From side dishes, to desserts, to drinks.
Brooke Greenberg / BuzzFeed
The Instant Pot is useful year-round — but that's especially true on Thanksgiving. 🥘
It's one of the easiest ways to take a few holiday recipes away from your (overly-crowded!) oven or stove. Below are several Thanksgiving favorites — including mains, sides, desserts, and drinks — where the Instant Pot does all the hard work for you.
(Also: Reminder that since the IP has a slow cooker setting, any Crock Pot recipes will work in it, too!)
Maybe you're hosting a smaller Thanksgiving, or maybe you just don't feel like going the whole turkey route — since it takes forever. Either way, a bone-in breast only takes 35 minutes to cook and still feeds 4 to 6 people.
Recipe: Instant Pot Turkey Breast
2. 1-Minute Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce
So simple: Just toss in cranberries, water, orange zest, and your sweetener of choice — and pressure cook for 60 seconds.
3. Creamiest Instant Pot Mac 'n' Cheese
There is no meal that cannot be improved with a side of mac 'n' cheese. (And that includes Thanksgiving!)
4. Shortcut Thanksgiving Dinner for Two
Doing Thanksgiving for two? Make everything super easy with this all-in-one meal. It's all of your favorite flavors — but with way less prep, cleanup, and waste.
If you haven't used your Instant Pot to make big batch drinks yet, you're missing out.
Recipe: Instant Pot Apple Cider
If you're making this vegetarian or vegan, double check that your Worcestershire sauce checks out. (If it doesn't, here's an easy homemade version.)
Recipe: Slow Cooker Portobello Pot Roast
7. Instant Pot Cherry Cheesecake
By using a 7" or 8" springform pan — which is placed directly in the Instant Pot — you'll get towering, centerpiece-worthy slices.
Recipe: Instant Pot Cherry Cheesecake
Even with just butter, these are delicious (and fast!) to make. To upgrade them even more, toss in a bit of nutmeg and cinnamon.
9. Slow Cooker Honey Glazed Ham
This uses the IP's slow cooker setting — meaning you could also make this in a Crock Pot. Either way, you'll save oven space.
Recipe: Slow Cooker Honey Glazed Ham
The shortcut here is starting with frozen dinner rolls that rise overnight. In the morning, you'll coat them in butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and pecans — then bake.
Recipe: Instant Pot Monkey Bread
11. Instant Pot Glazed Carrots
For maximum ease, this recipe starts with baby carrots. (But if you have more time, you could also slice regular carrots — the tri-color ones would be really pretty!)
Recipe: Instant Pot Glazed Carrots
12. Slow Cooker Classic Stuffing
If you like a more savory-sweet stuffing, add in sliced apples or cranberries.
Recipe: Slow Cooker Classic Stuffing
13. Instant Pot Hot Chocolate
Not mandatory but highly encouraged? Adding bourbon or Bailey's.
Recipe: Instant Pot Hot Chocolate
Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free — and something everyone will love.
15. Slow Cooker Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze
Tangy balsamic and salty Parmesan make just about everything better.
Joe Lingeman / Via thekitchn.com
IP mashed potatoes are faster and (arguably tastier) than the stovetop version — and the pressure cooker doubles as a warming station.
Recipe: Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
17. Instant Pot Cinnamon Apples
These are perfect spooned over poundcake or ice cream. (Or even just solo!)
Recipe: Instant Pot Cinnamon Apples
To easily lift the entire pie up and out after cooking, line the slow cooker with parchment paper first.
Recipe: Crock Pot Pecan Pie
Things you can never have too many of at Thanksgiving: Potato-based sides.
Recipe: Slow Cooker Potatoes au Gratin
20. Crock Pot Mulled Wine
Cheers! 🍷
Recipe: Crock Pot Mulled Wine
