Freezer Meal Instant Pot Recipes

I love recipes my whole family will eat. Pretty much anything with “pizza” in the title is a sure fire winner! This Instant Pot Pizza Casserole is no exception. My kids like pizza casserole so much that I make several varieties of it so that I don’t get bored. They never seem to tire of it though!

We started with this crock pot pizza casserole and sometimes vary things with our Tater Tot Pizza Casserole.

One of my daughters prefers this version because of the beef in it. I, of course like that it combines two of the easiest methods of cooking: freezer meals and the Instant Pot.

Instant Pot Pizza Casserole Recipe:

• 2 tsp. olive oil
• 2 tsp. butter
• 1 lb. lean ground beef
• 1 lb. garlic sausage, sliced
• 2 tsp. garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup onion, chopped
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 jar pizza sauce
• 1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning
• 1 cup beef broth
• 25-30 slices of small pepperoni
• 8 oz. uncooked pasta
• 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
• salt and pepper to taste

For cooking day:

• 1 cup water

Set your Instant Pot to sauté and add the butter and olive oil.

Add the ground beef and sausage and cook about 4-5 minutes or until the beef is no longer pink. Stir with a wooden spoon to break up the chunks of beef so that it cooks evenly.

Alternatively, you can brown the beef in a skillet.

Allow the meat to cool slightly. Place the cooked ground beef and sausage in a large resealable freezer bag.

Add the onions, garlic, tomato sauce, pizza sauce, Italian seasoning, pepperoni, and beef broth to the bag. In a medium sized bag, add the pasta. Place the shredded cheese in another medium bag.

Take any extra air out of all three bags and close. Staple the bags together above the seal.

On the day of cooking:

Take the meal out of the freezer. Thaw. Place the contents of the large bag into the Instant Pot. Add the pasta. Stir to make sure the pasta is covered with the liquid. Put the lid on the Instant Pot and set it to high pressure for 8 minutes. Release the pressure and wait for the steam to completely stop before opening the lid. Stir in the shredded cheese. Allow to sit for 1 minute before serving. Serve with garlic bread.

You might also be interested in these recipes:

Tater Tot Pizza Casserole

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Instant Pot Pizza Casserole Recipe

Course: Main Course

Keyword: Instant Pot Pizza Casserole

Ingredients

• 2 tsp. olive oil
• 2 tsp. butter
• 1 lb. lean ground beef
• 1 lb. garlic sausage sliced
• 2 tsp. garlic minced
• 1/2 cup onion chopped
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 jar pizza sauce
• 1  Tbsp. Italian seasoning
• 1 cup beef broth
• 25-30 slices of small pepperoni
• 8  oz. uncooked pasta
• 2  cups cheddar cheese shredded
• salt and pepper to taste

For cooking day:

• 1 cup water

Instructions

1. Set your Instant Pot to sauté and add the butter and olive oil. Add the ground beef and sausage and cook about 4-5 minutes or until the beef is no longer pink. Stir with a wooden spoon to break up the chunks of beef so that it cooks evenly.
2. Alternatively, you can brown the beef in a skillet.
3. Allow the meat to cool slightly. Place the cooked ground beef and sausage in a large resealable freezer bag.
4. Add the onions, garlic, tomato sauce, pizza sauce, Italian seasoning, pepperoni, and beef broth to the bag. In a medium sized bag, add the pasta. Place the shredded cheese in another medium bag.
5. Take any extra air out of all three bags and close. Staple the bags together above the seal.

On the day of cooking:

1. Take the meal out of the freezer. Thaw. Place the contents of the large bag into the Instant Pot. Add the pasta. Stir to make sure the pasta is covered with the liquid.
2. Put the lid on the Instant Pot and set it to high pressure for 8 minutes. Release the pressure and wait for the steam to completely stop before opening the lid. Stir in the shredded cheese. Allow to sit for 1 minute.

One of my sons loves those instant noodle soups. As a mom, I don’t want him eating them often. I wanted to find a healthier alternative. This Instant Pot Asian Beef Noodle Soup recipe is exactly what I was looking for. Being able to make this ahead and keep it in the freezer until cooking it quickly in the Instant Pot is so easy. Asian noodle soups just have an inherent comfort food quality to them.

Usually, a good broth takes many hours to meld the flavours and get to the desired depth. By using a pressure cooker, you can get the same depth of flavour in less than an hour.

Instant Pot Asian Beef Noodle Soup Recipe:

• 2 lbs. stew meat
• 2 cups mushrooms, sliced
• 1 small onion, diced
• 3 cups chicken or beef broth
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
• 1 Tbsp. rice vinegar
• 1 tsp. ginger

For the cooking day:

• 8 oz. long rice noodles

Add the diced onion, beef, mushrooms, broth, soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, and ginger into a large resealable freezer bag. Squish to mix everything together. Take out the extra air from the bag, seal, and freeze.

On the day you want to serve the soup, take the bag out of the freezer to thaw.

Set the Instant Pot to high pressure and set for 15 minutes.

Lock the lid and be sure the vent is closed.

Vent the pressure from the Instant Pot.

Add the noodles, making sure that they are completely submerged. Close and lock the lid on the Instant Pot, ensuring that the vent is closed. Set the Instant Pot to 2 minutes. Once the 2 minutes is up, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes. Afterwards, open the vent to release the remaining pressure. If you use gluten free soy sauce and hoisin sauce, then this soup recipe is gluten free.

You can top the soup with sesame seeds or slice green onions to make it “extra fancy”.

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Instant Pot Asian Beef Noodle Soup Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. stew meat
• 2 cups mushrooms sliced
• 1 small onion diced
• 3 cups chicken or beef broth
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
• 1 Tbsp. rice vinegar
• 1 tsp. ginger

For the cooking day:

• 8 oz. long rice noodles

Instructions

1. Add the diced onion, beef, mushrooms, broth, soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, and ginger into a large resealable freezer bag. Squish to mix everything together. Take out the extra air from the bag, seal, and freeze.
2. On the day you want to serve the soup, take the bag out of the freezer to thaw.
3. Set the Instant Pot to high pressure and set for 15 minutes.
4. Lock the lid and be sure the vent is closed.
5. Vent the pressure from the Instant Pot.
6. Add the noodles, making sure that they are completely submerged. Close and lock the lid on the Instant Pot, ensuring that the vent is closed. Set the Instant Pot to 2 minutes.
7. Once the 2 minutes is up, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes. Afterwards, open the vent to release the remaining pressure.

Check out these other make ahead Instant Pot recipes:

Instant Pot Beef Taco Soup 

Instant Pot Italian Chicken and Veggies 

This freezer meal Instant Pot Turkey Sloppy Joes recipe is sure to become a family favourite. The ground turkey is a nice change from the usual ground beef sloppy joes. As long as you use gluten free soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce, this recipe is gluten free.

If your family is new to ground turkey, this is a great gateway recipe! It has the familiarity of sloppy joes. It has the kid friendly appeal of being served on a bun. It’s the perfect way to introduce ground turkey.

Instant Pot Turkey Sloppy Joes Recipe:

2 lbs. ground turkey, browned
1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 Tbsp. minced garlic
1 small onion, diced
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup chili sauce
1 Tbsp. tomato paste
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
1/4 cup water

Using the olive oil, brown the ground turkey in a skillet or in the Instant Pot.

In a medium bowl, mix the tomato sauce, ketchup, chili sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, and Dijon mustard. Pour it into a medium sized resealable freezer bag and seal. Be sure to take out as much of the air as you can.

In another medium freezer bag, put the browned ground turkey, garlic, and onion. Seal the bag and staple to the bag with the sauce. Freeze.

On the day of cooking, take it out of the freezer to thaw. Set your Instant Pot to the sauté function. Add the bag with the ground turkey, onion, and garlic. Cook until the garlic and onion are fragrant and translucent.

Add the water and the contents of the bag of sauce.

Close and lock the lid on the Instant Pot and make sure the vent is closed. Set the Instant Pot to 8 minutes. Once the 8 minutes is up, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes. Open the vent and release the remaining pressure. Serve on a sliced bun with your favourite sides and enjoy! We like onion buns or pretzel buns the most. Use any hamburger size bun you like.

Suggestions for side dishes for sloppy joes:

• coleslaw
• French fries
• garden salad
• raw veggies such as celery, carrots, cucumbers, and baby tomatoes
• pasta salad
• corn on the cob
• baby spinach salad with strawberries
• potato chips
• tater tots
• green beans and fried potatoes
• mashed potatoes
• potato salad
• sweet potato fries
• macaroni and cheese

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Instant Pot Turkey Sloppy Joes Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. ground turkey
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 2 Tbsp. minced garlic
• 1 small onion diced
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup chili sauce
• 1 Tbsp. tomato paste
• 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 Tbsp. soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup water

Instructions

1. Using the olive oil, brown the ground turkey in a skillet or in the Instant Pot.
2. In a medium bowl, mix the tomato sauce, ketchup, chili sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, and Dijon mustard. Pour it into a medium sized resealable freezer bag and seal. Be sure to take out as much of the air as you can.
3. In another medium freezer bag, put the browned ground turkey, garlic, and onion. Seal the bag and staple to the bag with the sauce. Freeze.

On cooking day...

1. Take it out of the freezer to thaw. Set your Instant Pot to the sauté function. Add the contents of the bag with the cooked ground turkey, onion, and garlic. Cook until the garlic and onion are fragrant and translucent.

2. Add the water and the contents of the bag of sauce.
3. Close and lock the lid on the Instant Pot and make sure the vent is closed. Set the Instant Pot to 8 minutes. Once the 8 minutes is up, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes. Open the vent and release the remaining pressure.
4. Serve on a bun with your favourite sides and enjoy!

You really can have restaurant quality pork or chicken shawarma at home. Better than that, you can make it ahead as a freezer meal and then cook it in the Instant Pot. Yep, easy Chicken Shawarma without losing the flavours!

My brother-in-law and sister-in-law spent some time in Israel. When they got back, they invited us over for dinner and introduced us to Chicken Shawarma. 

While we ate, they told us about their time in Israel and the people they met there. Their stories blended in with the flavours to create such a memorable evening.

Afterwards, I was able to find a local Mediterranean restaurant that served the dish, but they often aren’t open when I have a craving. I knew I had to find an easy way to make it at home.

Since I make most of our meals ahead, I adapted this recipe to make it into a freezer meal. I make several at a time (which takes the same amount of time as making one). This way, I can always have one on hand for when a craving hits!

Having this Middle Eastern inspired dish go from the freezer to the Instant Pot makes it so quick and easy.

Instant Pot Pork or Chicken Shawarma Recipe:

• 1 1/2 lb skinless, boneless chicken or pork, sliced
• 2 Tablespoons shawarma seasoning
• 2 Tablespoons oil (for cooking day)
• 1/2 cup broth or water (for cooking day)
• Pitas (for serving)
• Parsley, optional (for garnish)
• Dill Pickles, optional (for serving)
• Hummus, optional (for serving)

Homemade Shawarma Seasoning:

• 1 Tablespoon black pepper
• 1 Tablespoon all spice
• 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
• 1/2 Tablespoon ground cloves
• 1/2 Tablespoon cinnamon
• 1/2 Tablespoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 Tablespoon ground cardamom
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon salt

Pat the chicken or pork dry and cut into 1/2 thick strips. Place all the cut meat into a medium or large resealable freezer bag.

Combine all shawarma seasonings together in a bowl. Add 2 Tablespoons of the mix to the bag and toss until the meat is completely coated in seasoning. (If you prefer, you can do the mixing in a bowl before adding to the bag.) 

Remove the excess air, seal, and freeze. Place the rest of the seasoning in a medium sized resealable freezer bag and store in the freezer to maintain its freshness.

On the day of cooking, take the bag of shawarma out of the freezer to thaw.

Place the 2 Tbsp. of oil in the Instant Pot and select the Sautee setting. Place the chicken or pork in the Instant Pot to sear for about 2 minutes.

Turn off the sautee setting and add your broth or water.

Select the meat setting for 10 minutes. You can use the natural or quick release. 

Some notes about serving pork or chicken shawarma:

The best way to eat shawarma (in my opinion) is to spread a layer of hummus on a pita, add some of the cooked meat, top with some dill pickle slices, and sprinkle with a bit of parsley. Roll the pita and get to the eating! I know that the dill pickle thing sounds weird. It sounded strange to me too at first. My sister-in-law, Marcia, convinced me to try it and I’m so glad that I listened. If you’re unsure, just add one slice and take a bite. You’ll probably open your pita back up to add more!

You can make your own hummus or use store bought. For this recipe, homemade hummus isn’t going to make a big difference one way or the other.

If you want to take this dish to the next level, you can also add a dollop of tzatziki or yogourt to your pita.

Check out some of our other Instant Pot freezer meals:

Instant Pot Italian Chicken and VegetablesInstant Pot Butter Chicken

If you are looking for Instant Pot recipes, check out our Instant Pot Freezer Meal Plan. It includes great recipes, prep lists, shopping lists, and printable labels.