October Instant Pot Meal Plan (2020)

It’s officially fall! One of my favorite things about the fall season is the food that comes along with it! Comforting soups, stews, and of course, pumpkin everything! In my October Instant Pot Meal Plan, I made sure and include lots of easy and delicious soups, as well as other fall-inspired dishes I’m sure you will love. I hope you enjoy October’s recipes! Here’s what you can expect:

Instant Pot Fall Recipes

It’s fall and that means lots of pumpkins, butternut squash, and fall spices! The recipes featured in this meal plan are sure to impart those cozy feelings that a warm meal delivers to your shivering body as the cool weather moves in. You’ll find plenty of wonderful Instant Pot Fall Recipes in this meal plan to help keep the chilly weather away.

Butternut Mac & Cheese

My Instant Pot Butternut Mac and Cheese is one of those recipes my family looks forward to all year long. We’re finally in that part of the year to make it. It is such a warm and comforting dish and can be served on its own or as a side dish to soups or meats. The flavors of the butternut squash, cinnamon, and nutmeg make this a perfect soothing dish for any chilly fall day.

overhead shot of butternut mac and cheese

Instant Pot Soups & Chilis

This month, you’ll find loads of warm and easy Instant Pot Soup Recipes like my wonderfully delicious White Chicken Chili that is sure to become a favorite for your family! And my Butternut Squash Soup is so creamy and full of fall flavors. You’ll also find Broccoli Cheese Soup, Pumpkin Soup, Tomato Soup, Chicken and Dumplings, Taco Soup, and much more. These soups are so delicious and each would pair perfectly with either my Homemade Garlic Bread or Skillet Cornbread.

White Chicken Chili

Cooler weather requires warm soups and chilis. And this chili recipe is as warm and comforting as you can get. I loaded this hearty Instant Pot White Chicken Chili with white beans, shredded chicken, sweet corn, tomatoes, and green peppers. What’s even better is that this recipe is a quick and easy dump-and-start meal that’s ready in minutes.

instant pot white bean chicken chili topped with chips and cheese

Butternut Squash Soup

My Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup is full of fall flavor! This soup is so rich and creamy and the nuttiness of the roasted butternut squash is perfectly warm and satisfying. If you need a soul-soothing soup, perfect for a chilly fall day, then this soup will perk you up.

Instant Pot Pasta

There are also lots of tasty Instant Pot Pasta Recipes featured in this October meal plan. Some of my family’s favorites are the Beef and Bowtie Pasta, Tuna Casserole, and Chicken Tetrazzini. Each of these pasta dishes is perfect for the chillier weather of fall. Plus, they’re all simple to make, super flavorful, and the kids love them.

Chicken Tetrazzini

My Instant Pot Chicken Tetrazzini is a one-pot pasta dish that’s loaded with tender bite-sized pieces of chicken and plump spaghetti pasta covered in a luxuriously creamy white sauce. This dish is so special and is not only comforting and filling, but it is absolutely delicious.

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Looking for a quick and easy dump-and-start meal that’s perfect for a weeknight family dinner? Try my Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe! You’ll have this classic hearty Italian dish ready in minutes thanks to the cooking magic of the Instant Pot. To complete your meal, serve this pasta dish with a side of garlic bread.

Instant Pot Sides

There are definitely some wonderful recipes in this month’s meal plan, and you’ll also find some outstanding Instant Pot Side Dishes to go with them. I’ve included my Mashed Potatoes, Cajun Dirty Rice, and Lemon Butter Broccoli to name a few. You will always find a perfect side for your meal.

Mashed Potatoes

Everyone loves mashed potatoes! They’re the perfect side dish to an almost endless number of meals. These Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes are crazy simple to make and come out perfectly smooth and creamy every time. Your family will love this delicious and comforting side.

Cajun Dirty Rice

My Instant Pot Dirty Rice is loaded to the max with the flavors of New Orleans. This delicious Cajun dish is made with rice, a mixture of ground sausage and ground beef, chopped veggies, and Cajun spices. Your family will love this super flavorful dish and you’ll love that it’s so quick and simple to make.

a close up of a white serving dish with dirty rice topped with green onions

Instant Pot Dessert Recipes

It’s time for dessert! The Instant Pot Dessert Recipes that I’ve included in this October meal plan are fantastic! Coconut Flan, Arroz con Leche, and Bread Pudding are a few of the wonderfully delicious desserts that you’ll have the pleasure of making this month.

Coconut Flan

My Instant Pot Coconut Flan recipe, known in Honduras as Flan de Coco, is so creamy and loaded with coconut flavor. Your friends and family will absolutely love this incredibly delicious dessert.

Arroz con Leche

Instant Pot Arroz con Leche, or rice pudding, is a sweet and creamy Hispanic dessert that is quick and easy to make. This recipe only requires a few simple ingredients that will give you a warm and soothing treat that’s ready to enjoy in minutes. Just add a dash of cinnamon to make it perfect.

There are so many wonderful fall recipes in this meal plan and I know your family will love them all! Happy Fall!

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

October 2020 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

October 1
White Chicken Chili
from One Happy Housewife
A super easy and crazy delicious dump and start creamy chicken chili loaded with hearty white beans, chicken, corn, tomatoes, and green peppers.
October 2
Autumn Apple Pork Chops
from Simply Happy Foodie
These pork chops are smothered in a delicious apple gravy with a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg.
October 3
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.
October 4
Beef & Vegetable Soup
from The Halfway Homesteaders
This hearty and satisfying soup is packed full of delicious veggies and ground beef.
October 5
Tuscan 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!
October 6
Broccoli 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.
October 7
Chicken Broccoli Alfredo
from One Happy Housewife
A incredibly delicious pasta dish that features a homemade Alfredo sauce that’s unforgettably rich, creamy, and flavorful.
October 8
Carnitas
from One Happy Housewife
Authentic flavor, incredibly juicy pork, and crispy edges. Traditional pork carnitas made in a fraction of the time.
October 9
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.
October 10
Whole Chicken
from Recipes from a Pantry
Have a moist and flavorful rotisserie style chicken in less than 45 minutes with this simple recipe.
October 11
Spicy Cajun Pasta
from One Happy Housewife
Simple 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.
October 12
Cauliflower Soup
from Piping Pot Curry
This healthy, creamy cauliflower soup is infused with the healing benefits of turmeric.
October 13
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.
October 14
Butter Chicken
from Spice Cravings
Enjoy this authentic Indian dish made with delicious pieces of grilled chicken in a creamy tomato sauce that’s seasoned with Indian spices.
October 15
Spaghetti & Meatballs
from One Happy Housewife
You 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.
October 16
Chipotle Shrimp Soup
from Paint the Kitchen Red
This quick and easy soup is so creamy and loaded with potatoes, corn, bacon, and shrimp. This one has a spicy kick to it too!
October 17
French Dip
from One Happy Housewife
An unbelievably flavorful and juicy meat, covered in melted cheese and served on toasted, crispy, buttered bread.
October 18
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.
October 19
Tomato Soup
from One Happy Housewife
This wonderfully delicious and creamy tomato soup is infused with basil and lightly sweetened with honey.
October 20
Chicken and Dumplings
from One Happy Housewife
Tender, tasty chicken, sweet veggies, and dumplings. This is the epitome of comfort food.
October 21
Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta
from One Happy Housewife
Penne 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.
October 22
Salsa Chicken
from One Happy Housewife
A very popular recipe that’s fast, easy, and so versatile. The perfect busy weeknight meal!
October 23
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.
October 24
Buffalo Chicken Chili
from Ministry of Curry
A hearty chili made with chicken, beans, veggies and cooked in a spicy buffalo sauce.
October 25
Hawaiian Sloppy Joes
from One Happy Housewife
Pineapple, red and yellow peppers, and sweet onion give the traditional Sloppy Joe a Hawaiian twist.
October 26
Chicken Soup
from One Happy Housewife
This hearty, healthy, homemade chicken soup is so tasty and loaded with nourishing vegetables and spices.
October 27
Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork
from One Happy Housewife
Made with only 4 ingredients, this fall apart delicious pulled pork is so tasty and versatile.
October 28
Chicken 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.
October 29
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.
October 30
Chicken Couscous
from One Happy Housewife
Pearl 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
October 31
Corn Chowder
from Simply Vegetarian 777
A wonderful comfort meal made with fresh corn that’s creamy and full of flavor.

Side Dishes

Cajun Dirty Rice
from One Happy Housewife
Chock full of the Cajun flavor, this comforting dish is outstanding!
Mashed Potatoes
from One Happy Housewife
Cooked and seasoned to perfection, these mashed potatoes are so fast and easy to make.
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.
Green Beans
from One Happy Housewife
The buttery garlic flavor make these tender green beans a favorite side dish.
Mac & Cheese with Cream of Mushroom
from One Happy Housewife
A super creamy and delicious dump-and-start mac and cheese.

Desserts

Coconut Flan
from One Happy Housewife
A delicious custard-like dessert filled with with coconut flavor and shredded coconut in every bite.
Dulce de Leche Cheesecake
from Living Sweet Moments
This moist, creamy, and decadent cheesecake is a pure slice of heaven.
Bread Pudding
from Simply Happy Foodie
This creamy, rich, and delicious bread pudding is the perfect holiday dessert. The rich and creamy custard and amazing rum sauce make it irresistible!
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!
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.

Download the October 2020 Meal Plan Calendar.

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