This recipe for Greek Instant Pot Meatballs in Tomato Sauce is fast, easy, incredibly flavorsome, and a dish the whole family will love.
What Makes These Instant Pot Meatballs Great?
I've been looking at different Greek meatball recipes and finally decided to just pick one and make it. I wanted something easy, something I could make in the Instant Pot, and something that was kid-friendly so that it could be a meal the whole family would enjoy.
After researching a multitude of different techniques and flavor combinations, I finally settled on the perfect set of ingredients.
LIKE MEATBALLS? CHECK OUT THESE ASIAN-STYLE CHICKEN COCONUT MEATBALLS!
I'll be honest, I love my food on the spicier side, so I found myself craving a little more heat from this recipe. However, my son, who is a very picky eater loved it. My husband said that had I not burned out so many taste buds from eating too-spicy food, I would have appreciated the flavors more. So I think that means it's a good family meal and one that your children will likely enjoy as well.
I sautéd the meatballs to slightly brown them, but that was actually a little frail because they fall apart really easily. I really don't think they need it, so I'm going to write this recipe without that step so you don't break them up like a few of mine did.
Equipment You'll Need
Ingredients
For the meatballs
- Lean Ground Beef- The star of the show and the body of the meatballs.
- Eggs- This helps bind the meat together so they don't fall apart while under pressure in the Instant Pot.
- Chopped Parsley- Adds a little color and earthiness to the recipe.
- Onion- For flavor and texture.
- Arborio Rice- Bulks up these meatballs so they are filling enough for the whole family.
- Kosher Salt- Just a pinch to bring out the natural flavors of the beef.
- Ground Black Pepper- To add just a tiny bit of spice to the dish.
For the sauce
- Diced tomatoes- Add balance to the dish with the natural acidity.
- Dried Oregano- Earthy and slightly bitter, you'll love what this herb adds to the recipe.
- Cinnamon- Adds a dimension of flavor without adding any additional spiciness.
- Smoked Paprika- For a slight smoky flavor.
- Ground Cloves- These are optional, but add a bit of warmth to the sauce.
- Kosher Salt
- Ground Black Pepper
How To Make Instant Pot Meatballs
- Mix all the ingredients for the meatballs and shape into meatballs. This should make between 8 and 10. Place them in a single layer in the Instant Pot.
- Next, mix all the ingredients for the sauce together in a bowl and pour over meatballs.
- Cook under high pressure and let it release pressure naturally.
- Open the lid and gently remove the meatballs. They're very tender so use a spoon to remove them one at a time so they don't break apart.
- -This step is optional- Use an immersion blender to get the sauce smooth.
- Pour the remaining sauce from the Instant Pot liner over the meatballs, then garnish with parsley and serve.
Tips And Tricks
- Leave them alone. I know most recipes call for you to sear your meatballs before you cook them under pressure. Don't do that with this recipe. Browning the beef won't matter after you add the delicious tomato sauce and it will help keep them intact.
- Fat is good. Though this isn't a low carb recipe, I still stand by my stance that using protein with a higher fat content is best. Not only does it help keep you fuller longer, it also adds flavor and helps bind the meatballs.
- Use some spices. Not everyone has the same taste for spice. If your family likes things on the spicier side, don't be afraid to add a little cayenne to your meatballs before you cook them.
Can You Make Instant Pot Meatballs Ahead Of Time?
You absolutely can. If you're short on time, just whip these Instant Pot meatballs up the night before. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator and pop them in the pressure cooker right before you're ready to eat!
How Long Do They Last?
Cooking for a smaller family or just for yourself? This recipe is a great solution for you! You can store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Luckily, the longer the meatballs sit in the tomato sauce, the more flavor they have.
Want More Instant Pot Recipes?
- Instant Pot Butter Chicken is an easy 30-minute dinner and you can make rice on top of it, as the video shows.
- Pressure Cooker Rice and Dal is a great vegetarian rice dinner.
- This Lebanese Lentil and Rice dish is another great Vegetarian Instant Pot recipe.
- Instant Pot Indian Khichadi is comfort food in a bowl!
- Instant Pot Risotto with Shrimp is another one-pot comfort meal.
- Buffalo chicken casserole for the days you want low carb recipes
- You might also like low carb Chicken Biryani that uses riced cauliflower.
- Chicken and Mushrooms are a great combo.
- My kids love Instant Pot Pork Chops with Rice and Vegetables
- Zucchini Lasagna- You won't even miss the pasta.
- Haluski Recipe - A wonderful cabbage and noodles recipe.
Ingredients
For the meatballs
- 1 pound (453.59 g) Lean Ground Beef
- 1 (1) Eggs, slightly beaten
- ¼ cup (15 g) Chopped Parsley, chopped
- ½ cup (80 g) Onion, finely chopped
- ⅓ cup (66.67 g) Arborio Rice
- Kosher Salt, to taste
- Ground Black Pepper, to taste
For the sauce
- 14 ounces (396.89 g) diced tomatoes
- 1 cup (250 g) Water
- 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) Dried Oregano
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) Cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) Smoked Paprika
- ¼ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) Ground Cloves, (skip if you don't have)
- Kosher Salt, to taste
- Ground Black Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients for the meatballs and shape into 8-10 meatballs and place in single layer in the Instant Pot.
- Mix all the ingredients for the sauce together in a bowl and pour over meatballs.
- Set it at High Pressure for 15 minutes, let it release pressure naturally.
- Open the lid and gently remove the meatballs.
- Use an immersion blender to get the sauce smooth (you could skip this but I had some rice and meat in the sauce and I wanted it smooth.
- Pour it over the meatballs, garnish with parsley if desired and serve.
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Nutrition
Don't forget to check out my other Best-selling Instant Pot Cookbooks!
Indian Instant Pot, Keto Instant Pot, Instant Pot Fast and Easy, Healthy Instant Pot & Vegetarian Instant Pot.
This really answered my problem, thanks!
When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now every time a remark is added I get 4 emails with the identical comment. Is there any way you'll be able to remove me from that service? Thanks!
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