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Table Of Contents
- What Does an Instant Pot Newbie Cook?
- One Recipe – Many Diets
- Easy Nutrition Is My Priority
- Instant Pot Meatballs – How Did They Do?
- A Quick Party Appetizer
- You're Just *7 Days* Away From Easier Meals with Your Instant Pot
- Where to Find High Quality Meat
I just got an Instant Pot. Yes, I’m kind of late to the game here. It seems everyone has had one for a while now. (Still unsure if you should get one? Check out Katie’s reasons why you should and 1 reason why you shouldn’t)
But I’ve held out. And didn’t even get one until I got it as a gift!
Why? Because I love my crockpot. It’s one of my favorite kitchen appliances. I use it several times a week. And I’m never disappointed with the food that comes out of it.
It probably helps that I’m a major planner (you can read my weekly meal plans for the last five years!). So I usually don’t have to worry about last-minute meal plans. In fact I prefer to do all of my dinner preparations first thing in the morning!
But sometimes life happens – sick kids, unexpected outings, home school agenda went longer then anticipated. You get the idea. Having an Instant Pot makes an affordable real food dinner possible when days don’t go as I planned.
What Does an Instant Pot Newbie Cook?
I’ll be honest – I haven’t used it a whole lot yet. But so far my favorite thing to make in my Instant Pot is meatballs.
Meatballs are a staple on our menu. With lots of allergies I can make super simple versions. Then have mix and match sides to meet everyone’s needs. Plus I can get the meatballs ready during nap time (or even one handed with a toddler in my arms) and dinner is a snap.
You’re Just *7 Days* Away From Easier Meals with Your Instant Pot
Whether you have a few fav meals in your Instant Pot or still aren’t using it regularly yet, I can show you the secrets to SAVE time (and money) with my favorite appliance!
May I send you my best hacks to maximize my fav appliance so you can spend more time with your family AND nourish them well?
Get IP hacks in short emails and transform the way you serve dinner:
One Recipe – Many Diets
I actually came up with this recipe for sweet and sour meatballs years ago when I was on the GAPS diet. It started out as a skillet meal (that my friends and family rave about). Then I got too busy with little kids to stand at the stove before dinner so I turned it into a crockpot meal.
Now I’ve transformed it into an Instant Pot recipe that is not only very allergy friendly and GAPS friendly but also Auto Immune Paleo and keto friendly! It’s pretty much a win for everyone.
I keep spices and seasonings very simple. I have one child with oral SPD (you can read about it here) that can’t handle the slightest bit of spice. You can add your own twist with your favorite spices.
Did I mention these sweet and sour meatballs are loaded with nutrients? They have broth, vegetables and liver!
Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe {AIP Friendly}
5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star4.6 from 5 reviews
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 mins
- 1 1/2 lbs. grassfed ground beef
- 1 tsp unrefined sea salt
- 1 tsp. dried basil
- 3 capsules (about 1 tsp.) desiccated liver(or more if you like)
- 1 cup bone broth (any variety works)
- 1 cup pureed pumpkin
- 1/4 cup honey (more or less to taste)
Instructions
- Combine the beef, salt (Use the code kitchenstewardship for 15% off of your first purchase), basil and liver. Mix well.
- Roll beef into meatballs (slightly smaller than a golf ball for meals, half that size for appetizers) and place in the Instant Pot.
- Pour the broth, pumpkin and honey over the meatballs.
- Turn on the Instant Pot and set to 35 minutes. Allow the IP to naturally release the steam.
- If desired remove the meatballs, cook the sauce on the sautee setting until it reaches desired thickness. Put the meatballs back in the sauce until ready to serve. Or drain the sauce and cook it in a sauce pan on the stove for about 5 minutes, until it reduces and thickens.
- Serve the meatballs on rice, noodles, cauli-rice, zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash or butternut squash and topped with the sauce.
Where to Find High Quality Meat
Having trouble finding good quality meat locally? Would you like to fill your freezer with local and pastured options?
If you’re in the US Midwest, Chicago to Milwaukee to Detroit to New York, and select cities across the country, check out TruLocalUsa.
If you’re west of the Mississippi, check out Wild Pastures.
If you live in any of the 48 contiguous states, I recommend US Wellness Meats and Butcher Box!
I’m grateful that there’s an online source of incredibly high quality meat that I can always count on. A subscription from Butcher Box includes grass fed, organic, pastured, and free range = all the labels important to your family’s health! And I’ve got a special deal for you!
They almost always have great deals for new customers. Claim your free gifts, and see what bonus they have going on right now. Don’t miss out!
(free shipping too!)
Easy Nutrition Is My Priority
As a mom my goal is to feed my kids great-tasting nutrient-dense food. These meatballs fit that description perfectly.
The amount of effort it takes to make them is so minimal too. My eight-year old can make them by herself (especially since she’s been learning to cook with the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse). There is about five minutes of hands-on prep time. Then turn on the IP and let it go.
Want another nutritious meatball recipe? Try these healthy lamb meatballs!
Instant Pot Meatballs – How Did They Do?
I was curious to see how the meatballs in the IP would compare to the ones I make on the stove and in the crockpot. Thankfully they are just as delicious!
The only difference is that the sauce does not thicken while the meatballs cook in the IP. So after the meatballs are done cooking you simply remove them, let the sauce thicken on sautee and then put the meatballs back in for a minute to make sure they’re warm and covered in sauce. You can also thicken the sauce on the stove top. Whichever makes life easier.
My dear friend Wardee at Traditional Cooking School can do just about anything with her Instant Pot – cakes, bread, main dishes, veggies, even “stacking” multiple kinds of food at once!
She’s offering a free sourdough cornbread Instant Pot recipe!
This cornbread is delicious, nutritious, super easy to make, and it only needs 12 minutes of cook time.
Get the Free Instant Pot Recipe
Depending on your dietary needs you can serve the meatballs over rice, noodles, cauli-rice (Katie’s IP recipe), zucchini noodles, butternut squash (make it in your IP) or spaghetti squash. I personally love them over some kind of vegetable. Of course we always serve a vegetable on the side as well. So there is potential for three types of vegetables in one meal. That is a great way to make sure you are getting a variety of vitamins and minerals (and help feed your mitochondria too!)
A Quick Party Appetizer
When you need anappetizer for your next party this is the perfect allergy friendly option. Just make the meatballs bite size. Serve in the Instant Pot on the keep warm or low slow cooking function and have a side of toothpicks for guests to serve themselves!
If you’re looking for an easy, nutritious dinner or appetizer that your kids will love this is it! Instant Pot sweet and sour meatballs will soon be a family favorite.
Do you have a favorite meatball recipe? Or a favorite Instant Pot recipe? Share in the comments!
Unless otherwise credited, photos are owned by the author or used with a license from Canva or Deposit Photos.
Category: Real Food Recipes
Tags: AIP Compliant, appetizer, appetizers, beef, contributing, contributing writer, evergreen, GAPS, GAPS Diet, gluten free, grain free, ground beef, Instant Pot, keto, kid-friendly, kid-friendly meals, main course, meat, Paleo, party food, Real Food Recipes
