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?
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Save this Instant Pot Meal Plan for later!
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 2020 Instant Pot Meal Plan
We have finally reached the last month of 2020! It’s been a year! Let’s make this last month a good one. I have here the last meal plan for the year and it’s full of easy and delicious recipes that will help make your planning easier. The December Meal Plan includes a special meal for Christmas and one for New Year’s Eve. The Holiday can be a hectic time, so I hope this meal plan will make things a little less hectic for you. Happy cooking!
You can still get the November Meal Plan if you need it.
Right below the list of recipes, you can find the link to the printable/clickable menu calendar. You’ll also find links to all my previous monthly meal plans. Enjoy!
Main Dishes
December 1Vanilla Jalapeño Corn Chowder from One Happy Housewife
The gentle sweet heat of a warm bowl of this amazing soup is so comforting.
December 2Chicken Tetrazzini from One Happy Housewife
With tender bite-sized chicken served over spaghetti and topped with a creamy sauce, this Chicken Tetrazzini will be a family favorite.
December 3Taco Soup from One Happy Housewife
A wonderful dump-and-go meal that’s loaded with taco flavor, requires very little prep, and uses easy to find ingredients.
December 4BBQ Pork Ribs from Spice Cravings
If you’re looking for a fantastic BBQ recipe, then these fall-off-the-bone pork ribs certainly fit the bill.
December 5Cashew Butter Chicken from Paint the Kitchen Red
This quick and easy recipe has all the taste of butter chicken without all the calories.
December 6Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork from One Happy Housewife
Made with only 4 ingredients, this fall apart delicious pulled pork is so tasty and versatile.
December 7Chicken Biryani from Ministry of Curry
This delicious one-pot Indian dish is made with long grain basmati rice, chicken, fresh spices and herbs.
December 8Carrot Soup from Piping Pot Curry
This dump-and-go recipe makes a wonderfully creamy and comforting soup in just 30 minutes.
December 9Cheesy Sausage Rigatoni from One Happy Housewife
A quick, easy, and filling pasta dish that the entire family will love.
December 10Salsa Chicken from One Happy Housewife
A very popular recipe that’s fast, easy, and so versatile. The perfect busy weeknight meal!
December 11Meatloaf from Awe Filled Homemaker
Perfect for the meat lover, meatloaf just got way easier to make!
December 12Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta from One Happy Housewife
Infused with delicious sun-dried tomato and basil, you’ll love the comforting creaminess of this pasta dish.
December 13Hawaiian Sloppy Joes from One Happy Housewife
Pineapple, red and yellow peppers, and sweet onion give the traditional Sloppy Joe a Hawaiian twist.
December 14Chicken Couscous from One Happy Housewife
A very simple and flavorful chicken and couscous recipe that’s perfect for a weeknight dinner.
December 15French Dip from One Happy Housewife
An unbelievably flavorful and juicy meat, covered in melted cheese and served on toasted, crispy, buttered bread.
December 16Chicken Broccoli Alfredo from One Happy Housewife
A incredibly delicious pasta dish that features a homemade Alfredo sauce that’s unforgettably rich, creamy, and flavorful.
December 17Taco Pasta from One Happy Housewife
The perfect hearty meal for a busy weeknight, this easy and delicious pasta dish is kid-approved and will be ready in no time.
December 18Chicken Soup from One Happy Housewife
This hearty, healthy, homemade chicken soup is so tasty and loaded with nourishing vegetables and spices.
December 19Tuna Casserole from One Happy Housewife
A classic comfort dish made fast from scratch thanks to the pressure cooker.
December 20Carnitas from One Happy Housewife
Authentic flavor, incredibly juicy pork, and crispy edges. Traditional pork carnitas made in a fraction of the time.
December 21Chicken Lo Mein from Spice Cravings
This easy one-pot dump & start recipe will deliver a sweet and savory Chinese dinner in only 30 minutes.
December 22Broccoli Cheese Soup from One Happy Housewife
The combination of broccoli, carrots, cream, and cheddar make for a hearty soup that’s amazingly creamy and flavorful.
December 23Spaghetti & Meatballs from One Happy Housewife
This super easy Spaghetti & Meatballs recipe requires no prep and is ready in minutes.
December 24Balsamic Apple Pork Tenderloin from Simply Happy Foodie
Tender and moist pork medallions drenched in an amazingly sweet & tangy sauce.
December 25Turkey Roast from One Happy Housewife
This tender, juicy turkey roast covered in a homemade turkey gravy is perfect for a no-fuss fall or holiday dinner.
December 26White Turkey Chili from One Happy Housewife
If you’re looking for the perfect recipe for that leftover turkey, then this hearty and delicious chili is perfect!
December 27Tuscan Chicken Pasta from One Happy Housewife
Creamy, delicious, and very easy to make, this pasta dish is sure to be a hit with your family!
December 28Tomato Soup from One Happy Housewife
This wonderfully delicious and creamy tomato soup is infused with basil and lightly sweetened with honey.
December 29Chili from One Happy Housewife
The rich, smokey flavor of this Chili makes it the perfect comfort meal.
December 30Spicy Cajun Pasta from One Happy Housewife
A super easy weeknight dinner with a wonderful kick of cajun.
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.
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.
Green Beans from One Happy Housewife
The buttery garlic flavor make these tender green beans a favorite side dish.
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.
Desserts
Flan from One Happy Housewife
A heavenly dark caramel blankets this rich, creamy, and silky smooth flan.
Dulce de Leche from One Happy Housewife
Enjoy this deliciously rich and sweet caramel spread that is a common treat in many Hispanic countries.
Coconut Flan from One Happy Housewife
A delicious custard-like dessert filled with with coconut flavor and shredded coconut in every bite.
Turtle Lava Cakes from One Happy Housewife
These deliciously decadent mini cakes are overflowing with a molten chocolate center, caramel and pecans.
Arroz con Leche from One Happy Housewife
This 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!
- January Instant Pot Meal Plan
- February Instant Pot Meal Plan
- March Instant Pot Meal Plan
- April Instant Pot Meal Plan
- May Instant Pot Meal Plan
- June Instant Pot Meal Plan
- July Instant Pot Meal Plan
- August Instant Pot Meal Plan
- September Instant Pot Meal Plan
- October Instant Pot Meal Plan
- November Instant Pot Meal Plan
- December Instant Pot Meal Plan
Don’t forget to check back at the end of each month for the updated Meal Plan!
Ever since I got my pot I’ve had a constant burn notice problem. Every recipe I try it happens. I follow the directions exactly and it still happens. What am I doing wrong? I have even added extra broth or water and still. I bought the non-stick pot and still.
Hi Brenda! If you are having trouble with every single recipe, you probably need to contact Instant Pot. I have heard of quite a few people with faulty sensors in their pots which cause the burn message every time. Good luck! Keep me posted on what they say.
How long can I keep the jars in the refrigerator?
Hi Gary! Not sure what jars you are asking about. Let me know.
I bought my pot a few months ago but never have tried to use it. But I am now! Several of your recipes intrigue me. Thank You!
Hi! I’m happy to hear you will finally start using your new pot! Thanks for stopping by the blog. Happy cooking!
Hi Valerie, I’m finally going to start using my pot. Been kinda afraid of it, but your tomato soup recipe looks absolutely yummy. Wish me luck! Karen M.
Hi Karen! You got this! The tomato soup is easy and delicious! Have you watched my how-to video yet? If you haven’t, you should start there! Here’s the link just in case: https://www.onehappyhousewife.com/how-to-use-the-instant-pot/
Love this! Just wish the foods were diabetic friendly 🙁
Hi Kristie! I hope you can at least find some recipes that work for you. Thanks for stopping by!
This is a fabulous collection of recipes for folks to make their life easy. Thank you so much for including my Quinoa Salad, Valerie! 💕
Thank you Sonal!! Your salad looks delicious!! Thanks for stopping by the blog!
So helpful, thanks!
Glad to hear it was helpful Lizzy! Thanks for stopping by!
I have loved the monthly meal plans. Did we lose the ability to go back to a prior month’s meal plan? I was trying to go back to November’s meal plan but only the December calendar shows up. I thought all the prior month’s plans appeared before.
Hi Krista! The actual recipes for previous meal plans are still available in list form with clickable links, right here on this page. After the last recipe for this month, you’ll find the buttons for the previous months, they’re hot pink buttons. We did remove the actual pdf calendars to make it easier for people to print just this month’s. If you feel like you can still use the actual calendar for previous months then let me know and we will upload them again after Christmas. Thanks for stopping by!
I would like to still have access to the previous months calendars. Thank you for all your work on this site.
I just found this page last week. I have already made a few recipes from it! So far all of them have been a hit. When will you post Octobers menu?
So happy you found the blog! The October Meal Plan is ready! Enjoy!
Happy to subscribe to your recipes. I LOVE my Instant Pot, but sometimes my imagination limits me.
Hi Ann! Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope this meal plan makes it easier for you to plan more meals! Have a great day!
Vegetable steamer would be awesome!
Yes, Linda! So useful!!
Love the giveaway of all of the instant pot accessories, especially the silicone egg bite maker.
Lots of great accessories!!! Thanks for stopping by the blog!
Looking forward to the giveaway results!
Can’t wait to see who wins! Lots of goodies! Thanks for stopping by Meeta!
This looks neat! Just got one for Christmas and eager to try it out.
You will love it once you start using it!
I’m new to the site. Just wanted to thank you for all the time and effort you put into it. I still consider myself a newbie and learn alot from sites such as this. My only wish is that the giveaway included us Canadians. Maybe in the future?
Hi Sue Marie! You are so welcome and I’m glad you find the blog helpful! I’m sorry Canada isn’t included in this giveaway, we love our Canadian friends! Hopefully, we’ll be able to include you in a giveaway soon!
Pretty darn cool…i only cook one or two meals in the instant pot for the week, but this is easy enough to pick and choose! Thank you!
Glad you like it! Yes, definitely use it to suit your needs. It’ll make it easy to pick several meals for each week! Happy cooking!
Love this.
Thanks Pam! Glad to hear it!