Instant Pot Sweet and Spicy Meatballs cook up in just minutes and make an easy appetizer with just the right amount of sweet and spicy. Cocktail meatballs are almost a must at southern holiday parties. These Instant Pot Meatballs are also perfect for game day.

Sweet and Spicy Meatballs in a bowl.
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Another meatball recipe I love are these Slow Cooker Cranberry Meatballs. They are a real favorite for Christmas parties as well as New Years.

Quick and Easy

This Instant Pot Sweet and Spicy Meatballs recipe makes use of frozen meatballs, greatly reducing the prep time. It literally only takes 5 minutes or less to get the ingredients in the Instant Pot.

Ingredients

You’ll use a jar of chili sauce, a jar of grape jelly, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, and a little water. Mix all the ingredients in the Instant Pot, add the meatballs and stir to mix them in.

Instant Pot Sweet and Spicy Meatballs

 

Cover the Instant Pot and Pressure Cook for 8 minutes. Keep in mind that it will take 10 to 15 minutes for the Instant Pot to come to pressure.

Thicken The Sauce

Once they are cooked, if you want to thicken the sauce a little, you can add some cornstarch. Just mix it with an equal amount of cold water before adding it to the Instant Pot.

★★★★★
What readers are saying

Very easy, really delicious. I received lots of compliments and was asked for the recipe by many.

Add Some Spice

The chili sauce (I use Heinz) makes a great base for the sauce and the grape jelly adds lots of sweetness. I find 2 teaspoons of red pepper flakes to be just the right amount of heat to balance the sweetness, but you can add less if you want them less spicy.

Storage

Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 days. Reheat in a microwave or on the stove.

Instant Pot Sweet and Spicy Meatballs

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Instant Pot Sweet and Spicy Meat Balls

4.75 from 4 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 8 minutes
Total: 13 minutes
Servings: 8
Instant Pot Sweet and Spicy Meatballs only take 5 minutes to prep. These meatballs have so much flavor and taste like they’ve been cooking all day.

Equipment

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Ingredients

  • 1 (12-ounce) jar chili sauce, I use Heinz
  • 1 (12-ounce) jar grape jelly
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 (22-ounce) package frozen meatballs
  • sliced green onions
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch, optional

Instructions 

  • Add chili sauce, grape jelly, water, red pepper flakes, and garlic powder to Instant Pot. Stir to mix.
  • Add meatballs and stir to coat them in the liquid.
  • Place lid on Instant Pot. Make sure valve is in “sealing” position. Set to Pressure Cook for 8 minutes.
  • Release pressure manually and carefully remove lid. 
  • If you want the sauce to be thicker, mix the cornstarch with 1 1/2 teaspoons of cold water. Add to the pot and stir it into the sauce. Set to “Saute” mode and let simmer for a minute or 2 to thicken.
  • Sprinkle with green onions before serving.

Notes

Note: Cooking time does not include the time it takes for the Instant Pot to pressurize which will be about 10 minutes.
Be sure to use a chili sauce that is similar to ketchup, like Heinz Chili Sauce, and not an Asian chili sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 366kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 56mg | Sodium: 636mg | Potassium: 426mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 443IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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18 Comments

  1. John says:

    If you add a ton of Sweet baby rays sweet and spicy barbecue, these are incredible

  2. Jo says:

    Very easy, really delicious. I received lots of compliments and was asked for the recipe by many.

  3. Dan says:

    I made this recipe tonight. It’s good but I think I’ll do it again sometime with my own homemade meat ball. I just didn’t like the texture of the frozen meatballs.