Fear Not! The Instant Pot :: Freezer Meal Edition {Video Demo}

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It’s no secret that we are some die-hard Instant Pot (IP) Fans over here at the Fort Worth Moms Blog. Heck, my mom even bought me a “Pot Head” apron! This kitchen appliance has completely revolutionized the way I cook, and has radically diminished the stress of the after school, feed-the-children-dinner, do-all-the-homework, get-kids-to-sports-practice-madness! 

In this edition of “Fear Not, The Instant Pot,” we will give you a few ideas on how to make your dinner preparation even easier by doing a little prep work in advance. There are two approaches to this, and we will cover both! The first approach is cooking meals in advance, then freezing them ready to simply thaw, heat, and serve. The second approach is “dump meals.” These recipes are designed to do the prep work in advance, then dump the frozen goods into the Instant Pot the evening you are going to eat. And, as an added bonus, all of the recipes can be easily modified to be both gluten free and dairy free!

Instant Pot Freezer Meals

Without further adieu, here is our video demonstration of “Fear Not! The Instant Pot :: Freezer Meal Edition.” Check out the recipe links and shopping list below the video. (If you are on looking for a GREAT tutorial about Instant Pot basics, recipes showcasing its different settings and such, be sure to check out our other IP video HERE.)

Here are the four recipes on the menu:

Chicken Tortilla Soup (slightly modified)

  • 5 C chicken stock or broth
  • 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes (undrained)
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 2 tsp minced garlic
  • 2 tsp chili powder
  • 2 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast
  • 14.5 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 14.5 oz can corn, drained and rinsed 
  • 1 Tbsp lime juice

Pesto Ranch Chicken 

  • ¾ C pesto
  • 2 Tbsp ranch dressing mix
  • ½ c chicken broth or stock
  • 2 lbs chicken thighs, boneless, skinless

Honey Bourbon Chicken 

  • 1 ½ lbs chicken (Boneless, skinless thighs or breasts)
  • ⅛ tsp salt
  • ⅛ tsp black pepper
  • ½ C diced onion
  • ½ C soy sauce (or liquid aminos for GF)
  • ¼ C ketchup
  • 2 Tbsp oil of choice (olive, vegetable, etc.)
  • 2 tsp minced garlic
  • ¼ Tbsp red pepper flakes (less if desiring less spicy option)
  • 1 C honey

Root Beer Pulled Pork

  • 2 lbs pork roast
  • ½ tsp garlic salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 ¼ C onion, sliced
  • ¾ C root beer
  • ¼ C ketchup
  • 2 Tbsp tomato paste
  • ½ Tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 Tbsp worcestershire sauce
  • 1 Tbsp honey
  • 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour (or GF equivalent)

Shopping List

Fresh/Refrigerated

  • Lime (1)
  • Onion (3)
  • Lemon (1)

Dry Goods

  • Instant Pot shaped containers (64 oz plastic containers are perfect)
  • Gallon freezer bags
  • Mailing labels, perminant marker, packing tape (to freezer-proof labels)
  • Pesto (6 oz jar)
  • Ranch dressing mix 
  • Chicken broth/stock (6 C)
  • Can of diced tomatoes (14 oz)
  • 1 can/bottle root beer
  • Ketchup (1/2 C)
  • Tomato paste (2 Tbsp)
  • Worcestershire (1 Tbsp)
  • Honey (8 oz)
  • Flour (or GF flour substitute)
  • Soy sauce (liquid aminos to make GF) 
  • Can of black beans, drained and rinsed
  • Can of corn, drained and rinsed
  • Oil of choice (olive, vegetable, avocado, etc.)

Spices

  • Chili powder
  • Cumin
  • Garlic salt
  • Minced garlic
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Paprika
  • Red pepper flakes

Meat

  • 2 lb pork roast
  • 2 lb chicken thighs
  • 3 – 3.5 lbs chicken breasts
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Krista
Krista grew up in Arlington, Texas. While she was in undergrad at Texas Tech she swore she would never return, but after falling in love with her brother’s high school friend, Micah, that plan quickly fell out the window. Two kids later, her family’s roots are deeply planted. Krista spent the first six years of her professional life as a behavioral specialist working with students who faced emotional and psychological challenges, but, after having children, she quickly realized she had a strong entrepreneurial spirit. Since leaving her career in the school district, she has owned three different businesses. She currently spends most of her kid-free time teaching families how to improve their health with natural approaches, as well as empowering mothers to tap into their inner, God-given awesomeness! Although she believes deeply in the importance of living a natural, holistic lifestyle, balance is her number one goal (because, margaritas!!!).

10 COMMENTS

  1. It was so great watching you today. I am new to IP – did the water test and that’s as far as I’ve gotten. I’m anxious to try your recipes. Thank you so much!Eth

  2. Just received a Instant Pot for Christmas and was very nervous about using it until I came across your video. I wanted to Thank you ladies for sharing your video and the recipe.

  3. Just discovered you and love your clarity, easy-to-do style … and especially the “dump-and-go” (is that name right?!) recipes. I also just bought my first Instant Pot and am looking for every way possible to do less standing, chopping, preparing, cooking, etc. … not only for health considerations but at 65 I just decided I don’t want to waste valuable time and energy in the kitchen when I’d much rather be doing so many other things! However, eating healthy is still very important to me, so voila! Instant Pot ?

    May I make one tiny suggestion? Re the shopping list you have ~ put the list for each recipe with the recipe and not all in one lump. I.e. didn’t want to make the Root Beer Pulled Pork and now have to sort through all the recipe & shopping ingredients to remove the ones not needed for the other recipes.

    Looking to watch your other Instant Pot video ~ as soon as I post this ?

  4. Just discovered you and love your clarity, easy-to-do style … and especially the “dump-and-go” (is that name right?!) recipes. I also just bought my first Instant Pot and am looking for every way possible to do less standing, chopping, preparing, cooking, etc. … not only for health considerations but at 65 I just decided I don’t want to waste valuable time and energy in the kitchen when I’d much rather be doing so many other things! However, eating healthy is still very important to me, so voila! Instant Pot ?

    May I make one tiny suggestion? Re the shopping list you have ~ put the shopping list for each recipe with the recipe and not all in one lump. I.e. didn’t want to make the Root Beer Pulled Pork and now have to sort through all the recipe & shopping ingredients to remove the ones not needed for the other recipes.

    Looking forward to watching your other Instant Pot video ~ as soon as I post this ?

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