Keep a close eye on the lasagna when you do this, as the broil setting works fast.
  7. Remove from the oven and top with fresh basil, if desired, and serve!
white plate with a slice if healthy instant Pot lasagna and fresh basil on the side

Healthy Eating Plans

This lasagna recipe is perfect for special diets like 2B Mindset and the 21 Day Fix! I’ve given a ton of helpful information about making this lasagna for the 21 Day Fix, and trust me–your family and friends will love it too, and they won’t even know it’s healthy!

21 Day Fix/Ultimate Portion Fix

These counts are based on using 6 lasagna noodles for the entire recipe: 6 Red Containers, 6 Yellow Containers, 6 Green Containers, 3 Blue Containers.

A serving is ⅙ of the lasagna. Per serving: 1 Red Container, 1 Yellow Container, 1 Green Container, ½ Blue Container. 

2B Mindset

Eat with additional vegetables for a complete lunch. 

Looking for WW Lasagna?

More healthy Instant Pot recipes

top down image of whole lasagna in a pan on a wood table
Print

Instant Pot Lasagna

If you're looking for a healthy Instant Pot lasagna, this recipe is the one for you! Whole wheat pasta, homemade sauce, and layers of green spinach are a delicious way to beat your craving. Use cottage cheese or ricotta in this recipe!
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Keyword 21 Day Fix, instant pot, Lasagna
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Instant Pot pressure build and release 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 321kcal

Equipment

  • Instant Pot 6 qt
  • Springform Pan
  • Olive Oil Spray

Ingredients

  • 1 cup 2% cottage cheese or ricotta
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese I use mozzarella
  • 28 oz crushed tomatoes Do not use full or diced tomatoes–they have too much liquid in them. For instructions on using jarred pasta sauce, please read the post.
  • 1 tbsp oregano
  • 1 tbsp thyme
  • 1 tbsp parsley
  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • 1 tbsp garlic
  • 6 whole wheat lasagna noodles
  • 1 lbs ground turkey
  • 3 cups spinach fresh

Instructions

Instant Pot

  • In a small bowl, mix together the cottage cheese and ⅔ cup mozzarella cheese. 1 cup 2% cottage cheese
  • Skip this step if using jarred sauce. In a separate bowl, mix the crushed tomatoes, oregano, thyme, parsley, onion powder and garlic together. 28 oz crushed tomatoes, 1 tbsp oregano, 1 tbsp thyme, 1 tbsp parsley, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tbsp garlic
  • Add half of the sauce to the bottom of a 7 inch springform pan. Break your noodles into pieces that will cover the sauce in a single layer. Top with half of the cheese mixture, half the ground turkey, and half of the spinach, repeat. Finally, top your lasagna with the remaining ⅓ cup of mozzarella cheese, then cover your pan tightly with aluminum foil. 6 whole wheat lasagna noodles, 1 lbs ground turkey, 3 cups spinach,
  • Place a trivet in the bottom of the Instant Pot insert and pour 1 cup of water in the bottom.
  • Place the lasagna on top of the trivet and close and lock the lid. Turn your pressure valve to sealing. Select Pressure Cook (high) and set the cook time for 20 minutes.
  • Once the cooking time is complete, allow pressure to naturally release. If after 20 minutes, the pressure has not completely released, turn the handle to quick release. Once the pressure valve drops, remove the lid and carefully remove your lasagna.
  • This step isn’t necessary, but it only takes a couple of extra minutes and really does make the lasagna look and taste better. Remove the foil cover from the lasagna and place the pan under the broiler for 1-2 minutes to brown the cheese. Top with fresh basil if desired and serve.

Oven

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • In a small bowl, mix together the cottage cheese and ⅔ cup mozzarella cheese. 1 cup 2% cottage cheese
  • Mix crushed tomatoes, oregano, thyme, parsley, onion powder and garlic together in a separate bowl. If using jarred sauce you can skip this step. 28 oz crushed tomatoes, 1 tbsp oregano, 1 tbsp thyme, 1 tbsp parsley, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tbsp garlic
  • Add half of your sauce to the bottom of an oven safe dish. Place a layer of noodles on top of the sauce, top with half of the cheese mixture, half the ground turkey, and half of the spinach, repeat. Top your lasagna with remaining ⅓ cup of mozzarella cheese, then cover your pan very tightly with aluminum foil. 6 whole wheat lasagna noodles
  • Bake for 60 minutes. Remove the foil and check your noodles for doneness.
  • Broil your lasagna for 1-2 minutes until the cheese is lightly browned.
  • Remove from the oven and top with fresh basil, if desired, and serve!

Video

Notes

Healthy Eating Plans

  • 21 Day Fix/Ultimate Portion Fix: These counts are based on using 6 lasagna noodles for the entire recipe: 6 Red Containers, 6 Yellow Containers, 6 Green Containers, 3 Blue Containers. A serving is ⅙ of the lasagna. Per serving: 1 Red Container, 1 Yellow Container, 1 Green Container, ½ Blue Container. 
  • 2B Mindset: Eat with additional vegetables for a complete lunch. 
  • Looking for WW Lasagna? Click here
Recipe Tips
  • This recipe is wonderful for meal prep. You can assemble it and freeze before or after cooking. 
  • If you’re following the 21 Day Fix program, the container calculations below are based on using 6 lasagna noodles for the entire recipe. 
  • Hiding extra vegetables is super easy in this recipe. I love adding extra spinach, grated carrots, or finely chopped bell peppers. 
  • If you choose to use ground beef instead of turkey you will need to brown and drain before adding. Beef released too much liquid while cooking to use raw in the Instant Pot. 
  • Use fresh spinach for this recipe to reduce the amount of liquid. 
  • I love making homemade spaghetti sauce, but if you buy store bought look for one that has no added sugar.  
  • If you’re not a fan of cottage cheese you can swap out for skim ricotta in its place. 
  • Spray your foil with cooking spray before covering your lasagna to prevent the cheese from sticking. 
  • If your trivet does not have handles, you can make your own sling by folding a 20” long piece of aluminum foil in thirds, lengthwise. Set your pan in the middle of the foil and carefully use the ends to raise and lower in and out of the Instant Pot.
  •  

Nutrition

Calories: 321kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 499mg | Potassium: 830mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1974IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 215mg | Iron: 4mg

The post Instant Pot Lasagna with Cottage Cheese appeared first on My Crazy Good Life.

]]>
https://mycrazygoodlife.com/21-day-fix-instant-pot-lasagna-a-healthier-lasagna-recipe/feed/ 129
Easy Breakfast Casserole with Potatoes https://mycrazygoodlife.com/easy-breakfast-casserole-with-potatoes/ https://mycrazygoodlife.com/easy-breakfast-casserole-with-potatoes/#respond Thu, 24 Aug 2023 19:32:38 +0000 https://mycrazygoodlife.com/?p=72725 This easy breakfast casserole with potatoes is a delicious breakfast recipe that has a southwest twist you are going to love. I love breakfast casseroles because they are so easy to make ahead of time, thus great for meal prep! This healthy recipe is full of simple ingredients like eggs, ground turkey, black beans, corn,...

The post Easy Breakfast Casserole with Potatoes appeared first on My Crazy Good Life.

]]>
This easy breakfast casserole with potatoes is a delicious breakfast recipe that has a southwest twist you are going to love.

I love breakfast casseroles because they are so easy to make ahead of time, thus great for meal prep! This healthy recipe is full of simple ingredients like eggs, ground turkey, black beans, corn, and bell peppers.

images and text of easy breakfast casserole with potatoes for pinterest

This easy breakfast casserole recipe can be made in the Instant Pot or on the stove top and oven. Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator or freezer, so you can have a healthy and hearty meal ready to reheat on busy mornings.

Where’s the recipe?

Here at My Crazy Good Life we have readers of all comfort levels in the kitchen. Because of that we like to make sure our posts are clear and easy to follow.

In the article below, you will find lots of information about the ingredients, detailed cooking instructions, recipe tips, as well as healthy eating plan calculations.

If you’d like to get straight to cooking, simply scroll down to the bottom of the page. There you will find our easy to print recipe for this potato breakfast casserole.

Ingredients

  • Ground turkey: I prefer to use lean ground turkey because it is lower in saturated fat than ground beef. This potato casserole is very customizable so you can choose to use beef, breakfast sausage, or Italian sausage if you prefer those to ground turkey.
  • Chili powder: chili powder adds a nice earthy flavor with mild heat to this potato casserole recipe.
  • Ground cumin: cumin is another earthy spice that I love adding to this southwest egg and potato casserole recipe.
  • Ground coriander: coriander and cilantro are the same plant. For this potato casserole, we’re using ground coriander, which are the seeds of a cilantro plant. Coriander is a healthy spice that may help lower your blood sugar, fight infections, and promote heart, brain, skin, and digestive health.
  • Garlic salt: I use garlic salt for this potato casserole but if you prefer, you can use garlic cloves and an extra pinch of salt.
  • Onion powder: onion powder adds a savory flavor to this recipe.
  • Salt and pepper: use just a little salt and freshly ground black pepper.
  • Bell peppers: I like to use orange bell pepper and red pepper in this casserole dish. Any bell pepper variety will work, they are all loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
  • Onion: red onion contains organosulfurs, which are compounds that may improve the immune system, reduce cholesterol production, and support the liver.
  • Shredded cheese: I use cheddar cheese in this recipe but other cheeses would also work. Sharp cheddar, mild cheddar cheese, pepper jack cheese, even Swiss cheese would be absolutely delicious.
  • Potatoes: I prefer to use fresh potatoes, specifically russet potatoes in this breakfast casserole. If you’re trying to save time you can use pre shredded hash browns or frozen diced hash brown potatoes.
  • Corn: canned corn is perfect for this southwest breakfast casserole recipe.
  • Black beans: black beans are rich in plant-based protein, fiber, and antioxidants that help manage blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol levels.
  • Eggs: is there any better combo than egg and potato? Eggs are one of the healthiest foods on earth. One egg contains a little bit of almost every nutrient your body needs.
ingredients needed to make easy breakfast casserole with potatoes

How to Make This Breakfast Casserole in the Instant Pot

  1. Start by dicing the bell peppers and onion. Then shred the potatoes, and drain the cans of beans and corn.
  2. Next, spray the inner pot of your Instant Pot with nonstick cooking spray and select Sauté.
  3. Once the pot is hot, add the ground turkey, chili powder, cumin, coriander, garlic salt, onion powder, and salt and pepper. Sauté for 2-3 minutes, and then add the diced peppers and onions.
  4. Sauté the turkey and vegetable mixture together for about 5-7 minutes, or until the turkey is no longer pink.
  5. Using a slotted spoon, scoop the cooked turkey and vegetable mixture out of the Instant Pot and into a medium bowl. Set this aside. (If you are using shredded cheese, mix it in with the turkey and vegetables now.)
  6. Clean out the inner pot and then place it back in the Instant Pot base.
  7. Add 1 1/2 cups of water to the bottom of the pot and spray a 7 inch round baking pan or oven-safe dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  8. Layer the potato casserole ingredients into the pan, starting with the shredded potatoes, followed by the turkey mixture, and then the corn and beans.
  9. In a medium to large bowl, mix eggs and then pour them over the top of the casserole.
  10. Cover the prepared baking dish with aluminum foil, then place the pan on a trivet. Carefully lower the pan into the pot and then close and lock the lid.
  11. Turn the pressure valve to sealing. Select high Pressure Cook and set the cook time for 25 minutes.
  12. When the cook time is complete, quick release the pressure and remove the lid. Carefully remove the trivet using oven mitts and then remove the foil from the pan.
  13. Serve warm or let cool and store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.
collage of images showing steps to make easy breakfast casserole with potatoes

How to Make This Potato Breakfast Casserole in the Oven

  1. Preheat the oven to 350º and lightly grease an 8 inch casserole dish with nonstick cook spray, then set the dish aside.
  2. Dice the bell peppers and onion, and then shred the potatoes. Drain the cans of beans and corn into a small bowl and set aside.
  3. Lightly coat a large skillet with nonstick cook spray, and then heat over medium heat. Add the ground turkey, chili powder, cumin, coriander, garlic salt, onion powder, and salt and pepper. Sauté for 2-3 minutes, and then add the diced peppers and onions.
  4. Sauté the turkey and vegetables together for about 5-7 minutes, or until the turkey is no longer pink. (If you are using shredded cheese, mix it in with the turkey and vegetables at this step.)
  5. Layer the breakfast casserole in a prepared baking dish or casserole dish, starting with the shredded potatoes, then followed by the turkey mixture and topped with the corn and beans.
  6. Mix eggs in a large bowl and then pour the egg mixture evenly on top of the casserole.
  7. Place the casserole dish into the oven and cook for 40-45 minutes, or until the eggs have set and cooked.
  8. Remove the casserole dish from the oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes. Serve warm and enjoy!
easy breakfast casserole with potatoes on a white plate

Recipe Tips

  • This is a great recipe to make ahead of time for meal prep. After cooking, let the casserole cool and then separate it into individual airtight containers. Store in the fridge for up to 6 days, or freeze for up to 2 months. To reheat from frozen, thaw overnight in the fridge and microwave each thawed serving for 1-1 1/2 minutes.
  • This cheesy potato breakfast casserole recipe can be made vegetarian with a couple simple modifications. To make this vegetarian, replace the turkey with one extra can of black beans and 8 ounces of diced or sliced mushrooms. Sauté the mushrooms with the peppers and onions.
  • To save time you can buy frozen hash browns that are pre-shredded.
  • I love making this breakfast casserole for Christmas morning or Easter brunch and pairing it with a fresh fruit salad.
breakfast casserole in meal prep glass containers

Healthy Eating Plans

This easy egg and potato casserole makes 6 servings. If you make any changes to the written recipe, be sure to recalculate your points and containers to reflect the adjustments made.

21 Day Fix Easy Breakfast Casserole with Potatoes

Per Serving: 1 1/6 red container, 1/3 green container, 2 yellow container *optional 1/3 blue for cheese

Entire Recipe: 7 red containers, 2 green containers, 12 yellow containers, *optional 2 blue containers for cheddar cheese

Weight Watchers Breakfast Casserole Points

3 2023 Plan Points | 3 Blue Plan Points | 9 Green Plan Points | 2 Purple Plan Points

If you want even fewer Weight Watchers Points, you can omit the cheddar cheese entirely and it will be just one 2023 plan point per serving.

Looking for more healthy breakfast recipes?

  • Shredded Sweet Potato Hash Browns These Sweet Potatoes Shredded Hash Browns are so filling and easy to make! I love starting my morning with this hash browns recipe, and it’s so easy to meal prep as well!
  • Whole Wheat Pancakes One of favorite weekend recipes, these hearty pancakes can easily be frozen for meal prep!
  • Homemade Turkey Breakfast Sausage Homemade turkey breakfast sausage is a great way to start the day. It’s packed with protein and the recipe is quick and simple. If you’ve never made your own sausage this is a great place to start!
  • Zucchini Breakfast Casserole with Sausage & Egg This Zucchini Breakfast Casserole recipe is so easy to make and perfect for meal prep! It’s my favorite way to make breakfast ahead of time for the week, and I love that it contains sausage and eggs.
  • Vegan Breakfast Hash Browns with Veggies Vegan Breakfast Hash Browns with Veggies is a great way to start your day! This easy recipe has crispy golden brown fresh potatoes and a rainbow of veggies.
easy breakfast casserole with potatoes on a white plate
Print

Easy Breakfast Casserole with Potatoes

This easy breakfast casserole with potatoes is an absolutely delicious breakfast recipe that has a southwest twist you are going to love.
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Keyword Easy Breakfast Casserole with Potatoes, southwest breakfast casserole
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 6 people
Calories 323kcal

Equipment

  • Instant Pot 6 qt
  • Round Instant Pot Pan
  • Enameled Cast Iron Pan

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground turkey
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp ground coriander
  • 1/2 tsp garlic salt
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper
  • 1 small red bell pepper seeded and diced
  • 1 small orange bell pepper seeded and diced
  • 1/2 small red onion diced
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 small russet potatoes shredded (about 3 cups)
  • 15 oz can of corn drained
  • 15 oz can of black beans drained
  • 6 eggs

Instructions

Instant Pot Directions

  • Start by dicing the bell peppers and onion. Then shred the potatoes, and drain the cans of beans and corn.
  • Next, spray the inner pot of your Instant Pot with nonstick cooking spray and select Sauté.
  • Once the pot is hot, add the ground turkey, chili powder, cumin, coriander, garlic salt, onion powder, and salt and pepper. Sauté for 2-3 minutes, and then add the diced peppers and onions. 1 lb ground turkey 1 tsp chili powder 1 tsp ground cumin 1/2 tsp ground coriander 1/2 tsp garlic salt 1/2 tsp onion powder 1/8 tsp salt 1/8 tsp black pepper 1 small red bell pepper 1 small orange bell pepper 1/2 small red onion
  • Sauté the turkey and vegetable mixture together for about 5-7 minutes, or until the turkey is no longer pink.
  • Using a slotted spoon, scoop the cooked turkey and vegetable mixture out of the Instant Pot and into a medium bowl. Then set aside. (If you are using shredded cheese, mix it in with the turkey and vegetables at this step.) 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • Clean out the inner pot and then place it back in the Instant Pot base.
  • Add 1 1/2 cups of water to the bottom of the pot and spray a 7 inch round baking pan or oven-safe dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Layer the potato casserole ingredients into the pan, starting with the shredded potatoes, followed by the turkey mixture, and then the corn and beans. 2 small russet potatoes 15 oz can of corn 15 oz can of black beans
  • In a medium to large bowl, mix eggs and then pour them over the top of the casserole. 6 eggs
  • Cover the prepared baking dish with aluminum foil, then place the pan on a trivet, carefully lower it into the pot, and then close and lock the lid.
  • Turn the pressure valve to sealing. Select high Pressure Cook and set the cook time for 25 minutes.
  • When the cook time is complete, quick release the pressure and remove the lid. Carefully remove the trivet, using oven mitts, and then remove the foil from the pan.
  • Serve warm or let cool and store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.

Stove Top & Oven Directions

  • Preheat the oven to 350º and lightly grease an 8 inch casserole dish with nonstick cook spray, then set aside.
  • Dice the bell peppers and onion, and then shred the potatoes. Drain the cans of beans and corn into a small bowl and set aside.
  • Lightly coat a large skillet with nonstick cook spray, and then heat over medium heat. Add the ground turkey, chili powder, cumin, coriander, garlic salt, onion powder, and salt and pepper. Sauté for 2-3 minutes, and then add the diced peppers and onions. 1 lb ground turkey 1 tsp chili powder 1 tsp ground cumin 1/2 tsp ground coriander 1/2 tsp garlic salt 1/2 tsp onion powder 1/8 tsp salt 1/8 tsp black pepper 1 small red bell pepper 1 small orange bell pepper 1/2 small red onion
  • Sauté the turkey and vegetables together for about 5-7 minutes, or until the turkey is no longer pink. (If you are using shredded cheese, mix it in with the turkey and vegetables at this step.) 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • Layer the breakfast casserole in a prepared baking dish or casserole dish, starting with the shredded potatoes, then followed by the turkey mixture and topped with the corn and beans. 2 small russet potatoes 15 oz can of corn 15 oz can of black beans
  • Mix eggs in a large bowl and then pour the egg mixture evenly on top of the casserole. 6 eggs
  • Place the casserole dish into the oven and cook for 40-45 minutes, or until the eggs have set and cooked.
  • Remove the casserole dish from the oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes. Serve warm and enjoy!

Notes

Healthy Eating Plans
If you make any changes to the written recipe, be sure to recalculate your points and containers to reflect the adjustments made.
21 Day Fix Easy Breakfast Casserole with Potatoes
Per Serving: 1 1/6 red container, 1/3 green container, 2 yellow container *optional 1/3 blue for cheese
Entire Recipe: 7 red containers, 2 green containers, 12 yellow containers, *optional 2 blue containers for cheddar cheese
Weight Watchers Breakfast Casserole Points
3 2023 Plan Points | 3 Blue Plan Points | 9 Green Plan Points | 2 Purple Plan Points
If you want even fewer Weight Watchers Points, you can omit the cheddar cheese entirely and it will be just one 2023 plan point per serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 323kcal | Carbohydrates: 26.7g | Protein: 26.8g | Fat: 13.6g | Saturated Fat: 5.2g | Cholesterol: 228mg | Sodium: 346mg | Potassium: 852mg | Fiber: 4.7g | Sugar: 5.2g | Calcium: 150mg | Iron: 4mg

The post Easy Breakfast Casserole with Potatoes appeared first on My Crazy Good Life.

]]>
https://mycrazygoodlife.com/easy-breakfast-casserole-with-potatoes/feed/ 0
Easy Stuffed Pepper Soup https://mycrazygoodlife.com/crock-pot-stuffed-pepper-soup-recipe/ https://mycrazygoodlife.com/crock-pot-stuffed-pepper-soup-recipe/#comments Fri, 04 Aug 2023 20:50:50 +0000 http://mycrazygoodlife.com/?p=17142 This Easy Stuffed Pepper Soup is a healthy and hearty meal. If you love stuffed peppers, you will love this delicious soup recipe. Stuffed pepper soup is an easy meal to get on the table–just a few healthy ingredients in the slow cooker or pressure cooker and it pretty much makes itself. This is a...

The post Easy Stuffed Pepper Soup appeared first on My Crazy Good Life.

]]>
This Easy Stuffed Pepper Soup is a healthy and hearty meal. If you love stuffed peppers, you will love this delicious soup recipe.

Stuffed pepper soup is an easy meal to get on the table–just a few healthy ingredients in the slow cooker or pressure cooker and it pretty much makes itself. This is a great recipe for meal prep and is one that your entire family will love it!

images and text for Easy Stuffed Pepper Soup

This soup is one of the oldest recipes on My Crazy Good Life, and like all good things it needed a small update. I’ve changed some ingredients around and I love this recipe even more now. You can still find the original recipe below, but the new printable recipe will reflect the new and improved version. 

Where’s the recipe?

We want to make sure that everyone can easily make this recipe–whether this is the first time you’ve cooked in the kitchen or you’ve been doing it for years.

This recipe can be cooked in the Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker, in the Crock Pot, or right on the stove. In this post you will find detailed instructions in all three cooking methods, as well as ingredient information, recipe tips, healthy eating plan calculations, and similar recipes for you to try down the road.

If you are comfortable in the kitchen and just need the basic recipe, scroll right down to the bottom of this post where you will find the easy to print recipe for this Delicious and Healthy Stuffed Pepper Soup!

Ingredients in Easy Stuffed Pepper Soup

The ingredients in this recipe are simple and nutritious. Using them for a soup instead of making stuffed peppers is an easy way to get healthy food into your daily diet.

  • Ground meat: I prefer to use turkey because it is lower in saturated fat than ground beef of the same fat percentage. Any ground meat, like ground beef or even ground chicken will work for this stuffed bell pepper soup.
  • Broth or water: I suggest using beef broth if you’re using ground beef and chicken broth if you’re using poultry. You can use vegetable broth or water if you don’t have the others on hand.
  • Diced tomatoes: I always buy low sodium canned tomatoes.
  • Tomato sauce: Also low sodium, when available.
  • Brown rice: use dry and uncooked rice, not instant rice.
  • Bell peppers: I typically buy red bell pepper and green bell peppers when I make stuffed pepper soup, but you can choose your favorite variety of bell pepper for this recipe. No matter the color, all bell peppers are packed with vitamins and minerals.
  • Onions: Any type of onion works great for this stuffed pepper soup.
  • Salt & pepper: salt and black pepper to taste.
  • Garlic: fresh minced garlic cloves are preferred, but you can use garlic powder if that’s all you have.
  • Oregano: dried oregano is a key ingredients in Italian seasoning, and tastes wonderful in this stuffed pepper soup.
ingredients needed to make Easy Stuffed Pepper Soup

How to make Stuffed Peppers Soup in the Instant Pot

  1. First, dice your bell peppers and onions and then set them aside.
  2. Next, spray your pot with nonstick cooking spray and press the sauté button. (You can use olive oil if you don’t have cooking spray.)
  3. Then add the ground meat to the pot and stir it occasionally until it is no longer pink. Drain the liquid, if necessary (this is probably necessary only if you use ground beef). Read this if you’re using frozen ground turkey.
  4. Now add your other ingredients to the Pressure Cooker: broth or water, tomatoes (including the juice), tomato sauce, the uncooked rice, diced bell peppers and onions, black pepper, garlic, oregano, and salt.
  5. Close the lid and turn your valve to from Venting to Sealing. Cook on high pressure for 15 minutes.
  6. When the soup is finished cooking, immediately release the pressure quickly by moving the valve to “vent.” This is called a Quick Release and will make the steam come out of the pot fast, so keep your hands clear.
  7. If by chance your rice isn’t cooked through, you have two options:
    1. Press the Sauté button and allow soup to cook for 5 more minutes, then turn the pot off and allow it to rest for 5 minutes.
    2. Place the lid back on the pot, set the valve to Sealing again, and set the time for 2 minutes. The soup will continue cooking as it comes back to pressure. Quick pressure release when cook time is finished.
  8. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
collage of images showing steps to make Easy Stuffed Pepper Soup

How to make Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup in the Crock Pot

This is a really easy slow cooker stuffed pepper soup recipe…in just a few steps you’ll have a delicious and family friendly meal ready and on the table. Our entire family loves stuffed pepper soup!

  1. First, dice your bell peppers and onions and then set them aside.
  2. Now brown the ground turkey in a skillet over medium heat.
  3. Add the cooked ground turkey, broth or water, tomatoes (including the juice), can tomato sauce, chopped bell peppers and onions, black pepper, garlic, oregano, and salt to the slow cooker.
  4. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
  5. Your rice should be added 1 hour before end of cooking. With this method of cooking, you can also cook rice separately in a rice cooker. Just stir cooked rice to the soup right at the end of your cooking time – I prefer to add cooked rice when I make stuffed pepper soup in the slow cooker. 
  6. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

How to make Stuffed Peppers Soup on the Stovetop

  1. First, dice your bell peppers and onions and then set them aside.
  2. Next, add ground beef or turkey to a large pot or dutch oven and sauté over medium high heat until the meat is no longer pink.
  3. Then add the broth or water, tomatoes (including the juice), tomato sauce, chopped bell peppers and onions, rice, garlic, oregano, and salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes on medium-high, then cover the pot, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Test the peppers and rice to make sure they are cooked enough for you before removing the soup from the stove top.
  5. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
white bowl with stuffed pepper soup on top of a wooded board

Recipe Tips

  • If you choose to use white rice in this stuffed peppers soup recipe instead of brown, you can reduce the pressure cooker cook time to 4 minutes.
  • If you are using long grain rice, like jasmine rice, you might have to add a few minutes to the cooking time.
  • Test your cooked rice to make sure it is done before eating. If the rice is old or stale, it will not cook as fast and might need some more time.
  • If you would like a bit of spice in this recipe, try adding a diced jalapeño or red pepper flakes.
  • This recipe is easy to freeze and reheats well in the microwave. It is one of my favorite meal prep recipes! Store the cooked and cooled stuffed pepper soup in an airtight container until you’re ready to eat. This hearty soup keeps well in the refrigerator for up to a week, or in the freezer for 2 months. If you freeze this, thaw in the fridge overnight and then heat in the microwave for a quick meal.
  • If you’re looking for a low carb version of this soup, you can substitute cauliflower rice (just warm it separately and add it to the soup right before eating) or you can leave out the rice completely.
  • This stuffed pepper soup is not only easy to make, but it’s super versatile! Add your favorite vegetables and herbs, like diced carrots, chopped fresh parsley or even fresh cilantro. You can also top it with shredded cheddar cheese or mozzarella cheese.

Healthy Eating Plans

I love this stuffed peppers soup when I’m watching my weight because it is filling and contains a good mix of healthy slow burning carbs and vegetables. It’s compatible with many diet plans!

If you end up making any changes to the recipe, like adding shredded cheese or sour cream, be sure to recalculate your points, containers, or nutrition calories to reflect the additions you’ve made.

21 Day Fix Easy Stuffed Pepper Soup

If you’re on the 21 Day Fix, make this recipe with ground turkey. Your serving size will be about 2 cups (1/4 recipe) and will count as 1 Red container, 1 1/4 Green container, and 1 yellow container per serving.

Trim Healthy Mama

For THM, use ground extra lean turkey and drain the fat after browning. This is a THM-E recipe.

Weight Watchers

Looking for the Weight Watchers Stuffed Pepper Soup? You can find the WW version right here, including all the point calculations.

Looking for the “old” recipe?

As I mentioned above, the original recipe has been improved! If you are a fan of the previous recipe, you can find it right here–you will just be switching the seasonings. Instead of using the black pepper, garlic, oregano, and salt above you’ll use these measurements:

  • 1/2 teaspoon basil
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
white bowl with stuffed pepper soup on top of a wooded board

Looking for more soup recipes?

  • Healthy Cream of Chicken Soup This healthy Cream of Chicken Soup can be made both dairy free and gluten free. I love using this creamy soup recipe as a canned cream of chicken substitute for the condensed soup you’d normally buy in grocery stores.
  • Healthy Cream of Mushroom Soup Whether you’re looking for a comforting soup to eat on cold nights or something healthy for a casserole base, this delicious creamy mushroom soup recipe will hit the spot.
  • Vegan Minestrone Soup Recipe This easy Vegan Minestrone Soup recipe is packed full of fresh veggies, cooked pasta, and savory vegetable broth. It’s a great winter soup that you can eat year round!
  • Butternut Squash Soup Recipe This Dairy free butternut squash soup recipe is a creamy soup made with simple ingredients. It can be easily made on the stove top for a quick weeknight dinner and, the best part is, it tastes even better the next day – making it perfect for meal prep!
  • Rotisserie Chicken Soup Recipe Making this rotisserie chicken soup with salsa is quick and easy. It’s the perfect weeknight meal that the whole family will love. This is my favorite soup to make on cold winter days.
  • Healthy Gazpacho Soup Recipe This Gazpacho Soup is the perfect meal for a hot summer day. Traditionally served as a cold soup, Gazpacho has a tomato base and focuses on the fresh flavor of ripe vegetables and a variety of spices
white bowl with stuffed pepper soup on top of a wooded board
Print

Easy Stuffed Pepper Soup

This healthy Stuffed Pepper Soup recipe is an easy weeknight meal! Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper soup with rice is a kid-friendly dinner that you can make in the Crockpot or right on the stove.
Course Soup
Cuisine American
Keyword Stuffed Pepper Soup
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Saute time 5 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 371kcal

Equipment

  • Instant Pot 6 qt
  • Sealing Rings
  • Kitchen Knife

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground turkey you can use beef or chicken if you'd like
  • 1 medium onion chopped (any type will do!)
  • 3 medium bell peppers chopped (I've added up to four peppers, and it's yummy!)
  • 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes including the liquid
  • 15 oz can tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup dry brown rice short grain
  • 2 cups chicken broth or water

Seasonings:

  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 2 tsp oregano
  • ¼ tsp pepper
  • tsp salt

Instructions

Pressure Cooker:

  • Sauté the ground turkey until no longer pink. Drain liquid, if necessary. 1 lb ground turkey
  • Add all of the other ingredients to the pressure cooker. Close the lid and seal your vent. 1 medium onion, 3 medium bell peppers, 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes , 15 oz can tomato sauce, 1/2 cup dry brown rice, 2 cups chicken broth, 1 clove garlic, 2 tsp oregano, ¼ tsp pepper, ⅛ tsp salt
  • Cook on high pressure for 15 minutes.
  • Quick pressure release. If you'd like to let the pressure release naturally for a few minutes, it'll be fine sitting there.

Crockpot:

  • Brown the ground turkey in a skillet over medium heat. 1 lb ground turkey
  • Add the ground turkey, broth, tomatoes, tomato sauce, chopped peppers and onion, black pepper, garlic, oregano, and salt to the Crock Pot. 2 cups chicken broth, 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes 15 oz can tomato sauce, 3 medium bell peppers, 1 medium onion, ¼ tsp pepper, 1 clove garlic, 2 tsp oregano, ⅛ tsp salt
  • Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
  • Add your uncooked rice about 1 hour before cook time is finished. You can also cook rice separately and add it right before serving. 1/2 cup dry brown rice

Stovetop:

  • Sauté the ground turkey in a large pot until no longer pink. 1 lb ground turkey
  • Add broth, tomatoes, tomato sauce, chopped peppers and onions, rice, garlic, oregano, and salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes on medium-high, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 20-25 minutes. 2 cups chicken broth, 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes , 15 oz can tomato sauce, 3 medium bell peppers, 1/2 cup dry brown rice, 1 clove garlic, 2 tsp oregano, ⅛ tsp salt, ¼ tsp pepper
  • Test the peppers to make sure they’re cooked enough for you before removing the soup from the stovetop.

Video

Notes

The previous recipe was the same except for the seasonings–if you prefer that recipe, omit the spices in the above recipe and add these instead: 
  • 1/2 teaspoon basil
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
21 Day Fix Stuffed Pepper Soup: If you’re on the 21 Day Fix, make this recipe with ground turkey. Your serving size will be about 2 cups (1/4 recipe) and will count as 1 Red container, 1 1/4 Green container, and 1 yellow container per serving.
Trim Healthy Mama: For THM, use ground extra lean turkey and drain the fat after browning. This is a THM-E recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 371kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 84mg | Sodium: 161mg | Potassium: 1234mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 4162IU | Vitamin C: 163mg | Calcium: 105mg | Iron: 5mg

The post Easy Stuffed Pepper Soup appeared first on My Crazy Good Life.

]]>
https://mycrazygoodlife.com/crock-pot-stuffed-pepper-soup-recipe/feed/ 89