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This easy and tasty Instant Pot Meatball Pasta Dinner can be on the table in under an hour! Using frozen, pre-cooked meatballs, and a jarred pasta sauce, you can let the Instant Pot do all of the work for a pressure cooker meatball pasta dinner!
Originally published 9/13/2017
Instant Pot Meatball Pasta Dinner
I love to cook. I mean, I do have a food blog! But there are those days. You know what I mean. Days that get busy with so many commitments that you finally get home and just have a stare down with your stove. Yep. Been there.
Sometimes you get take out, but if you have more than one or two mouths to feed, it can get expensive. Not to mention the time it takes to order and go get it, or have it delivered.
If you have a box of pasta, a jar of sauce, and some frozen meatballs, you can make a tasty and filling dinner for the family that won’t take too long, and won’t break the bank! This recipe makes a lot!
Instant Pot Meatball Pasta Dinner is all about layers. You just layer the ingredients in the order I’m going to show you. Don’t stir it. Set the pot and go do something else for about 30 minutes (**It can take about 20 minutes for the pot to come to pressure, but that’s no biggie as it only cooks for about 5 minutes!).
When it is done, you Quick Release the pressure, stir it. Eat dinner!
Step 1) Put frozen pre-cooked meatballs in the pot.
Step 2) Pour in a 1 lb box of pasta.
Step 3) Open a can of diced tomatoes and pour it over the pasta.
Step 4) Pour a jar of pasta sauce (Marinara is my favorite) on and completely cover the pasta.
Step 5) Fill that pasta jar with water or broth 1 and 1/4 times and pour the liquid down the inside of the side of the pot so as not to wash the sauce off of the pasta.
Step 6) Sprinkle on the spices you want. I use Marinara sauce, so I use more.
DO NOT STIR!
Just close the lid and set the time for 5 minutes, or half of what the package says to do. 5 minutes works perfect on Penne, which is my favorite! **Due to the frozen meatballs, the pot can take 20 minutes to come to pressure. But it only cooks for a few minutes, so it’s still a fast meal!** When it’s done, do a Quick Release of the pressure. Stir it. Add cheese if you want. Eat it! EASY and TASTY!
Watch this video to see how easy it is to make Instant Pot Meatball Pasta Dinner
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Instant Pot Meatball Pasta Dinner
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Frozen Cooked Meatballs (small size)
- 1 lb Uncooked Pasta (I like penne or rotini best)
- 1 (24 oz) Jar of Pasta Sauce (I use Marinara)
- 1 (14.5 oz) can Diced Tomatoes, undrained
- 3 ¾ cups Broth or Water (fill the sauce jar 1 and ¼ times with broth or water)
If you use Marinara, Season it with These Spices - Your Chosen Sauce May Not Need Seasoning
- 2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning
- 2 teaspoons Garlic Powder
- 3 teaspoons Dehydrated Onion
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
Optional Toppings
- 1 cup Grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 ½ cups Mozzarella Cheese shredded (optional)
Instructions
Layer the Ingredients in the Pot - Do Not Stir!
- Add the meatballs to the pot.
- Pour pasta on top and spread out in an even layer.
- Pour the can of tomatoes over the pasta, evenly.
- Pour the jar of pasta sauce over, evenly, covering the pasta entirely.
- Pour the jar with the broth or water along the inside of the pot, making sure you don't pour it over the sauce and expose the pasta. Exposing the pasta may cause it to be undercooked in those areas (Remember to use 1 ¼ jars of liquid, which is 3 ¾ cups).
- Sprinkle the spices over the sauce.
Cooking
- Put the lid on the Pot and set the knob to Sealing.
- Press the Pressure Cook (or Manual) button or dial, and then the + or - button to choose 5 minutes (or half of the cooking time on the pasta package directions).
- **The pot may take up to 20 minutes to get to pressure, due to the frozen meatballs!**
- When the cooking cycle has ended, do a Controlled Quick Release* of the pressure until the pin drops.*A controlled quick release means you release the steam in short bursts, then longer bursts, until you can be sure none of the sauce spews out of the vent with the steam from the intense pressure. Then fully open the vent and let it go.
- Carefully open the lid, facing it away from you.
- Stir contents and mix in the Parmesan cheese.
- Taste and add more salt & pepper if needed.
- Top with the Mozzarella cheese, if using, and cover the pot with a lid (or just use a plate) to help the cheese melt.
- Serve!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
RESOURCES TO MAKE Instant Pot Meatball Pasta Dinner recipe and more
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How would you make it with gluten free pasta?
I haven’t made it with GF pasta, but from those who have, they said to also cook for half the time on the package directions and quick release. Maybe make a half batch first as a test?
Wow! Is all I can say! My husband was very skeptical at first, but when it turned out so well, everyone loved it! Amazing! Thanks for sharing.
Will I need to adjust the cook time for high altitude? I’m at about 5300″.
The altitude cook time change is 10-15% for your altitude. It’s 5% added to cook time per 1000′ over 2000′.
This is such a great recipe! Thank you! I’m an IP newbie and this was really fun to make. My husband bought frozen jalapeno and mango meatballs (quite spicy) so I used them with rotini pasta and he LOVED it! Thanks so much!
Awesome! Mmmm, those meatballs sound great!
I made this tonight and it was easy and delicious. I like my pasta a bit firmer. Would I do it for 4 mins instead? Would that still turn out? Thank you 😊
That’s great! Yes, you can cut the cook time down a little. The meatballs will still be heated through.
Great recipe and super easy! Everyone loved it!
Great recipe & great flavor. The meatballs came out very soft & mushy from the pressure cooking. To keep them firm, if I microwaved the meatballs, and added them to the pot at the end, how would you adjust the recipe? Tx Tom
I haven’t heard of that happening. I suppose different meatballs will behave differently. You will keep the cook time the same, as the cook time is for the pasta.
My son made it tonight and had some friends over. One of them said she could smell it coming up to our front door!, Such a great meal and this one will go in rotation. I’ve got a house full of 20 somethings over every night for dinner so I’ll be looking to check out some of your other recipes. Thank you for this one!
That’s great! This is definitely a good one for the younguns!
Thank you for giving me another reason to use the Instant Pot. Toddler loved this. Made it during her afternoon nap, and it was ready for dinner. Added chopped onions and bell peppers (which she meticulously picked out) with the sauce layer.
Eating now….FANTASTIC!!
Add another jar of sauce instead of the tomatoes……came out PERFECT!!😎🍺🍺