• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Butter Half logo

  • Recipes
    • Appetizers and Snacks
    • Breads and Pastries
    • Breakfast and Brunch
    • Desserts
    • Drinks and Smoothies
    • Main Dishes
    • Salads
    • Sandwiches and Wraps
    • Sauces and Dressings
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups and Stews
    • Instant Pot Recipes
  • About
    • Work With Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer & Disclosure
  • Cookbook
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers and Snacks
    • Breads and Pastries
    • Breakfast and Brunch
    • Desserts
    • Drinks and Smoothies
    • Main Dishes
    • Salads
    • Sandwiches and Wraps
    • Sauces and Dressings
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups and Stews
    • Instant Pot Recipes
  • About
    • Work With Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer & Disclosure
  • Cookbook
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
      • Appetizers and Snacks
      • Breads and Pastries
      • Breakfast and Brunch
      • Desserts
      • Drinks and Smoothies
      • Main Dishes
      • Salads
      • Sandwiches and Wraps
      • Sauces and Dressings
      • Side Dishes
      • Soups and Stews
      • Instant Pot Recipes
    • About
      • Work With Me
      • Privacy Policy
      • Disclaimer & Disclosure
    • Cookbook
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    The Butter Half / Kitchen Tips / Instant Pot Recipes / 15 Minute Instant Pot Italian Meatballs

    15 Minute Instant Pot Italian Meatballs

    By Abbey Rodriguez • Published: May 17, 2019 • Modified: Feb 12, 2020 • 21 Comments • This post may contain affiliate links.

    JUMP TO RECIPE PRINT
    Italian meatballs with sauce in white bowl

    Want a quick and easy comfort food that doubles as an appetizer and dinner? Of course you do! Meet the Instant Pot Italian meatballs! Cook frozen meatballs in just 5 minutes using your pressure cooker.

    15 Minute Instant Pot Italian Meatballs | Want a quick and easy comfort food that doubles as an appetizer and dinner? Of course you do! Meet the Instant Pot Italian meatballs! || The Butter Half #instantpot #easydinner #easyappetizer #thebutterhalf

    How delicious and easy are these appetizers? Juicy, tender, and super quick to make—a busy person's dream come true!

    If you're looking for other appetizers and snacks to go along with it, I suggest my goat cheese dip with basil and honey. The combo of the sweet and savory is LIFE CHANGING.

    Here's what you need to make 15 Minute Instant Pot Italian meatballs

    • Frozen meatballs—most bags are 28 oz (FYI, most contain gluten, so read your ingredients carefully!)
    • Tomato sauce or your favorite BBQ sauce
    • Instant Pot pressure cooker
    • Steam rack or steamer basket

    Do you have an Instant Pot yet? In case you don't, I recommend this 7-in-1 6 quart model. It's the perfect size for a family of four to six, and will be your new kitchen BFF. Heck, you won't even need a working kitchen after long!

    These frozen meatballs are ready in five minutes. Welllll, technically the Instant Pot takes about eight minutes to warm up, and then does it's thing. But still! That's 13 minutes total. Way better than waiting for your oven to heat up and then cooking them for 25 minutes. 

    15 Minute Instant Pot Italian Meatballs | Want a quick and easy comfort food that doubles as an appetizer and dinner? Of course you do! Meet the Instant Pot Italian meatballs! || The Butter Half #instantpot #easydinner #easyappetizer #thebutterhalf

    How to make Instant Pot Italian meatballs - step by step

    1. Put your steam rack that comes with the pressure cooker, or a steamer basket at the bottom of the pot. Pour your bag of frozen meatballs in the bowl of the Instant Pot. (FYI, I buy gluten-free meatballs since most of them are made with gluten. I've tried Rosina and Cooked Perfect brands and like both. Read your labels!)

    15 Minute Instant Pot Italian Meatballs | Want a quick and easy comfort food that doubles as an appetizer and dinner? Of course you do! Meet the Instant Pot Italian meatballs! || The Butter Half #instantpot #easydinner #easyappetizer #thebutterhalf

    2. Cover with sauce of choice (I like pure tomato sauce or a sweet BBQ sauce)

    15 Minute Instant Pot Italian Meatballs | Want a quick and easy comfort food that doubles as an appetizer and dinner? Of course you do! Meet the Instant Pot Italian meatballs! || The Butter Half #instantpot #easydinner #easyappetizer #thebutterhalf

    3. Secure lid, seal the vent, and cook meatballs on Manual High Pressure for 5 minutes. Release vent valve when done, and serve.

    Other variations

    My favorite way to serve these is with gluten-free pasta, on sliders, or as a plain appetizer.

    Also, if you find you don't like the taste of Italian meatballs, you can adapt this with other meats and flavors. 

    • Turkey meatballs are a lighter alternative
    • Veggie meatballs can also be made, however the cook time can be less because there are no internal temperature thresholds. Approximately 2-3 minutes on Manual High Pressure would work to heat sufficiently.

    15 Minute Instant Pot Italian Meatballs | Want a quick and easy comfort food that doubles as an appetizer and dinner? Of course you do! Meet the Instant Pot Italian meatballs! || The Butter Half #instantpot #easydinner #easyappetizer #thebutterhalf

    Pro tips and serving suggestions for making Instant Pot frozen meatballs

    • IF YOU GET A BURN NOTICE: Be sure to place the meatballs on the steam rack or a colander that raises the meatballs from the bottom. Sometimes the meatballs on the bottom can burn if there is nothing to elevate them from the heat. 
    • Depending on the brand of meatball, it may require additional cook time. If they aren't fully cooked all the way through, seal the lid and cook on Manual High Pressure for another 2 minutes.
    • A lot of queries ask if these can be made without sauce. Technically, yes, but I think you run the risk of locking in flavor. When cooking in the pressure cooker, make sure the meatballs are fully covered in sauce. It needs the moisture to build up steam and pressure to internally cook to the temperature instructions on the bag.
    • You can make these Instant Pot Italian meatballs ahead and reheat them in the microwave easily. They store well for freezer meals, and can be made into sliders, or served with zoodles, soups and stews, and sandwiches. So many yummy appetizer, snack, and dinner options!

    More Instant Pot recipes you might like

    • How to Make Instant Pot Hardboiled Eggs
    • Easy Instant Pot Hummus
    • 30 Minute Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta

    Click here to buy my $10 Instant Pot Cooking Class if you need more guidance an how to confidently use your pressure cooker.

    If you’ve tried these 15 minute Instant Pot Italian meatballs or any other recipe on the blog please let me know how you liked it in the comments below. I absolutely love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook, for more nourishing recipes like this, and behind the scenes cooking and holistic wellness tips!

    Overhead shot of meatballs in white bowl

    15 Minute Instant Pot Italian Meatballs

    By: Abbey Rodriguez
    PRINT PIN RECIPE
    These Instant Pot Italian Meatballs are the perfect appetizer for a parties or game-day. Simply pair with your favorite tomato sauce and have a delicious snack ready in 15 minutes.
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 5 minutes
    Total Time 15 minutes
    Servings: 12 servings
    Calories: 163kcal

    Ingredients

    • 1 bag frozen meatballs
    • 3 cups tomato sauce

    Instructions

    • Put your steam rack or steamer basket at the bottom of the pot. Pour bag of frozen meatballs into the Instant Pot, on top of the rack, ensuring the meatballs are elevated. Cover meatballs with tomato sauce.
    • Secure lid, seal the vent, and cook meatballs on Manual High Pressure for 5 minutes. Release vent valve when done, and serve as desired.

    Notes

    • IF YOU ARE GETTING A BURN NOTICE: Be sure to place the meatballs on the steam rack or steamer basket, so it raises the meatballs from the bottom. Sometimes the meatballs on the bottom can burn if there is nothing to elevate them from the heat. 
    • A lot of queries ask if these can be made without sauce. Technically, yes, but I think you run the risk of locking in flavor. When cooking in the pressure cooker, make sure the meatballs are fully covered in sauce. It needs the moisture to build up steam and pressure to internally cook to the temperature instructions on the bag.
    • Depending on the brand of meatball, it may require additional cook time. If they aren't fully cooked all the way through, seal the lid and cook on Manual High Pressure for another 2 minutes.
    • Make ahead and reheat in the microwave for 30 second intervals.
    • Store in freezer in silicone bags for up to 3 months, to use in other dishes.
    • Most frozen meatballs have gluten in them, so make sure you read your labels to make sure you have a gluten-free brand. Generally, the packaging will indicate on right on the front if they are gluten-free.
    • Favorite way to serve these are with gluten-free pasta, on sliders, or as a plain appetizer.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 163kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 352mg | Potassium: 365mg | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 265IU | Vitamin C: 4.7mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1.1mg

    Recipe originally posted in November 2017, and updated on May 17, 2019 with new photos and more detailed recipe instructions.

    SaveSave

    SaveSave

    SaveSave

    Sharing is caring!

    2104 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Michelle A Menigoz says

      December 27, 2020 at 5:52 pm

      can you US mail your cookbookl/15+instant pot frozen food recipe - and how much it would be - thanik you

      Reply
      • Abbey Rodriguez says

        January 21, 2021 at 4:39 pm

        Unfortunately, it is only a download. You can print it out and get it bound in a binder!

        Reply
    2. Jennifer says

      October 04, 2020 at 1:49 pm

      5 stars
      Ours came out perfectly, thank you! After releasing the pressure, we topped the meatballs & sauce with shredded whole milk mozzarella and parmesan cheese and set the lid on the IP for about 5 mins. Melted, yummy goodness!

      Reply
      • Abbey Rodriguez says

        October 07, 2020 at 4:19 pm

        Jennifer, this is such a good idea! Thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    3. Deborah says

      August 22, 2020 at 8:10 pm

      Hi, Abbey. I have a question: Your recipe says to put the meatballs on a rack and yet your pictures are pretty clear that there is no rack. Please clarify.

      I'm looking forward to trying this soon.

      Reply
      • Abbey Rodriguez says

        October 07, 2020 at 4:22 pm

        Thanks for checking in on this, Deborah. Since taking the photos, I have updated the recipe to state that the rack should be used. This provides more clarity to ensure that the meatballs cook properly without burning.

        Reply
    4. Sue Rogers says

      June 28, 2020 at 11:43 am

      I'm new to my instant pot.. can I put these on top of spaghetti and sauce and cook all together in the instant pot?

      Reply
      • Abbey Rodriguez says

        August 21, 2020 at 8:43 am

        Hi Sue! I would not recommend adding the spaghetti in the pot with these meatballs. I don't think there would be enough liquid to soften the noodles. I would recommend just cooking the noodles on the stove top while the meatballs cook.

        Reply
        • Magy says

          December 15, 2021 at 9:01 pm

          Yes, you can add spaghetti, and add 3 cups of water (I use chicken broth for more flavor) 7 minutes. Make sure to separate the spaghetti (additionally, I add some olive oil)

    5. Chandice Probst says

      January 31, 2020 at 6:12 pm

      5 stars
      Yum these are so easy and the whole family loves them!

      Reply
    6. Mariah says

      January 31, 2020 at 1:29 pm

      5 stars
      Really yummy meatball recipe! I will be making these regularly for my pasta dishes!

      Reply
    7. Patti says

      December 11, 2019 at 6:08 pm

      Hi! I did this and also added about half a cup of water to the bottom of the instant pot which majorly helps with the moisture. So yummy!!

      Reply
      • The Butter Half says

        December 13, 2019 at 1:21 pm

        Great tip! Thanks, Patti!

        Reply
    8. Joe Bloe says

      August 26, 2019 at 5:11 pm

      I followed your recepie and it never cooked. The meatballs remain frozen.

      Reply
      • The Butter Half says

        September 04, 2019 at 3:53 pm

        Hey Joe! Sorry to hear that. I've cooked these over 10 times following this exact recipe. Perhaps it's the size of the meatball? If they are not cooking with the time listed above, I recommend adding an additional 3 minutes on manual high pressure. Hope that works out!

        Reply
      • Karen says

        March 28, 2020 at 7:19 pm

        Did you add water to the bottom of your pot? It isn't stated in the recipe (that I can see), but it needs liquid to come to pressure.

        Reply
        • Abbey Rodriguez says

          April 19, 2020 at 2:18 pm

          Hi Karen! The liquid in the sauce provides the necessary liquid for pressure to build.

    9. Nicole says

      August 02, 2019 at 3:17 pm

      I’m going to use a 5 pound bag, would I still use the same amount of time? Thanks!

      Reply
      • The Butter Half says

        August 18, 2019 at 9:16 am

        Hi Nicole! To be totally honest, I am not sure. I've never cooked a batch that large. I would bump it up 2 minutes. Worst case scenario is you can do the designated time, and then always add on a couple minutes if they aren't warm enough. Good luck!

        Reply
    10. Brent says

      March 15, 2019 at 4:11 pm

      How big is the bag?

      Reply
      • The Butter Half says

        March 15, 2019 at 10:55 pm

        Hey Brent! This is the 28 oz bag.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Abbey! Certified Holistic Nutritionist & Herbalist | I healed my body using holistic nutrition and herbs. And I believe you can, too. Here you will find nourishing recipes and wellness tips for the family, as well as my herbal cookbook, Root & Nourish. Because you can achieve your ultimate wellness goals using plants and whole foods.

    More about me →

    Reader Favorites

    • 15 Minute Instant Pot Italian Meatballs
    • Easy Baked Frittata Recipe with Spinach (Gluten-Free)
    • Easy No-Bake Cookies with Chocolate Chips and Peanut Butter
    • Home Remedy Ear Infection Drops That Actually Work

    Summer Recipes

    • Easy Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins
    • Easy and Healthy Chicken Salad Recipe
    • 30-Minute Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta
    • Healthy Berry Crisp (Gluten Free + Vegan)
    As seen in Pop Sugar, The Huffington Post, BuzzFeed, Shape, and more.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    As seen on...

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    Copyright © 2022 The Butter Half