21 Cozy Instant Pot Recipes To Make On Christmas Eve

Eating fish on Christmas Eve is traditional for many Catholic families who participate in the Feast of the Seven Fishes, though no one is quite sure where the tradition comes from (as Eataly points out). If you're trying to stick with the food choices of your forefathers, make this Instant Pot lemon garlic parmesan shrimp from 365 Days of Crockpot. The sharp flavors and airy pasta make for a filling but light meal that won't leave you overstuffed when it's time to break out Santa's cookies.

Mushroom soup is a traditional Polish Christmas Eve dish, as Polska points out, so this vegan Instant Pot mushroom soup from Cookin Canuck is a totally festive option for Christmas Eve dinner. You can serve it as an appetizer or as a lighter entree if you've got big dessert plans.

Christmas Eve is a cozy holiday for many, spent at home by a warm fire, so a comforting bowl of Instant Pot beef stew would only make the night better. Courtesy of Well Plated, this recipe provides a one-stop meal that will leave your family feeling full and ready for Santa.

This honey balsamic salmon recipe from The Spicy Apron is ready in just ten minutes total, and the honey balsamic glaze will give the salmon an extra kick. Plus, it fits in with the fish-feasting theme.

I can't guarantee that the spicy flavors in A Cozy Kitchen's hearty chicken tortilla soup will distract your kids from the presents waiting for them down the hall, but it's worth a shot. Your whole dinner will be ready in just 40 minutes, and the fresh avocado will brighten up any winter night.

This light and airy Instant Pot chicken fettuccine alfredo (courtesy of Foodie Crush) would make an excellent precursor to the pounds of Christmas cookies the kids will leave out for "Santa."

Sticking with the fish theme? Try this delectable stew from Bowl of Delicious. It's got fresh bass, red pepper, and lemon juice for a flavorful and filling meal.

For all my vegan Christmas Eve celebrators out there, behold this pasta fagioli with cranberry beans and kale. The taste is refreshing and not too heavy, and making it in the Instant Pot cuts the cooking time in half (according to Susan from Fat Free Vegan).

Baked potatoes can be super filling as it is, so eating them as a soup just makes having a potato as your main course more socially acceptable. Settle into the Christmas spirit with this Instant Pot loaded baked potato soup from Princess Pinky Girl.

Ham is more traditional for Christmas day rather than Christmas Eve, but there's no reason you can't start the celebration early. Using Foodie Eat's recipe for Instant Pot ham with apple cider and brown sugar gives you a fully cooked ham in just 20 minutes, saving you valuable time as you rush to get the kids in bed so you can play Santa for the night.

The smallest touches can make a meal feel festive for the holidays, and the addition of the colorful cranberry spread to this pressure cooker cranberry pecan baked brie totally turns this recipe from Pressure Cooker Today into a holiday classic.

Santa shouldn't be the only one to enjoy cookies on Christmas Eve, so make this this Oreo cheesecake from Monday Is Meatloaf to give your family an extra treat. Pro tip: add red or green food coloring to the ganache frosting to make it super festive.

My family always has shrimp in some form for Christmas Eve, and I'll definitely be suggesting we whip out our Instant Pot to make this steamed shrimp and asparagus recipe from Lemon Lavender Love this year, mostly because it only cooks in two minutes and no one wants to have to wait for dinner.

I love that these Instant Pot baked potatoes from Sidetracked Sarah can be a fun side dish or a full entree once you load it up with toppings.

Have you ever seen such a festive cup of cocoa? I love the idea of drinking a cup of Awe Filled Homemaker's "Winter White" Instant Pot hot chocolate while reading The Night Before Christmas.

A traditional gumbo is a great way to include fish in your Christmas Eve dinner without the menu feeling too forced. Courtesy of Paint The Kitchen Red, this delicious New Orleans Instant Pot gumbo is filling, packed with the flavors of Louisiana, and the recipe makes enough to serve 10, so it's the perfect choice if you're feeding a crowd.

Mel’s Kitchen Cafe shares a sweet balsamic glazed pork loin recipe you can cook in a pressure cooker or slow cooker. Even though you can cook this recipe in either appliance, she recommends the Instant Pot for a juicier, more tender outcome. Shred up the pork when finished, drizzle the sweet balsamic glaze over, and serve immediately.

You can’t go wrong with a soup dish during the holidays, especially if it actually gets cold in your area. This flavorful Instant Pot split pea soup recipe is not only very affordable, but also comprised of classic vegetables you’re probably already using in your other holiday recipes like onions, carrots, and garlic. Budget Bytes says adding cubed ham is an option if you feel the need to add meat to this otherwise vegetarian recipe.

Meatloaf and Melodrama shares this Instant Pot spaghetti and meat sauce recipe that only takes 30 minutes to make. For a little extra flavor, you can saute the meat with Italian seasoning before layering the spaghetti and adding the tomato sauce. Since you’re using a pressure cooker, you’ll only have one pot to wash and don’t have to boil the noodles separately.

If dessert becomes an afterthought because you’re bombarded with main courses to prepare, try a quick recipe that won’t take up any valuable oven space. Channel all of the classic Christmas-time flavors with this Instant Pot eggnog cheesecake also created by Meatloaf and Melodrama. It’s made of a ginger-snap crust and topped off with whipped eggnog.

There may be a picky eater or two at your Christmas dinner table who won’t want anything to do with some of the more flavorful dishes you just spent your day making. This Instant Pot cauliflower mac and cheese recipe from Well Plated is bound to satiate their taste buds. The best part is, little ones probably won’t even notice that they’re eating vegetables.