January Instant Pot Meal Plan (2021)

It’s finally here! The beginning of a fresh new year! We say goodbye to the crazy year that was 2020!

The January 2021 Meal Plan is full of easy recipes that I know you and your family will enjoy! Since it’s still going to be a little chilly, I included some yummy soup recipes to keep your tummies warm and full! You’ll find some great side dish and dessert ideas as well. Here’s what you can expect:

Instant Pot Soup Recipes

The cold, crisp weather of January is perfect for a warm bowl of soup. I’ve included plenty of wonderful Instant Pot Soup Recipes in this month’s meal plan. You’ll get to enjoy my simple and delicious Chicken and Dumplings, Vanilla Jalapeño Corn Chowder, and Broccoli Cheese Soups this month. These soups are sure to keep you warm on these cold, wintery days.

Chicken and Dumplings

There is nothing more comforting than my Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings. Loaded with nutritious veggies, wonderful dumplings, and tons of flavor, this quick and simple recipe makes the perfect warm meal for the chilly days left before us.

Vanilla Jalapeño Corn Chowder

My Instant Pot Vanilla Jalapeño Corn Chowder is full of warmth with just the perfect touch of sweetness. This creamy soup combines vanilla and corn with a bit of jalapeño and is sure to satisfy your tastebuds. The sweet warmth of this chowder is simply irresistible.

Broccoli Cheese Soup

You will love my Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup. This hearty soup is so creamy, loaded with fresh broccoli and carrots, and full of cheesy flavor. A bowl of this comforting soup will warm your hungry tummy and soothe your soul.

Instant Pot Pasta Recipes

In the mood for a hearty pasta dish? I have you covered with my Spaghetti and Meatballs, Tuna Casserole, and Beef and Bowtie Pasta. These Instant Pot Pasta Recipes are all simple, hearty, and delicious. They’re perfect for a weeknight meal on a crisp and chilly day.

Spaghetti and Meatballs

My Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs is the perfect traditional Italian dish to satisfy any hungry family. This one-pot pasta dish is the ideal weeknight meal because it takes less than 15 minutes to have on the table. Serve it with a side of homemade garlic bread for a complete meal.

homemade spaghetti and meat sauce with garlic butter toast

Tuna Casserole

My Instant Pot Tuna Casserole is incredible! This quintessential comfort meal uses simple ingredients and is quick and easy to make. This one is a perfect option for a warm and hearty weeknight meal.

Beef and Bowtie Pasta

Need something super simple that the kids will love? My Instant Pot Beef and Bowtie Pasta recipe is so quick to make, and it is a favorite for my kids. Top it with some parmesan cheese and your kiddos are going to devour it and ask for seconds.

Instant Pot Sandwiches

There is no better pair to a warm bowl of soup than a delicious sandwich. You’ll find both my Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork and French Dip sandwiches in this month’s meal plan. The French Dip sandwich, in particular, is an excellent partner to a warm bowl of soup.

Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork

The tender and flavorful shredded pork on my Instant Pot Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork sandwiches makes it one of the most popular recipes on my blog. This super simple recipe will give you amazing pulled pork sandwiches. Just mix in your favorite barbeque sauce, grab some hamburger buns, and you’ll be in pulled pork heaven.

French Dip

This Instant Pot French Dip Sandwiches recipe is a showstopper. The shredded beef in these sandwiches is so tender, so juicy, and so flavorful! Each bite is truly divine. And, amazingly, this recipe is made using a pressure cooker. I just love how versatile the Instant Pot is.

Instant Pot Side Dishes

My January 2021 Meal Plan has lots of fantastic Instant Pot Side Dishes to complement any main dish that you’ll make. You’ll find my wonderful Potato Salad, and a kid-favorite White Cheddar Mac and Cheese made with pasta shells, to name a few.

Potato Salad

My Instant Pot Potato Salad recipe is creamy, delicious, and makes a perfect side dish for almost any delicious meal. It’s especially good served alongside my Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork sandwiches.

White Cheddar Mac and Cheese

My Instant Pot White Cheddar Mac and Cheese is definitely one of my kid’s favorite side dishes. It’s not only super simple to make, but the combination of white cheeses with a hint of garlic makes this mac and cheese incredibly flavorful too.

Instant Pot Desserts

There is no shortage of outstanding Instant Pot Dessert Recipes in my January Meal Plan. You’ll find lots of favorites here including my Lemon Cake, Chocoflan, and Turtle Lava Cakes. Each of these dessert recipes is easy to make and so wonderful.

Lemon Cake

This delightfully sweet dessert is loaded to the max with lemony flavor. My Instant Pot Lemon Cake is easy to make in the pressure cooker and perfect for serving after dinner with a scoop of ice cream.

a large slice of lemon bundt cake on a plate

Chocoflan

Also known as Impossible Cake, my Instant Pot Chocoflan is a traditional Hispanic dessert that is absolutely decadent. It’s a deliciously moist chocolate cake topped with a creamy smooth flan. This dessert is perfect for those special days when you just want to indulge yourself.

Happy cooking and here’s to a fantastic 2021!

Make sure you also check out my latest Instant Pot Meal Plan.

January 2021 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

January 1
Black Eyed Peas
from Simply Happy Foodie
Serve up a bowl of good-luck and deliciousness with this traditional Southern dish.
January 2
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.
January 3
Salpicón
from One Happy Housewife
A light minced meat with a fresh citrusy taste. Perfect served on a corn tortilla or over a bed of rice.
January 4
Cajun Shrimp Alfredo
from One Happy Housewife
Yes – you can enjoy Cajun Shrimp Alfredo at home! This creamy, rich pasta is loaded with andouille sausage, plump tender shrimp, and Cajun flavor. This popular recipe is easy to make and a must-try!
January 5
Moroccan Chickpea Soup
from Spice Cravings
This dump-and-start recipe makes a wonderfully hearty soup that is so rich and flavorful.
January 6
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.
January 7
Salsa Chicken
from One Happy Housewife
A very popular recipe that’s fast, easy, and so versatile. The perfect busy weeknight meal!
January 8
Coconut Shrimp Curry
from Piping Pot Curry
This easy shrimp curry is made in a coconut milk base and seasoned with ginger, garlic, onions, tomatoes, and flavorful Indian spices.
January 9
French Dip
from One Happy Housewife
An unbelievably flavorful and juicy meat, covered in melted cheese and served on toasted, crispy, buttered bread.
January 10
Creamy Sausage Rigatoni
from One Happy Housewife
Rigatoni 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
Taco 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.
January 12
Hawaiian Chicken
from One Happy Housewife
Enjoy 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 Housewife
With 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 Housewife
Love 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
Teriyaki Chicken
from Food n Service
An easy and delicious one-pot meal that your family will love.
January 16
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!
January 17
Chicken and Dumplings
from One Happy Housewife
Tender, tasty chicken, sweet veggies, and dumplings. This is the epitome of comfort food.
January 18
Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice
from One Happy Housewife
An incredibly easy and hearty family-friendly meal that’s oh so cheesy and delicious.
January 19
Chicken Soup
from One Happy Housewife
This hearty, healthy, homemade chicken soup is so tasty and loaded with nourishing vegetables and spices.
January 20
Buffalo Chicken Chili
from Ministry of Curry
A hearty chili made with chicken, beans, veggies and cooked in a spicy buffalo sauce.
January 21
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.
January 22
Tomato Soup
from One Happy Housewife
This wonderfully delicious and creamy tomato soup is infused with basil and lightly sweetened with honey.
January 23
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.
January 24
Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork
from One Happy Housewife
Made with only 4 ingredients, this fall apart delicious pulled pork is so tasty and versatile.
January 25
Thai Red Curry Salmon
from Spice Cravings
Simmered 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 Housewife
Authentic 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 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.
January 28
Chicken Enchilada Soup
from One Happy Housewife
Everything you love about chicken enchiladas in a warm comforting bowl of soup.
January 29
Smothered Pork Chops
from The Halfway Homesteaders
These wonderfully tender pork chops are smothered in a delicious gravy.
January 30
Chicken Alfredo
from One Happy Housewife
A quick and easy pasta dish made with a homemade Alfredo sauce that’s incredibly rich and creamy.
January 31
Gumbo
from Paint the Kitchen Red
Chicken, sausage, and shrimp make for a hearty bowl of Cajun comfort food.

Side Dishes

Parmesan Risotto
from One Happy Housewife
A creamy and delicious side dish that is simply irresistible.
Cajun Dirty Rice
from One Happy Housewife
Chock full of the Cajun flavor, this comforting dish is outstanding!
Corn on the Cob
from One Happy Housewife
Sweet ears of corn make an easy vegetable side dish.
Mashed Potatoes
from One Happy Housewife
Cooked and seasoned to perfection, these mashed potatoes are so fast and easy to make.
Macaroni and Cheese
from One Happy Housewife
The 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 Housewife
This traditional Hispanic dessert is so creamy, rich and delicious. Simple ingredients and so quick and easy to make.
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.
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 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!
Dulce de Leche
from One Happy Housewife
Enjoy 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!

Download the January 2021 Meal Plan Calendar.

For more Instant Pot Meal Plan ideas for the month of January, check out my archive of January 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.