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Pressure Cooker Cheesy Mexican-Style Lentils and Rice

Pressure Cooker Cheesy Mexican-Style Lentils and Rice brings together tender brown lentils and rice with tomatoes, green chiles, and a velvety melted cheese finish. The spices add cozy warmth while jalapeños offer a gentle kick, making it satisfying as a hearty side, meat-free main, or taco bowl base for weeknights and casual gatherings.

  • Prep10 mins
  • Cook20 mins
  • Serves6
  • DifficultyEasy
Pressure Cooker Cheesy Mexican-Style Lentils and Rice

easyChef Pro health score

Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Pressure Cooker Cheesy Mexican-Style Lentils and Rice, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.

47 Health Score
Glycemic ImpactFair
55 / 100
Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
Nutritional DensityPoor
7 / 100
Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
Energy DensityGood
90 / 100
Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
2 / 4
Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.

How it scores for each health goal

The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.

19
Heart Health
71
Metabolic
37
Digestive
23
Inflammatory
43
Performance
46
General Wellness
  1. 1

    Add the chicken broth, tomatoes, onion, lentils, rice, jalapeños, garlic, taco seasoning, oregano, and cumin to a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as an Instant Pot). Close and lock the lid. Choose high pressure per the manufacturer's directions; set the timer for 8 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for the pressure to build.

  2. 2

    Use the natural-release method as directed by the manufacturer to release the pressure, about 10 minutes. Carefully release any remaining pressure using the quick-release method per the manufacturer’s instructions. Unlock and remove the lid.

  3. 3

    Stir in ½ Mexican cheese blend; sprinkle the remaining ½ cheese on top. Cover the pot; let sit for 4 minutes. Garnish with cilantro.

About This Recipe

Pressure Cooker Cheesy Mexican Style Lentils and Rice is a Tex Mex side dish recipe made with 12 ingredients. It takes about 30 mins, serves 6, and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Brown Rice, Chicken Broth, Diced Jalapeño Peppers, and Diced Tomatoes. Each serving provides about 532.25 kcal, and is a good source of protein.

Recipe Questions

What is Pressure Cooker Cheesy Mexican-Style Lentils and Rice?
It is a Tex-Mex recipe made with 12 ingredients, usually served for side dish or dinner or lunch.
What is Pressure Cooker Cheesy Mexican-Style Lentils and Rice made of?
The main ingredients are Brown Rice, Chicken Broth, Diced Jalapeño Peppers, Diced Tomatoes, Fresh Cilantro. The full list of 12 is above.
How long does it take to make Pressure Cooker Cheesy Mexican-Style Lentils and Rice?
About 30 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 20 mins to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 532.25 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is Pressure Cooker Cheesy Mexican-Style Lentils and Rice easy to make?
This recipe is rated easy, with 12 ingredients and 3 steps.
Is Pressure Cooker Cheesy Mexican-Style Lentils and Rice healthy?
Pressure Cooker Cheesy Mexican-Style Lentils and Rice has an easyChef Pro health score of 47/100. Per serving, it provides 532.25 calories and 26.65 g of protein, or 53% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of calcium. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 1057.46 mg (46% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 13.15 g (66% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.

How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products

easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.

The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.

Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.

For recipes, changing an ingredient, quantity or serving size changes the nutrition and may change the score. Remix the recipe in easyChef Pro to calculate fresh nutrition and scores for the version you actually make. Product scores are based on the nutrition and serving information associated with that specific product.

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