Home » Roundup: 45 Thanksgiving recipes you can make in an Instant Pot
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Pressure cook your Thanksgiving dinner to make it easier and faster than ever! These Instant Pot Thanksgiving recipes are the comforting and delicious classic foods your family loves, but made in a fraction of the time.
Did you know you can use your Instant Pot to make all the Thanksgiving classics, from Tender Turkey Breast to Pumpkin Pie and everything in between?
Whether you’re bringing a dish, hosting family, or just keeping things small this year, turn to your Instant Pot to make the best Thanksgiving recipes!
If you’re cooking for a smaller crowd—or even just for two—your Instant Pot can help you all of make your must-have Thanksgiving foods while keeping portions smaller.
Need Help Timing Your Thanksgiving Day Meal?
🦃 Click here and we’ll tell you exactly when to start each recipe for the big day! 🦃
Updated for 2023: I’ve rounded up the best Thanksgiving Instant Pot recipes for the most delicious oven-optional holiday dinner you’ve ever made.
We’ve included the classics—turkey, mashed potatoes, bread dressing—as well as some unexpected variations that you can tailor to your
✅ As always, all of these easy recipes will work in any brand of electric pressure cooker, including the Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi, or Power Pressure Cooker XL.
45+ Thanksgiving recipes you can make in your Instant Pot
Your Instant Pot is an incredibly useful tool for making your Thanksgiving meal. We've included traditional recipes and new flavor variations for making everything in the Instant Pot—from the turkey to sides like mashed potatoes and dressing to dessert.
Five Ways to Make Turkey in the Instant pot
Whether you're cooking a small turkey to feed a small group or prefer to brine your turkey with flavors you don't want in your gravy, pressure cooking is the best way to prevent a dry bird. Here are five recipes for Instant Pot turkey:
1
Classic Instant Pot Turkey Breast
This is the best turkey recipe for a small Thanksgiving gathering. Always tender and juicy, this pressure cooker thanksgiving turkey is simply seasoned with salt, pepper, thyme, celery, and onions. As a result, every bite is full of real turkey flavor.
2
Turkey Breast with Garlic-Herb Butter
Photo Credit:www.eatwell101.com
This herby and garlicky Instant Pot turkey recipe adds extra savory flavors to your dinner. Plus, it makes a fantastic gravy!
3
Orange and Paprika Turkey Breast
Photo Credit:ohsweetbasil.com
To bring extra brightness and a hint of spice to this classic Thanksgiving entrée, cook your turkey breast in zesty orange juice with plenty of paprika and garlic.
4
Sous Vide Turkey Breast
Photo Credit:Neena at Paint the Kitchen Red
If you have family members who are often late, cooking your turkey sous vide is the perfect solution! Turkey breast sous vide involves cooking the turkey at a low temperature for a longer period of time. The turkey is fully cooked after 3 hours, but it can stay in the sous vide for up to 6 hourswhile you wait for your loved ones.
5
Turkey Meatballs
Keep it easy and skip the turkey altogether—turkey meatballs are less expensive and cook up much, much more quickly. Plus, it leaves you more room for sides.
Instant Pot Thanksgiving Sides
While most Thanksgiving menus include some standard side dishes, there's no rule that those dishes have you be on *your* table this year.
6
Instant Pot Stuffing (Dressing)
Whether you call it "dressing" or "stuffing," this essential Thanksgiving dish is so easy to make in the pressure cooker. My family’s favorite stuffing recipe is a classic white-bread stuffing. Plus, making Instant Pot stuffing in a bundt pan also means more crispy edges––everyone’s favorite part!
Whatever you do, don’t skip toasting your bread. It helps the bread absorb moisture without becoming mushy.
7
Instant Pot Cornbread Dressing
This easy Instant Pot Cornbread Dressing recipe has sweet and savory flavors from apples, onions, celery, fresh herbs, and day-old cornbread.
8
Creamy Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
If you make just one pressure cooker Thanksgiving recipe this year, let it be mashed potatoes. No boiling over, no pot watching, no steamy kitchen. My Pressure Cooker Creamy Mashed Potatoes are the only way I make potatoes for my family. Tip: use a ricer for smooth, creamy potatoes every time.
Plus, if you’re making multiple dishes in your pressure cooker on turkey day, you can make the potatoes ahead of time. Transfer the cooked dish to a crockpot set to Warm and pour a little milk on top. Stir occasionally to ensure they don’t dry out.
9
PERFECT Baked Potatoes | Instant Pot recipe
Not in the mood for mashed? Crisp on the outside and creamy and fluffy on the inside, these Baked Potatoes get cooked quick in the Instant Pot and are finished with the air fryer lid attachment. It's the best way to make potatoes!
10
Cheesy Potatoes Au Gratin | Instant Pot recipe
Instant Pot Cheesy Potatoes Au Gratin are thinly sliced scalloped potatoes, coated in a rich, creamy, cheese sauce, and crowned with a crispy panko breadcrumb topping.
11
Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole in the Instant Pot
Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole is quick, easy and topped with a crunchy topping of crushed potato chips and panko bread crumbs.
12
4-Minute Rosemary Garlic Potatoes
This Rosemary New Potato side dish has just four ingredients and a 4-minute cook time in your Instant Pot.
13
Garlic Roasted Red Potatoes | Instant Pot recipe
Cook these red potatoes quick in the electric pressure cooker, then coat in melted butter, garlic and herbs, and Parmesan cheese, and crisp them to perfection in your oven.
14
Instant Pot Ranch Twice Baked Potatoes
Instant Pot Twice Baked Ranch Potatoes are a crowd-pleasing side dish with soft and fluffy baked potatoes topped with cheesy ranch flavor and scallions.
15
Instant Pot Caramelized Onion Mashed Potatoes
This recipe for Instant Pot Caramelized Onion Mashed Potatoes is light, fluffy and full of savory flavor from shredded cheese, sour cream and bacon.
16
Instant Pot Cauliflower Mash
This is the best and creamiest Instant Pot Cauliflower Mash made in one pot with just four ingredients!
17
Instant Pot Low-Carb Loaded Cauliflower Mash
Photo Credit:kalynskitchen.com
This low-carb cauliflower mash is a healthier and pillowy-soft substitute for mashed potatoes, complete with your favorite savory and crunchy toppings.
18
Instant Pot Sweet Potato Casserole
People seem to either love 'em or hate 'em, and everyone seems to have a different spin on them. My family's favorite Sweet Potato Casserole recipe features a sweet, crunchy brown sugar pecan topping. (If you're a marshmallow topper, sub the pecan topping for 2 to 3 cups of mini marshmallows and broil until the marshmallows are golden brown.)
19
No-Sugar Added Sweet Potato Casserole
Photo Credit:tidbits-marci.com
For a healthier spin on the classic casserole, this recipe has the same buttery pecan crunch on top without any added sugar.
20
Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Not every Thanksgiving sweet potato recipe has to be sweet! These creamy and fluffy mashed sweet potatoes go the savory route thanks to fresh herbs and parmesan.
21
Macaroni and Cheese
Thanksgiving or not, this is one of our favorite Instant Pot recipes. Crispy bacon adds crunch to this silky, cheesy pasta dish that adds heartiness to any meal.
22
Quick Instant Pot Cornbread
Put your bundt pan to use for another classic turkey day recipe: moist, dense cornbread. You can serve it as-is, or make a loaf a day or two ahead of time and turn it into stuffing.
23
Rice Pilaf with Carrots, Peas and Parsley
Rice pilaf is not a traditional Thanksgiving side, but if you're making a turkey with a citrus brine (or other nontraditional flavors), this is a perfect side dish. Plus, this easy one-pot rice pilaf is full of color, thanks to mixed veggies and fresh herbs.
24
Green Beans
Make Instant Pot Green Beans with a cheesy parmesan-breadcrumb topping for a family-favorite side dish perfect for both weeknights and special occasions!
25
Carrots with a Maple Butter Glaze
A 20-minute side dish recipe, Instant Pot Carrots feature crisp-tender veggies in a rich butter-maple glaze, topped with crunchy pepitas.
26
Instant Pot Brussels Sprouts
Instant Pot Brussels Sprouts with parmesan and dried cranberries is a delicious vegetarian holiday side dish with a seasonal flair.
27
Homemade Cranberry Jelly
This classic Thanksgiving dish is a must-have at my house. Made in a bundt pan with fresh berries, cranberry jelly can also double as a stunning centerpiece. Plus it’s way better than the canned stuff!
28
Cranberry Apple Sauce
This cranberry sauce recipe is my favorite way to make cranberries. It's a little nontraditional, but the sauce strikes the perfect balance of tart and sweet.
29
Cranberry Pecan Brie Appetizer
This sweet and savory appetizer is “baked” in an electric pressure cooker. A gooey, cheesy center and sweet-tart fruit topping makes the ideal pre-dinner snack.
Instant Pot Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes
As much as I love Thanksgiving dinner, I think I might like dessert even better. The Instant Pot is an excellent environment for pumpkin pie,
30
Pumpkin Pie | Instant Pot recipe
This recipe features a classic pumpkin pie filling with crumbly Pecan Sandies cookie crust. The creamy custard center cooks perfectly in the moist Instant Pot environment.
31
Homemade Pumpkin Puree | Instant Pot Recipe
If you really want to take your pumpkin pie the extra mile, cooking a pie pumpkin in the Instant Pot is the easiest way to make your own puree! This homemade pumpkin puree has a short cook time and cooks, blends, and thickens your pumpkin all in the same pot.
32
Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker Pumpkin Steel Cut Oats with Pecan Pie Granola
If you've made your own pumpkin puree, you'll likely have enough extra to whip up a batch of this amazing oatmeal as well. (If you have an 8-quart or a higher-wattage model like the Pro, you may need to make this one pot-in-pot. It's thick, creamy, and perfect for Fall.)
33
Pumpkin, Caramel, Pecan Cheesecake
This light and creamy pumpkin chesecake is made in the Intant Pot and topped with homemade two-ingredient caramel sauce and buttery pecans.
34
Key Lime Pie
Speaking of less traditional, this one might sound surprising in a round-up of the best Thanksgiving recipes. But give it a try: key lime pie is an excellent way to bring more brightness and tart flavor to your holiday table. Balanced out, of course, with sweet whipped cream.
35
Instant Pot Caramel Pecan Cheesecake
Make a fantastic, if less traditional, pumpkin dessert for your Thanksgiving table with a moist and fluffy Instant Pot cheesecake.
36
Instant Pot Apple Crisp
It’s hard to resist this all-American dessert made with seasonal fruit and a crunchy oat crumble topping.
37
Pumpkin Spice Baked French Toast
This Pumpkin Spice Bake is a rich, decadent treat, whether you eat it for breakfast or serve it alongside your dessert pies.
38
Apple Butter | Instant Pot recipe
This Apple Butter recipe is just the right amount of sweet and perfect for fall. The apple flavor takes center stage, and it's my favorite way to eat any leftover rolls the next day.
39
Spiced Pumpkin Apple Butter
This smooth and creamy apple butter gets a boost from creamy pure pumpkin—basically it's the flavors of fall in a jar and makes a delicious topping to bread or ice cream.
40
Homemade Wassail
This "shortcut" recipe starts with apple cider and adds all sorts of amazing flavors. After pressure cooking, this wassail tastes like it's been simmered for hours and hours.
41
Apple Cider (Non-alcoholic Instant Pot recipe)
Photo Credit:www.365daysofcrockpot.com
Treat guests to homemade apple cider flavored with fresh cranberries, real cinnamon sticks, and ripe apples.
42
Instant Pot Applesauce
Instant Pot Applesauce is a healthy, sweet, delicious snack (or dessert) made with two kinds of apples and your favorite seasonings. Enjoy this seasonal treat warm or cold!
43
Instant Pot Crème Brûlée
If you’re celebrating a smaller Thanksgiving this year, then individual creme brulees might be the perfect festive way to end your meal. They’re creamy, decadent and packed with real pumpkin flavor.
Instant Pot Recipes for Thanksgiving Leftovers
Just because the main event has ended, doesn't mean the cooking stops. (For better and worse!) If you have more leftovers than expected, here are some recipe ideas to take you beyond turkey sandwiches.
44
Instant Pot Turkey Stock
After the big feast, don't throw away the turkey carcass! Use it to make flavor-packed broth for soup, sauces and more.
45
Turkey Noodle Soup
This is one of my favorite ways to use leftovers. Savory broth, tender turkey meat, and springy noodles make the perfect day-after lunch or dinner.
46
Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
Swap out chicken for turkey in this creamy soup recipe perfect for a chilly late November day.Plus, its ready in under 30 minutes!
47
Butternut Squash Soup
Another nontraditional option: Creamy, protein-packed, and silky smooth, this Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup has all the flavors of fall. We’ve made it a complete meal by adding orzo and it'd be easy to swap out the chicken for turkey.
48
Turkey Pumpkin White Bean Chili
Photo Credit:www.skinnytaste.com
Stir cooked, leftover turkey into this pressure cooker chili recipe to enjoy Thanksgiving flavors in a totally new way.
What are you going to serve for Thanksgiving this year?
Let us know how you’re using your pressure cooker!
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