Unbelievably Delicious Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
This recipe for Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs is all home made, even the sauce.
But where this authentic and delicious tomato sauce, or gravy as it’s referred to in Italy, would normally take hours and hours to simmer, the Instant Pot does it in 30 minutes!
And, dude, it’s so tasty, you’ll be so glad you made this.
Unbelievably Delicious Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
Ok. Let’s get this out of the way…Total time for the sauce, and the meatballs will take you about 2 hours or maybe a little more, depending on how fast you work.
BUT!
But, you can make this ahead, and you can make the sauce a day or two ahead, refrigerate it, and make the meatballs just before you’re ready to serve this dish.
So, it’s not like it’s that big of a deal.
And if you’re into meal-prepping, you can totally make this and then freeze or can it–so you can make all the best Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs any time you like.
Trust me, you’re going to love this one.
So, even though it sounds like it’s going to be tough, the truth is, that the actual MAKING of this spaghetti and meatballs in the Instant Pot is actually pretty easy.
The hardest thing is to have a great handle on how to flip the meatballs.
I find that having tongs is nice, but you really need a curved fish spatula.
I know, I know, but it’s got a long handle and you can get behind it without accidentally burning yourself…so, try it.
Then, when the meatballs are all cooked, you just get right into the amazingness that is the spaghetti sauce in the instant pot.
I mean…this sauce, it’s thick, hearty, and JUST LIKE the sauce at my favorite Italian restaurante.
Dude. Just do it.
How to Serve Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
This should be pretty obvious, but you have to find a way to make your spaghetti and meatballs not JUST spaghetti and meatballs sometimes.
I mean, if you’re serving it at a party…
But, if you’re trying to be creative, you can always toss it between two slices of bread and grill it.
I mean, it’s yummy.
But, what I normally like to do is make an easy french bread or just grab one from the store–butter that up with some garlic and dip!
Seriously, sometimes it’s nice to just have spaghetti and meatballs be the main-attraction.
Other Instant Pot Recipes We Love
If you’re loving the Instant Pot, we have some other recipes you might like.
One of our favorites is Instant Pot Roast, which is super-fast and really, really yummy.
Or there’s Pupperoni Spaghetti and Meatballs. Not sure if that’s Instant Pot, though…
But, my personal favorite is the big finish for any spaghetti dinner: Instant Pot Reece’s Cheesecake. Mmmm…
Ok. So, if you’re digging this Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe, let’s do this!
Oh, but you’re out of spaghetti noodles? Bummer.
No sweat, though, just pin this to your favorite Instant Pot recipes board, so you can find it quick when you’re ready!
And be sure to drop a 5-star rating on the recipe, below, so we know you want to see more awesomeness like this!
Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
Ingredients
- SAUCE
- 1 large sweet onion chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic – pressed and minced
- 1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil
- 1 Tablespoon of butter
- 2 cans about 28 ounce cans of tomato sauce
- 2 cans of stewed tomatoes – 14 – 15 ounce cans
- 1 can of tomato paste the small can, 5 – 6 ounces
- 2 Tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 1 Tablespoon dried sweet basil
- 1 Tablespoon ground oregano
- 1 Tablespoon coarse ground garlic salt with parsley
- 1 Tablespoon seasoned salt
- 1 Tablespoon seasoned pepper
- â…“ cup of brown sugar
- MEATBALLS
- 1 ¼ pound of ground sirloin
- 1 ¼ pound of ground round
- 1 sleeve of Ritz crackers – crushed
- 1 sweet onion – chopped
- 1 Tablespoon of minced garlic
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup of Ketchup
- 2 Tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tablespoon of Garlic salt
- 1 Tablespoon of seasoned salt
- 1 teaspoon of seasoned pepper
- 1 Tablespoon of Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon of chili powder
- 1 teaspoon of ground oregano
- ¼ cup of brown sugar
- 1 cup of flour
- Ziploc bag
- 2 Tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1 pound package of spaghetti
Instructions
- SAUCE
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot, until it beeps and locks, and MAKE SURE the pressure valve is set to ‘SEALING’, AND NOT VENTING.
- Press the manual button and set the timer to ’30’ minutes.
- Allow the Instant Pot to build and release pressure automatically, do not manually release pressure. This is what will infuse the flavors into the sauce.
- Once the Instant pot has released the pressure, and beeps, check to make sure the pressure button is down, and carefully, and with a pot holder, turn the pressure valve gently to VENTING, making sure all the pressure has been released.
- Remove the lid from the Instant Pot, and stir the sauce. It will have thickened during cooking, and may be a little thicker in the bottom of the pot. Stir to blend.
- Allow sauce 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.
- MEATBALLS
- In a large bowl, combine the sirloin and ground round, and mix well.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Sauce will run down onto Spaghetti, which will help keep it moist as it cooks.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 sauté for 4 or 5 minutes, until the sauce thickens.
- Ladle the Sauce over the Spaghetti and meatballs.
- Serve immediately!
