Instant Pot Porcupine Meatballs are a tasty and simple recipe, made with ground beef, rice, and a simple tomato sauce. Pressure cooker Porcupine Meatballs are easy to make, and are a family favorite!
Originally published 10/6/2017
Instant Pot Porcupine Meatballs
I'm going through my Nana's recipes and picking out the ones I want to convert to pressure cooker recipes. She was a great cook!
Nana had many recipes for the stove top pressure cooker, such as the wildly popular Instant Pot Beef Barley Vegetable Soup. That recipe really struck a chord with a lot of people.
My theory is because it is simple, homey, healthy, and just a touch old fashioned. You don't see a lot of modern recipes like that. It's also delicious and easy to make!
Porcupine Meatballs are also a little old fashioned, and I love Nana's simple recipe. I did adapt it a bit to give the dish a little more flavor, but it is still close to my childhood memories.
I made these for my son when he was growing up, and he loved them. Kids love Porcupine Meatballs! I know I sure did, and still do!
How to make Porcupine Meatballs in the Instant Pot
1) Mix the ingredients together and form 10-14 small meatballs.
2) Add soup and water/broth to the pot.
3) Add seasonings to the pot and stir.
4) Add the meatballs, coating them in the sauce.
5) Pressure cook the meatballs for 20 minutes, and naturally release for 20 minutes.
(photo shows 10, but some folks had better results with longer NPR).
6) I prefer to skim off any fat after removing the meatballs from the pot if I am going to serve the sauce over potatoes, etc.
When they come out of the pressure cooker, the grains of rice are standing up like porcupine quills!
Those little grains of rice poking out of the meatballs are fun to look at! And fun to eat! The sauce is simple and tasty!
What to Serve With Instant Pot Porcupine Meatballs
I like to serve them with mashed potatoes or more cooked rice. You can serve these pressure cooked meatballs with
Instant Pot Swedish Meatballs
Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
Instant Pot Albondigas Soup (Mexican Meatball Soup)
Instant Pot Lentil Beef Stew
If you make this yummy Instant Pot Porcupine Meatballs recipe, please leave a comment with a star rating below. I'd like to know how you liked it!
Instant Pot Porcupine Meatballs are a tasty and simple recipe, made with ground beef, rice, and a simple tomato sauce. Easily cooked in your electric pressure cooker.
- 1 lb Ground Beef (80% to 90% Lean)
- 1 Tablespoon Onion, grated or finely diced
- 1 Egg
- ¼ cup Long Grain White Rice (uncooked, rinsed)
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt (or ¾ tsp table salt)
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 3 Tablespoons Heavy Cream (or half and half)
- 2 Tablespoons Bread Crumbs
- 1 (10.75 oz) can Condensed Tomato Soup
- 1 can Water or Broth (use the soup can)
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 teaspoon Red Wine Vinegar
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Mix all of the ingredients for the meatballs together and form into 12 to 14 small meatballs. Set aside.
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Mix the sauce ingredients together and stir well to combine. Pour into the pot and turn on the Sauté mode to start the sauce warming up.
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When the sauce is just starting to simmer, stir it and carefully add the meatballs to the pot.
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Close the lid of the pressure cooker and set the steam release knob to the Sealing position. Cancel the Sauté mode.
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Press the Manual (or Pressure Cook) button, and then the + or - button to choose 20 minutes.
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When the cooking cycle ends, let the pot sit and naturally release for 20 minutes. Then manually release the remaining steam until the pin in the lid drops.
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Open the lid and serve the meatballs with some of the sauce over them (I prefer to skim off any fat from the sauce after removing the meatballs, if I am going to serve the sauce over potatoes, etc.).
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These Instant Pot Porcupine Meatballs go well with crusty bread, salad, or a vegetable side dish.
A few of my readers suggested cooking some potatoes at the same time in the sauce. I think that's a great idea!
Updated 10/21/17
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Shirley Hall
Would it be better to use minute rice or brown rice? And time changes? I just do not have any white rice.
Sandy
You can use Minute rice.
Karen
Would you need to make any changes if you use ground turkey?
Sandy
No, I would keep it as is.
Danette
WE prefer brown rice. Would there be a time change?
Sandy
Yes, you will need to cook it longer. Be sure to use parboiled brown rice.
Cara Reynolds
I had no tomato soup so I changed the sauce to cream of mushroom hoping it will turn out just as good...
Kerri Sheppard
We loved this recipe! I added some fresh thyme and rosemary to the meatballs and used tomato sauce and tomato paste in place of the tomato soup. I then served it over zucchini noodles! Even my 4 year old asked for seconds. Thanks for reminding me of this dish from my childhood!
Sandy
Awesome!
Lana
I've never been fond of tomato soup so I was wondering about using tomato sauce. I'm glad you posted since the tomato paste hadn't occurred to me and it would be good!
Lauri
Made this for dinner. It was very good thanks for sharing the recipe.
Libby
My kids loved these but I think I would do half beef half Italian sausage next time to add more “zest” to them. And might cut down the cooking time to 20 instead of 25 min
Sandy
Thank you, Libby. The traditional Porcupine Meatballs are made from ground beef. I agree they would be good with half sausage, however my Granny would say you would have to change the name, lol!
Santa Bill
Porcospino is Italian for porcupine so 'Porcospino polpetta'? To mix thoroughly I start with ground meat, adding first 1/4 - 1/2 tsp baking soda (which helps the meat stay moist) gently press flat and even. Cover evenly with each ingredient fold gently before making meatballs. Browning the bread crumbs in equal part butter really makes a better meatball too.
Sandy
Thanks for the tips!
Pat
How about "Italian Porcupine Meatballs"
Sandy
Yes! You could add Italian seasoning, garlic, maybe a little red wine... Sprinkle on some cheese at the end! Why not?!!