Name: Instant Pot Greek Meatballs {Keftedes}
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 4 min
Total time: 29 min
Yield: 38 Meatballs
Ingredients: 1 pound Ground Beef ((or Lamb), lean); 1/2 pound Ground Pork (lean); 1/4 cup Distilled White Vinegar; 3 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil; 1 cup Tzatziki Sauce ((for dipping)); 3/4 cup Old Fashioned Oats ((or crushed Pork Rinds)); 4 ounces Red Onion (quartered); 1 large Egg; 1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil ((divided)); 1/4 cup Fresh Mint Leaves; 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt; 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cumin; 1/2 teaspoon Dried Oregano; 1/4 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper

The aroma of Cinnamon, Mint, Cumin from these Instant Pot Greek Meatballs {Keftedes} will have your mouth watering and your tummy growling. Keto and Low Carb too!

Instant Pot Greek Meatballs {Keftedes}

The aroma, the spices, the taste of Greek food. I spent some time in Greece back in the 70’s.

The beaches and the food, so wonderful. After a semester of High School in Israel, a few of us flew to Greece. We were able to visit some of the Islands and had a blast. Greek food – OH YUM!

I was determined to replicate Keftedes in my Instant Pot, Mealthy MultiPot or Pressure Cooker and make is super easy.

This Instant Pot Greek Meatballs {Keftedes} recipe tastes just like the ones I ate in Lindos, Rhodes!

You will want to make up a batch of my Greek Tzatziki Sauce Recipe, before you start preparing your Keftedes.

Cast of Ingredients for Instant Pot Greek Meatballs

Can I Use Ground Turkey for Instant Pot Greek Meatballs?

Instant Pot Greek Meatballs are made with Ground Beef or Lamb and Ground Pork.
You can use all Ground Beef, if you like.
Everyone has different preferences, so chose the combination that works best with your taste buds.
Some people even like to use Ground Bison.

What are Instant Pot Greek Meatballs?

They are Keftedes made in the Instant Pot, Mealthy MultiPot or Pressure Cooker.
Spices such as Ground Cumin and Ground Cinnamon are generally used in Greek Meatballs.
Fresh Mint Leaves give the Meatballs a wonderful flavor.
Traditionally, Greek Meatballs are dusted with flour and then fried in Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
This gives the Meatball a bit of crisp.
Keftedes are very often served as an appetizer.

Using a Food Processor is Easier than Chopping

You could always use a very sharp Santoku Knife and dice up all the vegetables.

And then mince the Fresh Garlic and Fresh Mint.

Or, you could dump it all into the Bowl of a Large Food Processor and save yourself some aggravation and time.

I mean, chopping up Old Fashion Oatmeal or Pork Rinds? Who ever heard of such a thing?

Ingredients for Instant Pot Greek Meatballs?

Gound Beef, Lamb, Pork – a combination of two, or just one
Old Fashion Oatmeal or Pork Rinds for Keto and Low Carb followers
Red Onions
Egg
Ground Cinnamon
Dried Oregano
Fresh Mint Leaves
Kosher Salt
Black Pepper
White Distilled Vinegar
Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Greek Meatball Mix

In a matter of seconds, you will have your Instant Pot Greek Meatballs Mix, all ready to go.

I use my 11 Cup Food Processor in so many recipes, rather than chopping by hand.

Check out my Instant Pot Greek Beef and Lamb Gyros, for another super easy Greek recipe.

So, this recipe method infiltrated my dreams for a few nights.

I was determined to present a Meatball recipe that is not boiled in liquid and not cooked in a sauce.

Just the Meatballs.

Use the Pulse Button

Important Tips for Instant Pot Greek Meatballs

The Meatballs shouldn’t stick to the pot.
The Meatballs should “fry” in Olive Oil, but without any water to lessen the taste.
No broth either, to change the taste.
And, they need to easily get to Pressure.
And, and, and…… they need to be dry on the outside, but juicy on the inside.
So, of course, that kept me thinking and again infiltrated my dreams and my thoughts.
I’m like a dog with a bone…..I won’t rest, until I figure out the perfect solution.

At this point, you can turn the Ground Beef, Lamb, Pork, (whichever combination you are using), into a Medium Mixing Bowl.

Make sure the Mixture is well combined.

The Meatball Mixture Should be Nicely Combined

Or, if you want even better Meatballs, add the Ground Meat into the Food Processor.

Push the Pulse Button a few times until the Ground Meat and Oatmeal (or Pork Rinds) Mixture are well combined.

Using the Food Processor for the meat will make a finer grind and make for smoother Instant Pot Greek Meatballs.

Plus, they will hold together better and cook better.

Use Extra Virgin Olive Oil

How to Cook Instant Pot Greek Meatballs?

Since I promised to make a super, uber, very easy, there is no browning first. Hi Jen…
Therefore, you do not need to heat up your Instant Pot, Mealthy MultiPot or Pressure Cooker and then add the fat.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil, in this case, of course.
If we were cooking these Instant Pot Greek Meatballs the traditional way, they would first be dredged in little flour and than pan fried to perfection.

Make sure to check my notes at the bottom, as I have given Air Fryer directions, which will give you a more authentic texture.

A Cookie Scoop Makes Things Easy

How Do I make Perfectly Shaped Instant Pot Greek Meatballs?

Because I am a perfectionist, I need to have uniformity.
This 1.5 Tablespoon Cookie Scoop works perfectly to scoop out exactly the amount of meat for the Meatballs.
Not only is the Cookie Scoop good for cookies, it is perfect for making very round, uniform Meatballs.
Check out my Turkey Meatballs with Blue Cheese & Horseradish recipe for another yummy flavor. You will note, all Meatballs are the same size. 🙂
Again, you already know I am anal about some stuff and I usually weigh each portion when I bake bread, like my Indian Whey Chapati/Roti (Flatbread) and my Air Fryer Colombian Pan de Yuca recipes.
I actually level off the Cookie Scoop, so that the Pressure Cooker Meatballs will be pretty close in weight.
Use your hands to roll them out nice and tight and smooth.

If you are feeling lazy, you certainly can just drop the raw Meatballs right into the Instant Pot, Mealthy MultiPot or Pressure Cooker cooking pot, without actually rolling them.

But then you take the chance of some breakage.

Using Disposable Gloves, helps to create a very smooth Meatball, as the meat won’t stick to the Gloves.

Not that I am big on disposables, but I know some people don’t like to have extensive contact with raw food.

Roll into Tight Balls

Roll the raw Meat Mixture as tight as you can, into small Meatballs. I get 38 out of this recipe.

You can leave the Meatballs with a flat bottom, or roll them into perfect little cylinders.

I eliminated one the wet ingredients from the Meatball Mix……….

Because, I had a thought. As it turns out, a really, really good thought.

Carefully Pile in the Pressure Cooker Greek Meatballs

Beautiful, little raw Meatballs.

Stack them all up in the Instant Pot, Mealthy MultiPot or Pressure Cooker cooking pot.

No Sauce. Will it work? Wait for it…………………..

Since there is no Sauce, you could even make a double batch and freeze.

You could even use your 3 Quart Instant Pot DUO Mini, if you like.

Well, I had an “ah ha” moment! Like a light bulb went off moment.

It’s Not Water!

Why is No Water Used in Instant Pot Greek Meatballs?

Nope, that is not water being poured into the Instant Pot, Mealthy MultiPot or Pressure Cooker.
Ready for my “ah ha” moment?
My original stove top recipe, calls for a little Distilled Vinegar.
Ah ha!!!! So, did you guess? Didya?
Instead of mixing the Distilled Vinegar into the Meatball Mix, I omitted it from the Meatball Mix altogether.
Here it is……. Measure out the Distilled Vinegar and used it as the cooking liquid, instead of wate!
How brilliant is that? The raw Meatballs, will be firmer and easier to roll, since there is no liquid.
Using the Distilled Vinegar during cooking, will infuse enough of the flavor into the Meatballs, and it will be as if the Vinegar was mixed in.
There is no flavor loss, as water wasn’t used, which would dilute the flavor a bit!

The end flavor of these Instant Pot Greek Meatballs will be exactly as they are supposed to be!

I don’t normally pat myself on the back, but I was so stinkin’ proud of myself.

No Mess, No Sticking, No Globs of Meat

The Instant Pot Greek Meatballs did not stick to the Instant Pot, Mealthy MultiPot or Pressure Cooker at all.

They did not stick to each other.

They held up well, were nice and firm and did not fall apart!

They did not have a vinegary taste.

The perfect amount of Distilled Vinegar was infused into the meatballs.

For another Greek inspired recipe, try my Greek Tortellini Salad.

Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker Greek Meatballs

We like to make a side of Pressure Cooker Vegan Corn Chowder Soup and/or a side of Pressure Cooker Seasoned Vegetable Ghee Rice to go with the Pressure Cooker Greek Meatballs.

Remember now, Meatballs freeze really well, both raw and cooked.

If you look in my freezer, you will find several different types of Meatballs that are ready to go.

They freeze beautifully in my FoodSaver Vacuum Sealing System and I can grab as many as I need for a quick snack or appetizer.

Lunch the Next Day

I sometimes like to use Greek Pita or Homemade Indian Naan and stuff it with Keftedes, lettuce, sliced Cucumber, Feta, Tomatoes and Greek Tzatziki (Cucumber Yogurt Sauce). (Excuse the bad photo. I made my lunch and then decided I should show you all. It was so good.

More Instant Pot Meatball Recipes to Make

Kitchen Equipment and Essentials

Please don’t feel that you need any of these tools to make delicious food. I use high end equipment as I find they last longer, so it is cheaper in the end than having to replace items. Always use the best that you can afford; don’t break the bank!

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Here is the handy printable recipe: