December Instant Pot Meal Plan (2018)

In this December Instant Pot Meal Plan, you’ll find lots of splendid holiday meals, side dishes, and desserts perfect for these frigid winter days. There are also some great options for Christmas day. It’s the last month of the year, so it’s time to try out lots of delicious Instant Pot meals! Here’s what you can expect:

Instant Pot Winter Recipes

I started the month out with one of my favorite new winter recipes! This Instant Pot Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese is amazing! My kids didn’t even realize they were eating veggies. It is perfection, so I encourage you to try it! It’s super creamy and the sharpness of the cheddar balances perfectly with the sweetness of the butternut squash.

Easy Instant Pot Holiday Recipes

There are lots of easy holiday recipes for you to try during this busy season. I know we all want easy and fast during these hectic days, so I tried to include many recipes that are both delicious and fast. Chicken and Dumplings, Tomato Soup, and Butternut Squash Soup are a few of the delicious holiday options.

I even included a delicious Balsamic Apple Pork Tenderloin on the 24th and Turkey with Gravy on the 25th. There’s also a special treat on the 31st to ring in the new year! Lobster! How perfect is that?!

Easy Instant Pot Main Dish Recipes

I know how busy things can get as Christmas approaches, so I included plenty of easy main dish recipes. Some of the easiest Instant Pot recipes you’ll find are my Spaghetti and Meat Sauce, Beef & Bowtie Pasta, and Hawaiian Sloppy Joes. I’ve also included some yummy options from some of my blogger friends like Ragda Patties, Eggroll in a Bowl, and Korean Spicy Chicken. Lots of great choices for December!

Instant Pot Side Dishes for Christmas

When Christmas comes around, you’ll have plenty of side dishes to choose from. The Loaded Mashed Cauliflower is phenomenal. It’s so buttery smooth and the cheese and bacon make this side dish absolutely… indescribable!

You’ll also have recipes for Sweet Potato Casserole, Mashed Potatoes, and Green Beans. Perfect sides for the holidays.

Easy Instant Pot Desserts

Now, the best part of the holidays… desserts. So, if you’re looking for easy Instant Pot desserts, I’ve included some simple yet decadent desserts in this meal plan. Eggnog Cheesecake, Turtle Lava Cakes, and Flan are a few of the dreamy desserts on this month’s meal plan.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Make sure you also check out my latest Instant Pot Meal Plan.

December 2018 Instant Pot Meal Plan

Below the list of recipes, you will find a link to the downloadable calendar and links to all my monthly Instant Pot meal plans.

Main Dishes

These are the dishes for December.

December 1
Butternut Mac and Cheese
from One Happy Housewife
Fall spices and a rich and creamy cheddar flavor are perfectly paired with sweet butternut squash in this comforting pasta dish. This is an amazing comfort dish.
December 2
Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork
from One Happy Housewife
Made with only 4 ingredients, this fall apart delicious pulled pork is so tasty and versatile.
December 3
Cheeseburger Mac
from One Happy Housewife
A super hearty and flavorful, from-scratch pasta casserole that’s sure to be a hit with the kids. This one is so delicious, it’s like having your favorite burger in a bowl. A great meal for busy weeknights.
December 4
Vegetarian Taco Soup
from Simply Vegetarian 777
This simple and easy Tex-Mex style vegetarian soup is loaded with bold flavors.
December 5
Cashew Chicken and Noodles
from Cooking with Karli
Ramen noodles, veggies, cashews and chicken in a sweet sauce. Super quick and tasty!
December 6
Penne with Sausage
from Paint the Kitchen Red
A perfect home-made pasta dish for those really busy days.
December 7
Beef Lasagna Soup
from The Halfway Homesteaders
A hearty lasagna soup based in a flavorful tomato broth and bursting with Italian flavors.
December 8
Buffalo Chicken Tortilla Pie
from Home Pressure Cooking
If you love Buffalo Wings, you will love this Buffalo chicken pie as well. All the taste and comfort of true Buffalo chicken wings.
December 9
Chicken and Dumplings
from One Happy Housewife
Tender, tasty chicken, sweet veggies, and dumplings. This is the epitome of comfort food.
December 10
Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
from One Happy Housewife
You’ve got a hungry family and not much time? This Instant Pot version of a traditional Italian dish is perfect for those busy nights when you need to get a tasty dinner on the table fast. This spaghetti and meat sauce is an easy one-pot meal that can be made in less than 15 minutes. Your family will love this one!
December 11
Mongolian Beef
from Living Sweet Moments
Melt-in-your-mouth tender flank steak infused with a sweet and savory sauce. Skip that night out at PF Chang’s and make this instead.
December 12
Chicken Tikka Masala
from Piping Pot Curry
This restaurant quality Tikka Masala will make you forget about take-out. Wonderfully tender chicken cooked in a creamy and flavorful chicken curry.
December 13
Tomato Soup
from One Happy Housewife
This wonderfully delicious and creamy tomato soup is infused with basil and lightly sweetened with honey.
December 14
Beef & Bowtie Pasta
from One Happy Housewife
A fast and simple pasta dinner that even the most picky of eaters will devour. This one is sure to become one of your go-to recipes for those hectic weeknights.
December 15
Chicken and Rice
from The Typical Mom
A comforting chicken casserole that you can have ready in minutes.
December 16
Carnitas
from One Happy Housewife
Authentic flavor, incredibly juicy pork, and crispy edges. Traditional pork carnitas made in a fraction of the time.
December 17
Egg Roll in a Bowl
from The Halfway Homesteaders
This deconstructed egg roll is seriously flavorful, easy to make and absolutely delicious.
December 18
Ragda Patties
from Ministry of Curry
Enjoy this popular Indian street food in your own home. Spicy, sweet, and tangy, each bite is an explosion of flavors.
December 19
Korean Spice Chicken
from Spice Cravings
A delicious combination of Korean Bibimbap and Bulgogi made in the Instant Pot.
December 20
Beef & Macaroni Casserole
from One Happy Housewife
This deliciously creamy beef and pasta casserole is the perfect hearty and filling comfort dish for those busy weeknights. It’s fast and easy to make, full of flavor, and guaranteed to satisfy those hungry bellies. This one is sure to become a favorite in your home.
December 21
Butternut Squash Soup
from One Happy Housewife
With a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors, this soup is the perfect comfort meal for cooler weather.
December 22
Hawaiian Sloppy Joes
from One Happy Housewife
Pineapple, red and yellow peppers, and sweet onion give the traditional Sloppy Joe a Hawaiian twist.
December 23
Chili with Beans
from One Happy Housewife
A hearty, comforting bowl of homemade chili packed full of amazing flavor.
December 24
Balsamic Apple Pork Tenderloin
from Simply Happy Foodie
Tender and moist pork medallions drenched in an amazingly sweet & tangy sauce.
December 25
Turkey
from The Typical Mom
Perfectly tender, moist, and flavorful turkey made fast in the Instant Pot.
December 26
Pumpkin Soup
from One Happy Housewife
This quick and easy soup is thick, creamy and perfectly seasoned with fall spices. The ideal meal for brisk autumn weather.
December 27
Beef Stew
from Recipes from a Pantry
Looking for a good beef stew? This one looks amazing!
December 28
Meaty Lasagna
from One Happy Housewife
Looking for a hearty dish that can feed an entire family? Try this rich, creamy, and flavorful lasagna. It’s easy to prep and you’ll have it on the table in no time. Everyone will be asking for seconds.
December 29
Chicken Soup
from One Happy Housewife
This hearty, healthy, homemade chicken soup is so tasty and loaded with nourishing vegetables and spices.
December 30
French Dip
from One Happy Housewife
An unbelievably flavorful and juicy meat, covered in melted cheese and served on toasted, crispy, buttered bread.
December 31
Lobster Tails
from One Happy Housewife
Perfectly cooked and tender lobster tails made fast in the Instant Pot.

Side Dishes

Lemon Butter Broccoli
from One Happy Housewife
An incredibly delicious and healthy side dish that can be served fast using the help of the Instant Pot.
Green Beans
from One Happy Housewife
The buttery garlic flavor make these tender green beans a favorite side dish.
Loaded Mashed Cauliflower
from One Happy Housewife
You’ll never think of cauliflower the same way after trying this amazingly delicious casserole. Enjoy this creamy, cheesy cauliflower casserole with any meal.
Mashed Potatoes
from One Happy Housewife
Cooked and seasoned to perfection, these mashed potatoes are so fast and easy to make.
Sweet Potato Casserole
from One Happy Housewife
This holiday favorite side dish is sweet, delicious and bursting with holiday goodness.

Desserts

Flan
from One Happy Housewife
One of my favorite desserts growing up! A heavenly dark caramel blankets this rich, creamy, and silky smooth flan. You’ll want to make this one all the time!
Turtle Lava Cakes
from One Happy Housewife
These deliciously decadent mini cakes are overflowing with a molten chocolate center, caramel and pecans. They are an indulgence like no other!
Coconut Cake
from One Happy Housewife
Topped with a heavenly creamy coconut glaze, this moist and delicious cake is loaded with coconut goodness and is the perfect sweet treat to share with friends and family.
Dulce de Leche Cheesecake
from Living Sweet Moments
This moist, creamy, and decadent cheesecake is a pure slice of heaven.
Eggnog Cheesecake
from Simply Happy Foodie
Eggnog and cheesecake combined? That sounds like a dream come true! Enjoy the holidays even more with this wonderful cheesecake made with cinnamon, nutmeg, and eggnog.

Download the December 2018 Meal Plan Calendar.

For more Instant Pot Meal Plan ideas for the month of December, check out my archive of December Instant Pot Meal Plans.

Past Instant Pot Meal Plans

Each month I publish a new, updated Instant Pot Meal Plan. So don’t miss out on seeing what wonderful dishes I’ve included in my latest one.

LOOKING FOR A PAST MEAL PLAN?

You can also access all of my previously published Instant Pot Meal Plans through the links below. I handpick the recipes that appear each month, so you will find that each month is unique with its own set of recipes geared specifically toward that month. Plus, on each meal plan page, you can download the printable calendar for that month.