*Note:The photos shown here are just examples of possible meal kits. Please follow the cook times and amounts of water listed in the actual recipes below when making your own meal kits.
Thinking of giving someone an INSTANT POT as a gift this Holiday Season? Why not make them a couple of MEAL KITS to go along with their new Instant Pot? It’s a really great way to help them get started it right away, because all they need to do is pour in the contents of the jar, then JUST ADD WATER. Push the button, adjust the time; then walk away until meal time. The instant pot is already pre-programed to do the rest. Now how simple is THAT?
WE’VE GOT TWO INSTANT POT MEAL KITS FOR YOU TO MAKE:
The first is a yummy BREAKFAST meal kit: PUMKIN SPICE STEEL-CUT OATMEAL.
The second is a lunch or dinner kit for: SPLIT PEA SOUP!
The meal kits are made from dry, shelf stable, ingredients so you can make up these kits ahead of time, and get them all wrapped up, along with the Instant Pot, and put them under the Christmas Tree. Or you can box them up and safely mail them to your far-away family and friends.
*Note: Most of the ingredients used in these kits are widely available, but if you can’t find dehydrated pumpkin powder, you can get it HERE and you’ll find the dehydrated carrots HERE.
To make breakfast, the only thing your gift recipient needs to do is JUST ADD WATER to the instant pot then pour in the contents of the jar. Now just push PRESSURE COOK (or MANUAL on the old model) and breakfast will be ready in no time. If desired, the timer function can be used so the oatmeal can be set up in the instant pot the night before, so they’ll wake up to hot, yummy oatmeal in the morning. (See recipe below for more details and simple delay timer instructions.)
Go ahead and make the meal kits look fancy by getting some fun or unique, tall mason jars then place the ingredients into the jars by strategically layering the ingredients to make a visually attractive design. Don’t forget to dress it up by placing a cinnamon stick down the side of the jar, and including an edible accent on top as shown in the photo below. 
If desired, apply a mason jar label to the top of the lid and use a silver sharpie to write on the name of the meal kit you are making (Silver sharpie looks like chalk when written on a black label, but it won’t wipe off.)
When you put together the split pea soup kit, it’s fun to take a couple of bay leaves, and slide them down the sides of the jar before layering in the rest of the ingredients, This not only provides a pretty accent, but will help season the soup too.
When your gift recipient is ready to try out their new gift, all they need to do is pour the contents of the Split Pea Soup Meal Kit into the Instant Pot, and just add water. If desired, they can make a salad or toast up some breadsticks while the soup is cooking. Once the cook time is finished, the Instant Pot will automatically switch to KEEP WARM mode, so the soup will be hot and ready whenever its time to eat lunch or dinner.
WOW! How welcoming is this on a cold winter’s day!
These meal kits are also great to make up for YOURSELF! It’s quite comforting to know that you’ve got everything you need to quickly put together a hot and delicious meal, using your pre-made meal kit. Just add water! They’re perfect for busy days when there’s no time to cook, or for when the grocery budget is tight and the pantry shelves are looking a little bare. What’s not to love about these Instant Pot Meal Kits!
These meal kits will work well as is, in either the 3 quart mini Instant Pot, the standard 6 quart Instant Pot, or even the larger 8 quart Instant Pot. (If cooking for a crowd, double the ingredients and layer into a 1 quart jar, instead of the pint jar. The double recipe is too much for the 3 quart mini pot, so only double the recipe for the 6 quart or the 8 quart instant pot.) (One double batch will serve 8)
*NOTE:The amounts of water and cooking times shown in the above photos may differ from the actual amounts and times. Please follow the instructions in the printable recipes below for the actual cooking times and amounts of water to use.
Make your meal kits using the 2 printable recipes below!
Recipe 1: Pumpkin Spice Steel-cut Oats Meal Kit
Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Kit
Giving someone and Instant Pot this year? This Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Kit will help them start pressure cooking right away.
Ingredients
- 1 tall clear glass pint mason jar with lid(2 cup capacity- regular mouth)
- 1 cup uncooked steel-cut oats (not quick) divided
- 2 small cinnamon sticks
- 1/4 cup dried pumpkin powder
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries, (Craisins)
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- (optional) 4 whole pecans and 5 Craisins for garnish
Directions
- Place 1/2 cup of the dry steel-cut oats into the bottom of a tall, clean, clear glass pint jar. (Save the remaining 1/2 cup for the top layer.)
- Next slide a cinnamon stick down the side of the jar, pushing it into the steel-cut oats to anchor it so it is standing up on end, up against the side of the jar. (The cinnamon stick standing up vertically against the side of the jar will look pretty in contrast to the horizontal layers of the other ingredients.) Repeat with the remaining cinnamon stick on the other side of the jar.
- Place the dried pumpkin powder into the jar on top of the steel-cut oats, while holding the cinnamon sticks in place against the side of the jar.
- Next add the dried cranberries, spreading them into a flat layer. Top with the brown sugar, pressing the sugar down over the cranberries.
- Now add the pumpkin pie spice, turning the teaspoon towards the sides of the jar as you sprinkle it on top of the brown sugar, and lining the sides of the jar with the spice. Add the salt to the middle of the jar.
- Finally, pour the remaining 1/2 cup steel cut oats on top of the salt in the jar. Spread the oats out flat, then top with the whole pecans and dried cranberries. (Making a flower-like pattern on top.)
- Place lid on top of the jar and twist on the ring. (If desired, you can label the lid of the jar with chalkboard labels, and write “Pumpkin Spice Oats” on the label using a silver sharpie.)
- Using twine, string, or ribbon, attach a gift tag to the jar, with the following instructions:
INSTANT POT
ADD: 3 to 3 1/2 CUPS WATER
PRESS: PRESSURE COOK (or MANUAL on older models)
ADJUST TIME TO: 3 minutes (High Pressure)
NATURAL RELEASE
STIR– (Remove cinnamon sticks) -SERVE
***If using the DELAY TIMER, print out and attach the following instructions:
DELAY TIMER INSTRUCTIONS:
1. The night before, place 3 1/2 cups water, and the contents of the jar into the instant pot. Stir. Twist the lid of the instant pot in place, and position valve to SEALING. (Make sure the sealing ring is in place, on the inside of the lid.)
2. Plug in the instant pot and select PRESSURE COOK. (or MANUAL for older models) If needed, adjust the pressure level to HIGH. Adjust the cooking time to 3 minutes. Quickly select DELAY START (new Instant Pot) or TIMER (old Instant Pot) and set for 6:00 hours. (This will allow plenty of time for the oats to cook, and the pressure to naturally release by the time you wake up. The Instant Pot will automatically switch to KEEP WARM mode while waiting for you to wake up.)
3. In the morning the pressure should already be released. (If not, manually release remaining pressure by turning the valve to VENT, while covering the vent lightly with a clean towel.)
Twist off the lid and stir well.
Your PUMPKIN SPICE OATMEAL is now READY TO EAT!
Find this recipe and other great plant-based recipes at http://www.LittleBluePlates.com
Recipe 2: Split Pea Soup Meal Kit
Split Pea Soup Instant Pot Meal Kit
Giving someone and Instant Pot this year? This Split Pea Soup Meal Kit will help them start pressure cooking right away.
Ingredients
- 1 tall clear glass pint jar with lid(2 cup capacity)
- 1 cup dried green split peas (divided into thirds.)
- 1/3 cup dehydrated diced carrots
- 2 whole, dried bay leaves
- 1 Tablespoon dehydrated chopped onion
- 1 Tablespoon vegetable broth powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon finely ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon oregano
Directions
- Begin by placing 1/3 cup of the split peas into the bottom of the jar. Place the 1/3 cup dehydrated diced carrots on top of the split peas, followed by another 1/3 cup split peas on top of the carrots.
- Take a bay leaf and slide it down vertically on the inside of the jar , anchoring it into the second split pea layer. Repeat with the other bay leaf on the other side of the jar. (This will create an attractive look to have the bay leaf standing up vertically against the horizontal layers of the other ingredients.)
- Now add the following ingredients: (while holding the bay leaves out of the way and towards the sides of the jar) 1 Tablespoon dehydrated onion; 1 Tablespoon Broth powder; 1/2 teaspoon sea salt; 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 black pepper; 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1/4 teaspoon oregano.
- Top with the last 1/3 cup split peas.
- Place lid on jar and twist on the ring. If desired, place a label on the lid of the jar and write “SPLIT PEA SOUP” on the label with a silver sharpie.(Looks like chalk but won’t wipe off.)
- Using twine, string, or ribbon, attach a tag to the jar, with the following instructions:
INSTANT POT
ADD: 4 1/2CUPS WATER
PRESS: PRESSURE COOK (or MANUAL for older models)
ADJUST TIME TO: 11 minutes (High Pressure)
NATURAL RELEASE
STIR- (Remove bay leaves) -SERVE
Find this recipe and other great plant-based recipes at http://www.LittleBluePlates.com
Little Blue Plates 