Instant Pot meatballs and pasta
Frozen meatballs, penne and marinara all cook together under pressure, with melted mozzarella on top and one pot to wash.
- 30 min total
- 10 min hands-on
- Anyone can make this
- Serves 8
- About $1.37 a serving
- 530 calories
- Good the next day
Dolly says: I’d make this on a weeknight. It’s on the table in 30 minutes.
Ingredients
For 8 servings.
- 1 lb penne
- 1 lb 8 oz frozen meatballs
- 1 jar marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- ¼ cup grated parmesan (optional)
From your pantry
- 4 cups water
- 1 tsp salt
Each serving has about 530 calories, 24 g protein, 56 g carbs and 23 g fat, and costs about $1.37 at typical US grocery prices. Both are estimates from what the recipe uses.
Missing something?
- No penne? Rigatoni or elbow macaroni works.
- No shredded mozzarella? Provolone slices work.
- No grated parmesan? Parmesan wedge works.
Steps
Tap an underlined word for a quick explanation.
Pour the water into the Instant Pot, add the penne and salt, and stir so the pasta is under the water.
Scatter the frozen meatballs over the pasta in an even layer.
Pour the marinara over the top and spread it out, but don’t stir it in.
Dolly’s tip: Thick sauce on the bottom can scorch and set off the burn warning. Layered on top, it’s safe.Lock the lid, set the valve to sealing, and pressure cook on high for 5 minutes. Then turn the valve to quick release.
Timer: 5 min
Dolly’s tip: It takes 10 to 15 minutes to come up to pressure before the 5 minutes start.Stir everything well and check that the meatballs are hot in the middle.
Food safety: Rotisserie chicken, deli meat, canned tuna and cooked shrimp are already cooked. Keep them cold until you use them, and heat them until steaming hot if the recipe warms them.
Scatter the mozzarella over the top, put the lid back on for 3 minutes to it, and serve with parmesan.
Melt. Melting means gently heating something solid, like butter or cheese, until it turns liquid. Low or medium heat keeps it from browning or burning.
How you’ll know: It’s smooth and liquid, and butter may foam a little but hasn’t turned brown.
Timer: 3 min
Plan this in Dollop, and get the grocery list
Dollop puts this dinner on a night that suits your week, lists only what you still need to buy, and walks you through each step while you cook.
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30-minute dinners ›One-pan dinners ›What to make with pasta and parmesan ›What to make with parmesan and shredded mozzarella ›What to make with pasta and shredded mozzarella ›