Best Instant Pot Thanksgiving Recipes

Here’s all the Instant Pot Thanksgiving recipes you’ll need for the holidays! From pressure cooker turkey to side dishes & dessert, we’ve got you covered. Perfect list to use for all of November.

Ninja Foodi Thanksgiving Recipes

I’m here to share a few of my favorite pressure cooker holiday recipes. Of course you can use them as Ninja Foodi recipes too, or whatever brand you have. If you have the latter, or the pressure cooker air fryer lid, you can make even more too.

Here’s the BIG list of everything you’ll need to create dinner for everyone in no time at all and save room in your oven for the larger things that really need it.

We have a recipe for the main dish, Instant Pot turkey of course but if you’re not a huge fan of that you could serve a pressure cooker ham which is a yummy dinner too no matter what time of year it is. You could easily use this list for your Instant Pot Christmas recipes too. This is why we love using this pot during this holiday.

Why We Love Hosting an Instant Pot Thanksgiving

1. It frees up your oven space for other dishes on Thanksgiving Day
2. Y’all can cook a dish very quickly
3. You can saute, cook, and keep warm all in one pot

Hands down it is the best thing that has ever been invented for this holiday in particular. The #1 item that I ALWAYS make in it are Instant Pot mashed potatoes or garlic mashed potatoes. If nothing else, make that!

What’s your favorite Thanksgiving IP recipe?

I would say that when there are just the 3 or 4 of us it is nice to make things quickly in smaller batches. This pot allows us to do just that. Like for smaller gatherings I can use this pressure cooker turkey breast recipe and if I want it crispy when done all you need to do is use their air fryer lid for a few minutes or throw it under the broiler.

Electric pressure cooker is what you will need, any brand. I just got my new Pioneer Woman Instant Pot with a non stick pot – you can use a Crockpot Express and/or Ninja Foodi too. For vegetables you will want a Instant Pot Steamer basket for sure.

Easy Instant Pot Thanksgiving Recipes

You will want a 6 c. bundt pan that fits into a 6 or 8 qt. IP is perfect for side dishes like my corn casserole and cornbread. I just bought mini mitts that have come in handy to get things out easier

• Pressure Cooker turkey is possible and done in a fraction of the time of course
  • You can make this pressure cooker gravy or Instant Pot sausage gravy as well with all the wonderful drippings from your bird

Instant Pot ham is a great alternative in case you aren’t a huge fan of turkey. A great choice if there are only 2-4 of you too so there aren’t too many leftovers.

Instant Pot Side Dishes are a must. I mean I think many times we could skip the meat entirely and just have an entire meal with just these. lol If you’re having an all day affair start the day with this pressure cooker breakfast quinoa that’s amazing – make a toppings bar for fun!

What side dishes can I cook without an oven or a stove?

• Instant Pot brussel sprouts and bacon is amazing and sure to go fast
• Pressure cooker baked potatoes are cheap and simple, but Instant Pot garlic mashed potatoes are easier to serve.
• A must is this Instant Pot corn casserole recipe
• Cheesy Instant Pot cauliflower is an amazing side dish that will be new to everyone

The best Instant Pot cheesy bacon ranch potatoes are here. Use a mixture of different cheeses to make them over the top fantastic. Instant Pot sweet potato casserole with a pecan topping or stop at the mashed sweet potatoes stage

• Holiday Instant Pot cranberry sauce is a must and SO easy!
• Easy Instant Pot artichokes are a favorite year round really
• This Instant Pot stuffing with butternut squash or without, works great!
• Cheesy Instant Pot scalloped potatoes – you may call them au gratin potatoes

Pressure cooker cornbread is really pretty to serve in this small bundt pan.

How to save time making Thanksgiving dinner

This is how!! You can prep everything that will be put into the oven and be even more organized by jotting down when each one needs to be put in so everything is done at the same time. In between those you can have your high pressure machine completing things where you can set it and forget it like rice and veggies.

Instant Pot white rice – basic recipe for cooked rice but is much easier than the stovetop method, something we use several times a week! For a healthier version, make Instant Pot brown rice. This way, it turns out fluffier than ever. Homemade Instant Pot spaghetti squash can be cubed or scraped for gluten free noodles

• Best Instant Pot spinach made buttery is a healthy choice
• Easy Instant Pot artichokes make a great side dish
• Pressure cooker fried cabbage with bacon of course

If you have picky kids coming just make a pot of Instant Pot macaroni and cheese so they’re happy.

• Instant Pot potatoes with Italian herb seasoning
• Creamy Instant Pot potato salad
• ButteryInstant Pot cauliflower mash
• The best Instant Pot green bean casserole
• Pressure cooker Amish macaroni salad

We always have some sort of fruit dish to serve on the side so this Instant Pot applesauce would work well for that.

You can make Instant Pot quinoa as a healthier side dish instead of rice

• Instant Pot popcorn is something fun to make if you have kids coming over and you can discuss how the Native Americans made popcorn way back when etc….
• Easy Instant Pot Indian vegetable rice is fun

Instant Pot Desserts for Thanksgiving

This Instant Pot pumpkin apple cake is just wonderful. You can use our pressure cooker pumpkin recipe to make homemade puree to use on toast for a sweet element in the morning too.

Not necessarily traditional but people RAVE about our Instant Pot rice pudding which for me is my favorite no matter what holiday it is. Or Instant Pot chocolate rice pudding.

• Fresh Instant Pot banana french toast for a brunch bowl of sweetness
• 1 minute Instant Pot apple crisp is always a favorite and just like Cracker Barrel
• Easy Instant Pot cheesecake recipe is easier than baked for sure
• Fun Instant Pot caramel popcorn you can do with kids. It is fun to watch it pop up using a glass lid.
• Instant Pot brownies (or fill with peanut butter…it’s amazing)
• If you want to cook dessert in your oven here are some easy pumpkin desserts

Then take note and PIN this roundup of Christmas brunch menu ideas, and December Instant Pot recipes. Make sure to use our leftover turkey recipe if you have any meat left. Don’t waste! You can make turkey stock out of the bones too.

Thanksgiving activities

• Thanksgiving bingo
• Free printable coloring Thanksgiving placemats