Instant Pot Greek Meatballs (Printable)

Herb-packed lamb meatballs simmered in tomato sauce, finished with a bright lemon-feta topping for a quick dinner.

# What You Need:

→ Meatballs

01 - 1 lb ground lamb or beef (or a mix)
02 - 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (gluten-free if desired)
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 1/3 cup finely chopped red onion
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
07 - 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped (or 1 tsp dried dill)
08 - 1 tsp dried oregano
09 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
10 - 1/2 tsp salt
11 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
12 - Zest of 1 lemon

→ Tomato Sauce

13 - 14 oz canned crushed tomatoes
14 - 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable broth
15 - 1 tbsp olive oil
16 - 1 clove garlic, minced
17 - 1 tsp dried oregano
18 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Lemon-Feta Sauce

19 - 4 oz feta cheese, crumbled
20 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
21 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
22 - 1 tsp lemon zest
23 - 1 tbsp olive oil
24 - 1 tbsp fresh dill or parsley, chopped
25 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Directions:

01 - In a large bowl, mix all meatball ingredients gently until just combined, then shape into 16 meatballs.
02 - Set Instant Pot to Sauté mode and heat olive oil. Brown meatballs in batches for 2 to 3 minutes per side, then transfer to a plate.
03 - Add minced garlic to the pot and sauté for 30 seconds. Stir in crushed tomatoes, broth, oregano, salt, and pepper, scraping up browned bits.
04 - Return meatballs to the sauce, spoon sauce over them, and seal the Instant Pot lid.
05 - Cook on high pressure for 7 minutes, then allow natural release for 5 minutes before performing a quick release of remaining pressure.
06 - While meatballs cook, blend all lemon-feta sauce ingredients in a small bowl until smooth and creamy.
07 - Plate meatballs with sauce, topped generously with lemon-feta sauce and garnished with extra herbs and lemon zest if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in about 40 minutes using just your Instant Pot
  • Greek flavors: lemon, fresh herbs, and creamy feta
02 -
  • Use gluten-free breadcrumbs for a gluten-free option
  • Contains dairy, egg, and (potentially) gluten depending on ingredients
03 -
  • Add a pinch of cinnamon to the meatball mixture for extra depth
  • Use ground turkey or chicken if you want to lighten up the dish
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