Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Meatballs with pineapple and peppers are super easy to make in the pressure cooker and perfect for a quick dinner or appetizer.
These tangy sweet and sour meatballs are one of the easiest Instant Pot recipes you can make and need very little prep work. And, you only need a few pantry staples to make them!
Usually, I'm cooking both lunch and dinner for the whole family, so I'm all about quick and easy recipes right now. You can relate, right?!
Not only are these meatballs easy to make, but they only take 5 minutes of active cooking in the Instant Pot. The longest part is waiting for the pot to reach pressure!
Did I mention how good they are? Serve these sweet and tangy meatballs over Instant Pot Jasmine Rice and maybe a side salad, and you've got a delicious dinner that's definitely kid approved!
How to Make Sweet & Sour Meatballs in the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
I love using frozen meatballs for convenience -- Italian style is fine. When I make pasta and meatballs, cranberry orange meatballs or grape jelly meatballs in the Instant Pot, I start out with frozen.
You can use homemade meatballs if you want. Just be sure to cook them first for this recipe.
All you do is place the meatballs in the bottom of the Instant Pot. Then, add the rest of the ingredients on top.
Don't stir everything yet. You can stir the ingredients after pressure cooking.
Frozen food usually takes a little longer to reach pressure in the Instant Pot. But after that, the meatballs take just 5 minutes to cook.
Add some bell pepper slices and cook on saute mode. This keeps them from getting too soft!
Make a quick cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce. It's not necessary, but it makes the sauce silky smooth and thick enough to stick to the meatballs.
This recipe is very easy to double. Just add more meatballs and ingredients for the sauce.
Sweet and Sour Meatballs in the Crock-Pot
Don't have a pressure cooker? Just add the frozen meatballs and sauce ingredients to your slow cooker.
Cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4. Add peppers and thicken with a slurry if necessary. Easy peasy.
Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe
Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 36 frozen meatballs
- 1 20 ounce can pineapple chunks undrained with juice
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- ½ cup ketchup
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon dried minced onions
- 2 bell peppers seeded and sliced
Cornstarch Slurry
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Add the frozen meatballs to the Instant Pot, then add the pineapple chunks, water, soy sauce, ketchup, brown sugar and onions. Do not stir
- Place lid on pressure cooker, make sure valve is at sealing position, and hit PRESSURE COOK for 5 minutes
- Pot will take a few minutes to pressurize, then count down and cook. When pot beeps, quick release pressure
- When pin drops, carefully open lid, and stir. Hit CANCEL, then hit SAUTE and stir in pepper chunks
- Make the slurry by stirring together cornstarch and water. Stir into bubbling liquid, and allow to thicken
- Hit CANCEL, and serve or hit KEEP WARM until ready to serve
Notes
Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.
Nutrition
Betsy “Elizabeth” Heilman says
Excellent recipie! I used fresh onion and red bell pepper and sautéed them in my cast iron skillet, added those and broccoli (for color and nutrition) at the end, also added lime juice. Plenty for another meal as well!
Dee says
I'm so happy you liked the meatballs! Thanks for the wonderful review!
Teri Head says
I make large batches of meatballs and keep them in freezer so I’m always looking for ways to use them. This has been a regular in my rotation because it’s easy and I always have these ingredients on hand. Everyone loves it.
Dee says
I'm so glad you like the meatballs, Teri. Thank you!
Cyndy says
Thanks for sharing this, Dee! Second time making and enjoy it very much. Added chunks of onion, peppers, celery, fresh garlic, and vinegar. When cooked, I threw in some cooked broccoli. Also made basmati in the IP. 👍
Dee says
Thanks for sharing, Cyndy -- sounds delicious! So glad you liked it!
Kate says
Made these for my family and everyone loved them!
Dee says
So happy to hear this, Kate! Thanks!
Suzy says
One of our favorite dishes to make! The kids can not get enough! I love that they cook up in the instant pot too!
Dee says
The Instant Pot makes it so quick and easy. Thanks, Suzy!
Catalina says
These meatballs look so inviting! I must make them asap!
Cathy says
Using frozen meatballs makes this SO easy!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
These Sweet and Sour Meatballs would disappear in our house!
Dorothy Reinhold says
I made a big batch of meatballs and they are in the freezer just waiting for the perfect dish... This is perfect!
Beth Pierce says
Yummy!! I can't wait to give these a try. I'm so looking forward to them.
Dee says
I hope you like them, Beth. My family sure did!
Kimberly says
These look and sound fabulous - on the meal plan for next week!
Dee says
Thank you so much! Hope you like them!