These Instant Pot Frozen Meatballs are so easy to make and they come together in just 15 minutes – read on for ideas on how to use them!
Ingredients and substitutions
- BBQ sauce – use a store-bought BBQ sauce or mix together some ketchup, mustard and brown sugar to create your own variation.
- Ketchup – use a store-bought ketchup or add extra BBQ sauce instead.
- Honey – coconut nectar, agave or maple syrup are all great substitutes for honey.
- Beef broth – use chicken broth in place of beef broth if you’re in a pinch.
- Garlic – fresh or jarred minced garlic has the best flavor, but garlic powder will also work in this recipe.
- Frozen fully cooked meatballs – any store-bought bag of frozen cooked meatballs will work like turkey meatballs, pork meatballs or chicken meatballs.
How to cook frozen meatballs in the Instant Pot
Step 1: Mix together the sauce.
Add all the sauce ingredients to the Instant Pot in the order listed.
Step 2: Add the frozen meatballs over top.
Step 3: Cook on high pressure.
Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes, then do a quick release of the pressure.
Step 4: Serve and enjoy!
More sauce ideas
If you’re not a fan of barbecue sauce, you can make this recipe with almost any sauce of your choice. Follow the recipe card instructions as normal, but swap out the BBQ sauce, ketchup and honey for another sauce of your choice. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Toss the meatballs in a spaghetti sauce or marinara sauce, serve over cooked pasta and garnish with parmesan cheese for an Italian style feast.
- Orange marmalade, grape jelly or honey garlic sauce will add the perfect sweet flavour to your meatballs.
- Teriyaki sauce is a great sauce to toss your meatballs in if you’re looking to make a quick stir fry.
- Cook them in sweet chili sauce for a bit of sweeteness and heat.
- Use a creamy sauce to make the perfect Swedish meatball recipe that Ikea can’t compare with.
Frequently Asked Questions
These Instant Pot frozen meatballs only need to cook for 5 minutes at high pressure.
Yes! It’s perfectly safe to cook your raw frozen meatballs in sauce. The meatballs will pressure cook alongside your favorite sauce.
If you find that your frozen meatballs are tough and dry, they’ve been overcooked. Make sure you’re only cooking them on high pressure for 5 minutes.
Meatballs are an easy and delicious source of protein that can be incorporated into many different dishes. You can use your Instant Pot meatballs to make hearty soups, flatbreads, pastas, casseroles or even a meatball sub. If you’re looking for a quick and easy meal, a foolproof way to enjoy your meatballs are alone with a side of veggies and rice.
These frozen meatballs are great for meal prep, so you can make them ahead of time for a party or your lunches for the week. After the meatballs have cooked and completely cooled, store them in the fridge in an airtight glass container for up to 5 days. Reheat them in a pan on the stovetop with a bit of extra sauce!
Storing and reheating
If there are any leftover Instant Pot meatballs that you won’t be using immediately, store them in an airtight container in the fridge. The meatballs will last in the fridge for up to 5 days, so they’re a great option for meal prep.
Once you’re ready to enjoy your meatballs, warm them up in the microwave for up to 2 minutes. If you prefer not to use a microwave, you can heat them up in a pan on the stovetop with a bit of extra sauce.
Since you’re using frozen meatballs, you won’t be able to re-freeze them.
More Instant Pot beef recipes
Meal prep tools for this recipe
- Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on turning these meatballs into your weekly lunches.
- Use these Ziploc bag holders if you’re adding meatballs to freezer bags then storing them.
Instant Pot Frozen Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup beef broth
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (48oz) bag frozen fully cooked meatballs
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to Instant Pot in the order in which they are listed, stirring sauce ingredients and adding meatballs over top (make sure they are frozen!)
- Place lid on Instant Pot and make sure valve is set to seal. Press the pressure cook button and set to high, then cook for 5 minutes. Instant Pot will take about 5-10 minutes to come to pressure then pressure cook for 5 minutes.
- Do a quick release of the pressure on the Instant Pot by flicking the switch at the top with a spoon. Open the lid when pressure gauge has dropped and the lid opens easily. Serve and enjoy!
