Instant Pot Porcupine Meatballs
This Easy Instant Pot Porcupine Meatballs recipe delivers tender, juicy meatballs cooked together with white rice in a rich, savory tomato sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes with minimal cleanup, it’s perfect for busy weeknights or any time you want a comforting, flavorful meal the whole family will love.
- Author: Mary
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 32 minutes (including pressure release)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pressure Cooking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Meatball Mixture
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 cup uncooked white rice
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Tomato Sauce and Cooking Liquid
- 1 can (14.5 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 tbsp ketchup or tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- Pinch of salt (to taste)
- Prepare the Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, uncooked white rice, chopped onion, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix gently just until combined to avoid tough meatballs.
- Shape the Meatballs: Using your hands or a small scoop, form the mixture into evenly sized meatballs approximately 1 1/2 inches in diameter for consistent cooking.
- Prepare the Sauce in the Instant Pot: Pour crushed tomatoes, beef broth, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and a pinch of salt into the Instant Pot. Stir well to combine, making sure the rice doesn’t stick to the bottom.
- Add Meatballs and Cook: Place the meatballs carefully on top of the tomato mixture in a single layer. Close the Instant Pot lid, seal the vent, and cook on high pressure for 12 minutes.
- Natural Release and Serve: Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then perform a quick release. Gently stir the sauce to mix the cooked rice with the meatballs, then serve warm.
Notes
- Use uncooked rice to ensure it cooks perfectly alongside the meatballs.
- Avoid adding too much liquid to prevent mushy rice.
- Do not overmix the meat to keep meatballs tender and juicy.
- Handle meatballs gently when placing them in the pot to avoid breaking.
- Allow natural pressure release to better finish cooking the rice and keep meatballs tender.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
Keywords: Instant Pot, Porcupine Meatballs, one pot meal, quick dinner, comfort food, ground beef recipes, family friendly