Instant Pot Greek Meatballs Lemon (Printer View)

Tender meatballs in tomato sauce with a bright, creamy lemon-feta topping for a Greek-inspired dinner.

# What you'll need:

→ Meatballs

01 - 1 lb ground lamb or beef (or a mix)
02 - 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (gluten-free if needed)
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 1/3 cup finely chopped red onion
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
07 - 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped (or 1 tsp dried dill)
08 - 1 tsp dried oregano
09 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
10 - 1/2 tsp salt
11 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
12 - Zest of 1 lemon

→ Tomato Sauce

13 - 14 oz canned crushed tomatoes
14 - 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable broth
15 - 1 tbsp olive oil
16 - 1 clove garlic, minced
17 - 1 tsp dried oregano
18 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Lemon-Feta Sauce

19 - 4 oz feta cheese, crumbled
20 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
21 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
22 - 1 tsp lemon zest
23 - 1 tbsp olive oil
24 - 1 tbsp fresh dill or parsley, chopped
25 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Method:

01 - In a large bowl, combine all meatball ingredients and mix gently until just combined. Shape mixture into 16 even meatballs.
02 - Select Sauté mode on the Instant Pot and heat olive oil. Brown meatballs in batches, approximately 2–3 minutes per side, then transfer to a plate.
03 - Add minced garlic to the pot and sauté for 30 seconds. Stir in crushed tomatoes, broth, oregano, salt, and pepper, scraping up browned bits from the bottom.
04 - Return meatballs to the pot, nestling them in the sauce and spooning additional sauce over the top.
05 - Seal the lid and cook on high pressure for 7 minutes. Allow a natural pressure release for 5 minutes, then perform a quick release for any remaining pressure.
06 - While meatballs cook, blend feta cheese, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, lemon zest, olive oil, fresh herbs, and black pepper until creamy.
07 - Plate meatballs with sauce and top generously with lemon-feta sauce. Garnish with extra herbs and lemon zest if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in 40 minutes for a weeknight meal
  • Customizable with gluten-free and lighter protein options
02 -
  • This dish contains dairy, egg, and gluten unless using gluten-free ingredients
  • Using ground turkey or chicken works well for a lighter version
03 -
  • Mix meatball ingredients lightly for the most tender texture
  • Add a pinch of cinnamon to the meatballs for deeper flavor complexity
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