Description
This Easy Instant Pot Porcupine Meatballs recipe delivers tender, juicy beef meatballs with a melty cheese center, cooked in a savory tomato sauce. Perfect for a speedy and comforting meal, these one-pot meatballs come together in about 30 minutes, making them ideal for busy weeknights. The recipe is adaptable, family-friendly, and offers a delicious twist on the classic comfort food using the convenience of an Instant Pot.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatball Mixture
- 1 lb ground beef (lean or medium-fat)
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup finely diced onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian herbs
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Sauce and Cooking
- 1 tablespoon oil (for sautéing)
- 2 cups tomato sauce (crushed or pureed)
Instructions
- Prepare the Meatball Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, cooked rice, shredded cheese, egg, finely diced onion, minced garlic, salt, pepper, Italian herbs, and paprika. Mix gently but thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Shape the Meatballs: Using your hands, form the mixture into golf ball-sized meatballs, pressing gently to avoid compacting them too tightly, which keeps them tender.
- Sauté Aromatics in the Instant Pot: Turn your Instant Pot to the sauté setting and add a splash of oil. Cook the diced onions and garlic until fragrant and translucent, about 2-3 minutes, to build flavor for the sauce.
- Add Tomato Sauce and Meatballs: Pour in the tomato sauce over the sautéed aromatics, then carefully place the meatballs into the sauce. Spoon some sauce over the top of each meatball to keep them moist during cooking.
- Pressure Cook: Secure the Instant Pot lid and set it to manual pressure cook for 10 minutes. When finished, allow natural pressure release for 5 minutes before quick releasing the rest.
- Serve and Enjoy: Carefully remove the meatballs with a slotted spoon, taste the sauce, and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot alongside your favorite sides.
Notes
- Don’t overmix the meatball mixture to keep meatballs tender rather than dense.
- Use fully cooked and cooled rice to ensure even cooking and meatball integrity.
- Insert a small cube of cheese inside each meatball for a melty, gooey center.
- Place meatballs in a single layer in the Instant Pot to cook evenly and avoid sticking.
- Allow natural pressure release for 5 minutes for perfectly tender meatballs.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Pressure Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg