Meatball Pasta Dinner with Mozzarella Cheese

Serves 6 in about 40 minutes. The pressure cooker brings tomatoes and dehydrated onion together.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs frozen cooked meatballs (small size)
• 1 lb uncooked pasta
• 1 (24 oz) jar of pasta sauce
• 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 3 ¾ cups broth or water (fill the sauce jar 1 and ¼ times with broth or water)
• 2 teaspoons italian seasoning
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 3 teaspoons dehydrated onion
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese shredded (optional)

Method

1. Stir in the meatballs to the pot.
2. Tip in pasta on top and spread out in an even layer.
3. Tip in the can of tomatoes over the pasta, evenly.
4. Tip in the jar of pasta sauce over, evenly, covering the pasta entirely.
5. Tip in the jar with the broth or water along the inside of the pot, making sure you don't pour it over the sauce and expose the pasta. Exposing the pasta may cause it to be undercooked in those areas (Remember to use 1 ¼ jars of liquid, which is 3 ¾ cups).
6. Scatter the spices over the sauce.
7. Put the lid on the Pot and set the knob to Sealing.
8. Press the Pressure Cook (or Manual) button or dial, and then the + or - button to choose 5 minutes (or half of the cooking time on the pasta package directions).
9. **The pot may take up to 20 minutes to get to pressure, due to the frozen meatballs!**
10. When the cooking cycle has ended, do a Controlled Quick Release* of the pressure until the pin drops.*A controlled quick release means you release the steam in short bursts, then longer bursts, until you can be sure none of the sauce spews out of the vent with the steam from the intense pressure. Then fully open the vent and let it go.
11. Carefully open the lid, facing it away from you.
12. Mix contents and mix in the Parmesan cheese.
13. Taste and add more salt & pepper if needed.
14. Top with the Mozzarella cheese, if using, and cover the pot with a lid (or just use a plate) to help the cheese melt.
15. Serve!

More instant pot ideas are in the instant pot collection.