A bottle episode is a type of episode in television that is produced cheaply and restricted in scope to use as few regular cast members, effects, and sets as possible. The term "bottle episode" was coined by Leslie Stevens, creator and executive producer of the 1960s TV series The Outer Limits, for an episode made in very little time at very little cost, "as in pulling an episode right out of a bottle like a genie". The earliest known use of the term "bottle episode" dates from 2003.

A bottle episode is a money-saving strategy that is filmed entirely on one prebuilt ("standing") set, includes only main cast members, and is cheaper and faster to produce than a standard episode. The strictest definition of a bottle episode is an episode that has a much smaller scope and uses as few cast members, sets, and effects as possible. The characteristics of a typical bottle episode include few characters from the main cast, one location used predominantly throughout, and no big set pieces or special effects.

Bottle episodes are not about what the episode feels or looks like or what kind of story it tells, but rather about how and why a specific episode is made. They are an opportunity for the shows creators, writers, and actors to showcase their talent and resourcefulness by crafting an engaging story within these constraints. Bottle episodes are often used to distill the meaning of a show, focus on its most important characters, and flex its creative muscles.

Examples of bottle episodes include "The Suitcase" from Mad Men, "Cooperative Calligraphy" from Community, and "Fly" from Breaking Bad. These episodes are often more introspective and character-driven than other episodes in the series.