With rice and meat all in one dish, you just need a vegetable side to complete the meal.
What Are Porcupine Meatballs?
This recipe is an update on a classic 1970s Betty Crocker dish, Oven Porcupines. The original version is baked in the oven for an hour, but my recipe is made in an Instant Pot (I’ve included stovetop instructions, too). These pressure cooker meatballs are done in about half the time of the original, making it perfect for a midweek meal.
What to Serve With Instant Pot Meatballs
My favorite way to serve these porcupine meatballs is with mixed steamed vegetables on the side. You know that classic frozen mix of carrots, corn, peas, green beans and lima beans? I microwave a big bowl of them while the meatballs are cooking, so everything is done at the same time. I also like to serve these meatballs on top of spiralized zucchini noodles, or with riced cauliflower. For a retro dinner a la Betty Crocker, serve them with iceberg wedge salads and steamed green beans.
New to Pressure Cooking?
If you’re new to pressure cooking, an electric, programmable model is a great place to start. There are a few well-rated brands on the market. I use the 6-quart Instant Pot IP-DUO60 most of the time, which is a good size if you’re serving 4 to 6 people. We’re a household of two and we like having leftovers, so this size works out well for us. They also freeze well! Once the meatballs are completely cooled, divide them into portion sized freezer containers and freeze for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat on the stovetop over low heat.
Love Meatballs? Try These Recipes!
Italian Meatballs Turkey Meatballs Swedish Meatballs Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs in Tomato Sauce Slow Cooker Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
Place the lid on the pressure cooker. Make sure the pressure regulator is set to the “Sealing” position. Select the “manual” or “pressure cook” program, then set the time to 15 minutes at high pressure. (For stovetop pressure cookers, cook at high pressure for 12 minutes.) It will take about 10 minutes for your pressure cooker to come up to pressure, and then the actual cooking will begin. Total time from the time you seal the pressure cooker to the finished dish is about 25 minutes.
