Instant Pot Frozen Italian Meatballs

Name: Instant Pot Frozen Italian Meatballs
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Ingredients: 32 Bag Frozen Meatballs; 2 Cans of Crushed Tomatoes (28 Ounces); 1 tbsp Italian Seasoning; 2 tbsp Olive Oil; 3 Garlic Cloves (Minced)

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If you have a bag of frozen meatballs in your freezer, cook them in the Instant Pot! Instant Pot Frozen Meatballs cook up in 10 minutes! It's a quick and easy dinner your family will love!

A close up of a plate of pasta and meatballs with a bowl of meatballs in the background.

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It always amazes me the things my Instant Pot can do! It can cook up this bag of frozen solid meatballs in 10 minutes. While the meatballs cook, all you have to do is boil some water and cook your favorite pasta for a delicious dinner on busy weeknights.

I prefer to make my own spaghetti sauce for this Instant Pot meatballs recipe. If you have a favorite tomato sauce that your family loves, use that and make this great recipe even easier!

Pressure cooker meatballs cook up juicy meatballs every time!

For more easy Instant Pot dinners, check out these recipes!

Why This Recipe Is Great!

We are using simple ingredients you probably already have on hand. Meatballs, canned tomatoes, Italian seasoning, olive oil and garlic. That's it!
It's ready in less than 15 minutes. When you are in a pinch and only have a few minutes to make dinner, this is the recipe you need!
Its versatile! Whether making spaghetti and meatballs or a meatball appetizer, the Instant Pot it the best way to do it!
It's a great way to serve a lot of people! A 32-ounce bag of meatballs has well over 50 meatballs. That's enough for dinner plus getting a head start on meal prep!

Ingredients You'll Need

Here is a quick rundown of the ingredients you'll need.

Ingredients for the Instant Pot Frozen Meatballs.

Frozen Meatballs. I found this 32-ounce bag of frozen meatballs at Aldi. They are ground beef and full of parmesan cheese and Italian seasonings. Use your favorite type of frozen meatball found in your local grocery store.
Canned Tomatoes. For this recipe we will be making our own marinara sauce, but if you have a favorite jarred pasta sauce, feel free to use that.
Italian Seasoning. I like using Italian seasoning because it has a lot of different dried herbs in it such as parsley, basil, and rosemary.
Olive Oil. To saute the garlic.
Garlic cloves. 3 is good but if you really like garlic, use more! Garlic powder can be used instead of fresh garlic. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of garlic powder over the tomato sauce and stir.

A bowl of instant pot frozen meatballs and a plate of pasta with meatballs are in the frame.

Equipment For Instant Pot Frozen Meatballs

Instant Pot. I have a 6-quart Instant Pot that I love!
Trivet Insert
Measuring Spoons
Measuring Cups

How To Make Instant Pot Frozen Meatballs

Set your Instant Pot to saute for 3 minutes. Add the olive oil and minced garlic to the Instant Pot. Cook until you smell the garlic. Don't cook too long as the garlic can easily burn.

Cancel the saute function and add the can of tomatoes to the Instant Pot and the Italian Seasoning. Stir the sauce.

The oil and garlic are added to the Instant Pot. — The olive oil and garlic are sauting.

The cans of tomatoes and Italian seasoning are added to the Instant Pot. — The olive oil and garlic are sauting.

Place the trivet insert into the tomato sauce.

Add the frozen meatballs to the Instant Pot on top of the trivet.

Close the lid and make the knob is set to the sealing position.

Set the Instant Pot cooking time to 5 minutes on high pressure.

After the cooking time is done, do a quick release of the pressure by carefully turning the steam knob on top of the lid.

Carefully remove the trivet and let the cooked meatballs fall into the tomato sauce. Mix well and serve.

QUICK TIP! Check to see if the meatballs are cooked to your liking. If they need a few more minutes of cook time, close the lid and set the time to 2-3 extra minutes.

A close up of the instant pot frozen meatballs over pasta.

Why Should I Use The Trivet Insert?

The trivet insert keeps the meatballs off the bottom of the pot. If they stay on the bottom of the inner pot, there is a higher chance of getting the burn notice on the Instant Pot.

To avoid getting the burn notice, we are using the trivet insert, a steamer basket, or a steamer insert. After the meatballs are cooked, simply lift the insert and pour the meatballs into the sauce. Most of the meatballs will cook in the sauce, but this will allow them to all become submerged.

Variations of Instant Pot Frozen Meatballs

There are lots of other options instead of tomato sauce to cook the meatballs in.

Sweet BBQ Meatballs. Add one bottle of your favorite bbq sauce and 1 cup of brown sugar.
Sweet and Sour Meatballs (Grape Jelly Meatballs). Add 1 cup of grape jelly, ¼ cup of chili sauce, and 2 cups of barbecue sauce to the Instant Pot. This tangy sauce is a perfect party appetizer with toothpicks for the meatballs.
Buffalo Style Meatballs. Add 2 cups of hot sauce and 1 stick of butter to the Instant Pot.
For Asian Style Meatballs, use your favorite teriyaki sauce. It is full of delicious flavors like soy sauce and sesame seeds.

Tips and Tricks

Make your own homemade meatballs! Do not pile the homemade meatballs if you are making your own meatballs for this recipe. Place the fresh meatballs in the Instant Pot in one single layer.
The trivet insert keeps the meatballs from sitting on the bottom of the pot. If you don't have a trivet insert, the steamer basket or steamer insert will work as well.
The Instant Pot will take 5-10 minutes to come up to pressure before it begins cooking.
This recipe makes a lot of meatballs! They are perfect for spaghetti and meatballs or meatball subs. If you find a smaller bag of meatballs, use one can of tomatoes instead of two.
Making this recipe for a party? Allow the Instant Pot to stay on "keep warm" with the lid on the Instant Pot. They will keep warm for as long as you need.

An overhead shot of two plates of pasta and meatballs with a large bowl of meatballs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this recipe in the slow cooker?

Yes! Place all the ingredients in the crock pot and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.

Can I use other types of meatballs?

Yes! You can use frozen chicken or frozen turkey meatballs. The cook time would remain the same. If you are using vegan meatballs, reduce the cook time to 3 minutes. The meatballs are fully cooked and just need to be heated through.

What should I do with leftover meatballs?

Place the meatballs in an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Other Recipes To Try!

Did you love this Instant Pot Meatballs Recipe? If you did, don't forget to tag me on social media on Instagram or Facebook and share this recipe on Pinterest! Thanks for sharing this journey with me and enjoy these delicious recipes!

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