Description
These Instant Pot Pepper Beef Meatballs are a quick and flavorful dish combining tender frozen meatballs with colorful bell peppers in a savory-sweet Asian-inspired sauce. The recipe uses simple pantry staples like soy sauce, hoisin sauce, garlic, and fresh ginger, cooked conveniently in the Instant Pot for a juicy, perfectly cooked meal. Topped with toasted sesame seeds, this dish pairs beautifully with steamed rice for a satisfying dinner anytime.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs and Vegetables
- 1 bag of frozen meatballs (approximately 12–16 ounces)
- 2 bell peppers, chopped (use a mix of colors for visual appeal)
Sauce Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 5 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar (or honey as alternative)
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Toppings
- 2 teaspoons sesame seeds
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook Meatballs: Pour 1 cup of water into the inner pot of the Instant Pot. Place the basket trivet inside. Add the frozen meatballs into the basket. Close the lid and seal the valve. Set to cook at high pressure for 8 minutes. If your meatballs are less frozen, reduce the cooking time accordingly. When the cooking cycle finishes, carefully perform a quick release of the pressure.
- Remove Meatballs and Prepare Pot: Remove the cooked meatballs from the basket into a bowl and set aside. Drain and discard the water from the Instant Pot inner pot, then replace the insert back into the Instant Pot.
- Make Sauce: In a separate measuring cup, combine minced garlic, fresh ginger, brown sugar (or honey), soy sauce, and hoisin sauce. Stir well to incorporate all ingredients smoothly. Note that if using honey instead of brown sugar, add 1 tablespoon cornstarch to the mixture to achieve proper thickening during cooking.
- Sauté Meatballs and Peppers: Set the Instant Pot to ‘Sauté’ mode. Add the chopped bell peppers and return the meatballs to the pot. Pour the prepared sauce over the meatballs and peppers. Stir to coat everything evenly. Continue sautéing until the sauce thickens slightly, which will happen as the ingredients simmer together.
- Serve: Once the sauce has thickened, turn off the Instant Pot and transfer the meatballs and peppers to a serving bowl. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and freshly cracked black pepper to taste. Serve immediately, ideally over steamed rice for a complete meal.
Notes
- Using frozen meatballs speeds up the recipe but fresh or homemade meatballs can also be used; adjust cooking time accordingly.
- If substituting brown sugar with honey, adding cornstarch is necessary to achieve the right sauce consistency.
- For a spicier kick, add some crushed red pepper flakes during sautéing.
- This recipe can easily be doubled for larger gatherings by adjusting the cooking time and sauce quantities proportionally.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: Asian
Keywords: Instant Pot meatballs, pepper beef meatballs, Asian meatball recipe, quick Instant Pot dinner, hoisin sauce meatballs, soy sauce meatballs, easy weeknight meal
