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Home » INSTANT POT RECIPES

Instant Pot Rigatoni and Meatballs

Oct 26, 2020 · Modified: Apr 15, 2023 by Foodies Terminal Leave a Comment 1145 words. [feast_sponsored_disclosure before=“”]

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Instant Pot Rigatoni and Meatballs made with frozen meatballs and Marinara Sauce makes a quick and easy dump and start dinner in just 15 minutes. Your whole family will love this Instant Pot Rigatoni recipe. It's super addictive just like Spaghetti and meatballs.

instant pot rigatoni and meatballs served in a grey bowl with fork
Instant Pot Rigatoni and Meatballs

Instant Pot Rigatoni and Frozen Meatballs

This Instant Pot Rigatoni with Jar Sauce is so good for those crazy busy weekdays when dinner needs to be done super fast. You just need a few ingredients, 15 minutes and the Instant Pot will do the cooking for you. Even your kids will enjoy the dish 🙂

You can make this easy Dump and Start Instant Pot Rigatoni with frozen meatballs like turkey, chicken, beef, Italian.

Ingredients

Find the Ingredients with actual measurements at the bottom of the post. The list below is just a reference.

recipe ingredients on a black surface
Ingredients
  • Rigatoni Pasta
  • Marinara Sauce: We used store bought Marinara.
  • Frozen Meatballs: You can use any frozen meatballs like, turkey, chicken, beef, Italian or beef and sausage. Pick your favorite. We use 28 counts frozen small meatballs.
  • Seasonings: Italian Seasoning, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, salt & red pepper flakes (for a little kick, skip if you are making it for kids or you do not prefer spicy food).
  • Cooking fat: We used light olive oil.
  • Liquid: Water.
  • Mozzarella Cheese: For garnish.
instant pot rigatoni and frozen meatballs in a grey bowl garnished with parsley and cheese
Rigatoni with frozen meatballs

Tips & Tricks

  1. Do not Stir: After arranging the frozen meatballs, rigatoni, marinara sauce in this order do not stir the ingredients. You need to just dump and cook.
  2. Weigh the Pasta: For best results weigh the pasta and use the amount mentioned in the recipe. Eyeballing the Pasta might result in BURN error.
  3. Rigatoni Cook time: For this Instant Pot Rigatoni pasta recipe you need to pressure cook the Rigatoni for just 4 minutes on high pressure for al dente texture. If you prefer tender pasta cook it for 6 minutes on high pressure. Remember the Pasta will soak up the sauce and become more soft as you stir and mix stuffs.
  4. Stir & Serve: This is the best part of this dump and start Instant Pot Rigatoni and meatballs recipe. Once, the pressure cooking cycle is over stir and mix the ingredients in the pot. Garnish and serve immediately.
  5. Instant Pot Rigatoni texture: The Pasta will absorb the sauce over time and cook down more. For best taste and texture serve the pasta and meatballs immediately.

How to make Rigatoni and Meatballs in Instant Pot?

Find the detailed step by step recipe along with measurements + Video at the bottom of the post.

Step #1 Arrange Meatballs, Rigatoni & Sauce

dump all ingredients in order in the instant pot
Dump all ingredients in order

Dump the frozen meatballs into the steel insert of the Instant Pot. Arrange them in a single layer.

Now, arrange exactly 8 ounces/227 grams Rigatoni Pasta by weight over the meatballs. Spread out the Pasta to form a nice and even single layer. DO NOT stir.

Pour the Marinara Sauce from the jar on top of the pasta and spread it in a way so that the pastas are all covered with the sauce. DO NOT stir.

Step #2 Pressure cook

pressure cooking pasta and meatballs in instant pot
Pressure Cook
rigatoni and meatballs with jar sauce in a grey bowl with a fork
Easy Pasta and Meatballs with Jar Sauce

Add all the seasonings and drizzle oil on top of the sauce. Now, swoosh water in the sauce jar and pour it around the edges of the pasta touching the instant pot wall.

Secure the lid of the Instant Pot, seal the valve and PRESSURE COOK on HIGH for 5 mins followed by quick pressure release (QPR) for al dente rigatoni and 8 mins for tender pasta.

Open the lid. Stir and mix all ingredients in the pot. Serve right away for best texture. Don't forget to garnish with cheese. We love Mozzarella 😀 Enjoy!

What to serve with Rigatoni and Meatballs?

You can serve the following with Rigatoni and Meatballs:

  • A light Salad.
  • Ratatouille
  • BBQ Corn on the cob.
  • Garlic Bacon mashed potatoes.
  • Green Beans.
  • Seasoned steamed carrots.
  • Seasoned steamed Broccoli.
  • Roasted potatoes.

Readers Thoughts who tried the recipe

This is by far my favorite "spaghetti & meatball" instant pot recipe. It has much more flavor than other recipes!"

- Brenda.
Instant pot rigatoni and frozen meatballs

Instant Pot Rigatoni and Meatballs

5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Rate
Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
Pressure Build and Release Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 192kcal
Author: Meghna

Watch Recipe Video

Instant Pot Rigatoni and Meatballs is a 15 minutes dump and start Instant Pot pasta dish that tastes amazing and made with frozen meatballs, marinara jar sauce and rigatoni pasta.

Ingredients

  • 8 ounce Rigatoni Pasta (**weigh the pasta. 227 grams.)
  • 24 ounce Marinara Sauce (**one whole jar. You can use any Pasta Sauce. We love Marinara.)
  • 1 pound Frozen Meatballs (**28 counts. Small Meatballs.)
  • 1.5 cups water (**swooshed in the empty Marinara Jar to use up any leftover sauce.)
  • 1 tbsp oil
  • Salt (**according to your preference.)

Seasonings

  • ½ tsp Italian seasoning
  • ½ tsp oregano
  • ½ tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
Want more Recipe Videos?Check out our Youtube channel!

Equipment Used

Instant Pot DUO 6 quart
Weighing Scale

Instructions

  • Layer the ingredients: Arrange the frozen meatballs in a single layer in the Instant Pot. Than, dump the pasta on top of the frozen meatballs covering them in a layer. Pour the jar sauce of top of the rigatoni pasta covering them completely. DO NOT stir.
  • Seasonings & water: Add the seasonings of top of the Sauce, drizzle oil. Than, swoosh the sauce jar with 1.5 cups water and pour the liquid around the edges of the pasta touching the walls of the Instant Pot. DO NOT stir.
  • Pressure cook: Secure the lid of the Instant Pot. SEAL the valve and PRESSURE COOK on HIGH for 5 minutes for al dente (chewy) pasta and for 8 minutes for softer pasta. Once, the pressure cooking cycle is over the instant pot will begin to beep. Perform a quick pressure release (QPR) immediately.
  • Stir & Serve: Open the lid carefully. Stir and mix the cooked pasta and the meatballs and serve immediately for best texture and taste. Garnish with cheese. Dig in! Enjoy!

Notes

  1. The pasta texture: The pasta will soak up the sauce and become tender as it sits longer in the sauce. For best flavor and texture serve immediately.
  2. VERY important: Weigh the Pasta and use the exact quantity mentioned in the recipe. Eyeballing the pasta won't work for this recipe.
  3. DO NOT stir: After layering all ingredients in the Instant Pot DO NOT stir the ingredients. You need to stir and mix the pasta, meatballs and the sauce after the pressure cooking cycle is over. This is IMPORTANT.
  4. Can you double the recipe? Yes you can double the recipe. The cook time would remain the same though.
  5. Storing the leftovers: You can store the leftovers in the fridge in an air tight container for upto 4 days. 
  6. Re-heating Tips: Re-heat the leftovers with sprinkles of water to moisten the surface of the pasta. We love re-heating the fridge cold rigatoni and meatballs in the microwave oven.
 
Calorific details are provided by a third party application & are to used as indicative figures only.
 
 
Nutrition Facts
Instant Pot Rigatoni and Meatballs
Amount Per Serving
Calories 192 Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Fat 3g5%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 603mg26%
Potassium 466mg13%
Carbohydrates 35g12%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 7g14%
Vitamin A 540IU11%
Vitamin C 8mg10%
Calcium 27mg3%
Iron 2mg11%
* Read our privacy policy - Calorie information is provided as a courtesy only and should be leveraged as an estimate rather than a guarantee.Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 192kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 603mg | Potassium: 466mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 540IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 2mg
Course :Dinner
Cuisine :American
Keyword :Instant Pot Rigatoni and Frozen Meatballs, Instant Pot Rigatoni and Meatballs, Instant Pot Rigatoni with Jar Sauce, Pressure Cooker Pasta Meatballs
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5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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