Instant Pot Meatballs with Marinara Sauce

three meatballs on a serving spoon held over an instant pot full of sauce and meatballs

5 from 4 ratings

Instant Pot Meatballs with Marinara Sauce

from kristineskitchenblog.com

Meatballs and a simple homemade marinara sauce cook together in the Instant Pot for a healthy dinner idea. These Instant Pot Meatballs are perfectly tender and flavorful!

Prep Time20

Cook Time9

Inactive Time20

Total Time49

Servings: servings

Calories: 221kcal

Ingredients

Marinara Sauce

1 tablespoon olive oil
½ cup finely chopped yellow onion
3 cloves garlic minced
28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
¾ cup water
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
½ teaspoon granulated sugar
½ teaspoon salt or to taste
¼ teaspoon black pepper or to taste
pinch crushed red pepper flakes optional, for spice

Meatballs

1 large egg
2 tablespoons water
¼ cup very finely minced yellow onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup Panko breadcrumbs
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 pound lean ground beef*

Instructions

Make the Marinara Sauce

Heat the olive oil in the Instant Pot using the saute function. When hot, add the onion and saute for about 2 minutes, until onion starts to soften. Add the garlic and stir for 30 seconds. Press Cancel to turn the Instant Pot off.
Add the crushed tomatoes, water, oregano, basil, sugar, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir well, scraping up any bits stuck to the bottom of the pot.

Make the Meatballs

Place egg and water in a large mixing bowl and beat them together with a fork.
Add the onion, garlic, Panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix well with fork.
Add the ground beef and mix with your hands until just combined. Try not to over-mix as this can make the meatballs tough.
Use your hands to shape the mixture into 1 ½-inch meatballs and place in the sauce in the Instant Pot. You should be able to make about 18 meatballs.

Pressure Cook Sauce and Meatballs

Close the Instant Pot lid and set the steam release valve to the sealing position. Set the cook time to 9 minutes at high pressure. The Instant Pot will take about 15 minutes to reach pressure and then the cook time will start counting down.
When the cook time ends, allow the pot to release naturally for 5 minutes by leaving the pot alone (do not move the valve yet). After 5 minutes, carefully move the steam release valve to the venting position.
Once all of the steam has escaped and the pin drops down, carefully open the Instant Pot lid. Check that the meatballs have reached at least 165° F in the center by testing with an Instant read thermometer.
If there is some grease on top of the sauce you can use a spoon to skim it off if desired. Stir the sauce gently.
Serve meatballs and sauce over pasta, or as desired.

Video

Notes

Use lean ground beef or the sauce may turn out too greasy.

Nutrition

Nutrition information is only an estimate.