Instant Pot Recipes To Make Christmas Dinner Easy
The holiday season is busy, between decorating for Christmas, hosting parties, buying and wrapping gifts it can all be overwhelming. Thankfully the Instant Pot has made its way into many homes to help us cook food quickly and effortlessly.
This Christmas, be sure to utilize this impressive kitchen appliance as it will help take the stress out of Christmas dinner preparations. We’ve created a list of recipes for every course from Instant Pot side dishes, main entrées, and desserts. You’ll have everything you need to host the best Christmas dinner yet!
Want New Instant Pot Recipes and Content Delivered Straight To Your Inbox? Sign up for our Instant Pot Email Newsletter!
1. Instant Pot Pineapple Brown Sugar Ham
Ham is a classic dish when it comes to the holiday season and with the help of an Instant Post, it’s easier to cook than ever! Savory tender ham can be ready to eat in just 35 minutes if you cook it in the Instant Pot! This simple yet flavorful recipe combines ham with brown sugar and pineapple tidbits to create an unforgettable Christmas dinner.
Using the liquid in the pot and a dash of cornstarch you can create the most delicious glaze. Slice your ham and pour the glaze on top for added flavor. Your guests will be so impressed with this sweet and savory meal.
Shutterstock/K2 PhotoStudio
2. Instant Pot Cinnamon Rolls
Cinnamon rolls are the perfect treat to enjoy on Christmas. Whether you want to enjoy them for breakfast on Christmas morning or for dessert after the big feast, be sure to try this quick and easy recipe. Cinnamon rolls have never been so easy to make with an Instant Pot involved.
You won’t be baking the rolls in the Instant Pot per se, but you will be proofing the dough. Using the Instant pot this can be done in just 30 minutes which is far more impressive than other methods that can take hours. This recipe is the perfect sweet treat for the holiday season.
Shutterstock/Oksana Mizina
3. Two-Minute Instant Pot Creamy Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts may not win the popularity award when it comes to veggies, however, no one will be able to resist this creamy brussels sprouts side dish this holiday season! This Instant pot brussels sprout recipe is savory, creamy and oh so cheesy!
The best part about this recipe is that the brussels sprouts cook in just 2 minutes using the steam mode. The creamy dish is finished with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and crispy pre-cooked bacon bits – yum! No one at your holiday gathering will ever look at brussels sprouts the same once they’ve tried this delicious recipe.
Shutterstock/Carey Jaman
4. Instant Pot Roast Beef Dinner
Turkey and ham are delicious but try something different this holiday season like this roast beef dinner. This Instant Pot beef recipe is so easy and it allows you to cook the main entrée and the sides simultaneously. The Instant Pot allows you to make this recipe quickly, which is a huge bonus!
Not only will you be able to cook tender meat and hearty veggies, but you can also make a delicious homemade gravy using the leftover stock in the pot! Savory carrots, tender potatoes and melt-in-your-mouth roast beef has never tasted better thanks to the Instant Pot. Enjoy!
5. Delicious Instant Pot Green Bean Casserole
Green bean casserole is another crowd favorite during the holidays, so don’t disappoint your guests and be sure to prepare this quick and easy recipe! Our green bean casserole recipe is extra special because we added additional savory ingredients like bacon for something unexpected and delicious. The Instant Pot turns this into an almost entirely dump-and-go hands off recipe!
Once the casserole has finished cooking, be sure to top it with fried onions. You could even go one step further and place the casserole in the oven and set it to broil to ensure the fried onions are warm and crispy!
6. Instant Pot Eggnog Cheesecake
The flavors of everyone’s favorite holiday drink can now be enjoyed in a decadent cheesecake with the help of an Instant Pot! This eggnog cheesecake dessert is rich and perfectly sweet. While this cheesecake may seem intimidating at first, just think of it in steps! Begin by make the crust, then prepare the filling, and then pressure cook the cheesecake!
Top the cheesecake with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon. This dessert is so stunning it deserves to steal the spotlight this year. It’s rich, lightly spiced and a dessert you can eat plenty of since its not overly sweet!
Shutterstock/Elena Mayne
7. Pressure Cooker Creamed Corn
Say goodbye to canned creamed corn this holiday season because this recipe proves that making your own homemade version is just as easy as opening the can! Simply combine the ingredients in your Instant Pot and then cook them on high pressure for just 3 minutes.
Cream cheese, butter, and milk all contribute to that creamy texture we have come to know and love. In addition to these ingredients, you’ll also need frozen corn and a dash of salt and pepper. You’ll never go back to the canned cream corn version of this recipe once you’ve tried this delicious homemade version!
Shutterstock/
Marie Sonmez Photography
8. Instant Pot Beets
Buckle up beet fans and prepare to be blown away! The Instant Pot not only cooks beets incredibly quickly but creates less mess in the kitchen. Beets are the perfect side dish to serve at your holiday gathering this year and the Instant Pot makes cooking them easier than ever.
You’ll need to cook the beets on HIGH pressure for 8 minutes and then give them a cold water bath. The bath will help the skin peel off effortlessly. Serve the beets on their own, with your favorite seasonings, or add them into a salad! The choice is up to you.
Shutterstock/Elenglush
9. Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce
Whether you enjoy cranberry sauce smothered over the top of turkey or you like it best on the side, you have got to try this homemade cranberry recipe. Cranberry sauce from a can is convenient but preparing a homemade version in the Instant Pot is just as easy! Your guests will definitely notice the difference once they try this fresh cranberry sauce.
The best news is that this recipe only requires 6 simple ingredients and comes together in just 6 minutes! That’s the type of easy we can get behind. This cranberry sauce will be your new Thanksgiving and Christmas must-have!
Elena Veselova / Shutterstock
10. Instant Pot Turkey
Did you ever think that you could prepare delicious, tender turkey in the Instant Pot? Well, this recipe proves that it can be done and it can be done extremely well! This tender and savory turkey recipe comes together in just 30 minutes! That’s quite impressive considering oven-roasted turkey typically requires many hours. Cooking your turkey this way will also save you oven space.
Pair with mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and a delicious pumpkin pie for dessert and you have yourself a full Thanksgiving meal! This recipe also outlines a quick and easy homemade gravy recipe that pairs perfectly with the turkey.
Shutterstock/Africa Studio
11. Quick And Easy Instant Pot Macaroni And Cheese
Macaroni and cheese is enjoyed all year round but it would also make an excellent Christmas side dish. If you have any picky eaters or little ones at your event, this dish will be a foolproof hit! Once again, the Instant Pot has proven that it can cook this dish quickly, which is another major bonus.
This side dish requires just 4 minutes of high-pressure cooking followed by a quick release. Once the noodles are cooked, you’ll be ready to toss the cheesy, creamy, and delicious ingredients into the pot. Simply give it a mix and serve! You can’t go wrong with this one.
12. Instant Pot Red Velvet Bundt Cake
Red velvet bundt cake is the perfect crimson red dessert you need to share this holiday season. This recipe is incredibly easy because it uses a store-bought red velvet cake mix! The red color of this cake makes it perfectly suited for the holidays and the cream cheese frosting is to die for.
The best news it that this stunning cake comes together in less than an hour. While you wait for the cake to cook, prepare the homemade cream cheese glaze that pairs perfectly with this dessert. You’ll never make your red velvet cake any other way after trying this recipe!
Shutterstock/Arina P Habich
13. Instant Pot Scalloped Potatoes
There are so many great ways to enjoy potatoes. If you want to try something different this upcoming holiday season, then give these Instant Pot scalloped potatoes a try! Your guests will love them.
Scalloped potatoes are quite thick and creamy and that is how we like them best, right? However, due to this, you’ll need to use the pot-in-pot method. This essentially means you’ll place the scalloped potatoes in a baking pan and then place the pan inside the pot to cook. This will prevent the dreaded burn notice, and ensures that you end up with perfect delicious scalloped potatoes every time!
Shutterstock/Ezume Images
14. Instant Pot Gingerbread Bread Pudding
Another great way to finish off your holiday feast is to dig into this delicious gingerbread bread pudding. It’s full of fragrant flavors from cinnamon to ginger and several other lovely ingredients. Your house will have all the festive aromas once your guests arrive!
The Instant Pot makes this festive dessert easier than ever and only requires a few key ingredients such as molasses, eggs, brown sugar, milk, ginger and vanilla extract. This dessert tastes like a true Christmas treat and will surely become a new tradition in your home. Serve the pudding with a melted chocolate drizzle and ice cream, if desired.
Shutterstock/vm2002
15. Instant Pot Whole (Faux) Rotisserie Chicken
Turkey, ham and roast beef are common meals served during the holidays. Try something different this year, and instead of preparing your traditional main dishes, serve this delicious rotisserie chicken! It’s full of flavor and has a wonderful tender texture, your guests will surely love it. The chicken is infused with beautiful flavors such as onion, lemon, and fresh rosemary which makes for a seriously delicious meal.
We’ve provided many tips and tricks to ensure that the chicken obtains the most flavor possible. The best part, however, is that this delicious dish comes together in less than an hour! A true holiday miracle.
16. Instant Pot Brisket And Gravy
Another great alternative to holiday classics like turkey and ham is brisket. Tender juicy meat often requires low temperatures and many hours to cook, but not with the Instant Pot! This recipe cooks perfectly tender brisket in about an hour. Once the meat is cooked, set it aside, and use the leftover stock and turn it into a gravy by using the sauté function on your Instant Pot.
Your guests will absolutely love this savory recipe, especially since it’s something unexpected rather than a traditional turkey or honey ham. Serve with classic side dishes such as mashed potatoes and green beans for the ultimate holiday spread.
Shutterstock/Christophe La
17. Instant Pot Apple Sauce
Like cranberry sauce, apple sauce is another excellent side dish to enjoy during the holiday season. Whether you like to enjoy it warm or cold, the Instant Pot will help you prepare it quickly.
This recipe requires two simple ingredients, apples, and water! However, if you prefer your apple sauce extra sweet you could add in a few tablespoons of sugar. Common apples to use for applesauce are Gala or Golden Delicious apples, but the recipe suggests trying Honeycrisp or Sweet Tango. Homemade applesauce is incredibly simple to make, but using an Instant Pot makes the entire process even easier!
Shutterstock/Brent Hofacker
18. Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are nature’s candy. They’re naturally sweet and are certainly healthy than regular potatoes! Add a pop of color and sweet flavor to your table this holiday season by cooking sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot.
Roasting sweet potatoes in the oven can take quite a while so we had to try cooking them in the Instant Pot and the results were impressive. The skin was falling off and the potato inside was lusciously creamy and perfect. Cook them for 20 minutes to achieve super soft potatoes or reduce the time to 18 minutes if you prefer a firmer texture.
19. Instant Pot Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet potato casserole is so irresistibly sweet that it almost tastes like a dessert! So go ahead and try cooking the sweet potatoes in your Instant pot and then turn them into this delicious casserole. The sweet potatoes are steamed in the Instant Pot in just 8 minutes, which is seriously impressive!
Once cooked, you’ll be able to add the remaining ingredients to the Instant Pot, and then transfer the contents into a baking dish. While this is a two-step recipe, it will surely be worth the wait. The toasted marshmallows, crumbly walnuts, brown sugar and melted butter is such a tasty combination.
Shutterstock/Natalia Wimberley
20. Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are a must-have side dish when it comes to the holiday season. After all, who can resist a bowl of creamy, buttery delicious mashed potatoes?
Unfortunately, it can be quite the laborious side dish to put together, until now that is! With the Instant Pot, you can have mashed potatoes ready to eat in 20 minutes or less! That is quite impressive. With this recipe, you get out of the two longest steps in making mashed potatoes, peeling and boiling! These mashed potatoes are also extremely flavorful. Garnish with fresh or dried chives when serving for ultimate appeal.
21. Instant Pot Apple Crisp
Nothing quite compares to a warm bowl of delicious apple crisp during the cooler months. This Christmas, be sure to make a batch because this dessert comes together quickly and effortlessly. In fact, this dessert can be ready to eat in less than 30 minutes with a little help from your handy Instant Pot.
This recipe will provide all the tips and tricks to ensure that you don’t get the dreaded burn notice and to ensure that your apples come out perfectly soft. Share it on Christmas and you and your guests will be craving it time and time again.
Shutterstock/Anna_Pustynnikova
22. Apple Balsamic Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin
Instant Pot pork tenderloin is perfect for a simple family dinner, however, it’s impressive flavors makes it a great contender for holiday dinners too. Be sure to serve the tender meat with the delicious homemade honey glaze. While your guests may be surprised not to see ham or turkey on the table, they’ll certainly be appreciative of the change once they try this recipe.
The tenderloin is cooked with several fragrant ingredients that provide optimal flavor. Some of these are apple jam, Italian seasoning, white wine, and more. Pair this delicious tenderloin with mashed potatoes, roasted veggies and a delicious dessert, and you’ll have a swoon-worthy holiday dinner spread!
Shutterstock/AS Food studio
23. Instant Pot Cornbread
Who needs store-bought dinner rolls when you can have delicious homemade cornbread this holiday season? What makes homemade cornbread even better is when it can be prepared quickly and effortlessly. Thankfully the Instant Pot is here to help you do just that.
This cornbread has a spicy twist as there are additions of chiles and jalapenos. However, if you’re not a fan of spicy food you can omit these ingredients. To prepare the cornbread, simply mix the ingredients and toss them into a bundt pan and then cook it in your Instant Pot. Serve alongside your big meal and enjoy!
Shutterstock/Brent Hofacker
24. Instant Pot Stuffing
Stuffing is a must-have Christmas side dish. You’ll be happy to know that this too can be prepared effortlessly in an Instant Pot! This can help save you much coveted stove top space during the holiday season.
This recipe is made with dried stuffing mix, broth, butter, and a few delicious seasonings. You can also toss in roasted butternut squash into the mix if you’re feeling ambitious! Keep in mind, just like the cornbread, you will also need to use the pot in pot method for this recipe which will help prevent the burn notice. Your guests will absolutely love this recipe!
Brent Hofacker / Shutterstock
25. Instant Pot Brown Sugar-Glazed Carrots
Glazed carrots may be a simple side dish but it is flavorful and would be a great dish to share this upcoming Christmas season. All you need are baby carrots, butter, brown sugar, and a dash of cinnamon. They’re sweet, tasty and will be a foolproof hit with your guests.
Aside from the time your Instant Pot needs to come to pressure, these glazed carrots require just 4 minutes to cook! Even kids who tend to be picky with their food will love these glazed carrots because of how sweet and delicious they are! Take our word for it and try this recipe!
Shutterstock/Elena Shashkina
26. Instant Pot White Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake
Peppermint is the flavor of the season so why not enjoy that rich flavor in a delicious cheesecake? This white peppermint cheesecake dessert is even richer because it’s full of white chocolate too. While this recipe may seem intimidating, it’s actually quite easy and time effective with the help of an Instant Pot.
Decorate the cake with a chocolate drizzle and crushed candy canes. Just don’t be surprised when you realize there aren’t any leftovers! It’s the ideal balance of white chocolate and mint without being too sweet, which is key to a delicious peppermint cake. This cake might even become a holiday tradition.
Shutterstock/JeniFoto
27. Instant Pot Peppermint Hot Chocolate
To wash down your holiday feast and all of those decadent desserts you’re going to need a delicious drink. This homemade peppermint hot chocolate will not disappoint and it comes together effortlessly using an Instant Pot. This will be a hit with the kids at your party and could be delicious spiked for the adults as well!
This hot chocolate recipe is thick, creamy, and will certainly quench a chocolate craving. You’ll notice a major difference between this recipe and a classic Instant hot chocolate. Serve the hot cocoa with whipped cream, marshmallows and sprinkles for a drink your guests will never forget!
Shutterstock/Brent Hofacker
