Welcome to your ultimate guide for **December Instant Pot recipes**, packed with incredible meal ideas to make this holiday season delicious and stress-free! Whether you’re planning a grand **Christmas dinner** or seeking comforting, easy weeknight meals, your Instant Pot is about to become your best friend in the kitchen. We’ve compiled a comprehensive list to cover all your culinary needs throughout the festive month.
As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, our cravings naturally shift towards hearty, warming dishes. This time of year calls for pure comfort food, and what better way to achieve it than with the efficiency and flavor-locking power of your Instant Pot? From rich soups to tender main courses, your pressure cooker can transform raw ingredients into culinary masterpieces in record time.
Before diving into our tantalizing list, let’s ensure you’re equipped for success. While most of these recipes only require the Instant Pot itself, having a few key Instant Pot accessories can enhance your cooking experience. Rest assured, these recipes are versatile and can be made in any electric pressure cooker, including your Crockpot Express or as easy Ninja Foodi recipes. The magic of high-pressure cooking makes it simple to prepare everything from a show-stopping holiday ham to delightful side dishes and even indulgent desserts.
Mastering Your Pressure Cooker: Essential Tips for Beginners
If you’re new to the world of pressure cooking, you’re in for a treat! We specialize in easy one-pot meal recipes that simplify your cooking routine. To help you get started on the right foot, here are a few fundamental tips:
- Make sure to Bookmark our Instant Pot recipes page. We consistently add new recipes each week, keeping your meal planning fresh and exciting!
- For perfect results every time, PRINT this essential Instant Pot cooking times cheat sheet. It’s an invaluable tool that will guide you on how long various ingredients like meat, vegetables, and beans take to cook in your pressure cooker.
- I highly recommend you invest in a non-stick inner pot. It makes cleanup a breeze and significantly reduces issues, especially after sautéing.
- Even with a non-stick pot, it’s good practice to understand how to deglaze your pressure cooker. This technique helps prevent the dreaded “burn” message and ensures all those flavorful bits become part of your delicious meal.
For your reference, the model I rely on for all my recipe creations is a 6-quart Instant Pot. Its versatile size is perfect for everything from family dinners to batch cooking.
Festive December Delights: Instant Pot Christmas Recipes
December is synonymous with holiday feasting, and your Instant Pot is poised to make your Christmas menu shine without the usual kitchen stress. If you enjoyed our savory Instant Pot butter chicken, you’ll find similar comforting flavors in many of these festive dishes. Picture a bowl of warm, rich food, perfectly complemented by pressure cooker rice and fluffy air fryer naan. This month’s roundup is brimming with easy and impressive Instant Pot recipes for your holiday table. If there’s a beloved recipe we’ve overlooked, please let us know!
Let’s kick things off with a fantastic new addition: Instant Pot Butter Beef! This dish is a flavor powerhouse. You can use any cut of **beef** or steak you prefer, but slicing it thinly ensures maximum flavor infusion and tenderness. The rich, savory taste is truly remarkable, and you can easily adjust the spice level to your liking with a dash of Sriracha or chili powder. It’s a versatile dish that’s sure to impress.
Delicious Instant Pot Ham with Pineapple Glaze
By Justine
This irresistible Instant Pot ham with a sweet and tangy pineapple glaze is the perfect centerpiece for your December gatherings, whether it’s a holiday dinner or a festive brunch. Quick and easy using high pressure, it ensures a tender, flavorful main course every time.
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 12 mins
Servings: 6
Equipment
- 1 pressure cooker
- 1 trivet
- Aluminum foil
Ingredients
- 1 quartered ham (sliced for best results, ensuring it fits inside your pot)
- 1/4 cup pineapple juice (for the ham)
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup pineapple tidbits
- 1.5 cup water
- Optional: whole cloves or ground cloves
- Optional: honey for drizzling
- For Glaze: 3 oz additional pineapple juice, 3 heaping tbsp additional brown sugar, 2 oz pineapple juice (for slurry), 2 tbsp cornstarch
Instructions
- Place the trivet and 1.5 cups of water into your Instant Pot. If your ham isn’t pre-sliced, slice it now for better flavor absorption. Place the ham into 1-2 large pieces of aluminum foil, ensuring the foil is large enough to wrap completely around it. Leave the very top open for now.
- Generously sprinkle the brown sugar over the top of the ham and into the slices. Pour the 1/4 cup pineapple juice over the ham. If using, sprinkle ground cloves or gently push whole cloves into the ham. Scatter the pineapple tidbits on top. Optionally, drizzle with a little honey for extra sweetness. Carefully fold the foil up around the ham, sealing it completely at the top.
- Gently lower the foil-wrapped ham onto the trivet in your pressure cooker. If your trivet doesn’t have handles, you can create a foil sling to help lift the ham out later. Close the Instant Pot lid and ensure the steam release valve is sealed. Set to high pressure for 12 minutes. (Note: Cooking time may vary slightly depending on the size and thickness of your ham. This timing is for a sliced quarter ham.)
- Once the cooking cycle is complete, allow for a natural pressure release (NPR). This means you let the pressure release on its own until the float valve drops, which typically takes about 10-15 minutes. Then, manually release any remaining pressure. Carefully lift the ham out of the Instant Pot and transfer it to a cutting board. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- While the ham rests, remove the trivet from the Instant Pot and discard the cooking water. Place the inner pot back into the Instant Pot. Carefully pour the flavorful juices collected inside the foil packet into the bottom of the pot. Set your Instant Pot to the “Sauté” function on low.
- To create a luscious, thicker glaze, add an additional 3 oz. of pineapple juice and 3 heaping tablespoons of brown sugar to the pot. Stir well and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. In a small separate bowl, whisk together about 2 oz. of pineapple juice with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch until smooth. Gradually add this cornstarch slurry to the simmering glaze in the Instant Pot, one tablespoon at a time, whisking continuously to prevent lumps. Continue to stir until the glaze reaches your desired thickness. Serve the ham with this homemade glaze poured over.
Nutrition
(Approximate values based on 2oz serving of glaze. Ham nutrition not included.)
- Serving: 2oz
- Calories: 56kcal
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Protein: 0.1g
- Fat: 0.05g
- Saturated Fat: 0.01g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g
- Cholesterol: 0.1mg
- Sodium: 9mg
- Potassium: 37mg
- Fiber: 0.1g
- Sugar: 14g
- Vitamin A: 4IU
- Vitamin C: 4mg
- Calcium: 14mg
- Iron: 0.1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
Course: Entree
Cuisine: American
Beyond this incredible ham, December offers many opportunities for wholesome and delicious meals. If you’re seeking a healthy pressure cooker recipe, our Instant Pot Chicken Parmesan, made with unbreaded chicken breasts, delivers all the flavors you love with fewer calories. It’s a guilt-free indulgence perfect for any night of the week.
Did you know your Instant Pot can transform a frozen whole chicken into a tender, juicy meal in an astonishingly short time? From rock solid to fork-tender, it’s a game-changer for busy evenings. Explore an array of other easy Instant Pot chicken recipes here. And of course, no holiday season recipe collection would be complete without considering a succulent pressure cooker turkey, ideal for smaller gatherings or Friendsgiving celebrations. For smaller households, an Instant Pot turkey breast offers a perfectly portioned holiday main.
Essential Instant Pot Side Dishes for Christmas and Beyond
No holiday feast is complete without an array of delectable side dishes. Your Instant Pot can handle these with ease, freeing up your oven and stovetop for other preparations. Here are a few must-try Instant Pot side dishes perfect for your Christmas brunch or dinner:
- Instant Pot Corn Casserole: Our absolute favorite, this creamy and comforting dish is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
- Instant Pot Green Bean Casserole: Holiday tables simply aren’t complete without this classic. Enjoy the traditional flavors with a fraction of the cooking time.
- Instant Pot Sweet Potato Casserole: A delightful blend of sweet and savory, this year’s rendition will be effortlessly delicious.
- Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce: You simply must try this homemade cranberry sauce that cooks in just 1 minute! It’s far superior to canned versions and incredibly easy.
- Instant Pot Stuffing: Yes, even your favorite holiday stuffing can be made perfectly in the Instant Pot, moist and flavorful every time.
All these recipes are incredibly simple, family-friendly, and quick to prepare. This means less time spent in the kitchen and more precious moments enjoying the holidays with your loved ones. While slow cooking has its place, the Instant Pot is your savior when you forget to prep in the morning – no more doomed dinners!
Quick and Easy Weekday Meals: Beyond the Holidays
December isn’t just about big holiday meals; it’s also about staying warm and nourished on busy weekdays. For a quick and nutritious lunch, why not whip up a batch of Instant Pot hard-boiled eggs? Once cooled, they’re perfect for making a large batch of egg salad sandwiches for the whole family.
Ready for a hearty dinner that brings smiles? Explore our collection of Instant Pot steak recipes. A robust steak dinner is always a hit when it’s cold outside. Remember, all pressure cooker recipes, including these, can be made in any electric pressure cooker model, so your Ninja Foodi works just as well!
You might wonder, why cook steak in an Instant Pot when you have other methods? The beauty lies in the speed and convenience! With these instructions, you can achieve a perfect sear on the outside, then cook your steak, along with potatoes or other vegetables, all in one pot. It takes only 5 minutes of pressure cooking time to reach delicious perfection! For more inspiration, try our comforting Instant Pot Salisbury Steak or the sweet and savory Instant Pot Hawaiian Pulled Pork.
Warm and Wonderful: Instant Pot Soups for Winter
While I still cherish my slow cooker recipes during the cooler months, when time is of the essence, my multi-cooker is my go-to. As mentioned, December is truly the season for delightful Instant Pot soups. Just combine your ingredients, serve with a side of warm, pull-apart bread, and dinner is ready! Here are some of our absolute favorites:
- Instant Pot Clam Chowder: A rich and creamy copycat of Boudin’s famous San Francisco soup, easily made with canned clams if fresh aren’t available.
- Instant Pot Split Pea Soup: Enjoy this homemade classic, ready in just 17 minutes.
- Instant Pot Nacho Soup: A cheesy, flavorful concoction that’s perfect for a fun family meal.
- Instant Pot Minestrone Soup: Our healthy and hearty minestrone is packed with carrots, celery, and all your favorite vegetables for a nourishing meal.
- Instant Pot Barley Soup: Another fantastic healthy option, full of texture and warmth.
- Instant Pot French Onion Soup: A classic, made even better with a generous topping of melted cheese.
Never Miss a Recipe: Monthly Instant Pot Inspiration
We’re dedicated to bringing you fresh and exciting **Instant Pot recipes** every single month. If you’ve missed any of our previous roundups, you can easily find them by searching for the specific month. Here are a few past favorites you might want to bookmark right away to expand your Instant Pot culinary repertoire:
- Our October Instant Pot recipes offered a delightful collection of autumn-inspired dishes.
- The November Instant Pot recipes were a huge hit, providing essential ideas for Thanksgiving and fall entertaining.
- Don’t forget to check out our August Instant Pot recipes for lighter, warm-weather appropriate meals that are still quick and easy.
We hope this extensive collection of December Instant Pot recipes helps you navigate the busy holiday season with ease, bringing delicious, comforting meals to your table every day. Happy cooking!