Instant Pot Italian Meatballs

Our Instant Pot Italian Meatballs are an extremely easy recipe to throw together when dinner is not something you want to put a lot of effort into. Plus you can make them with some pasta or throw them on a sub bun and broil them for the perfect sub. 

Since this recipe is so versatile, you can make it exactly how your family likes it, allowing for those picky eaters to enjoy the meal along with the family too!

If you are not sure what you can make with these meatballs take a look at these recipes like our Easy Homemade French Bread Recipe (perfect for those subs or to dip in the sauce!), Cheesy Garlic Breadsticks Recipe, or the meatballs are always good with our Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes. 

Recipe Ingredient Notes

To make Instant Pot Italian meatballs, you will need the following ingredients:

• Olive oil
• Minced garlic
• Tomato puree
• Petite diced tomatoes
• Chicken broth
• Salt
• Fresh basil leaves
• Frozen meatballs

Equipment Needed

For this recipe, you only need a few simple kitchen tools. We recommend using the following equipment:

• Instant Pot
• Chef Knife
• Cutting Board
• Spoon (Slotted)

How to Make Instant Pot Italian Meatballs

1. Turn on Instant Pot and press SAUTE button.
2. Add the oil to the bottom of the pot and let it heat up.
3. Add garlic and stir for about 1 minute.
4. Add in tomato puree, diced tomatoes, and chicken broth. Sprinkle the salt on top. Stir in basil.
5. Dump the meatballs into the sauce and stir so that all the meatballs are covered in sauce. Press cancel to cancel the saute function.
6. Place lid on pot and press MANUAL (or PRESSURE COOK) and set timer for 7 minutes. Allow 10-15 minutes to come to pressure before it starts the countdown cook timer.
7. Once it is finished cooking, do a quick release of the pressure. Remove the lid and stir.

Freezer Meal Modification

1. Place meatballs, garlic, tomatoes, tomato puree, chicken broth, salt, and basil into a gallon-sized freezer bag. Place freezer bag into freezer and it will last up to 90 days.
2. When ready to use, dump ingredients from bag into Instant Pot and add 1/2 cup of chicken broth or water in with the frozen food.
3. Place the lid on top, move the valve to SEALING, and press the MANUAL button. Set timer for 7 minutes. Do a QUICK RELEASE when the timer is done.

Enjoy More Delicious Hot Appetizers

Whether meatballs, chicken wings, nachos, or quesadillas, there’s nothing to start out a party better than an appetizer.  Browse our comprehensive list of hot appetizer recipes.

• Honey Sriracha Ground Turkey Meatballs
• Instant Pot Hawaiian Meatballs
• Porcupine Meatballs 
• Slow Cooker Hawaiian Meatballs
• Slow Cooker Honey Buffalo Meatballs
• Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs
• Sweet and Sour Meatballs
• Sweet and Tangy Meatballs 
• Sweet Polynesian Meatballs

Instant Pot Italian Meatballs Recipe

5 from 2 votes

These Instant Pot meatballs are an easy, budget-friendly recipe that works well as an appetizer or a weeknight meal.

ServingServing: 6 servings

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 14 minutes minutes

Pressurize Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 34 minutes minutes

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Ingredients

• ▢ ½ Tablespoons olive oil
• ▢ 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ▢ 28 ounces petite diced tomatoes
• ▢ 28 ounces tomato puree
• ▢ ½ cup chicken broth
• ▢ 2 teaspoons salt
• ▢ ½ cup fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
• ▢ 26 ounces frozen meatballs,

Equipment

• Instant Pot
• Chef Knife
• Cutting Board
• Spoon (Slotted)

Instructions

1. Turn on Instant Pot and press SAUTE button.
2. Add the oil to the bottom of the pot and let it heat up.
3. Add garlic and stir for about 1 minute.
4. Add in tomato puree, diced tomatoes, and chicken broth. Sprinkle the salt on top. Stir in basil.
5. Dump the meatballs into the sauce and stir so that all the meatballs are covered in sauce. Press cancel to cancel the saute function.
6. Place lid on pot and press MANUAL (or PRESSURE COOK) and set timer for 7 minutes. Allow 10-15 minutes to come to pressure before it starts the countdown cook timer.
7. Once it is finished cooking, do a quick release of the pressure. Remove the lid and stir.

Notes

You can serve these meatballs and sauce over cooked pasta or on a sub sandwich.

How to turn this into a freezer meal:

1. Place meatballs, garlic, tomatoes, tomato puree, chicken broth, salt, and basil into a gallon-sized freezer bag. Place freezer bag into freezer and it will last up to 90 days.
2. When ready to use, dump ingredients from bag into Instant Pot and add 1/2 cup of chicken broth or water in with the frozen food.
3. Place the lid on top, move the valve to SEALING, and press the MANUAL button. Set timer for 7 minutes. Do a QUICK RELEASE when the timer is done.

Nutrition

Calories: 430 kcal · Carbohydrates: 22 g · Protein: 25 g · Fat: 28 g · Saturated Fat: 10 g · Cholesterol: 88 mg · Sodium: 1128 mg · Potassium: 1349 mg · Fiber: 5 g · Sugar: 12 g · Vitamin A: 1073 IU · Vitamin C: 29 mg · Calcium: 92 mg · Iron: 5 mg

Cuisine: Italian

Cost: $15

Author: Steph Loaiza

Course: Appetizer

Did You Make This Recipe?We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a review or a question in the comment section below the post.