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!)
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1. Instant Pot Turkey Breast
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.
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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.
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5. Instant Pot Apple Cider
If you haven't used your Instant Pot to make big batch drinks yet, you're missing out.
Recipe: Instant Pot Apple Cider
6. Slow Cooker Portobello Pot Roast
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
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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
8. Instant Pot Mashed Buttery Sweet Potatoes
Even with just butter, these are delicious (and fast!) to make. To upgrade them even more, toss in a bit of nutmeg and cinnamon.
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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
10. Shortcut Instant Pot Monkey Bread
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
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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
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13. Instant Pot Hot Chocolate
Not mandatory but highly encouraged? Adding bourbon or Bailey's.
Recipe: Instant Pot Hot Chocolate
14. Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free — and something everyone will love.
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15. Slow Cooker Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze
Tangy balsamic and salty Parmesan make just about everything better.
16. Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
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
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17. Instant Pot Cinnamon Apples
These are perfect spooned over poundcake or ice cream. (Or even just solo!)
Recipe: Instant Pot Cinnamon Apples
18. Crock Pot Pecan Pie
To easily lift the entire pie up and out after cooking, line the slow cooker with parchment paper first.
Recipe: Crock Pot Pecan Pie
19. Slow Cooker Potatoes au Gratin
Things you can never have too many of at Thanksgiving: Potato-based sides.
Recipe: Slow Cooker Potatoes au Gratin
