Looking for Instant Pot Thanksgiving recipes that keep your kitchen cool and cut down on stove time? These pressure cooker recipes will save time and stress while still delivering classic holiday flavors. Using an Instant Pot for sides, mains, and desserts lets you spend less time hovering over pots and more time with family.
Many traditional Thanksgiving dishes translate beautifully to the pressure cooker, finishing in a fraction of the time without sacrificing taste or texture. Below are carefully organized Instant Pot recipes for sides, mains, and desserts to streamline your holiday menu.
Accessories for the Instant Pot
An Instant Pot makes large holiday meals much more manageable. A few helpful accessories expand what you can cook and make prep and cleanup easier:
- Instant Pot or similar electric pressure cooker — required to follow these recipes as written.
- Steamer basket — ideal for steaming vegetables quickly and easily.
- Springform pan — needed for cheesecakes and other “baked” desserts; check measurements to ensure it fits your pot.
- Pot-in-pot rack or insert — useful when elevating food, preventing burn notices, or cooking multiple items at once.
- Extra inner liner — handy when you want to swap dishes quickly without washing the liner between batches.
- Accessory bundles — convenient if you prefer a ready-made set instead of choosing items individually.
Instant Pot Thanksgiving Recipes
Here’s a curated list of Instant Pot recipes grouped by course. Each entry includes a short description and an image to help you choose dishes that fit your menu and timeline.
Instant Pot Thanksgiving Sides
Thanksgiving side recipes made right in the Instant Pot in a matter of minutes—perfect for your holiday feast and easy to prepare.
Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Fluffy, smooth mashed potatoes infused with garlic butter and made in the Instant Pot for an easy, delicious side.
Easy Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce
Tart cranberries combined with orange zest, orange juice, and warming spices make this a bright, quick sauce to pair with turkey.
Instant Pot Turkey Onion Gravy
A rich, buttery turkey gravy with tender onion bites—made quickly in the Instant Pot and perfect for any holiday plate.
Instant Pot Mac and Cheese Recipe (So Creamy!)
Hearty and comforting mac and cheese made in under 20 minutes—creamy, cheesy, and fuss-free for a holiday crowd.
Instant Pot Cowboy Beans
Hearty, flavorful cowboy beans that pair well with turkey and other mains—an easy and satisfying side for the holiday table.
Instant Pot Thanksgiving Main Course Recipes
These main course recipes help you spend more time with guests and less time preparing dinner—ideal when the oven is busy or you need faster results.
Easy Instant Pot Turkey Breast (With Gravy!)
A juicy, tender turkey breast cooked quickly in the Instant Pot—perfect for smaller gatherings or when you need to free the oven.
Best Instant Pot Turkey Breast Recipe
Tender turkey in about an hour—an efficient Instant Pot method that still delivers savory flavor and great texture.
Instant Pot Honey Baked Ham
An Instant Pot take on honey baked ham that stays moist and flavorful—great when you want a show-stopping centerpiece without long oven time.
Instant Pot Turkey Necks with Gravy
Flavorful, fall-off-the-bone turkey necks simmered in rich brown gravy—comforting and simple to prepare in the pressure cooker.
Instant Pot Turkey Breast using Sous Vide
A sous-vide style approach in the Instant Pot yields tender, evenly cooked turkey—ideal when the oven is needed for other dishes.
Instant Pot Herbed Turkey Breast
Herb-seasoned turkey breast with gravy, ready in under an hour—simple, flavorful, and family-friendly.
Instant Pot Thanksgiving Desserts
Instant Pot desserts let you finish the meal without tying up the oven. These pressure-cooked sweets are convenient, delicious, and great for freeing oven space.
Decadent Instant Pot Pecan Pie
Yes—you can “bake” pecan pie in the Instant Pot. It’s surprisingly easy and frees up your oven for other holiday dishes.
Instant Pot Pumpkin Cheesecake
Smooth, creamy pumpkin cheesecake that’s moist and crack-free—an elegant holiday dessert made easily in the pressure cooker.
Instant Pot Oreo Cheesecake with Oreo Crust
An indulgent alternative to pie—Oreo crust and rich filling topped with hot fudge make this a crowd-pleaser.
Easy Instant Pot Butter Pecan Cheesecake
Creamy butter pecan cheesecake that’s quick to make in the Instant Pot and frees oven space for the rest of the meal.
Instant Pot Snickerdoodle Cheesecake
Warm spices and a soft, creamy filling make this snickerdoodle cheesecake a fall favorite for your dessert spread.
Instant Pot Mini Cheesecakes
Mini cheesecakes in assorted flavors—Meyer lemon, strawberry, and chocolate—great for offering variety with minimal fuss.
Easy Instant Pot Peppermint Cheesecake
A festive peppermint cheesecake with cookie crust and chocolate ganache—perfect for a holiday finish that’s eye-catching and tasty.