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Home > Lunch/Dinner > Instant Pot Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
19 minutes

Instant Pot Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

Last updated January 29, 2021. Originally posted September 21, 2018 By Jyothi Rajesh 23 Comments

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Instant pot chicken Parmesan meatballs with text overlay
Instant pot chicken Parmesan meatballs with text overlay
instant pot chicken Parmesan meatballs cooked in marinara sauce with text
Chicken Parmesan meatballs cooked in instant pot served over pasta with text
instant pot chicken parmesan meatballs served with pasta
instant pot chicken parmesan meatballs served with pasta with text
Instant pot chicken Parmesan meatballs with text overlay

Instant pot chicken Parmesan meatballs are loaded with flavors. It’s full of meatballs, cheese that is simmered in spicy marinara sauce for an easy dinner any day of the week. Luckily, these chicken Parm meatballs comes together really fast. We are talking 20 minutes fast! Gotta love easy, fast and versatile dinner recipes like this one!

instant pot chicken Parmesan meatballs served on spaghetti in 2 white plates

Chicken Parmesan meatballs are an Italian classic dish which BTW happens to be one of my favorites. Chicken meatballs and marinara sauce are best paired together. While meatballs in tomato sauce is a classic South Italian recipe, tomato saucy meatballs draped over spaghetti are more of American-Italian way.

Tips to make tender, juicy, soft instant pot chicken Parmesan meatballs

What you get from this recipe is tender, juicy, flavor packed chicken. If you are questioning how can chicken that is cooked for say 10 minutes be juicy and soft?, the answer to it is Instant Pot. While ground chicken thighs is what I would recommend, I have tested with chicken breasts(both fresh and frozen meat balls) and it works. Instant pot meat balls are pressure cooked, which is steam cooking method.  Meatballs retains it’s juices.

The other secret to tender meatballs is – FRESH BREADCRUMBS. Making and using your own bread crumbs gives more tender meatballs.

And the last secret – the sauce. These chicken Parmesan meatballs are mixed with breadcrumbs (along with more staple pantry ingredients), steam cooked in SAUCE. It’s hardly possible that meatballs will turn dry.

instant pot chicken Parmesan meatballs served on spaghetti in 2 white plates

Should I or should I not fry(saute) meatballs first?

I know there are gazillion different recipe on internet that tells you ‘don’t fry, just dump’, and then there are gazillion more recipes that tell you ‘fry first and then dump’.

So which one should you follow? I’ll tell what happens if you fry first and just dump. You are the best one to decide which one you want follow.

Typically I would always saute  chicken meatballs in olive oil until it gets nice brown outer crust. And then I dump these browned meatballs in tomato-base sauce to simmer and cook for minutes. The outer browned crust may not retain it’s slight crispiness that it attains while sauteing it and once cooked it does become soft and juicy. Those brown bits adds to the flavor of the dish. You get another layer of flavor and texture in the dish, which according to me is AMAZING!

instant pot chicken Parmesan meatballs

And if you worry about meatballs sticking to your pan like crazy, do this-

After you form meatballs, just roll it once lightly in breadcrumbs.

Use little extra oil while sauteing.

Keep adjusting the heat in instant pot by turning off the pot for a minute or 2 if pot turns HOT. Turn it back on.

Dumping raw chicken Parmesan meatballs into sauce directly will give you delicious meatball dish, but that extra added flavor will miss out in the dish.

Instant pot chicken Parmesan meatballs on green plate

All you meatball lovers, how about vegan beetballs? Sounds interesting? Then head over to this Vegan Beetball Pasta – super delicious and healthy beetballs served over spaghetti.

Recipe for instant pot chicken Parmesan meatballs

Combine meatball ingredients in a bowl.

Instant pot chicken Parmesan meatballs making meatballs step

Using hand mix it up well until all ingredients are combined well. Scoop out equal portions of meatball mix and place on aluminium lined tray.

Using your hands roll each portion into ball.

Pro-Tip : After shaping balls, lightly roll the balls in bread crumbs. This will help meatballs from sticking to the pot.

Oil instant pot and select SAUTE option. Will until instant pot turns on and the inner pot becomes slightly warm.

Place meatballs into the pot in one single layer. If required fry meatballs in batches.

Instant pot chicken Parmesan meatballs sauteing meatballs in instant pot

Pro-Tip : Do not crowd the pot and make sure meatballs aren’t touching each other.

After a minute turn meatballs over and fry. We want to brown chicken Parmesan meat balls on all sides.

Instant pot chicken Parmesan meatballs browned

Remove browned meatballs onto a plate.

Instant pot chicken Parmesan meatballs removed to a plate

Pour marinara sauce into the pot.

Pro-Tip : scrape down any brown bits of chicken pieces that might be stuck to the pot.

Add back chicken meatballs.

Add seasoning.

Scoop the sauce over the over chicken meatballs.

Instant pot chicken Parmesan meatballs cooking in marinara sauce

Cover lid and cook for 5 minutes.

Once cooking time is done, allow 10 minutes natural pressure release and then quick release all the pressure by turning pressure knob to VENTING position. Turn off pot.

Sprinkle grated mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with glass lid for 5 minutes until cheese melts.

Instant pot chicken Parmesan meatballs with cheese melted on top

Scoop out over cooked spaghetti.

instant pot chicken Parmesan meatballs

More INSTANT POT recipes you must check out-

INSTANT POT BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

INSTANT POT CHICKEN STEW

SPICY CAJUN INSTANT POT CHICKEN AND RICE

CREAMY INSTANT POT CHICKEN MARSALA

INSTANT POT ROASTED POTATOES

INSTANT POT SPINACH AND CHICKEN CURRY

CREAMY INSTANT POT MAC N CHEESE

INSTANT POT BUTTER CHICKEN

HOW TO COOK RICE IN INSTANT POT

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instant pot chicken Parmesan meatballs served on spaghetti in 2 white plates

instant pot chicken Parmesan meatballs served on spaghetti in 2 white plates
5 from 10 votes

Instant Pot Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

Jyothi Rajesh
Instant pot chicken Parmesan meatballs are loaded with flavors. It’s full of meatballs, cheese that is simmered in spicy marinara sauce for an easy dinner any day of the week. Luckily, these chicken Parm meatballs comes together really fast.
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Prep Time 12 mins
Cook Time 7 mins
Total Time 19 mins
Course Main Course
Servings 3 people
Calories

Ingredients
  

Meatballs -

  • 1 lb ground chicken
  • 1 white onion
  • 2 sliced white bread crust removed or ¼ cup bread crumbs
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese grated
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil

Cooking meatballs –

  • 1 white onion finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • 1 ½ cup marinara sauce
  • Salt and pepper as per taste if needed
  • ¼ cup Parmigiano-Reggiano  or parmesan, grated
  • ¼ cup Mozzarella grated

To garnish –

  • Freshly chopped cilantro leaves
  • Little Parmigiano-Reggiano or parmesan

To serve-

  • Hot speghatti

Instructions
 

  • Combine meatball ingredients in a bowl. Using hand mix it up well until all ingredients are combined well. Scoop out equal portions of meatball mix and place on aluminium lined tray.
  • Using your hands roll each portion into ball.
  • Pro-Tip : After shaping balls, lightly roll the balls in bread crumbs. This will help meatballs from sticking to the pot.
  • Oil instant pot and select SAUTE option. Will until instant pot turns on and the inner pot becomes slightly warm.
  • Place meatballs into the pot in one single layer. If required fry meatballs in batches.
  • Pro-Tip : DO not crowd the pot and make sure meatballs aren’t touching each other.
  • After a minute turn meatballs over and fry. We want to brown chicken parmesan meat balls on all sides.
  • Remove browned meatballs onto a plate.
  • Pour marinara sauce into the pot.
  • Pro-Tip : scrape down any brown bits of chicken pieces that might be stuck to the pot.
  • Add back chicken meatballs.
  • Add seasoning.
  • Scoop the sauce over the over chicken meatballs.
  • Cover lid and cook for 5 minutes.
  • Once cooking time is done, allow 10 minutes natural pressure release and then quick release all the pressure by turning pressure knob to VENTING position. Turn off pot.
  • Sprinkle grated mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with glass lid for 5 minutes until cheese melts.
  • Scoop out over cooked spaghetti.
  • Garnish with chopped cilantro and grated  Parmesan cheese.
  • Serve hot, immediately.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 0gCarbohydrates: 0gProtein: 0gFat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0gMonounsaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgPotassium: 0mgFiber: 0gSugar: 0gVitamin A: 0IUVitamin C: 0mgCalcium: 0mgIron: 0mg
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Instant pot chicken Parmesan meatballs with text overlay

Instant pot chicken Parmesan meatballs with text overlay

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  1. Pressure Cooker Whole Chicken Rotisserie Style (Instant Pot) says:
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Jyothi - Author of Curry Trail.

Welcome, I'm Jyothi

My food philosophy is simple, fresh and full of flavors! I love ‘spicy’ food. In fact so much so that I can skip dessert for extra spicy savory food!

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