Dr. Pepper Meatballs (Easy Instant Pot Recipe) (2024)

Savory meatballs mingle with tangy Dr. Pepper barbecue sauce for anirresistiblecombination and an easy meal the whole family will love! This easy Instant Pot meatballs recipe is ready in about 30 minutes, perfect for busy weekdays or parties! You’ve never had anything quite like these Dr. Pepper meatballs!

Instant Pot Meatballs with Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce

My husband isobsessed with Dr. Pepper. Ok, obsessed might be a strong word — but ever since I’ve known him, Dr. Pepper has been his go-to drink.

As I came to learn after moving to Texas 15 years ago, Dr. Pepper is athing here in Texas. If you want to be a respectable restaurant, then you better be serving Dr. P!

That’s why I’m so excited about this Dr. Pepper meatballs recipe!

I’m a big BBQ fan and I love the sweet, thick, and tangy sauce. And that is exactly what this is! Plus the Dr. Pepper adds a whole bunch of flavor to the barbecue sauce — it’s amazing!!

The best part about this recipe is that it is EASY! If you use pre-made meatballs, you can have dinner on the table in 20 minutes or so! Even if you make your own homemade meatballs, it only takes about 30 minutes, give or take a few.

So let’s get to it!

Why Make Meatballs in the Instant Pot?

This is our first Instant Pot meatballs recipe — before we always baked them in the oven.

So what is the difference between traditional and Instant Pot meatballs?

The number one thing that I love about making meatballs in the Instant Pot is that they are especially tender — you can cut right through them with a fork!

While baking meatballs gives them a little bit of a crispy crust on the outside, I think that using an Instant Pot helps prevent drying them out and gives them the perfect tender, juicy texture!

For your convenience I’ve included shop-able ad links to some of the products used to make this recipe; disclosure policy available here.

Here’s What You Need to Make Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce

• Dr. Pepper — a full 12oz can will be just the right amount
• Water
• Tomato paste — You can also substitute 3 Tablespoons of ketchup in place of the tomato paste and vinegar.
• White vinegar — See above
• Brown sugar
• Corn starch
• Worcestershire sauce
• Salt
• Onion powder
• Garlic powder
• Black pepper

Kitchen Tools Used:

• Instant Pot
• Large mixing bowl
• Meat thermometer

What Is the Flavor of Dr. Pepper?

Part of Dr. Pepper’s appeal is its unique taste — unlike any other soft drink out there!

Dr. Pepper labels say it is a mix of 23 flavors. Though the recipe is a tightly guarded secret, I did find a list that claims to be the 23 flavors in Dr. Pepper circulating the internet: cola, cherry, licorice, amaretto, almond, vanilla, blackberry, apricot, blackberry, caramel, pepper, anise, sarsaparilla, ginger, molasses, lemon, plum, orange, nutmeg, cardamon, all spice, coriander, juniper, birch and prickly ash.

Who knows if that is actually true! I think the mystery is half the fun!

How to Make Homemade Meatballs

If you prefer to make from-scratch meatballs, it’s actually not that difficult at all! In fact, meatballs are one of our family’s favorite weeknight meals because they’re quick and easy — even homemade meatballs.

In a large mixing bowl combine:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 lb mild Italian sausage
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Bake for 15-20 minutes at 375°F.

How Do You Know When Meatballs Are Done?

Without cutting into them, it can be tricky to tell if your meatballs are cooked all the way through. A meat thermometer is helpful to tell the doneness of your homemade meatballs.

• 155°F — you want your meatballs to be at least this warm in the middle for safe eating
• 160° — medium well (juicy center, almost no pink)
• 165° — well done (no pink at all)

If using pre-made or frozen meatballs you won’t need to worry about this, as they’re already cooked through.

How to Make Juicy Meatballs

When making your own meatballs, there are a few tricks that will help ensure they are juicy and not dry.

1. Use ground beef with higher fat content (80/20 or 70/30)
2. Use a mixture of beef and pork sausage (which also has higher fat content), like in our recipe above.
3. Be careful not to overcook your meatballs, as this will dry them out. Again, a meat thermometer is a lifesaver here!
4. Cook them in an Instant Pot, where the steam and pressure helps keep them moist.

More of Our Most Popular Meatball Recipes

• Korean Bulgogi Meatballs
• Keto Meatball Marinara Recipe
• Easy Swedish Meatballs
• Keto Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

Dr. Pepper Instant Pot Meatballs Recipe (Printable Copy)

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