Instant Pot Pasta and Meatballs is one of my favorite busy weeknight dinners. Just add all the uncooked ingredients to the pot, press a button, and let the Instant pot do the work.
Instant Pot recipes are so convenient! Try Beef Gyros, Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes, Instant Pot Spaghetti, Instant Pot Short Ribs, or Instant Pot Meatloaf!
Every busy family needs this Instant Pot Pasta and Meatballs recipe.
Every busy family needs this Instant Pot Pasta and Meatballs recipe.This recipe has saved me more than once, and made me look like the most put together Mom in the world, when I'm actually just trying not to drop every ball I'm juggling. It doesn't get easier than adding uncooked pasta, frozen meatballs, tomato sauce and spices to a pot, and voila, dinner is ready at the press of a button. It still has an elevated edge to it, with a homemade sauce, rather than jarred, and you could use from-scratch frozen cooked meatballs, too.
If you're new to the Instant Pot, here are all of my Instant Pot recipes.
How to make Instant Pot Pasta with Meatballs:
Layer Ingredients: Add frozen meatballs to Instant pot and add uncooked pasta on top. Add water, followed by crushed tomatoes, seasonings, and tomato sauce. Make sure the sauce is covering all of the noodles.
Cook: Cook on manual, high pressure, for half of the cook time it instructs on the box of pasta. Quick release to release pressure. Serve instant pot pasta with grated parmesan cheese and some breadsticks or garlic knots on the side.
Recipe Variations:
- Homemade Meatballs: prepare homemade meatball, but to cook, use the instant pot, on sauté setting, brown them lightly on all sides, in a little oil. You don't need to cook them all the way through. Continue with recipes steps as instructed, adding uncooked pasta, sauces, spices and water on top, and cooking at high pressure.
- Spicy: use crushed fire roasted tomatoes instead of the crushed tomatoes, and add a dash of crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Veggies: Stir in fresh spinach at the end.
More Recipes with Meatballs:
- Swedish Meatballs
- Meatballs Arrabbiata
- BBQ Meatballs
- Meatball Subs
- Hawaiian Meatballs
- Mediterranean Meatball Bowl
- Baked Chicken Meatballs
- Green Curry Meatballs
- Air Fryer Meatballs
- Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
- One Pan Meatball Casserole
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Recipe
Instant Pot Pasta and Meatballs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds frozen cooked meatballs*
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 3 cups water
- 24 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 8 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasonings
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried minced onion
- 3 Tablespoons fresh basil leaves , chopped (or 2 tsp. dried)
- 1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
- salt and pepper
- freshly grated parmesan cheese , for topping
- fresh chopped parsley , for garnish
- crushed red pepper flakes , optional for garnish
Instructions
- DISCLAIMER: I developed and tested this recipe using my 6-QUART INSTANT POT DUO. If you’re using a larger IP or a newer brand you may need to add more liquid so that you don’t get a burn notice. (The new IP are much more sensitive). Refer to this article for more information on adapting recipes for your instant pot.
- Layer ingredients in Instant Pot: Spray the bottom of the instant pot with nonstick cooking spray. Add frozen meatballs, then dry pasta, spreading into an even layer. Pour water over pasta. Add crushed tomatoes, seasonings and tomato sauce and gently tomato sauce and seasonings. Smooth the sauce to completely cover the noodles.
- Cook on High Pressure (Manual) for 4-5 minutes (half the cook time listed on the box of pasta).
- Do a controlled quick release when timer beeps. Stir. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. Serve with fresh grated parmesan on top, and extra chopped fresh basil, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
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I originally shared this recipe February 2019. Updated August 2022 and October 2024.
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I’d probably be using jarred pasta sauce. Instead of the 3 cups of water, would 3 cups of the sauce work instead? Probably 4 then since you also use 8oz of tomatoes sauce.
It was fabulous and so easy. Sauted some onion and garlic and put everything else in on top.
This recipe was so easy and a huge hit with my family. Who doesn’t love a meal that takes 5 minutes prep time and satisfies the pickiest eater? This will be making many returns to our table.
This is a good one, and now I will always make my pasta and meatballs in the Instant Pot! It really does add more flavor to the pasta. The changes I made were minor, mostly seasonings to the likes of my family and adjustments to portion size. I also used frozen turkey meatballs – really good! Thanks for this one :).
It was great. I added salt to the 3 cups of water to give the pasta a bit more flavor. I used a 28-oz. can of crushed tomatoes instead of a 24-oz. can. When the left overs were reheated the next day, I added some shredded mozzarella cheese. This recipe is so simple yet so good.
I make this a lot! I absolutely love it!
I made this in my 6 quart Instant Pot using frozen turkey meatballs, whole wheat rotelli, and a 25 oz. jar of pasta sauce. I layered everything as suggested, with the addition of a layer of frozen sliced 3-colored peppers in between the meatballs and pasta. I added about an extra 4 oz. of water to the empty sauce jar and swished it around to get out all the bits, then added that to the pot, as well. I also added dried minced onion, garlic powder, and dried oregano, rosemary, and basil. I set it for high pressure for 8 minutes then quick released as soon as it was done. When I opened the lid, everything was bubbling and beautiful looking! It seemed a bit wet at first, but after I stirred everything together it was perfect with a velvety layer of sauce covering everything. The pasta was perfectly cooked to my taste (a bit softer than al dente). There is something I really like about cooking pasta like this, it is much more flavorful and has a slightly silkier texture. This recipe is a winner for a night when you want something good but don’t have the time or inclination to stand over the stove. I will freeze it in portions and get many meals out of this one batch. Thanks for sharing!