On Christmas Day, the oven is the most popular appliance in the house. Everyone needs it at the same time, and it never has enough room. Meanwhile, the multicooker sits in the corner, ready to cook half of dinner without anyone fighting over the racks.
Here’s how to let your multicooker (Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or any electric pressure cooker) handle the lazy parts of Christmas dinner, from the main dish to dessert drinks.
Why the Multicooker Is a Christmas Hero
- It frees up the oven for the roast or the ham.
- It cooks fast under pressure, so potatoes and carrots are done in minutes.
- It keeps food warm for hours on the keep-warm setting, so nothing goes cold while you wait for late guests.
- It’s one pot. Fewer dishes is the best Christmas gift you can give yourself.
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Main Dishes
Melt-in-Your-Mouth Pot Roast
A beef chuck roast becomes fork-tender in the multicooker. Season a 3-pound roast with salt and pepper, sear it on the sauté setting, then add 1 cup of beef broth, a chopped onion, a few garlic cloves and some carrots.
Cook on high pressure for about 60 to 75 minutes, then let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes. Shred or slice, and turn the cooking liquid into gravy on the sauté setting with a cornstarch slurry.
Warmed Spiral Ham
Most spiral hams are already cooked, so you just need to warm them. If your ham fits, place it on the trivet with a cup of water or pineapple juice and warm it on high pressure for a short time, following the package directions or a trusted recipe for your size.
Reheat until it reaches 140°F (60°C), then brush with a glaze of brown sugar, mustard and a little honey. Want caramelized edges? Put it under the oven broiler for 2 to 3 minutes.
Creamy Chicken in Mushroom Sauce
For a smaller crowd, chicken thighs with mushrooms, garlic, broth and a splash of cream are rich and cozy. Cook boneless thighs on high pressure for about 8 to 10 minutes, then stir in the cream on sauté. Serve over mashed potatoes.
Sides
The Easiest Mashed Potatoes Ever
Add peeled, cubed potatoes and 1 cup of water to the pot (on the trivet or a steamer basket). Cook on high pressure for 8 to 10 minutes, quick release, drain and mash right in the pot with butter, warm milk and salt.
Switch to keep warm and stir now and then. They’ll stay creamy until dinner. No giant pot of boiling water on the stove.
Honey Garlic Carrots
Baby carrots, a little butter, honey, garlic and a splash of water. Cook on high pressure for 2 to 3 minutes, quick release, then simmer on sauté until the sauce turns glossy. Sprinkle with parsley and they look like they took an hour.
Creamy Mac and Cheese
Kids love it, adults secretly love it more. Cook pasta with water and a little salt on high pressure for about 4 minutes, quick release, then stir in shredded cheddar, a splash of milk and a little butter. It’s ready before you can find the colander.
Steamed Green Beans
Put green beans in a steamer basket with a cup of water and cook on high pressure for 0 to 1 minute (yes, zero: it cooks while the pot comes up to pressure). Quick release right away, then toss with butter and toasted almonds.
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Drinks and Dessert
Mulled Wine or Cider
Pour in a bottle of red wine or apple cider, add orange slices, cinnamon sticks, a few cloves and a little sugar or honey. Use the slow cook or keep-warm setting so it never boils. Guests can ladle their own and the whole house smells like Christmas.
Hot Chocolate Bar
Milk, cocoa powder, chocolate chips and a pinch of salt, warmed on low and kept on keep-warm. Set out marshmallows, whipped cream and crushed candy canes and let everyone build their own mug.
Shortcut Bread Pudding
Cubes of day-old brioche or panettone, eggs, milk, sugar and cinnamon in a heatproof dish on the trivet. Pressure cook for about 20 to 25 minutes and let the pressure release naturally. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream. It’s the perfect use for leftover holiday bread.
A Lazy Christmas Day Timeline
- Morning: make the mulled wine and keep it warm in the multicooker.
- 3 hours before dinner: start the pot roast (or put the ham in the oven).
- 1 hour before: cook the mashed potatoes, then keep them warm.
- 30 minutes before: carrots or green beans, plus the air fryer appetizers.
- During dinner: bread pudding cooks while everyone eats.
Have two multicookers? Even better. Borrow one from a friend for the day: they’re easy to transport and you’ll basically have a second oven.
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Multicooker Tips for Holiday Success
- Don’t overfill. Stay under the max line, especially with potatoes and foamy foods.
- Always add liquid. Most pressure cooking needs at least 1 cup of liquid to build pressure.
- Use quick release for veggies so they don’t turn mushy, and natural release for meat so it stays tender.
- Check the sealing ring. If it smells like last week’s curry, swap in a spare ring for sweet dishes.
- Use a thermometer. Times are a guide. The meat is done when it reaches the right temperature.
Need More Christmas Ideas?
Check out our easy air fryer Christmas appetizers, or let AI do the planning with our guide on how to plan Christmas dinner with AI. Still deciding between appliances? Here’s our honest air fryer vs multicooker comparison.
And for the moments when something goes wrong, keep the free Lazy Kitchen Rescue Kit on your fridge.
Get the Lazy Kitchen Rescue Kit
3 cheat sheets for your fridge: quick fixes for kitchen fails, air fryer times and temps, and emergency ingredient swaps. Free, straight to your inbox.
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