If you’re looking for a hearty, nostalgic meal that’s easy enough for a weeknight but special enough to impress, this Easy Instant Pot Porcupine Meatballs Recipe is sure to win you over. Lean ground beef, tender rice, and a savory tomato sauce come together in a pressure cooker for a dish that’s bursting with flavor and family-friendly comfort. With everything cooked in just one pot, it’s as convenient as it is delicious, making it ideal for busy cooks who crave home-cooked goodness.

Easy Instant Pot Porcupine Meatballs Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

You’ll be amazed at how the simplest ingredients can transform into an incredibly flavorful dinner. Each item in this Easy Instant Pot Porcupine Meatballs Recipe plays a vital role, ensuring you get savory meatballs with the perfect texture, all smothered in a luscious sauce.

Lean ground beef: The base of the meatballs, providing richness without excess fat.
Uncooked long grain white rice: It plumps up inside each meatball as it cooks, delivering that signature “porcupine” texture.
Finely chopped onion: Adds subtle sweetness and moisture, making the meatballs extra tender.
Milk: Softens the rice and binds the meat mixture together.
Large egg: Essential for keeping the meatballs firm yet juicy.
Salt: Brings all the flavors to life—don’t skip it!
Garlic powder: For a gentle, savory note that enhances the beef.
Black pepper: Adds just the right amount of warmth and depth.
Worcestershire sauce: Delivers a savory, slightly tangy punch that elevates every bite.
Tomato sauce: Ensures the meatballs cook in a flavorful, saucy bath—perfect for spooning over sides.
Water: Helps the Instant Pot reach pressure and thins the sauce, so it coats each meatball perfectly.
Olive oil: For browning the meatballs and developing a rich, savory crust.
Chopped fresh parsley: (optional) A bright, fresh finish that makes the plate pop.

How to Make Easy Instant Pot Porcupine Meatballs Recipe

Step 1: Mix and Form the Meatballs

Start by grabbing your largest mixing bowl and combine the ground beef, uncooked rice, finely chopped onion, milk, egg, salt, garlic powder, black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Use your hands or a spatula to mix gently until everything is just combined—overmixing can make the meatballs dense. Once mixed, form the mixture into meatballs about 1 1/2 inches wide, aiming for around 12 meatballs.

Step 2: Brown the Meatballs

Set your Instant Pot to the Sauté function and add the olive oil. Wait until the oil is shimmering, then add the meatballs in a single layer (you’ll likely need to work in batches). Brown each meatball on all sides, turning carefully with tongs—this process only takes about 2–3 minutes per batch and adds tons of flavor to the final dish.

Step 3: Prepare and Add the Sauce

Once all the meatballs are lightly browned, turn off the Sauté function and return all meatballs to the Instant Pot. In a separate bowl, whisk together the tomato sauce and water, then pour this mixture all over the meatballs, ensuring they’re mostly covered. This sauce will soak into the rice and beef as everything pressure cooks, giving every bite a savory, tomato-forward finish.

Step 4: Pressure Cook

Secure the Instant Pot lid and set the valve to Sealing. Select the Manual or Pressure Cook setting and set the timer for 10 minutes. Once the cycle ends, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes—this helps keep the meatballs tender and juicy—then carefully do a quick release for any remaining steam.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

Carefully remove the lid and gently stir the meatballs into the sauce. Serve the meatballs hot, spooning over plenty of sauce. If you like, dust with chopped fresh parsley for a pop of color and freshness.

How to Serve Easy Instant Pot Porcupine Meatballs Recipe

Garnishes

A shower of chopped fresh parsley brings a little brightness and a hint of herbaceous flavor to each serving. If you want more, try a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese or even some crushed red pepper flakes for a little kick. Don’t be shy—layer your garnishes to match your mood!

Side Dishes

This Easy Instant Pot Porcupine Meatballs Recipe is cozy enough to stand alone, but it truly shines with classic sides. Serve them over creamy mashed potatoes, buttered egg noodles, or steamed white rice to catch all that luscious sauce. For a lighter touch, try a pile of sautéed greens or steamed veggies on the side.

Creative Ways to Present

For a rustic, shareable feel, arrange the meatballs in a big serving bowl and spoon extra sauce on top, then let everyone help themselves family-style. Or, try tucking a few meatballs into a split sub roll for a nostalgic, saucy sandwich—just add melty provolone and toast under the broiler. You can even nestle mini-meatballs onto a party platter with cocktail picks for a festive appetizer spread.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftovers are no problem with this Easy Instant Pot Porcupine Meatballs Recipe! Store any remaining meatballs and sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. The flavors deepen as they rest, making for an even tastier lunch or dinner the next day.

Freezing

If you’d like to plan ahead, these meatballs freeze beautifully. Place cooled meatballs (with their sauce) in a freezer-safe container or bag, label with the date, and freeze for up to 3 months. When you’re ready for a quick homemade dinner, simply thaw overnight in the fridge.

Reheating

To reheat, warm the meatballs gently on the stove over low heat, adding a splash of water or extra tomato sauce if needed to adjust the consistency. You can also microwave in a covered dish at medium power, stirring halfway through for even heating. Either way, the meatballs stay moist and flavorful!

FAQs

Can I use ground turkey instead of beef?

Absolutely! Ground turkey will work well and make the dish a bit lighter, though you may want to add a bit more seasoning, as turkey tends to be milder in flavor. Just be sure to use similar ratios and check for doneness.

What kind of rice works best for this recipe?

Uncooked long grain white rice is ideal because it cooks to perfect tenderness inside the meatballs. Brown rice doesn’t soften as well in this instant cooking time, so stick with white rice for classic results.

Can I double the Easy Instant Pot Porcupine Meatballs Recipe?

Yes, you can easily double the ingredients! Just be careful not to overfill your Instant Pot—make sure the meatballs fit below the max fill line, and keep enough sauce to mostly cover them. The cook time remains the same.

How do I prevent the meatballs from falling apart?

Mixing the ingredients until just combined, without overworking, is the trick to tender meatballs that hold their shape. The egg and rice both act as binders, so form the meatballs gently and try not to handle them too much after shaping.

Is this recipe gluten-free?

Yes! As written, the Easy Instant Pot Porcupine Meatballs Recipe is completely gluten-free, making it a great option for those with dietary restrictions. Always double-check labels on Worcestershire sauce, as occasionally brands may include gluten.

Final Thoughts

This Easy Instant Pot Porcupine Meatballs Recipe turns simple pantry staples into a cozy, flavor-packed meal everyone can gather around. I hope you give it a try soon—the Instant Pot does all the heavy lifting, and you’ll be rewarded with a dish that feels as special as Sunday dinner, even on a busy weeknight!

Easy Instant Pot Porcupine Meatballs Recipe

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4.8 from 14 reviews

Author: admin
Total Time: 40 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Diet: Non-Vegetarian

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Description

This Easy Instant Pot Porcupine Meatballs recipe is a quick and flavorful dish perfect for a weeknight dinner. Tender meatballs made with ground beef, rice, and savory seasonings cooked in a delicious tomato sauce.

Ingredients

Scale

Meatballs:

1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup uncooked long grain white rice
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup milk
1 large egg
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Sauce:

2 cups tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon olive oil

Garnish:

Chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

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Instructions

Prepare Meatballs: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, rice, onion, milk, egg, salt, garlic powder, black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Form into meatballs.
Cook Meatballs: Sauté meatballs in the Instant Pot, then add tomato sauce and water. Pressure cook for 10 minutes.
Serve: Let pressure release naturally, then open the lid, stir gently, and serve hot. Garnish with parsley.