47 Healthy Instant Pot Holiday Recipes {pressure cooker, too!} (2024)

47 Healthy Instant Pot Holiday Recipes {pressure cooker, too!} (2)You cheerfully labor over perfectly prepared turkey, stuffing, gravy, side dishes, and dessert.

You lay your meal on a beautifully set table.

And everyone oohs and aaahs over what they call “the best holiday meal ever”.

This is a dream, right?

Well, maybe… maybe not. 😉

I can’t promise that everyone will oooh and aaah over your meal or that your table will be perfectly set. But I can promise this…

With a pressure cooker or Instant Pot, you can make your Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner preparations much easier and quicker than ever before, and your food will still be delicious and nutritious!

Cut down on cooking time (and even dishes) this year with these 47 Instant Pot or pressure cooker recipes for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Turkey, lamb roast, stuffing, gravy, sweet potato casserole, green beans, and even naturally sweetened cranberry sauce… it’s all here!

And it’s all pressure cooked!

From appetizers to cranberry sauce to dessert (and everything between), there are so many reasons to love pressure cooking. It is possible to pressure cook your way through the celebration season — and have fun while you’re at it!

Turkey And Roast LambAnd Brisket, Oh My!

Whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas with a traditional turkey and ham, or maybe you get a little more out-of-the-box and go for a brisket, lamb, or pork loin, these Instant Pot holiday recipes will make this year’s meal all the more special.

Paleo Turkey & Gluten-Free Gravy (Pressure Cooker)

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Tender turkey and rich gravy suitable for Paleo lifestyles in just 90 minutes?! Yes, please! Viagutsybynature.com.

Instant Pot Apple Cherry Pork Loin

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This is a freezer cooking recipe, so make it up now, freeze, and put in the Instant Pot on the big day! You’ll get through your Thanksgiving or Christmas meal with ease! Viaonceamonthmeals.com.

Pressure Cooker Lamb Shanks

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Tender and juicy, these lamb shanks are the perfect dish to tuck into on a cold, blustery day! Vianomnompaleo.com.

Maple Smoked Brisket

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“Pretty dang close to smoked with an outdoor smoker”…need I say more? What a special way to celebrate the season! Viabarerootgirl.com.

Instant Pot Apple Cider Pork Loin

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Moist and tender, with just the right amount of sweetness, this pork loin will look lovely on your holiday table. Viastevesacooking.com.

Instant Pot Sweet Baked Ham

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If you were wondering if ham could be made in the Instant Pot, the answer is YES! Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to you! Viamelskitchencafe.com.

See Also
40 Cozy Cabbage Recipes from Grandma20 Easy Instant Pot Recipes for Beginners10 Easy Recipes for a Stress-Free ThanksgivingLamb Biftekia with Anchovy, Sun-Dried Tomato, and Mint Recipe on Food52

47 Healthy Instant Pot Holiday Recipes {pressure cooker, too!} (9)

Don’t be a harried cook who rushes to scrape pan drippings for her gravy! With this trick, you can make your gravy in just 10 minutes and the day (or 2!) before the big meal! Via TraditionalCookingSchool.com.

Stuffing In The Pressure Cooker

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A great new way to cook your stuffing this year. Quickly “baked” in the pressure cooker and then crisped up in the oven before serving. Viapressurecookingtoday.com.

Instant Pot Bone Broth

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Good cooks know that the best gravy begins with homemade bone broth. But you don’t have 12 hours to simmer bone broth! So use your Instant Pot instead! Viaraisinggenerationnourished.com.

Instant Pot Sourdough Cornbread

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Does your cornbread stuffing need a traditional makeover? Try this pressure cooker sourdough cornbread for an easily digested, oh-so-yummy cornbread stuffing! Via TraditionalCookingSchool.com

Pressure Cooker Turkey Legs & Turkey Gravy

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Satisfyingly meaty turkey legs cook perfectly in a pressure cooker — then the cooking juices turn into a delicious gravy to ladle over your entire plate! Viapressurecookrecipes.com.

Cranberry-Braised Turkey Wings

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For family members who prefer crisp skin and dark meat, these delicious turkey wings are pressure cooked in a cranberry sauce for a finger-licking good meal! Viahippressurecooking.com.

Pressure Cooked Bone-In Ham With Maple-Honey Glaze

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Hey, so maybe turkey isn’t your thing, but you still want a pressure cooker Thanksgiving or Christmas main dish — look no further! Via simpleawesomecooking.com.

Creamy Mashed Side Dishes

Creamy Mashed Potatoes In The Pressure Cooker

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Nothing says holiday comfort food quite like creamy mashed potatoes! Simple, perfect, easy, and quick for your holiday feast! Viapressurecookingtoday.com.

The Best Sweet Potato Casserole Ever {in the Instant Pot!}

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Our famous grain-free, gluten-free, healthy sweet potato casserole is now adapted to the Instant Pot! No refined sugar, no store-bought marshmallows! Via TraditionalCookingSchool.com. 25+ Homemade Marshmallow Recipes!

Lard-Whipped Parsnips With Caramelized Onions [Paleo/Whole30/AIP]

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Can’t eat potatoes? There’s no reason why you shouldn’t enjoy something pretty close — whipped parsnips! These are lower in carbs than potatoes and full of nourishing fat! Via grazedandenthused.com.

Easy Instant Pot Cauliflower Mash

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Need to fool some guests into eating a healthier side dish? Look no further than this cauliflower mash — made easy in the Instant Pot! Even the kids might be fooled! Viapressurecookermeals.com.

Pressure Cooker Mashed Turnips

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If turnips are an unfamiliar veggie for you, THIS is where you should start! This yummy side dish will make your holidaymeal extra special. Viathedailymeal.com.

See Also
Garlicky White Bean Pasta "Faux-Fredo" - Healthy Recipe Ecstasy

Sweet Pressure Cooker Carrot Puree

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This simple puree is made with 5 ingredients, in 10 minutes. What a great way to get your picky eaters to love eating their veggies. Viapressurecookrecipes.com.

Instant Pot Butternut Apple Mash {Paleo, Grain-Free, AIP}

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There’s already so much sugar in Thanksgiving dessert, right? No need to over-sweeten our side dishes too. This mashed butternut squash is naturally (and lightly) sweetened with apples! Viafoodandsunshine.com.

Creamy Pressure Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes

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Not mashed potatoes and not sweet potato casserole — it’s the perfect mix! Viapressurecookrecipes.com.

Ham & Cheddar Instant Pot Au Gratin Potatoes

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Ham + potatoes + cheese + an Instant Pot? Pure holidayheaven, if you ask me! Viaadventuresofanurse.com.

Holiday Pressure Cooker Veggies

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The holiday season just isn’tcomplete without green beans. No cream of mushroom soup here, however! Via TraditionalCookingSchool.com.

Sweet & Spicy Instant Pot Carrots

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Rarely the star of a meal, the humble carrot gets dressed up in this pressure cooker side dish that’s full of color and flavor! Viathesewildacres.com.

Red, White, & Green Pressure Cooker Brussels Sprouts

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Red pomegranate seeds and white toasted pine nuts look so appealing next to bright green pressure cooked Brussels sprouts! Add a splash of color to your table with this side dish! Viahippressurecooking.com.

Honey-Glazed Herbed Carrots

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“A quick and tantalizingly sweet way to serve carrots with just a hint of dill. It’s sweet and savory at the same time, and the aroma of thyme and dill will tickle your taste buds.” Viamissvickie.blogspot.com.

Pressure Cooker Butternut Squash {made in 3 minutes}

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There are just 5 ingredients in this simple autumn side dish. If you’re just getting your feet wet with pressure cooking, this is an easy recipe to begin with! Viacarrieonliving.com.

Instant Pot Herb-Roasted Potatoes

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Tender, herb-y, and the epitome of comfort food, the humble potato has a place on every Thanksgiving and Christmas table! This recipe is found only inside our Pressure Cooking eCourse!

Pressure Cooker Stuffed Acorn Squash

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Adorable and tender acorn squash makes an individual-sized cup for hearty stuffing. Viahappybellyfoodie.com.

Instant Pot Glazed Carrots

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I challenge you to find an easier, more rustic holidayside dish! This one’s sure to wow your friends and family! Via feistyeats.wordpress.com.

Green Beans In An Instant Pot

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Nothing fancy here… just simple, bright green beans full of flavor and nutrition because they’re pressure cooked! Viarecipesforinstantpot.com.

Sweet & Orange-y Brussels Sprouts

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Your celebrationmeal doesn’t have to be loaded with starch. With maple syrup and orange zest, you can add nutrition and color to your meal! Viafoodsforlonglife.blogspot.com.

Cranberry Sauce

Naturally Sweetened Cranberry Sauce In The Instant Pot

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I didn’t like cranberry sauce… until I made it myself with whole food ingredients. This naturally sweetened cranberry sauce takes just minutes in the Instant Pot. It’s even GAPS-friendly! Via TraditionalCookingSchool.com.

Pressure Cooker Orange Ginger Cranberry Sauce

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You’ll never open another can of cranberry sauce again once you’ve tried this flavorful sauce! Viathisoldgal.com.

Pressure Cooker Chipotle Cranberry Sauce

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A smokey twist on a classic! Add some spice and un-traditional flavor to your turkey and dressing! Viapressurecookerconvert.com.

And Of Course, Dessert!

Instant Pot Rice Pudding

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You can feed a crowd with this economical, oh-so-nourishing rice pudding. Perhaps you could even provide a topping bar — with dried fruits, nuts, coconut, maple syrup, and spices — so each person can customize their dessert! Via TraditionalCookingSchool.com.

Pressure Cooker Baked Apples

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A deceptively easy dessert, these baked apples will be a hit with grown-ups and kids alike! Viahippressurecooking.com.

Pressure Cooker Apple Cider

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When your guests need something sweet and spicy to sip on after they’ve stuffed their bellies, give them this beautiful pressure cooked cider! Viathehomemadecook.com.

Instant Pot Bread Pudding {with Paleo Option} & Sauteed Caramelized Pears

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A truly ethereal pleasure, warm bread pudding is cooked quickly and easily in the Instant Pot for a lovely, hearty dessert. (Or save some for breakfast the next day!) Viaeatbeautiful.net.

Pumpkin Cutie Pies

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Made from scratch and with fresh pumpkin, your holiday guests will enjoy these adorable, individual pumpkin cutie pies made in a pressure cooker! Via hippressurecooking.com.

Instant Pot Christmas Pudding

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A moist and fudgy traditional Christmas pudding made quick and easy in the Instant Pot or other pressure cooker! Viaeverynookandcranny.net.

Easy Instant Pot Spiced Apple Cider

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Instant Pot Spiced Apple Cider is so easy to make from scratch! It’sdelicious, perfectly spiced, maple sweetened and only takes 10 minutes cook time!Viarecipestonourish.com.

Honorable Mentions & How To Make Them Nourishing:

Will you be happily pressure cooking your way through the Thanksgiving and Christmas this year? What Instant Pot or pressure cooker holiday recipes will you try?

We only recommend products and services we wholeheartedly endorse. This post may contain special links through which we earn a small commission if you make a purchase (though your price is the same).

47 Healthy Instant Pot Holiday Recipes {pressure cooker, too!} (2024)

FAQs

What are the disadvantages of a pressure cooker? ›

Because pressure cooking is an enclosed form of cooking, there is no contact with air. Therefore, some nutritionists argue that the ingredients may remain uncooked from within which can hamper your digestion on being consumed.

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What is best cooked in a pressure cooker? ›

They are great with stews, soups, and beans, and if they're good with beans, they should be good with lentils, although lentils and spit peas cook pretty fast on their own. And they are good with rice. Almost anything that can be cooked in a normal pot can be cooked in a pressure cooker.

Read The Full Story ›
Is it better to slow cook or pressure cook? ›

If you want to turn it on and leave it to cook while you're at work, then a slow cooker is for you. But if you want to cook delicious meals quickly that would normally take hours, then a pressure cooker is for you.

Find Out More ›
Is it better to have a pressure cooker yes or no? ›

A pressure cooker saves 90 percent of the energy used to boil a pot on the hob. Some foods are perfect to cook under these hot and steamy conditions: a meat stock, for instance, takes advantage of all the pressure cooker's benefits.

Learn More ›
Why potatoes should not be cooked in pressure cooker? ›

Mostly we boil potatoes in a pressure cooker, but like rice, potatoes also contain a lot of starch. This is the reason why boiling or cooking in this pressure cooker is not considered good for health. If you still plan to use cooker for the same, add a lot of water and wash them thoroughly post cooking.

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Can bacteria survive a pressure cooker? ›

The pressure cookers used can inactivate up to 1010 CFU/mL bacteria and 107 CFU/mL fungi.

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What happens if a pressure cooker runs out of water? ›

It cannot cook your food properly without water, and the pressure will build to such an extent that the lid, pressure valve, plugs, and hot food could be thrown all over the kitchen. This can seriously harm you, your kids, and your pets, not to mention property damage that comes from flying projectiles.

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Why is a pressure cooker unhealthy? ›

Pressure cooking can reduce heat-sensitive nutrients (e.g., vitamin C, folate) and bioactive phytonutrients, such as betacarotene, glucosinolates (helpful compounds found in cruciferous vegetables) and omega-3 fatty acids, that are beneficial for human health.

Read The Full Story ›
Are Instapots bad for you? ›

Cooking in an “instant pot” or pressure cooker is a great method for preparing your food on many levels — including the nutritional level, according to registered dietitian Beth Czerwony, RD. “Instant pot recipes are absolutely healthy as long as what you put in the recipe is healthy,” she says.

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Do vegetables lose nutrients when cooked in pressure cooker? ›

Researchers found that sautéing spinach or amaranth leaves in a pan for 30 minutes destroyed about 95 percent of the vitamin C, whereas ten minutes in a pressure cooker wiped out only about 90 percent.

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Can I put frozen meat in pressure cooker? ›

It is safe to cook frozen food in a pressure cooker because it uses pressure to move food through the "Danger Zone" quickly. As a result, you don't run into the issues that you would find by cooking frozen food in a slow cooker, where it can stay too long in the Danger Zone and could become unsafe.

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How do you use an old fashioned pressure cooker? ›

For an old-fashion-type pressure cooker, place the cooker on medium-high heat and brown the foods. Then add liquids and remaining ingredients, cover, bring pressure up, and complete the pressure cooking. For newer cookers, most have a brown function—see manufacturer's instructions.

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Can you bake in a pressure cooker? ›

A pressure cooker that is designed for even heat distribution, like Stahl Xpress Cooker is great for baking. Remember to remove the gasket and pressure regulator or whistle before you bake in a pressure cooker. The idea is not to build pressure in the cooker but to create an oven-like experience.

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What is the life expectancy of a pressure cooker? ›

So long as you consistently care for the pressure cooker in your kitchen, you should get between two or three years of high-quality use out of it. The better care you take of your unit, the more likely it is to last beyond that timespan.

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What are the pros and cons of pressure cooker? ›

Advantages of pressure cooking include reduced cooking times and retention of nutrients, plus it's a great way to make energy-efficient, one-pot meals. The downsides include problems with foods that have different cook times and not being able to check the progress of the food cooking.

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Which type of pressure cooker is safe? ›

Stainless steel is non-reactive to acidic and salty food items, making cookers made of stainless steel a healthier choice.

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