Imagine tender, juicy meatballs smothered in tangy BBQ sauce, perfectly cooked in just minutes - without hours of slaving over the stove! These Instant Pot Meatballs are about to become your new go-to recipe for quick, crowd-pleasing meals that look like you spent all day cooking. Whether you're feeding a hungry family or hosting a game day gathering, these meatballs are guaranteed to be the star of the show, delivering maximum flavor with minimal effort.
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 25 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 cup BBQ sauce for cooking
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup BBQ sauce, egg, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly using your hands until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Using clean hands, form the meat mixture into uniform meatballs approximately
- 5 inches in diameter. Aim to create around 12-14 meatballs.
- Pour 1/2 cup water into the Instant Pot inner pot. Place the trivet or a steamer basket inside the pot to prevent meatballs from sitting directly in liquid.
- Carefully arrange the meatballs on the trivet, ensuring they are not overcrowded and have some space between them.
- Close the Instant Pot lid, set the valve to sealing position, and select "Manual" or "Pressure Cook" mode. Set the timer for 7 minutes at high pressure.
- Once cooking is complete, allow a natural pressure release for 5 minutes, then carefully perform a quick release for remaining pressure.
- Open the lid and check internal temperature of meatballs, which should read 160°F (71°C) for food safety.
- Remove meatballs and drain any excess liquid. Pour the remaining 1 cup of BBQ sauce over the meatballs, gently tossing to coat evenly.
- Serve hot as a main dish, appetizer, or over rice or pasta. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
Tips
- Use fresh ground beef with a moderate fat content (80/20) for the juiciest meatballs.
- Mix ingredients gently to avoid overworking the meat, which can make meatballs tough.
- Use a cookie scoop or wet hands to create uniform meatball sizes for even cooking.
- Don't skip the trivet - it prevents meatballs from sitting in liquid and ensures even steaming.
- Always check the internal temperature reaches 160°F for food safety.
- For extra flavor, consider adding a splash of Worcestershire sauce to the meat mixture.
- Let meatballs rest for a few minutes after cooking to help them retain moisture.
- Experiment with different BBQ sauces to customize the flavor profile.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 350kcal
Carbohydrates: 20g
Protein: 25g
Fat: 18g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Cholesterol: 110mg
