Easy Instant Pot Meatballs {Keto Meatballs} From Fresh Or Frozen {Low Carb, Gluten-Free, Paleo}

These are the BEST Instant Pot Meatballs EVER. I know this since I have worked my way through a gazillion different version to make sure I really bring you THE BEST version.

Allow me to demonstrate how easy this recipe is. Flavourful and juicy meatballs in a herby tomato sauce all cooked up in the Instant Pot in just 5 mins. Result.

You don’t have to fry or bake the meatballs first, you don’t have to simmer the tomato sauce away. Nope, not for this recipe. You just put them all in the magic pot and press go. Yeap, these meatballs are about simple, good quality, pantry staple ingredients that you can throw together in a heartbeat for an easy yet impressive meal.

Effortless cooking that makes this recipe a great option for weeknight suppers, busy life moments and anytime you feel you are short on time. You are very welcome.

Some other things you need to know about these meatballs. They are

• Low carb meatballs – They are low carb making these do not interfere with your diets (5g net carbs per serving).
• Gluten-free meatballs – yeap, these babies are gluten-free too. Feel free to swap the almond flour for other gluten-free flour.
• Make ahead – you can make ahead a big batch of these Instant Pot Meatballs and Sauce, pop them in the fridge or a whole batch of make-ahead freezer meals.
• Meatballs for a crowd – you can easily double or triple this recipe to feed a crowd.
• Meal Plan friendly – even better these juicy meatballs for the basis of a whole week’s worth of meal planning. See some ideas below.
• Family-friendly – seriously the whole family will love them.
• Immensely adaptable – you can add herbs and spices to your taste.

Instant Pot Meatballs Tools

So ready to cook, then gather all your ingredients and let me show you…..

How To Make Instant Pot Meatballs

1. Combine all meatball ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
2. Form the mix into balls using your hands or small ice cream scoop.
3. Oil the Instant Pot insert then add the meatballs, don’t try and mash them and you can layer them
4. Pour over the tomatoes, water, vinegar and herbs.
5. Cover the Instant Pot, Seal, select manual or pressure cook, set to high and set the time to 5 mins.
6. Cook till done, allow 10 mins natural pressure release and then quick pressure release the rest.

See how easy it is to make these awesome low carb meatballs?

Pressure Cooker Meatball Tips

• This was designed as a ‘one pan dump everything in and press go’ recipe for busy moments in your life. If however you have time and prefer to, then please and go ahead and brown the meatballs first. Just brown them using the sauté function in batches in the Instant Pot till done. Don’t forget to deglaze the pot before cooking the meatballs in tomato sauce if you brown the meatballs first.
• To make life even easier feel free to use a premade tomato sauce or some store-bought pasta sauce.
• You can absolutely use regular breadcrumbs if you are not following a low carb or gluten-free diet.
• I find beef (or pork) with some fat work best in this recipe. However, if you are trying to reduce the calories then by all mean use lean beef.

How Long Do You Cook Meatballs in a Pressure Cooker?

Well, 5 mins is perfect for cooking medium to large sized meatballs in your pressure cooker. If you have smaller meatballs you might want to start with 4 mins and see how cooked they are and go from there.

How Long Do You Cook Frozen Meatballs in a Pressure Cooker?

Want to know how long you cook frozen meatballs in a pressure cooker? Well, the same amount of time as if unfrozen. Just add them in and cook for 5 mins. It will take the pressure cooker a bit longer to come to pressure but once it does it will cook for the same amount of time.

What Meat Do You Use For Meatballs?

I find beef (or pork) with some fat work best in this recipe. You can also use a mixture of beef and pork. However, if you are trying to reduce the calories then by all mean us lean beef or turkey or lean chicken.

Instant Pot Meatballs Without Sauce

It is super easy to make Instant Pot Meatballs Without Sauce if you want. All you would do is add a cup (250mls) of water into the Instant Pot Insert, add the meatballs to a steamer basket and add the basket into the Instant Pot and cook as normal.

Instant Pot Meatballs and Spaghetti

Making Instant Pot Meatballs and Spaghetti is super easy. Cook the meatballs according to the recipe. Whilst the meatballs are cooking cook the spaghetti on a stovetop (or in your second Instant Pot), drain and set aside. Then drain and mix into the meatball sauce and serve.

Low Carb Meatballs (Keto Meatballs) Meal Planning Ideas

So the great thing about these Instant Pot Low Carb Meatballs is that they can be an awesome base for meal planning. How do you ask?

Well, one way is that you can batch cook them and freeze till needed. Let the meatballs cool down, then portion them out and freeze them in the sauce for up to 3 months in the freezer. To reheat, simply let them thaw out in the fridge and then reheat in a saucepan over low heat so that the meatballs stay moist. That way you have

Now on to the actual meal plan. There are a gazillion ways you can use these for meal planning. I suggest a few ideas of what to serve with your meatballs here but please don’t be limited by these ideas. They are just a starting point.

• Monday – with fluffy Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes (gluten-free).
• Tuesday  – besides some Cauliflower Rice (low carb).
• Wednesday – over Zucchini Noodles (Low carb and gluten free).
• Thursday – with Homemade Corn Tortillas and slaw in taco form (gluten-free).
• Friday –  stuffed in Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes (gluten-free).
• Saturday – with easy Instant Pot Brown Rice and a green salad (gluten-free).
• Sunday – along with Garlic Green Beans and Grilled Broccoli (low carb and gluten-free).

More Instant Pot Beef Recipes

Instant Pot Sloppy Joes.

Weight Watcher Points In Instant Pot Meatballs

If you use calorie-controlled cooking spray instead of olive oil in Step 3 as well as lean turkey mince, there are 2 Freestyle points per serving.

Thank you for reading my Pressure Cooker Meatballs recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, UK food blog.

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5 from 6 votes

Instant Pot Meatballs

These Instant Pot meatballs are juicy, effortless, made from pantry staple and require only a few mins cooking in the Instant Pot.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time5 mins

Total Time15 mins

Course: Main

Cuisine: American, Western

Keyword: Instant Pot Meatballs, pressure cooker meatballs

Servings: 8

Calories: 333kcal

Author: Bintu Hardy | Recipes From A Pantry

Ingredients

Meatballs :

• 1.5 lb (675 g) ground beef or turkey (fresh or frozen)
• 2 tbsp water
• 2 tbsp chopped parsley
• 2 spring onions scallions, finely chopped
• ½ cup almond flour
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp garlic puree
• 2 eggs
• Salt to taste

Cooking the meatballs:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 X 14 oz (2 X 400g) finely chopped tomatoes (sugar free)
• 3 tbsp water
• 1-2 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp Herbes de Provence (mixed herbs)

Instructions

• Combine all meatball ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
• Form the mix into balls using your hands or small ice cream scoop.
• Oil the Instant Pot insert then add the meatballs, in layers trying not to squash them.
• Pour the tomatoes, water, vinegar and herbs over the meatballs.
• Cover the Instant Pot, Seal, select manual or pressure cook, choose high pressure and set the time to 5 mins.
• Cook till done, allow 10 mins natural pressure release and then quick pressure release the rest.

Notes

• The total cook time does not include the time it takes for the Instant Pot to get to pressure and the time for the natural pressure release.

++

Tips

• This was designed as a 'one pan dump everything in and press go' recipe for busy moments in your life. If however you have time and prefer to, then please and go ahead and brown the meatballs first. Just brown them using the sauté function in batches in the Instant Pot till done. Don’t forget to deglaze the pot before cooking the meatballs in tomato sauce if you brown the meatballs first.
• To make life even easier feel free to use a premade tomato sauce or some store-bought pasta sauce.
• You can absolutely use regular breadcrumbs if you are not following a low carb or gluten-free diet.
• I find beef (or pork) with some fat work best in this recipe. However, if you are trying to reduce the calories then by all mean use lean beef.

++

Meal Plan Example

Monday – with fluffy Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes (gluten-free).

Tuesday  - besides some Cauliflower Rice (low carb).

Wednesday - over Zucchini Noodles (Low carb and gluten free).

Thursday - with Homemade Corn Tortillas and slaw in taco form (gluten-free).

Friday -  stuffed in Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes (gluten-free).

Saturday - with easy Instant Pot Brown Rice and a green salad (gluten-free).

Sunday - along with Garlic Green Beans and Grilled Broccoli (low carb and gluten-free).

++

Weight Watcher Points In Instant Pot Meatballs

If you use calorie-controlled cooking spray instead of olive oil in Step 3 as well as lean turkey mince, there are 2 Freestyle points per serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 333kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 106mg | Sodium: 311mg | Potassium: 452mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 6.8% | Vitamin C: 13.6% | Calcium: 14.4% | Iron: 19.1%