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 1Butternut 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.
December 2Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork from One Happy Housewife
Made with only 4 ingredients, this fall apart delicious pulled pork is so tasty and versatile.
December 3Cheeseburger Mac from One Happy Housewife
A super hearty and flavorful, from scratch pasta casserole made fast.
December 4Vegetarian Taco Soup from Simply Vegetarian 777
This simple and easy Tex-Mex style vegetarian soup is loaded with bold flavors.
December 5Cashew Chicken and Noodles from Cooking with Karli
Ramen noodles, veggies, cashews and chicken in a sweet sauce. Super quick and tasty!
December 6Penne with Sausage from Paint the Kitchen Red
A perfect home-made pasta dish for those really busy days.
December 7Beef Lasagna Soup from The Halfway Homesteaders
A hearty lasagna soup based in a flavorful tomato broth and bursting with Italian flavors.
December 8Buffalo 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 9Chicken and Dumplings from One Happy Housewife
Tender, tasty chicken, sweet veggies, and dumplings. This is the epitome of comfort food.
December 10Spaghetti and Meat Sauce from One Happy Housewife
A tasty traditional Italian pasta dish that will be loved by the whole family and can be served in minutes.
December 11Mongolian 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 12Chicken 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 13Tomato Soup from One Happy Housewife
This wonderfully delicious and creamy tomato soup is infused with basil and lightly sweetened with honey.
December 14Beef & Bowtie Pasta from One Happy Housewife
A fast and simple pasta dinner that even the most picky of eaters will devour.
December 15Chicken and Rice from The Typical Mom
A comforting chicken casserole that you can have ready in minutes.
December 16Carnitas from One Happy Housewife
Authentic flavor, incredibly juicy pork, and crispy edges. Traditional pork carnitas made in a fraction of the time.
December 17Egg Roll in a Bowl from The Halfway Homesteaders
This deconstructed egg roll is seriously flavorful, easy to make and absolutely delicious.
December 18Ragda 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 19Korean Spicy Chicken from Spice Cravings
A delicious combination of Korean Bibimbap and Bulgogi made in the Instant Pot.
December 20Beef & Macaroni Casserole from One Happy Housewife
This deliciously creamy beef and pasta casserole is the perfect hearty and filling meal for those busy weeknights.
December 21Butternut 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 22Hawaiian Sloppy Joes from One Happy Housewife
Pineapple, red and yellow peppers, and sweet onion give the traditional Sloppy Joe a Hawaiian twist.
December 23Chili with Beans from One Happy Housewife
A hearty, comforting bowl of homemade chili packed full of amazing flavor.
December 24Balsamic Apple Pork Tenderloin from Simply Happy Foodie
Tender and moist pork medallions drenched in an amazingly sweet & tangy sauce.
December 25Turkey from The Typical Mom
Perfectly tender, moist, and flavorful turkey made fast in the Instant Pot.
December 26Pumpkin 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 27Beef Stew from Recipes from a Pantry
Looking for a good beef stew? This one looks amazing!
December 28Lasagna from One Happy Housewife
A rich, creamy, and flavorful lasagna that you can have on the table in no time.
December 29Chicken Soup from One Happy Housewife
This hearty, healthy, homemade chicken soup is so tasty and loaded with nourishing vegetables and spices.
December 30French Dip from One Happy Housewife
An unbelievably flavorful and juicy meat, covered in melted cheese and served on toasted, crispy, buttered bread.
December 31Lobster 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
A heavenly dark caramel blankets this rich, creamy, and silky smooth flan.
Turtle Lava Cakes from One Happy Housewife
These deliciously decadent mini cakes are overflowing with a molten chocolate center, caramel and pecans.
Coconut Cake from One Happy Housewife
This 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
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.