UPDATED FOR JANUARY 2025
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!!
January 2025 Instant Pot Meal Plan
Happy New Year and welcome to the January 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 January!
You can still get the December Meal Plan if you need it.
Main Dishes
- January 1
Black Eyed Peas
from Simply Happy FoodieServe up a bowl of good-luck and deliciousness with this traditional Southern dish.
- January 2
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.
- January 3
Salpicón
from One Happy HousewifeA light minced meat with a fresh citrusy taste. Perfect served on a corn tortilla or over a bed of rice.
- January 4
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.
- January 5
Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork
from One Happy HousewifeMade with only 4 ingredients, this fall apart delicious pulled pork is so tasty and versatile.
- January 6
Beef & Macaroni Casserole
from One Happy HousewifeThis 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.
- January 7
Salsa Chicken
from One Happy HousewifeA very popular recipe that’s fast, easy, and so versatile. The perfect busy weeknight meal!
- January 8
Coconut Shrimp Curry
from Piping Pot CurryThis easy shrimp curry is made in a coconut milk base and seasoned with ginger, garlic, onions, tomatoes, and flavorful Indian spices.
- January 9
Pumpkin Soup
from One Happy HousewifeThis quick and easy soup is thick, creamy and perfectly seasoned with fall spices. The ideal meal for brisk autumn weather.
- January 10
Creamy Sausage Rigatoni
from One Happy HousewifeRigatoni pasta, Italian sausage, and red peppers in a creamy marinara sauce. This deliciously flavorful and satisfying pasta dish is quick, simple, and perfect for weeknights.
- January 11
Chicken Enchilada Soup
from One Happy HousewifeEverything you love about chicken enchiladas in a warm comforting bowl of soup.
- January 12
Hawaiian Chicken
from One Happy HousewifeEnjoy the delightful tastes of the islands with this sweet, savory and tangy chicken cooked with bell pepper, sweet onion, pineapple and macadamia nuts.
- January 13
Butternut Squash Soup
from One Happy HousewifeWith a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors, this soup is the perfect comfort meal for cooler weather.
- January 14
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.
- January 15
White Chicken Chili
from One Happy HousewifeA super easy and crazy delicious dump and start creamy chicken chili loaded with hearty white beans, chicken, corn, tomatoes, and green peppers.
- January 16
Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
from One Happy HousewifeYou’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!
- January 17
Chicken and Dumplings
from One Happy HousewifeTender, tasty chicken, sweet veggies, and dumplings. This is the epitome of comfort food.
- January 18
French Dip
from One Happy HousewifeAn unbelievably flavorful and juicy meat, covered in melted cheese and served on toasted, crispy, buttered bread.
- January 19
Chicken Soup
from One Happy HousewifeThis hearty, healthy, homemade chicken soup is so tasty and loaded with nourishing vegetables and spices.
- January 20
Buffalo Chicken Chili
from Ministry of CurryA hearty chili made with chicken, beans, veggies and cooked in a spicy buffalo sauce.
- January 21
Meaty Lasagna
from One Happy HousewifeLooking 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.
- January 22
Tomato Soup
from One Happy HousewifeThis wonderfully delicious and creamy tomato soup is infused with basil and lightly sweetened with honey.
- January 23
Cheeseburger Mac
from One Happy HousewifeA 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.
- January 24
Chicken Tortilla Soup
from Recipes from a PantryAn easy dump and go meal for those busy days when you need to get dinner on the table fast.
- January 25
Thai Red Curry Salmon
from Spice CravingsSimmered in a red curry paste and coconut milk, this deliciously tender and flaky salmon is ready in under 30 minutes!
- January 26
Carnitas
from One Happy HousewifeAuthentic flavor, incredibly juicy pork, and crispy edges. Traditional pork carnitas made in a fraction of the time.
- January 27
Beef & Bowtie Pasta
from One Happy HousewifeA 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.
- January 28
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.
- January 29
Smothered Pork Chops
from The Halfway HomesteadersThese wonderfully tender pork chops are smothered in a delicious gravy.
- January 30
Chicken Alfredo
from One Happy HousewifeA quick and easy pasta dish made with a homemade Alfredo sauce that’s incredibly rich and creamy.
- January 31
Gumbo
from Paint the Kitchen RedChicken, sausage, and shrimp make for a hearty bowl of Cajun comfort food.
Side Dishes
Loaded Mashed Cauliflower
from One Happy HousewifeYou’ll never think of cauliflower the same way after trying this amazingly delicious casserole. Enjoy this creamy, cheesy cauliflower casserole with any meal.
Green Beans
from One Happy HousewifeThe buttery garlic flavor make these tender green beans a favorite side dish.
Corn on the Cob
from One Happy HousewifeSweet ears of corn make an easy vegetable side dish.
Mashed Potatoes
from One Happy HousewifeCooked and seasoned to perfection, these mashed potatoes are so fast and easy to make.
Macaroni and Cheese
from One Happy HousewifeThe absolute BEST Instant Pot Mac and Cheese! A blend of four cheeses make it the creamiest and cheesiest. There is nothing more comforting than a warm bowl of this favorite pasta dish.
Desserts
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.
Coconut Cake
from One Happy HousewifeTopped 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.
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!
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!
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!
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!
2025 Meal Plans
- January 2025 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!
It would be great to have a grocery list for each week of the month.
Hi Margie! This is something that is on our to-do list with my husband who works with me on the blog, but our to-do list is big! Hopefully soon!
Thank you for putting it on the list, would be such a great time saver. I appreciate all your efforts with the blog!
when you plan a month of meals, are you trying to purchase the least amount of ingredients and then use those in multiple meals?
Hi Kathy! Not all of the time. For now, I try to include easy recipes for busy moms and dads, once in a while, I will put certain recipes back to back so that leftovers can be used. For example, I’ll put my beans recipe one day, and my bean soup the next which uses the broth from making the beans. Thanks for stopping by the blog!
Do your cook times take in account for the time it takes the pot to heat up to pressure and seal?
Hi Brian! Great question. No, my cook times do not include the coming to pressure time. There are too many variables involved. The amount of time it takes for the pot to come to pressure will depend on things like how full your pot is, the size of your pot, the model, your altitude, and so on. It would be like adding the preheating time of an oven, there’s just no way to tell. I do, however, include the natural release time in my recipes to give you a better total estimate of cooking and release. Hope this helps!
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!