Easy Meatball Subs in your Instant Pot

Meatball subs are perfect for a super easy dinner night but they’re also my go-to for gatherings. These are crowd-pleasers, especially if you have picky eaters in your crowd! I use three meatballs per sub for adults and cut that in half for kids. Add however much you need to the Instant Pot as long as you don’t go past the max line, set it to keep warm, and let everyone serve themselves!

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The Process

I made this recipe a dump recipe so it’s easy for larger gatherings. So, skip sautéing and we’re going to dump a 28 oz can of fire-roasted crushed tomatoes into the Instant Pot. 

Next dump 1 tbsp of Italian Seasoning and your raw, store-bought meatballs. These meatballs were 1 pound separated into 12 balls if you’d prefer to make your own!

Set it to pressure cook for 7 minutes. Let it natural release for 5 minutes and then you can manually release the pressure. If you’ve increased this recipe to reach the max line you will want to start with a controlled quick release after the 5 minutes is up. 

While it’s cooking I like to prepare the rolls, cheese, and some bell pepper and onion. You can leave the rolls and veggies uncooked but I like to put them under the broiler for a few minutes to melt the cheese and soften the veggies. Just make sure to keep your eye on them!

Now call the party to dinner and let them help themselves! I like to throw together a quick Caesar salad on the side for some variety and get back to the party. You can even cook this before your guests arrive and leave it on “keep warm” so you aren’t in the kitchen at all during your party. I hope this recipe helps you take the stress out of gatherings so you can enjoy your time with friends and family!

FAQ

Adding crushed tomatoes won’t set off the “burn signal” on my Instant Pot?

Nope! I’ve made this recipe many times and have never triggered the burn signal. If you want to sauté and brown your meatballs before pressure cooking make sure to deglaze the pot before you pressure cook. Not doing that could give you problems, but the crushed tomato has enough liquid to prevent the dreaded burn signal!

Can you cook the raw meatballs from frozen in the Instant Pot?

Of course! Add about 3 minutes to the pressure cooking time. Make sure to always check the internal temperature of the meatballs to ensure they’re cooked all the way through. It should be at least 165 F.

What’s the best thing to put on a Meatball Sub?

• Cheese! (Mozzarella, Provologne, Parmesan)
• Sliced Bell Pepper
• Sliced Onion
• Fresh Basil
• Cracked Pepper

What’s a good side for Meatball Subs?

• Caesar Salad (my go-to)
• Antipasto Salad
• Caprese Salad
• Garden Salad
• Potato Wedges

What can I do with the leftover meatballs?

These meatballs freeze extremely well. I like to use Souper Cubes and freeze them into 1 cup portions. When you’re ready you can easily reheat them in your Instant Pot or microwave and add them to new sandwich buns.

Tools

• Instant Pot Pro Plus 6 Quart
• Souper Cubes 1 Cup Silicone Trays

The Recipe

AuthorPaigeCategoryPorkCuisineItalianTags#pork, #sandwichDifficultyBeginner