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.

  • a bowl of butternut mac and cheese
    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.

  • close up of a dr pepper pulled pork sandwich topped with onions and pickles
    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.

  • cheeseburger mac in a large bowl
    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.

  • a bowl of vegetarian taco soup
    December 4
    Vegetarian Taco Soup
    from Simply Vegetarian 777

    This simple and easy Tex-Mex style vegetarian soup is loaded with bold flavors.

  • close up of cashew chicken and noodles with sesame seeds
    December 5
    Cashew Chicken and Noodles
    from Cooking with Karli

    Ramen noodles, veggies, cashews and chicken in a sweet sauce. Super quick and tasty!

  • overhead shot of creamy tomato and sausage pasta with cilantro and shredded cheese
    December 6
    Penne with Sausage
    from Paint the Kitchen Red

    A perfect home-made pasta dish for those really busy days.

  • overhead shot of beef lasagna soup with scallions
    December 7
    Beef Lasagna Soup
    from The Halfway Homesteaders

    A hearty lasagna soup based in a flavorful tomato broth and bursting with Italian flavors.

  • buffalo chicken tortilla pie on a plate
    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.

  • a bowl filled with a warm serving of chicken and dumplings
    December 9
    Chicken and Dumplings
    from One Happy Housewife

    Tender, tasty chicken, sweet veggies, and dumplings. This is the epitome of comfort food.

  • spaghetti and meat sauce served in a bowl topped with shredded parmesan
    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!

  • melt in your mouth mongolian beef on a plate
    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.

  • chicken tikka masala on a plate garnished with cilantro
    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.

  • a bowl of instant pot tomato soup
    December 13
    Tomato Soup
    from One Happy Housewife

    This wonderfully delicious and creamy tomato soup is infused with basil and lightly sweetened with honey.

  • a bowl of beef and bowtie pasta
    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.

  • overhead shot of chicken and rice with shredded cheddar
    December 15
    Chicken and Rice
    from The Typical Mom

    A comforting chicken casserole that you can have ready in minutes.

  • juicy and tender carnitas
    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.

  • egg roll in a bowl garnished with scallions
    December 17
    Egg Roll in a Bowl
    from The Halfway Homesteaders

    This deconstructed egg roll is seriously flavorful, easy to make and absolutely delicious.

  • overhead shot of ragda patties on a plate garnished with cilantro
    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.

  • overhead shot of korean spice chicken on a plate with rice and cucumber slices
    December 19
    Korean Spice Chicken
    from Spice Cravings

    A delicious combination of Korean Bibimbap and Bulgogi made in the Instant Pot.

  • instant pot beef and macaroni casserole
    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.

  • a bowl of instant pot butternut squash soup topped with cream and dried cranberries
    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.

  • a plate with a hawaiian sloppy joe sandwich
    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.

  • chili in a small bowl topped with sour cream, shredded cheese, and green onion
    December 23
    Chili with Beans
    from One Happy Housewife

    A hearty, comforting bowl of homemade chili packed full of amazing flavor.

  • close up of a balsamic apple pork tenderloin
    December 24
    Balsamic Apple Pork Tenderloin
    from Simply Happy Foodie

    Tender and moist pork medallions drenched in an amazingly sweet & tangy sauce.

  • turkey on a plate with cilantro garnish
    December 25
    Turkey
    from The Typical Mom

    Perfectly tender, moist, and flavorful turkey made fast in the Instant Pot.

  • a bowl of instant pot pumpkin soup with cream and pumpkin seeds
    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.

  • a serving of beef stew in a bowl
    December 27
    Beef Stew
    from Recipes from a Pantry

    Looking for a good beef stew? This one looks amazing!

  • instant pot lasagna
    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.

  • instant pot chicken soup
    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.

  • lobster tails meat dipped in melted butter
    December 31
    Lobster Tails
    from One Happy Housewife

    Perfectly cooked and tender lobster tails made fast in the Instant Pot.

Side Dishes

  • overhead shot of lemon butter broccoli in a large bowl
    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.

  • a dinner plate served with green beans
    Green Beans
    from One Happy Housewife

    The buttery garlic flavor make these tender green beans a favorite side dish.

  • a spoonful of loaded cauliflower casserole
    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.

  • a plate with a serving of mashed potatoes and pot roast
    Mashed Potatoes
    from One Happy Housewife

    Cooked and seasoned to perfection, these mashed potatoes are so fast and easy to make.

  • a baked and homemade sweet potato casserole
    Sweet Potato Casserole
    from One Happy Housewife

    This holiday favorite side dish is sweet, delicious and bursting with holiday goodness.

Desserts

  • taking a slice of flan
    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 cake fresh out of the Instant Pot
    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!

  • a delicious coconut bundt cake served on a large plate
    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.

  • a plate with dulce de leche cheesecake
    Dulce de Leche Cheesecake
    from Living Sweet Moments

    This moist, creamy, and decadent cheesecake is a pure slice of heaven.

  • overhead shot of eggnog cheesecake
    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.

2023 Meal Plans

2022 Meal Plans

2021 Meal Plans

2020 Meal Plans

2019 Meal Plans

2018 Meal Plans

instant pot meal plan

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