Avoid processed, sugary ingredients in this popular appetizer and try these sweet barbecue meatballs made completely from scratch and cooked in the Instant Pot– easy, healthy, and delicious!
This week has taken somewhat of an unexpected turn as I have been working on putting together a list of Instant Pot recipes for Thanksgiving. I had a few ideas of what I wanted to include, and a couple of recipes I wanted to test (don’t you just love when that includes cheesecake? I do).
What I didn’t anticipate was having a recipe to share everyday this week, but that is now the plan. Let’s just call it, THE BIG WEEK OF THANKSGIVING RECIPES. It is, after all, now the first day of November, firewood is finally stacked in our garage, and I’m counting down the days until– well, actually I’m not counting down to Thanksgiving. I’m counting down to baby day. (TWO WEEKS!)
I wasn’t planning on coming up with an appetizer recipe for sweet barbecue meatballs in the Instant Pot. I was just going to find one to link to on Pinterest. But I was having a hard time finding what I was looking for– basically something that didn’t involve combining two sugar-laden sauces to make one mega-sugar-sauce.
So I decided just to make my own. If you try to avoid excess processed ingredients, then add this recipe to your holiday meal plans.
sweet barbecue meatballs in the Instant Pot
Everything is made from scratch in this appetizer, but don’t worry. It’s really not difficult. The meatballs come together quickly and easily, with minimal prepping of ingredients. You can use pre-made meatballs, but making them yourself is more cost-efficient, and you have control over what’s in them.
The sauce is also a simplified and sweeter version of the barbecue sauce I use when making shredded barbecue pork. Just stir the ingredients together and you’re done. Easy, right?
The general rule of thumb for cooking ground beef in the Instant Pot is ten minutes under pressure. You also want to be sure to pour in the water before you add the sauce. It’ll be important for helping the pot to come to pressure.
More Holiday Real-Food Recipes ::
- 25 Ways to Make Your Instant Pot Shine This Holiday (coming soon!)
- Pumpkin Pie Creme Brûlée (Instant Pot recipe)
- Crockpot Holiday Punch
- Easy Holiday Trash
- Make-Ahead Cinnamon Rolls for a Crowd
- Healthier Green Bean Casserole
- Best Old Fashioned Pound Cake
- Best Classic Apple Pie (Ever!)
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Avoid processed, sugary ingredients in this popular appetizer and try these sweet barbecue meatballs made completely from scratch and cooked in the Instant Pot– easy, healthy, and delicious!
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1/4 C yogurt
- 1/4 C panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp granulated garlic
- 1 egg
- 1/2 yellow onion, minced fine
- 1 Tbsp dried parsley
- 1 lb ground beef (I used 1 1/3 lb)
Sweet Barbecue Sauce
- 1/2 C honey
- 1/2 C ketchup
- 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 Tbsp cider vinegar
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Make the meatballs: Combine all the meatball ingredients in the order listed in a mixing bowl. Use a spoon, and then your clean hands to incorporate all the ingredients. Roll the mixture into 1″ meatballs.
- Turn the Instant Pot onto Saute, drizzle 1 Tbsp oil into the bottom of the pot. Add the meatballs around the outside of the pot first, working your way in to the center. Brown them on one side for 2-3 minutes while you make the sweet barbecue sauce.
- Make the sweet barbecue sauce: Combine all the sweet barbecue sauce ingredients in a large mixing cup and stir together until mixed.
- Pour 1/4 C of water into the Instant Pot and use a wooden spoon to gently release any meatballs that stuck to the bottom of the pot. Pour in the sweet barbecue sauce over the meatballs. Cover and seal the Instant Pot. Cook for 10 minutes on high pressure, then quick release the pressure.
- Serve from the pot, or transfer to a platter and spoon out some of the sweet barbecue sauce on top of the meatballs. Serve with toothpicks (optional).
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I made these last night (New Years eve) for my family, along with a few other things, and they were a big hit! Thank you !
★★★★★