Tender, well-seasoned Instant Pot turkey meatballs and gravy make for a satisfying weeknight meal or you can serve them with a side of cranberry sauce for an upcoming Thanksgiving holiday menu.
Ground turkey is a healthier alternative to other meats and blends perfectly with different herbs, spices, and seasonings. Made the right way, you will get tender, fluffy meatballs, even though turkey is leaner than say pork or beef.
Turkey meatballs are great for a protein main and can be served with creamy gravy or something zestier like a salsa sauce.
Instant Pot Turkey Meatballs & Gravy
Whether you’re looking for recipes using ground turkey meat or you want a new take on the Thanksgiving traditional turkey feast, this Instant Pot recipe is for you.
Ground turkey meatballs are cooked in the Instant Pot in a delicious broth that is then thickened to become a creamy gravy. This saucy meatballs dish is great over mashed potatoes or pasta noodles and a side of greens.
Add a little cranberry sauce and you have a Thanksgiving turkey meatball feast, that’s easier, faster, and lighter than a full-roasted bird.
Ingredients You Will Need
Here are the ingredients you will need to make these Instant Pot turkey meatballs and gravy recipe.
Ground turkey meat - the meatballs will be juicier if the ground meat has a little fat content.
Breadcrumbs - gives the meatballs soft, fluffy texture
Onion and garlic - adds lots of flavor but chop them finely or grate them.
Herbs & spices - this is a versatile recipe and you can swap the herbs and spices depending on what you have in the pantry.
Chicken stock - this will be the base for the gravy and adds more flavor; Worscestershire gives it a little kick and lovely flavour.
Finishing the gravy - the flour helps to thicken the gravy, the butter gives it gloss and richness and the cream mellows everything out.
You will find the full recipe with ingredients and nutritional breakdown in the recipe card below.
There are three simple stages to making this dish in the pressure cooker. The first stage is to pre-sautee the meatballs on each side to seal in the juices. The second stage is to pressure cook them in the broth. The final stage is to reduce and thicken the sauce on Saute setting again. You can use a 6-quart or 8-quart Instant Pot.
Here is the video for how to make this recipe and step-by-step photo instructions below.
Make & Saute The Meatballs
Step 1. Combine turkey meatballs ingredients in a bowl until well incorporated.
Step 2. Roll meatballs, slightly smaller than the golf ball. And set aside.
Step 3. Turn the Instant Pot on and press the Sauce function multiple times until you cycle to More mode (hotter setting).
Step 4. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil and fry off the meatballs in two batches for 1-2 minutes on each side until slightly browned. Add more oil in between batches if needed. Remove pre-cooked meatballs to a bowl.
Step 5. While still on Sauté setting, pour in the chicken stock and scrape off the bottom of the pot. Press Cancel to stop the Saute function.
Step 6. Add onion and garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce. Stir and return the meatballs into the pot, nestling them gently in the stock. It doesn’t matter if they’re not covered in liquid.
Pressure Cook Turkey Meatballs
Step 7. Secure and lock the lid. Select Pressure Cook/Manual and set it to 7 minutes on HIGH pressure. Once the timer is done, allow 5 minutes for natural release, and then quickly release the pressure.
Step 8. Open the lid and transfer the meatballs to a bowl. Leave the cooking liquid in the pot.
Finish The Gravy Sauce
Step 9. Press the Saute setting on Normal and bring the broth to a simmer. Stir for 5 minutes while bubbling to reduce the liquid slightly. Then scoop about ½ cup of the liquid into a bowl and whisk in the flour until smooth - to make a slurry for thickening the gravy.
Step 10. Stir the flour broth slurry into the sauce, it should thicken right away. Then stir in the butter and cream. Cancel the Saute.
Step 11. Return the meatballs into the gravy sauce and stir OR you can serve them with the gravy poured over in the bowls. Have some of the gravy served on the side.
Sides: While meatballs are cooking, you can cook mashed potatoes and green beans or any other sides (which can also be prepared ahead of time).
Serve meatballs over mashed potatoes with a side of greens and cranberry or lingonberry sauce (aka from Ikea).
What To Serve With Turkey Meatballs
These Instant Pot turkey meatballs come with a creamy gravy and as most saucy meat dishes, these are best serve with something that can soak up the liquid:
Mashed potatoes - this is a classic side dish for saucy meatballs, you can try our sour cream mashed potatoes or cream cheese mashed potatoes here.
Rice - white rice or brown rice are also great with these meatballs and gravy, or you can even serve them with some cooked quinoa.
Pasta noodles - think Stroganoff-style dishes, where pasta is the perfect vehicle for the creamy sauce and the meat. You can use any shape of pasta here.
Green vegetables - a side of green beans is perfect or you can steam, grill, or roast asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts or cook up some green peas. Creamed spinach or sautéed greens will also make for a nice side.
Leftovers Tip
Any leftover meatballs can be used in a sandwich (think French dip sandwich), a bun, or a wrap. You can also add them to a rice or pasta bake or casserole.
Cooked turkey meatballs and gravy can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the oven at 350 degrees F, in the Instant Pot on Saute setting/Less Mode with a splash of water or in a microwave.
Freeze the meatballs and the sauce before adding any dairy cream in a freezer-safe container or Ziploc bag for up to 3 months. Defrost by thawing in the refrigerator overnight before reheating well and finishing the sauce with fresh cream.
Make ahead tip: another tip is to make the meatballs ahead of time and store them on a large platter or cutting board for 1-2 days before doing any cooking.
More Instant Pot Meatball Recipes
- Instant Pot Italian Meatball Caprese Sandwiches
- Instant Pot Salisbury Steak Meatballs With Mushroom Gravy (with Video)
- Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo Meatballs (Keto)
- Best Recipes For Meatballs In The Instant Pot
Rate This Recipe
Instant Pot Turkey Meatballs & Gravy
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
For the turkey meatballs
- 2 lb ground turkey meat (90-93% lean)
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 medium onion grated or minced
- 2 garlic cloves grated or minced
- 2 eggs large
- 1.5 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme optional
For the gravy
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour for thickening
- 2 tablespoon butter
- ½ cup cream heavy
Instructions
- Combine turkey meatballs ingredients in a bowl until well incorporated.
- Roll meatballs, slightly smaller than the golf ball. And set aside.
- Turn the Instant Pot on and press the Sauce function multiple times until you cycle to More mode (hotter setting).
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil and fry off the meatballs in two batches for 1-2 minutes on each side until slightly browned. Add more oil in between batches if needed. Remove pre-cooked meatballs to a bowl.
- While still on Sauté setting, pour in the chicken stock and scrape off the bottom of the pot. Press Cancel to stop the Saute function.
- Add onion and garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce. Stir and return the meatballs into the pot, nestling them gently in the stock. It doesn’t matter if they’re not covered in liquid.
- Secure and lock the lid. Select Pressure Cook/Manual and set it to 7 minutes on HIGH pressure.
- Once the timer is done, allow 5 minutes for natural release and then quick release the pressure.
- Open the lid and transfer the meatballs to a bowl. Leave the cooking liquid in the pot.
- Press the Saute setting on Normal and bring the broth to a simmer. Stir for 5 minutes while bubbling to reduce the liquid slightly. Then scoop about ½ cup of the liquid into a bowl and whisk in the flour until smooth - to make a slurry for thickening the gravy.
- Stir the flour broth slurry into the sauce, it should thicken right away. Then stir in the butter and cream. Cancel the Saute.
- Return the meatballs into the gravy sauce and stir OR you can serve them as they are with the gravy in the side. Pour the gravy over the meatballs when serving in plates or bowls.
- While meatballs are cooking, you can cook mashed potatoes and green beans or any other sides (which can also be prepared ahead of time).
- Serve meatballs over mashed potatoes with a side of greens and cranberry or lingonberry sauce (aka from Ikea).
Nancy
I made this and my husband said it was the best meat and potatoes he has ever had, and he likes beef! He had no idea it was Turkey. The gravy was scrumptious!
Instant Pot Eats
Great to hear, glad he enjoyed the dish.
Lynne
The quantities don't make sense when compare to the size references you provide. You show 7 turkey balls cooking in the image where you say you are browning half the batch, and showed 14 turkey balls in the image where all of the turkey balls are lining the pot and you're about to start pressure cooking. How do 2 pounds of ground turkey mixed with a cup of bread crumbs and an onion equal 14 golf-ball sized turkey balls?
I ended up with 17 turkey balls that were somewhere between a golf-ball and softball in size (closer to softball). I increased the cook time to 9 minutes with a 5 minute slow release. They were fully cooked and moist.
The turkey balls themselves didn't have a lot of flavour. The sauce helped a fair bit. I don't think I'll make this as an instant pot meal again. I don't think it saved any time and moving the turkey balls in and out of the pot multiple times was messy. I may convert it to an oven (turkey balls)/stovetop (gravy) meal.
Regina
How many meatballs per serving for nutrition information?
Instant Pot Eats
2.5 meatballs (2-3, depending on the size of the meatballs really).
justin
Trying to eat healthier and this one turned out amazing, family loved it!
Toni
This recipe is so perfect! Definitely a must-make!
Claudia Lamascolo
This is a delicious recipe we have made several times and love this instant pot version for turkey meatballs
Instant Pot Eats
Thanks so much, Claudia,
Gina Abernathy
Delicious and full of flavor!
Instant Pot Eats
Thanks, Gina.
Tavo
The turkey balls were so good! i used gluten-free breadcrumbs and flour and it worked perfectly! Thanks for the recipe!
kushigalu
Love this instant pot version of turkey meatballs thanks for sharing
diane
can I substitute something less fattening for the cream and butter to reduce calorie count. thank you
Instant Pot Eats
Hey Diane, you can use low-fat/light cream and omit the butter if you wish. You can also use less cream and add a little more flour to thicken the sauce.