Now, more than ever, we seem to be on the go all the time. That doesn’t leave much room for time to cook dinner. On these busy days, I am grateful for my Instant Pot. This instant pot spaghetti and meatballs recipe is a family favorite.
Instant Pot Meals
The best part of using the instant pot on busy nights is that I can get dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes and everyone is fed and happy. Cooking times with pressure cookers are shorter and cooking is done in stages. The flavors blend and intensify over time, so the food is cooked perfectly when you eat it.
If you don’t have an instant pot yet, then this post will convince you that you need one! Cooking the meatballs in the instant pot with spaghetti sauce is fast, easy and keeps your kitchen mess to a minimum.
Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
I am always on the lookout for new ideas and ingredients to make with our instant pot. So far everything I’ve tried has been quick, easy, and so delicious. Recently I made my spaghetti sauce recipe and adapted it for the instant pot. I was very pleased with the results.
I use homemade meatballs that can be made ahead of time in batches and frozen to use on a busy night. The homemade instant pot pasta sauce and instant pot meatballs are perfectly cooked and so flavorful.
Spaghetti and Meatballs Instant Pot Recipe
To get started, turn your Instant Pot to sauté. Allow it to heat up, which it does very quickly so keep an eye on it. Once it’s heated, add the butter and olive oil.
Sauté the onion and garlic in the mixture until nice and golden brown. Add the tomato ingredients, seasonings and brown sugar. Turn the valve and allow it to cook under pressure for 30 minutes.
After cooking, release the pressure and allow it to cool. Pour the instant pot spaghetti sauce into pint sized jars and store in the fridge for future meals. Save 2 cups of pasta sauce for your instant pot spaghetti and meatballs.
As the sauce is cooking, prepare the meatballs. Add all the meatball ingredients other than the crackers in a large bowl and mix well. Add the crackers last so they don’t get soggy. This will help them hold the meatballs together better.
Turn the Instant Pot back to sauté. Add remaining olive oil and butter, then brown the meatballs. Remove the meatballs and put them on a paper towel lined plate.
Add the water and 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce and stir well. Add your spaghetti noodles over the sauce, add a layer of meatballs and 1 1/2 cups of sauce. Turn the Instant Pot on for 6 minutes, and release pressure quickly when it is done cooking. Top with grated parmesan and enjoy immediately!
Did you know that you can make Instant Pot spaghetti and meatballs? It’s so quick to pull together, you’ll be amazed! It’s a simple family favorite that’s perfect for busy nights.
What is your favorite quick meal? Will you try this Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs?
Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1 large onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced and pressed
- 2 cans tomato sauce
- 2 cans stewed tomatoes
- 1 can tomato paste 6 ounce can
- 2 Tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 1 Tablespoon dried sweet basil
- 1 Tablespoon ground oregano
- 1 Tablespoon salt
- 1 1 Tablespoon seasoned pepper
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1 1/4 pound ground sirloin
- 1 1/4 pound ground round
- 1 sleeve Ritz crackers crushed
- 1 large onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tablespoon garlic salt
- 1 Tablespoon seasoned salt
- 1 teaspoon seasoned pepper
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teasoon ground oregano
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup flour
- 1 pound dried spaghetti noodles
Instructions
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Turn the Instant Pot to the Saute setting, and add the olive oil and butter. When the butter melts, add the chopped onion, and cook until it caramelizes, or is golden brown (about 5 minutes).
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Add the minced garlic, and cook 1 – 2 minutes. Turn off the Instant Pot. Add the tomato sauce, the stewed tomatoes, the tomato paste, and 1 1/2 cups of bottled water.
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Add all spices, and stir well, making sure to scrape the bottom of the stainless steel liner to the Instant Pot, to loosen any onion or garlic. Stir until all ingredients are well blended. Add the lid to the Instant Pot, set to sealing. Press the manual button and set the timer to ’30’ minutes. Release pressure naturally.
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Allow to cool, and pour into a covered container, or into glass jars. If you’re using jars, you’ll need more than 1 or 2, depending on how large the jars are. If they’re 16 ounce jars, you may need 4 or more. Refrigerate the sauce up to 7 days. You can freeze the sauce for later use, up to 4 months.
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MEATBALLS: You’ll need a large bowl, a large piece of waxed paper or foil to put the meatballs on, a Ziploc bag, and a large spoon. In a large bowl, combine the sirloin and ground round, and mix well.
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Add all ingredients, except for the crushed Ritz crackers, adding those last. Blend altogether, using clean hands, and roll in balls, about 2 inch balls, and lay on waxed paper or foil.
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Add the flour to the Ziploc bag and set aside. When you’re done rolling the meatballs into balls, and washed the tomato sauce from the Instant Pot liner, place about 10 of the meatballs in the Ziploc bag, and shake gently to coat the meatball in the flour.
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Turn the Instant Pot to ‘SAUTE’, and add the olive oil and butter. Working in small batches, when the butter melts, add the meatballs from the Ziploc bag to the Pot, and brown on all sides, about 10 minutes (I used a curved fish spatula to turn the meatballs). When they’re browned, and done in the middle, remove them to a plate, and set aside, and continue to coat the meatballs in the flour and brown and cook until all meatballs are done. When the meatballs are all cooked. Turn the Instant pot off.
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Add 1 1/2 cups of water to the Pot, stir and scrape the bits that may be stuck on the bottom of the pot, until they’re loosened. Add about 1/2 cup of the tomato sauce to the water, and stir well.
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Open the package of Spaghetti, and break it in half, and add it to the Instant Pot, placing it in the water, and stir well to cover Spaghetti as much as possible. Place meatballs on top of Spaghetti, and cover meatballs in tomato sauce, about 1 1/2 cups. Place lid on Instant Pot until it beeps and locks, and make sure the Pressure Valve is set to SEALING. Press the manual button, and set the time to 6 minutes.
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Allow the Instant Pot to build and release pressure automatically. When Instant Pot is done, make sure pressure button is down, and turn valve to ‘VENTING’ to make sure all pressure has been released.
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Remove lid to Instant Pot, and with a large utensil, such as a large spoon, remove the meatballs to a platter. Remove the Spaghetti to the same platter. Stir the Sauce in the Pot, and add additional sauce to the Pot and Saute for 4 or 5 minutes, until the sauce thickens.
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Ladle the Sauce over the Spaghetti and meatballs. Serve immediately. Enjoy!
