Easy Instant Pot Keto Recipe: Pesto Chicken with Zucchini Noodles
By: Sheri Wetherell
Published: October 30, 2018

"I love dieting," said no one ever. But many on the ketogenic diet (a diet of low carbohydrates, moderate protein, and healthy fats) say they lose weight and have more energy than ever before. In The "I Love My Instant Pot" Keto Diet, Sam Dillard fuses the hottest diet trend with the hottest kitchen appliance in 175 fast and easy low-carb, high (healthy)-fat recipes everyone around the table will love.  
	Dillard covers the basics of a ketogenic diet and cooking with an Instant Pot, but quickly dives into the meat of the book - the recipes. Chapters cover every meal of the day and then some (yes, this "diet" includes snacks and desserts!): Breakfast, Soups and Chilis, Appetizers and Snacks, Side Dishes, Chicken Main Dishes, Beef and Pork Main Dishes, Seafood and Fish Main Dishes, and Dessert.
	Start your day with a hearty Greens Power Bowl adorned with soft boiled eggs and sliced avocado. Make your own healthy bone broth or seafood stock to use as a base in the Spicy Bacon Cheeseburger Soup or Lobster Bisque. The Appetizers and Snacks chapter is a dip-lovers veritable feast: nosh on a Creamy Artichoke Dip or the classic crowd-pleasing Hot Crab Dip. In less than 20 minutes you can make cheesy Jalapeño Poppers and a Quick Queso.
	Other noteworthy Side Dish and Main Dish recipes include:
Cheesy Cauliflower Rice
	Creamed Spinach
	Quick Chicken Parmesan
	A meaty Bolognese Sauce
	Salisbury Steak in Mushroom Sauce
	Taco Cabbage Casserole
	Layered Zucchini Lasagna
	Lobster Mac n' Cheese
	Salmon Burger with Avocado
	Fish Taco Bowls
	Slow Cooker Peanut Butter Fudge
	Walnut Crust Pumpkin Cheesecake
	Each recipe includes a nutritional breakdown making it easy to track your macronutrients throughout the day. Grab your Instant Pot and a copy of "I Love My Instant Pot" Keto Diet recipe book and let's get cooking.
 Pesto Chicken  
	"Pesto is a wonderful alternative to white or red sauces and definitely doesn’t lack in flavor. You can make your own pesto or buy store-bought versions, which are usually low in carbs. If you’ve never liked ricotta, you may want to try seasoning it directly to by sprinkling herbs or salt directly on the ricotta to bring out the most flavor. The creamy element it brings to the dish is a must! Serve atop zoodles with a sprinkle of parsley." ~Sam Dillard
	• Hands-on time: 5 minutes
	• Cook time: 20 minutes
	Serves 2
	2 6-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts, butterflied
	1⁄2 teaspoon salt
	1⁄4 teaspoon pepper
	1⁄4 teaspoon garlic powder
	1⁄4 teaspoon dried parsley
	2 tablespoons coconut oil
	1 cup water
	1⁄4 cup whole-milk ricotta
	1⁄4 cup pesto
	1⁄4 cup shredded whole-milk mozzarella cheese
	Chopped parsley for garnish (optional)
	1. Sprinkle seasonings on chicken breasts. Press the Saute button and add coconut oil to Instant Pot®. Saute chicken for 3–5 minutes or until golden brown.
2. Remove chicken and place into glass baking dish. Pour water into pot and use wooden spoon or rubber spatula to make sure no seasoning is stuck to bottom of pot.
	3. Place spoonful of ricotta onto chicken pieces. Pour pesto over chicken. Sprinkle mozzarella over chicken. Cover with foil. Place trivet into Instant Pot® and carefully put baking dish on top. Press the Manual button and adjust time for 20 minutes. When timer beeps, allow a natural release. Serve with chopped parsley if desired.
	CALORIES: 518 |FAT: 31.8 grams |PROTEIN: 46.5 grams | SODIUM: 1071 milligrams |
	FIBER: 0.6 grams | CARBOHYDRATES: 4.2 grams |NET CARBOHYDRATES: 3.6 grams | SUGAR: 0.2 grams
 Excerpted from The I Love My Instant Pot® Keto Diet Recipe Book: From Poached Eggs to Quick Chicken Parmesan, 175 Fat-Burning Keto Recipes by Sam Dillard (HeyKetoMama) Copyright © 2018 Adams Media, a division of Simon and Schuster. Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. Interior images by James Stefiuk.