Instant Pot Meatballs with BBQ Sauce

Is your Instant Pot getting a workout like mine is? While we've made meatballs in the Instant Pot before, they've never been quite this flavorful! Whew! Whether you're impressing your family at holiday dinners or eating these as an appetizer at home, you won't be left hungry! They're delicious and filling.

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“Healthi formerly iTrackbites is an alternative to Weight Watchers. “

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Instant Pot Cranberry Orange Barbecue Meatballs

For total transparency, I did use frozen meatballs. I know some folks are opposed to that, but hear me out (and check out my turkey meatball recipe below if you don't want to use frozen balls!)… these cocktail meatballs are tasty and worth every point.

Can you cook frozen meatballs in the Instant Pot?

Absolutely! I love that you only need 4 ingredients (plus water) to create a tasty appetizer so packed with flavor nobody can resist!

Ingredients you'll need:

1 bag of frozen meatballs (THESE)
1 1/2 cups cranberries (about half a bag)
1 orange squeezed for juice or 1/2 cup orange juice
1 cup water
2 cups zero point BBQ sauce

How to make meatballs in the Instant Pot

Place steamer basket into the Instant Pot. Add one cup water. Add frozen meatballs.

After securing lid, set valve to sealed position. Press cook or manual button, cook for 6 minutes.

Then, release the pressure by turning the valve to the open position.

Remove meatballs to a bowl and set aside. Remove steamer basket.

Drain broth/water. Add in cranberries and orange juice.

Turn off pot and then turn on saute mode. The cranberries will start to pop as they heat up.

Using a potato masher, mash down the cranberries.

Once the cranberries are mashed add in two cups of barbecue sauce. Stir.

Add meatballs back to the sauce and stir well coating all the meatballs.

How to make meatballs

If you want to make your own meatballs, that's going to add some time and work, but they're delicious!

Here's my full turkey meatball recipe.

They're 2 points on BLUE and PURPLE, 3 points on GREEN.

What to serve with meatballs

We serve these delicious meatballs over a small bed of rice, or using low point bread to make a sandwich.

Instant Pot meatballs and rice… it's actually a popular recipe! But how many points is rice?

Depends on the points plan you're following! 🙂

My wife and I use iTrackBites instead of Weight Watchers, not only to save a TON of money but because it's an identical program and formula, with extras. That means we can count carbs or calories along with our points if we want. Makes it easy to make sure you are getting enough calories, but not too many.

Healthi formerly iTrackBites also makes it easy to make sure you aren't too carb-heavy with your food, if you choose. I lose weight really fast when I restrict carbs even just a little, so being able to do it in the same app without having to “abandon” Weight Watchers is nice.

I've also switched it up a bit with noom, when I find myself at a stalling point. Plateaus are real and you CAN get past them! 🙂

BLUE PLAN: 4 Points

GREEN PLAN: 4 Points

PURPLE PLAN: 4 Points

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