Instant Pot Frozen Meatballs in Buffalo Sauce
If you’re in a rush, try this quick and easy recipe for Instant Pot Frozen Meatballs in sauce. With just a few steps, your entire family will be enjoying this tasty dish – even the kids! It’s great with pasta or rice on the side or simply serve at a potluck or party.
Cooking frozen meatballs in the Instant Pot has never been easier. With a delicious Instant Pot Buffalo meatballs recipe, these frozen meatballs can be turned into a delicious dish in no time.
Why You’ll Love This Instant Pot Frozen Meatballs in Buffalo Sauce
- Time-Saver: No thawing needed, the Instant Pot perfectly cooks your frozen meatballs.
- Spicy Buffalo Flavor: The buffalo sauce adds a tangy kick that’s simply addictive.
- Versatile Dish: Serve as a hearty appetizer or over rice for a main.
Why Cook Frozen Meatballs Instant Pot Style?
There are a few reasons why cooking frozen meatballs in the Instant Pot is a great option. Compared to other methods, such as baking or frying, the Instant Pot utilizes less liquid for faster results with minimal clean-up.
And because it’s so fast and easy, this frozen meatball recipe is perfect for busy families on the go. Pressure cooker meatballs are quick easy and delicious!
Instant Pot Frozen Meatballs Ingredients
You won’t need much for this recipe, but your taste buds may beg to differ! Here’s what you need:
- Frozen Meatballs: Provide a convenient, protein-rich base for the dish. Opting for unseasoned chicken meatballs allows for versatility in flavor.
- Buffalo Hot Sauce: Gives the meatballs a spicy kick, adding depth and heat to the dish.
- Chicken Stock: Provides necessary liquid for pressure cooking and enhances the savory flavors of the meatballs and sauce.
- Ranch Dressing: Adds a creamy, tangy element to the dish, balancing out the heat from the buffalo sauce. Also serves as a delicious dipping sauce.
- Green Onions: Offer a fresh, slightly sharp contrast to the rich flavors of the meatballs and sauce.
- Blue Cheese (Optional): If used, it can add a bold, tangy kick to the dish, complementing the heat of the buffalo sauce.
How to Cook Instant Pot Frozen Meatballs?
Using your Instant Pot means you’ll have a meal or appetizer on the table in less than half an hour. Follow the simple steps to cook your Instant Pot frozen meatballs.
Step 1: Add Frozen Meatballs to Instant Pot
Place all your Frozen meatballs into the Instant pot with the chicken broth.
Step 2: Add Buffalo Sauce and Ranch
Add Buffalo Hot Sauce and half of the ranch dressing to the inner pot. Stir to combine and coat the meatballs well.
Step 3: Pressure Cook Frozen Meatballs
Close your Instant Pot lid and place the vent in a sealing position. Pressure-cook your frozen meatballs by pressing the manual pressure cook button set for 5 minutes.
Step 4: Quick Release Instant Pot Meatballs
When the Instant Pot beeps, do a quick release by flipping your valve to the “venting” position. The frozen meatballs such now be fully cooked and tender.
Step 5: Serve Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Serve your Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Meatballs with extra ranch for dipping and garnish with green onions and blue cheese crumbles if desired. Enjoy!
What to Serve With Chicken Meatballs?
If you’re wondering what to serve with meatballs then here are some great ideas! No matter what you choose to serve with meatballs, they are sure to be a crowd-pleasing appetizer or main dish!
- Healthy Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower
- Garlic and Parmesan Instant Pot Monkey Bread
- Carrots Glazed with Garlic and Herb
- Instant Pot Jalapeno Corn Dip
- Instant Pot Alabama Chicken Sliders
- Instant Pot Greek Chicken Rice
- Creamy Honey Mustard Chicken
- Instant Pot Copycat Big Mac With Big Mac Sauce
How to Store Leftover Meatballs?
To store leftover Instant Pot Buffalo Meatballs, place them in an airtight container or zip-top bag and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
You can also freeze the meatballs for later use by placing them in a freezer-safe container or bag.
When you’re ready to eat the leftovers, simply reheat your frozen cooked meatballs in the microwave or the oven. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Frozen Meatballs Can You Cook in an Instant Pot?
Depending on the size of your Instant Pot, you can cook anywhere from 25 to 50 meatballs in a single batch. This is perfect for feeding a crowd or stocking up the freezer with leftovers.
How Long to Cook Frozen Meatballs in Instant Pot?
The usual time to cook frozen meatballs in Instant Pot is around 5 minutes on high pressure. However, you may need to adjust the cooking time based on the size and thickness of your meatballs.
Frozen Meatballs V’s Fresh Meatballs
When it comes to cooking meatballs, you can use fresh or frozen meatballs. I like frozen Instant Pot meatballs because they are fast and easy to make and I can get them directly from the freezer if I decided to make an Instant Pot meatball recipe.
Ways to Enjoy Buffalo Chicken Instant Pot Meatballs
Whether you need a quick and easy dinner or an appetizer for your guests, these buffalo meatballs can be enjoyed in a variety of ways.
Make them for dinner. I love to make this buffalo chicken meatball recipe for dinner on days I don’t feel well. They are quick and easy. Some days I plop them on a hotdog bun and make a meatball sub, other days we just eat them off the plate.
Take to a Potluck. This Instant Pot meatballs recipe is the perfect addition to any potluck. You can bring them in your Instant Pot and use the keep warm function.
Enjoy a quick appetizer. If you have guests over, you may need a quick and easy appetizer. Whip up this frozen meatballs recipe and stick some toothpicks in them to make them an easy appetizer.
Can I Use Frozen Beef Meatballs Instead of Chicken Meatballs?
Yes, you can use frozen meatballs made from beef in place of chicken meatballs in this recipe. Just follow the same instructions for cooking and use beef broth instead of chicken broth. You could also try using ground turkey for turkey meatballs.
Can I Make Homemade Meatballs in the Instant Pot?
Yes, you can cook homemade meatballs in the Instant Pot! To do so, simply combine ground beef or ground chicken with your desired seasoning and mix well.
Form the meatball mixture into small meatballs and add to the Instant Pot along with 1/2 cup of chicken stock or broth.
Cook on high pressure for 7 minutes and allow a natural release before serving. Enjoy!
Do I Have to Use Buffalo Sauce?
No, you do not have to use buffalo sauce in this recipe. You can substitute any other type of hot sauce or simply omit the hot sauce altogether.
You could try marinara sauce with Italian seasoning for Italian meatballs. Other meatball sauce options could be honey garlic sauce, grape jelly meatballs, chili sauce, barbecue sauce, soy sauce, or teriyaki sauce.
To make a basic spaghetti sauce for your meatballs grab some crushed tomatoes and combine them with garlic powder, fresh basil, olive oil and your favorite tomato sauce.
Alternatively, add some pre-made pasta sauce and cook your meatballs in pasta sauce and serve with cooked pasta.
Can I Cook Frozen Meatballs on Slow Cooker Mode?
Yes, you can cook frozen meatballs in the Instant Pot using the slow cooker mode. Simply place the frozen meatballs and chicken stock or broth into the Instant Pot and set on the slow cooker setting for 4-6 hours.
Best Cheese for Meatballs
There is no one “best” cheese for meatballs, as different types of cheeses will work well with different meats. For example, some good options include feta cheese and Parmesan cheese with ground beef, ricotta cheese and Gorgonzola cheese with ground chicken, or cheddar cheese and Monterey jack cheese with ground turkey.
Provolone cheese, fontina cheese, and blue cheese are also good options. You can experiment with different types of cheeses until you find the perfect combination for your juicy meatballs!
Instant Pot Buffalo Meatballs
Instant Pot Recipe is a quick and easy meal you can serve to your family at dinner.
Ingredients
- 1-2 lbs Meatballs, Frozen
- 1 cup Buffalo Hot Sauce
- 2 Tablespoon Butter
- 1/2 cup Ranch Dressing, plus additional for serving
- Green Onions, sliced, optional for serving
- Blue Cheese, optional for serving
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in your Instant Pot and stir well to combine.
- Secure the lid on your Instant Pot and set to manual pressure for 5 minutes.
- Quick release.
- Stir the meatballs well in the sauce to coat, then serve.
- Sprinkle with optional green onions and blue cheese for serving and drizzle with additional ranch or provide on the side for dipping.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 990Total Fat: 80gSaturated Fat: 28gTrans Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 45gCholesterol: 225mgSodium: 1951mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 5gSugar: 10gProtein: 48g
More Quick Instant Pot Recipes
Some days, we just don’t have the time or energy to make a gourmet dinner. So, here are some of my other favorite delicious quick and easy Instant Pot recipes to try:
Enjoy this easy weeknight meal today!
