Instant Pot Rigatoni and Meatballs

We had unexpected house guests this week – not unwanted, just not planned. So when it came time to cook dinner I wanted to find something that was quick and appealing to everyone. So who doesn’t love pasta?

This dish is even easier, since everything is basically dump-and-go in an Instant Pot. 5 minutes of prep, 5 minutes of cooking at high pressure, and you’re done. And using frozen meatballs makes it super simple. Of course, you could dress it up by making your own meatballs from scratch, and that’s okay; but when you really don’t want to fuss a lot… and it’s still 100+ degrees outside and you don’t want to heat up the kitchen… this is the type of recipe to jump on.

Adapted from Modern Meal Makeover

Print Recipe

Instant Pot Rigatoni and Meatballs

Author: miketriesanewrecipe Cooking Method: Pressure Cooked Courses: Dinner, Entree/Main Course

Difficulty: Beginner Prep Time 5 mins Cook Time 20 mins Rest Time 5 mins Total Time 30 mins

Servings: 6

Best Season: Suitable throughout the year

Description

This is a quick and easy pasta dish that requires almost no prep and cooks in minutes in an Instant Pot. Ideal for busy weeknights or lazy weekends, or anytime you want to feed your crew and not heat up the kitchen.

Adapted from Modern Meal Makeover

Ingredients

Scale

1/2x 1x 2x 3x

• 4 cups chicken broth or stock
• 24 oz marinara sauce
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• ¹⁄₂ tsp salt
• 1 lb rigatoni pasta, uncooked
• 1 lb frozen meatballs (any variety)
• shredded Parmesan cheese for garnish

Instructions

1. Add chicken broth, marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, pepper, and salt to 6 quart or larger Instant Pot. Stir to combine.

2. Add pasta to the mixture, stirring until coated and ensuring all pasta is covered by the sauce.

3. Layer the meatballs on top of the pasta. Do not mix in.

4. Lock the lid on the Instant Pot and turn the vent valve to Sealing. Set to Pressure Cook on High pressure for 5 minutes.

5. At the end of cooking, use a quick release by turning the vent valve to Venting. Open carefully and stir contents to blend together. Serve immediately, topping with Parmesan cheese if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 6

Serving Size approx 1 1/2 cups (12 oz)

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Amount Per Serving

Calories 597kcal

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 24g37%

Saturated Fat 7.5g38%

Cholesterol 41mg14%

Sodium 1675mg70%

Potassium 448mg13%

Total Carbohydrate 70g24%

Dietary Fiber 6.4g26%

Sugars 9.6g

Protein 23.6g48%

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Calcium 81 mg

Iron 5 mg

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Notes

• Any marinara or pasta sauce can be used
• Other types of short pasta could be used (rotini, ziti, shells, etc.)
• If making your own meatballs, cook them first before adding to the Instant Pot. The pressure cooking time will not be long enough to cook them completely.

Keywords: Rigatoni, pasta, Instant Pot, meatballs, frozen meatballs, marinara, chicken broth, quick dinner