This Instant Pot Meatballs and Pasta Recipe is such a great easy dinner recipe that can be made with as few as four ingredients!
So since I posted my Creamy Instant Pot Spaghetti, which is so delicious, I have had readers ask if they can substitute in meatballs. And with readers always asking me for more Instant Pot recipes, I knew it was time to make you this delicious dinner.
How To Make Pasta and Meatballs in the Instant Pot
Here is a brief overview of how this Instant Pot spaghetti and meatballs recipe comes together. Be sure to scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full recipe, including all ingredients and their measurements.
- Make your meatballs. You can see some of my favorite meatball recipes below. If you are using frozen meatballs, skip to Step 2.
- Add everything to the Instant Pot in this order. Add the chicken broth first, then the uncooked pasta, then the spaghetti sauce, and finally, top with the meatballs.
- Close the Instant Pot and cook. Close the lid, set the pressure to manual, high, and five minutes, making sure the Instant Pot is set to sealing.
- Allow the Instant Pot to vent. When the time comes to an end, vent the Instant Pot, and wait for the float valve to drop. Top with shredded Parmesan cheese and enjoy!
Instant Pot
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
I love the flavor of my homemade spaghetti sauce and how easily it comes together. It is delicious in this meatballs and pasta recipe, but if grabbing a jar of your favorite pasta sauce is more your speed, by all means do that.
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
How to Make Meatballs
This Instant Pot pasta recipe works with any meatballs. You can grab some frozen meatballs from the store or make them from scratch using one of my meatball recipes below.
Combine your meatball ingredients in a large bowl, then roll the mixture into one-inch balls using clean hands or a cookie scoop. They will cook in your Instant Pot with the pasta.
- Baked Turkey Meatballs (though obviously this time they won’t be baked): This is the recipe listed at the bottom of the page in the recipe card.
- The Best Italian Meatballs come together with both pork and ground beef.
- My chicken meatballs are a leaner option with fewer calories and fat and have great flavor.
How Long to Cook Meatballs in the Instant Pot
The total time for this recipe is about 45 minutes if you make your own meatballs, or 30 minutes if you use frozen ones. I give the options of both frozen or fresh meatballs, and they both cook for the same amount of time.
Variations
One of the great things about this recipe is its simplicity and flexibility. As long as you have your base ingredients and add them to the pressure cooker in the correct order, you can use a variety of different variations depending on what you have on hand and your family likes.
- Use any kind of pasta: This recipe can be made with any kind of pasta. You will see in the photos that I used penne, but spaghetti, fusilli, or rotini would all work well.
- Use different kinds of meatballs. Depending on what your family eats and enjoys, you can make this Instant Pot spaghetti recipe with beef, turkey, chicken, pork, or even vegetarian meatballs.
- Swap the broth. If you want to make this dish vegetarian by using vegetarian meatballs, you can swap the chicken broth for vegetable broth.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Store any leftover meatballs and pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat only the portion you plan to eat in the microwave or in a small skillet on the stovetop over low heat until heated through.
What to Serve with Meatballs and Pasta
If you make this Instant Pot meatballs recipe or any of my other recipes, I’d be so grateful if you left a comment letting me know how you enjoyed it!
Instant Pot Meatballs and Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 3 cups spaghetti sauce
- 1 pound pasta uncooked
Meatballs (or use frozen ones)
- 1 egg beaten
- 1/2 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (not garlic salt)
- 1/2 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1/2 tablespoon dried basil
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 pound Italian seasoned meat
Instructions
- Mix all of the meatball ingredients together and form into uniform one-inch meatballs.
- Pour the chicken stock into the Instant Pot. Add the noodles. Pour the spaghetti sauce on top. Set the meatballs on top of the sauce.
- Lock the lid in place and select Manual, High Pressure, and 5 minutes cook time.
- When the cook time ends, turn off the pressure cooker. Use the quick pressure release. When the valve drops, carefully remove the lid.
- Serve and enjoy!
Angie says
So what do you mean by 5 minutes. I thought this takes 45 minutes
Instant Pot recipes are so challenging to write, because the time I’m telling you is the time you program your IP for. But it takes the Instant Pot time to come to pressure, so that’s where all the added time comes in. Does that make sense?
Tracy Benjamin says
We absolutely LOVE this recipe and it is my “go to” when I don’t have anything planned or I am rushed for time. My family loves it!! I use the store-bought Carando Spicy Italian Meatballs! Yum!!
I’m so glad you like it Tracy!
Mark Hollinger says
why chicken stock and not just water?
The chicken stock deepens the flavor of the recipe. It’s not absolutely necessary, but adds a lot to the recipe.
Breck says
Would beef stock instead of chicken stock be an alternative?
Absolutely!
Paula Vermilya says
I made this. Used my own Italian meatball recipe. I substituted 1 cup of chicken broth with red wine. Gives deep rich flavor. The beauty of this is the noodles get saturated instead of sauce just sitting on them. Yummy.
I’m so glad you liked it!
Hailee says
If the meatballs are a bit undercooked can we just add a few more minutes or should we take them out and cook them separately?
I would suggest instead that you make them just a touch smaller in the future.
JJ says
What is “Italian seasoned meat” that is called for in the ingredients?
Like Italian pork. But you can buy it in turkey as well.