I was late to the Instant Pot craze. I was resistant at first, but so many of my friends were raving about theirs, especially the ones with large families, so I broke down and bought one. Actually, I wasn’t even the first one to use it after it arrived. My neighbour used it to make roasts in just 17 minutes and I was sold!
Freezer meals are my secret to easily feeding my family, but combining that time saver with this time saving appliance takes things to a whole new level. Instant Pot freezer meals are quickly becoming my new go-to for weekday dinners.
One of the biggest “a-ha” moments for me when it came to wanting to make my freezer meals in the Instant Pot is that you can cook meat from frozen.
This means that if you forget to take a freezer meal out in the morning or the night before, you can still just pop it into the Instant Pot*. FROM FROZEN. Yes, freezer meals and the Instant Pot really are a match made in kitchen heaven.
*Be sure to adjust cooking times for this.
Our Instant Pot Freezer Meals
BBQ Beef on a Bun
This is where your Instant Pot shines. Succulent shredded BBQ Beef on a Bun is ready in minutes and is delish!
Addictive Chicken
This is such a popular recipe and once you have a look at the ingredients, you can see why. Addictive Chicken is pretty addictive!
Beef and Barley Stew
Homey and filling, this Beef and Barley Stew is a wonderful meal to make ahead and freeze so you can whip it up on a gloomy day.
Carne Guisada
Spicy and hearty, this Mexican beef stew is popular to have with rice, or in tortillas. Carne Guisada can be made in the slow cooker, but who wants to take all day to get to this deliciousness?
Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork
If you’re looking to feed a crowd, the Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork is your go-to! It’s got a sweet heat that is a crowd pleaser.
Cheesy Cauliflower Soup
We love the Cheesy Cauliflower Soup because it is healthy, but rich-tasting. Top it with bacon bits, shredded cheese, and sliced green onions to make it feel truly decadent.
BBQ Shredded Chicken
The first time we tried the BBQ Shredded Chicken, we knew it was a winner. Topping it with coleslaw and a bit of garlic mayo on the bun creates the perfect bite!
Borscht
Borscht is a Ukrainian soup with a long history. This recipe uses some newer techniques because of the Instant Pot freezer meal combination, yet keeps the history and tradition of the dish alive.
Chicken Tinga
Tangy and zesty, Chicken Tinga is a wonderful way to spice up Taco Tuesday! Have it in soft tacos or with tortilla chips or on a tostada with some fresh taco fixings and enjoy.
Enchilada Soup
Taking all the flavours of an enchilada but putting it in a bowl of soup, the Enchilada Soup is majorly flavourful and honestly… exciting. You need to try this one!
Instant Pot Freezer Meal Tips
For recipes that call for cooked chicken, place the chicken on baking sheets and cook in the oven at 375° for 45 minutes (or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°) before cubing or shredding to add to meals.
To cook large quantities of bacon, twist the bacon and place it on a baking sheet.
Do your shopping and prep on one day and assemble the meals the next.
Wear good running shoes to avoid getting sore feet when making many meals.
Plan your recipes around what’s on sale and what you can buy in bulk. This will save so much money and help you budget ahead of time.
Make more than one of each recipe. I usually make 4 of each and make enough meals for 3 months at a time. But even making 2 of each recipe will enable you to save more time and money.
Take all the guesswork out of freezer meals by joining the Freezer Meals 101 Club where you can easily adjust the recipes’ serving size, create custom meal plans, shopping lists, prep lists, and printable labels with the cooking instructions for each meal.
Bone Broth
Quick to make in the Instant Pot and regarded for its excellent health benefits, this Bone Broth is also keto friendly.
Assemble the meals – place the ingredients for the meal into a freezer bag, get as much air as you can out of the bag, seal it, and freeze it until the day you want to cook that meal.
Thaw the bag.
Follow the cooking instructions on the label.
Eat and enjoy!
Beef Taco Soup
If you have such a thing as leftover taco meat, you can roll it into this Beef Taco Soup. You’ll like it so much, you’ll make it on its own without waiting for taco night leftovers.
Philly Chicken Sandwiches
Taking the great flavours from a Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich and throwing chicken into the mix, we get these terrific Philly Chicken Sandwiches that you can whip up in the Instant Pot.
We love the Shredded Beef Nachos because not only are they super tasty, they go a long way and can make nachos and tacos for days!
Cincinatti Chili
In the magical land of Ohio, they put Cincinatti Chili on spaghetti. There is quite a history in the making of this chili. Even if you don’t make this dish (and you should because it’s amazing), you should at least click to find out all about Cincinatti Chili! For example, did you know that if you put it on a hot dog, you call it a Coney?!
Curried Butternut Squash Soup
We have always loved the Curried Butternut Squash Soup but you have to read our favourite review of this soup from Freezer Meals 101 Club Member Julie W. to really understand how good it is. “Holy Cow, This soup is AMAZING! I don’t like sweet potatoes or butternut squash, but I want to because they are good for you so I’m always on the lookout for recipes with them I can gag down. Will let me tell you this soup I inhaled and licked the bowl after. If you like curry flavor you will love this soup! Thank you ladies.”
Pressure Cooker Kalbi Korean Short Ribs from This Old Gal – Place the marinating meat bag in the freezer for up to 3 months before thawing and cooking in the Instant Pot. If cooking from frozen, adjust the cooking time.
Check out our Instant Pot Freezer Meals Plan which takes all the guesswork out of preparing Instant Pot meals ahead of time. It includes the recipes, prep lists, shopping lists, and printable labels.
Taking a bit of time to fill your freezer with Instant Pot friendly recipes will be a decision you will thank yourself for again and again!
Not sure how to make Freezer to Instant Pot meals?
Check out our Easy Guide to Instant Pot Freezer Meals. It’s got everything you need to know including how to convert slow cooker recipes to the Instant Pot.
