UPDATED FOR DECEMBER 2024
Meal planning is one of those things that I’ve never been 100% successful at. I always start with the best intentions and somehow after a short while I fall back into old habits.
It’s always the same story:
We get all excited, plan out a week of meals and buy all the ingredients. For a whole week, we eat delicious pre-planned meals, and there’s no eating out. (That means $$ saved!!) Then comes week two and then life happens, and we forget to plan the meals for the week and then it’s over.
Who wants Chick Fil A?
I Finally Have a Plan
So this year, I’m making it a goal to meal plan. Once I make it a goal, it’s ON!! I’m going to try to be as intentional as possible to stick to a meal plan every month.
By putting these meal plans together every month, it will make it easier to know exactly what to cook each day and what ingredients to have on hand. I also really feel like the Instant Pot can help me keep up with a monthly meal plan.
Time to Conquer This Meal Planning Thing
Ok, so with 5 children and life, in general, I have to be realistic. Maybe I won’t be able to follow the plan perfectly. Maybe you won’t either. The beauty of it is, you can tweak it when you need to, and you can move things around to suit your needs. The key is to try to be as consistent as possible and when you go off track, just try to get back on it as soon as possible. Let’s be as intentional as possible, and we can conquer this meal-planning thing together!!
December 2024 Instant Pot Meal Plan
Welcome to the December Instant Pot meal plan! This meal plan is designed to help you make delicious, healthy, and easy meals using your Instant Pot. I’ll provide you with meal ideas that you can make in minutes!
With this meal plan, you don’t need to spend hours slaving away in the kitchen; instead, pop some ingredients into your Instant Pot and have a delicious meal ready quickly! Let’s take a look at the meal plan for November!
You can still get the November Meal Plan if you need it.
Main Dishes
- December 1
Vanilla Jalapeño Corn Chowder
from One Happy HousewifeThe gentle sweet heat of a warm bowl of this amazing soup is so comforting.
- December 2
Carne Mechada
from One Happy HousewifeAn incredibly flavorful shredded beef that’s cooked in a delicious sauce with tomatoes, green chiles, herbs, and spices until it’s fall-apart tender.
- December 3
Taco Soup
from One Happy HousewifeA wonderful dump-and-go meal that’s loaded with taco flavor, requires very little prep, and uses easy to find ingredients.
- December 4
BBQ Pork Ribs
from Spice CravingsIf you’re looking for a fantastic BBQ recipe, then these fall-off-the-bone pork ribs certainly fit the bill.
- December 5
Cashew Butter Chicken
from Paint the Kitchen RedThis quick and easy recipe has all the taste of butter chicken without all the calories.
- December 6
Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork
from One Happy HousewifeMade with only 4 ingredients, this fall apart delicious pulled pork is so tasty and versatile.
- December 7
Chicken Biryani
from Ministry of CurryThis delicious one-pot Indian dish is made with long grain basmati rice, chicken, fresh spices and herbs.
- December 8
Carrot Soup
from Piping Pot CurryThis dump-and-go recipe makes a wonderfully creamy and comforting soup in just 30 minutes.
- December 9
Cheesy Sausage Rigatoni
from One Happy HousewifeRigatoni pasta and savory ground sausage are covered in a cheesy marinara sauce. This is a quick, easy, and filling pasta dish that the entire family will love.
- December 10
Salsa Chicken
from One Happy HousewifeA very popular recipe that’s fast, easy, and so versatile. The perfect busy weeknight meal!
- December 11
Meatloaf
from The Halfway HomesteadersPerfect for the meat lover, meatloaf just got way easier to make!
- December 12
Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta
from One Happy HousewifePenne pasta drenched in an impossibly creamy sun-dried tomato and basil sauce. And since you’ll have it on the table in less than 20 minutes, it’s a perfect meal for any weeknight dinner.
- December 13
Hawaiian Sloppy Joes
from One Happy HousewifePineapple, red and yellow peppers, and sweet onion give the traditional Sloppy Joe a Hawaiian twist.
- December 14
Chicken Couscous
from One Happy HousewifePearl couscous, shredded chicken, peas, and carrots come together to make a quick and easy dump meal that’s full of flavor. This simple recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner
- December 15
French Dip
from One Happy HousewifeAn unbelievably flavorful and juicy meat, covered in melted cheese and served on toasted, crispy, buttered bread.
- December 16
Chicken Broccoli Alfredo
from One Happy HousewifeA incredibly delicious pasta dish that features a homemade Alfredo sauce that’s unforgettably rich, creamy, and flavorful.
- December 17
Taco Pasta
from One Happy HousewifeLove Mexican food but tired of the same ‘ole, same ‘ole? Then try this easy and delicious pasta dish. It’s kid-approved and will be ready in no time. It’s the perfect hearty meal for a busy weeknight.
- December 18
Chicken Soup
from One Happy HousewifeThis hearty, healthy, homemade chicken soup is so tasty and loaded with nourishing vegetables and spices.
- December 19
Tuna Casserole
from One Happy HousewifeThis classic comfort dish is made fast – from scratch. Egg noodles, tuna, and peas covered in a deliciously creamy homemade sauce with just the right seasonings will make this recipe an instant family favorite.
- December 20
Carnitas
from One Happy HousewifeAuthentic flavor, incredibly juicy pork, and crispy edges. Traditional pork carnitas made in a fraction of the time.
- December 21
Chicken Lo Mein
from Spice CravingsAn easy and delicious dump & start recipe for this popular Chinese dish.
- December 22
Broccoli Cheese Soup
from One Happy HousewifeThe combination of broccoli, carrots, cream, and cheddar make for a hearty soup that’s amazingly creamy and flavorful.
- December 23
Spaghetti & Meatballs
from One Happy HousewifeYou can never go wrong with spaghetti and meatballs. Everyone loves it and it’s always easy. This recipe makes it even easier because it requires no prep and is ready in minutes.
- December 24
Balsamic Apple Pork Tenderloin
from Simply Happy FoodieTender and moist pork medallions drenched in an amazingly sweet & tangy sauce.
- December 25
Turkey Roast
from One Happy HousewifeThis tender, juicy turkey roast covered in a homemade turkey gravy is perfect for a no-fuss fall or holiday dinner.
- December 26
White Turkey Chili
from One Happy HousewifeIf you’re looking for the perfect recipe for that leftover turkey, then this hearty and delicious chili is perfect!
- December 27
Tuscan Chicken Pasta
from One Happy HousewifeCreamy, delicious, and very easy to make, this pasta dish is sure to be a hit with your family!
- December 28
Tomato Soup
from One Happy HousewifeThis wonderfully delicious and creamy tomato soup is infused with basil and lightly sweetened with honey.
- December 29
Chili
from One Happy HousewifeThe rich, smokey flavor of this Chili makes it the perfect comfort meal.
- December 30
Spicy Cajun Pasta
from One Happy HousewifeSimple ingredients like pasta, sausage, and cheese seasoned with the perfect touch of Cajun spices make this a winning combination. This is a super easy weeknight dinner with a wonderful kick of cajun.
- December 31
Lobster Tails
from One Happy HousewifePerfectly cooked and tender lobster tails made fast in the Instant Pot.
Side Dishes
Lemon Butter Broccoli
from One Happy HousewifeAn incredibly delicious and healthy side dish that can be served fast using the help of the Instant Pot.
Mashed Potatoes
from One Happy HousewifeCooked and seasoned to perfection, these mashed potatoes are so fast and easy to make.
Sweet Potato Casserole
from One Happy HousewifeThis holiday favorite side dish is sweet, delicious and bursting with holiday goodness.
Green Beans
from One Happy HousewifeThe buttery garlic flavor make these tender green beans a favorite side dish.
Butternut Mac and Cheese
from One Happy HousewifeFall 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.
Desserts
Flan
from One Happy HousewifeOne 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!
Dulce de Leche
from One Happy HousewifeEnjoy this deliciously rich and sweet caramel spread that is a common treat in many Hispanic countries. And, thanks to the pressure cooker, there’s no need to wait for hours to turn condensed milk into this amazing treat! This stuff is so good, it’s addictive!
Coconut Flan
from One Happy HousewifeA delicious custard-like dessert filled with with coconut flavor and shredded coconut in every bite.
Turtle Lava Cakes
from One Happy HousewifeThese deliciously decadent mini cakes are overflowing with a molten chocolate center, caramel and pecans. They are an indulgence like no other!
Arroz con Leche
from One Happy HousewifeThis traditional Hispanic dessert is so creamy, rich and delicious. Simple ingredients and so quick and easy to make.
Get the Printable Instant Pot Meal Plan
I’ve put together a handy printable calendar so you can get a full monthly view of the plan. The PDF has clickable links as well so you can download it and keep it on your computer to visit all the recipes. The printable/PDF is available to my subscribers. If you’re not a subscriber yet, sign up below so you can have access to my entire collection of printables.
Instant Pot Accessories!
There are so many accessories available for the Instant Pot. So many, that it is hard to know what to get and what is unnecessary. To make things easier for you, I have put together a list of my most recommended accessories. I also explain how to best use each accessory and where to purchase them; click here to check it out.
More Instant Pot Meal Plans
I’ve been creating my Instant Pot Meal Plans for quite some time and have accumulated over a year’s worth of meal plans. I’m making all of my previously published meal plans available to you via the list of links below. You can access each month of the year by simply clicking on the one you want to look at, the link will then take you to the recipes for that particular month.
Since I carefully select each recipe for each month, every month has a unique list of recipes. Browse through each month to see all the different recipes and get ideas for creating your very own meal plans. Feel free to peruse each of the months!
2024 Meal Plans
- December 2024 Instant Pot Meal Plan
2023 Meal Plans
- November 2023 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- October 2023 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- September 2023 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- August 2023 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- July 2023 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- June 2023 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- May 2023 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- April 2023 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- March 2023 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- February 2023 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- January 2023 Instant Pot Meal Plan
2022 Meal Plans
- December 2022 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- November 2022 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- October 2022 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- September 2022 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- August 2022 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- July 2022 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- June 2022 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- May 2022 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- April 2022 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- March 2022 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- February 2022 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- January 2022 Instant Pot Meal Plan
2021 Meal Plans
- December 2021 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- November 2021 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- October 2021 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- September 2021 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- August 2021 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- July 2021 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- June 2021 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- May 2021 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- April 2021 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- March 2021 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- February 2021 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- January 2021 Instant Pot Meal Plan
2020 Meal Plans
- December 2020 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- November 2020 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- October 2020 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- September 2020 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- August 2020 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- July 2020 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- June 2020 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- May 2020 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- April 2020 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- March 2020 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- February 2020 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- January 2020 Instant Pot Meal Plan
2019 Meal Plans
- December 2019 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- November 2019 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- October 2019 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- September 2019 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- August 2019 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- July 2019 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- June 2019 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- May 2019 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- April 2019 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- March 2019 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- February 2019 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- January 2019 Instant Pot Meal Plan
2018 Meal Plans
- December 2018 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- November 2018 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- October 2018 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- September 2018 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- August 2018 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- July 2018 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- June 2018 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- May 2018 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- April 2018 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- March 2018 Instant Pot Meal Plan
- February 2018 Instant Pot Meal Plan
Don’t forget to check back at the end of each month for the updated Meal Plan!
Have you considered doing only a week at a time and including a shopping list for that week?
Hi Margie! It’s in the works, just don’t know when it will happen! 🙂
Is there a grocery list for the month? I am on my phone and may have just missed it. Thanks!
Hi Kathryn! I haven’t included a grocery list with the meal plan in the past but it’s something that is on our project list! Thanks for stopping by!
Great idea
This looks great!
Thank you! Enjoy!