Start your morning with these zesty Cajun breakfast meatballs, ready in just 30 minutes using your Instant Pot. Perfect for meal prep and family breakfasts.
Key Takeaways:
- Ready in 30 minutes with minimal hands-on time
- Makes 16 meatballs (4 servings)
- Freezer-friendly for easy meal prep
- Keto and low-carb friendly with simple substitutions
Why You’ll Love These Instant Pot Cajun Breakfast Meatballs
Traditional breakfast can get boring. These Cajun breakfast meatballs bring bold flavors to your morning routine without hours of cooking. Using the Instant Pot means you can prep other items while they cook.
Nutrition Information (per serving – 4 meatballs)
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 320 |
| Protein | 28g |
| Fat | 22g |
| Carbs | 4g |
| Fiber | 1g |
| Sodium | 580mg |
Equipment & Ingredients
Kitchen Tools Needed
- Instant Pot (6-quart or larger)
- Large mixing bowl
- Measuring spoons and cups
- Cookie scoop or tablespoon
- Trivet or steamer basket
- Meat thermometer
- Paper towels
- Clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap
- Small bowl for beating egg
- Timer
Ingredients List (4 servings)
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Ground pork | 1 pound |
| Quick-cooking oats | ¼ cup |
| Egg | 1 large |
| Chicken stock | 1 cup |
| Cajun seasoning | 2 tablespoons |
| Garlic powder | 1 teaspoon |
| Onion powder | 1 teaspoon |
| Salt | ½ teaspoon |
| Black pepper | ¼ teaspoon |
Ingredient Substitutions
- Ground turkey or beef instead of pork
- Almond flour for oats (keto-friendly)
- Bone broth for chicken stock
- Make your own Cajun seasoning with paprika, cayenne, oregano, and thyme
Detailed Step-by-Step Instructions for Beginners
Initial Setup (10 minutes)
- Prepare Your Workspace
- Clean your counter thoroughly
- Wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds
- Set out all ingredients on counter
- Place mixing bowl and measuring tools nearby
- Line a baking sheet with paper towels for formed meatballs
- Prepare Ingredients
- Remove ground pork from refrigerator
- Place meat on counter to warm slightly (15 minutes max)
- Measure out all spices into separate small bowls
- Crack egg into small bowl and beat lightly with fork
- Check Your Tools
- Ensure Instant Pot is clean and dry
- Check that sealing ring is properly installed
- Verify you have the trivet or steamer basket ready
- Test that your meat thermometer is working
Making the Meatball Mixture (15 minutes)
- Mix Dry Ingredients First
- In large mixing bowl, combine:
- ¼ cup quick-cooking oats
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Mix with spoon until evenly combined
- Add Wet Ingredients
- Add beaten egg to dry mixture
- Add ground pork
- Remove any rings from hands
- Wash hands again before mixing
- Mix Properly
- Use clean hands to mix ingredients
- Gently fold and press – don’t squeeze or knead
- Mix until just combined (about 1 minute)
- Stop when no dry spices are visible
- Avoid overmixing which makes tough meatballs
Forming the Meatballs (15 minutes)
- Prepare for Rolling
- Dampen hands slightly with cold water
- Keep a bowl of cold water nearby to re-wet hands
- Have lined baking sheet ready
- Form Meatballs
- Scoop about 2 tablespoons of mixture (use cookie scoop if available)
- Gently roll between palms to form ball
- Should be size of large golf ball (about 1.5 inches)
- Place on lined baking sheet
- Repeat until all mixture is used (should make 16)
- Re-wet hands every 4-5 meatballs
- Keep size consistent for even cooking
- Check Meatballs
- Verify all meatballs are similar size
- Space them apart on baking sheet
- Let rest 5 minutes before cooking
Instant Pot Setup (5 minutes)
- Prepare Instant Pot
- Place inner pot in cooker base
- Pour 1 cup chicken stock into pot
- Insert trivet or steamer basket
- Spray trivet with cooking spray if available
- Arrange Meatballs
- Carefully transfer meatballs to trivet
- Leave space between each meatball
- Don’t stack them
- Arrange in single layer
Cooking Process (20 minutes)
- Seal and Set
- Close Instant Pot lid
- Turn valve to “Sealing”
- Press “Pressure Cook” or “Manual”
- Set time to 8 minutes
- Wait for pot to come to pressure (about 10 minutes)
- After Cooking
- When timer beeps, wait 5 minutes
- Set a separate timer for this
- After 5 minutes, release remaining pressure
- Use long spoon to turn valve to “Venting”
- Keep hands away from steam
- Wait until pin drops completely
Final Steps (5 minutes)
- Check Temperature
- Open lid away from face
- Use meat thermometer to check largest meatball
- Should read 165°F minimum
- If not, reseal and cook 2 more minutes
- Rest and Serve
- Let meatballs rest 2 minutes
- Remove carefully with spoon
- Serve hot
- Garnish if desired
Troubleshooting Tips
- Meatballs falling apart?
- Mixture too wet: Add 1 tablespoon oats
- Chill formed meatballs 10 minutes
- Handle more gently when transferring
- Too spicy?
- Reduce Cajun seasoning to 1 tablespoon
- Serve with sour cream or yogurt
- Add more oats next time
- Not enough liquid?
- Always use minimum 1 cup stock
- Don’t reduce liquid amount
- Check seal is properly installed
- Sticking to trivet?
- Spray trivet with cooking spray first
- Let meatballs rest before moving
- Use spatula to gently release
Storage & Reheating
- Refrigerator Storage:
- Cool completely before storing
- Place in airtight container
- Keep up to 4 days
- Store with any accumulated juices
- Freezer Storage:
- Cool completely
- Place on baking sheet in freezer 1 hour
- Transfer to freezer bag
- Remove air from bag
- Label with date
- Keep up to 3 months
- Reheating Instructions:
- From refrigerator:
- Microwave: 1-2 minutes, covered
- Instant Pot: 2 minutes high pressure
- From frozen:
- Thaw overnight in refrigerator
- Follow refrigerated reheating instructions
Safety Notes
- Always check internal temperature reaches 165°F
- Never stack meatballs directly in liquid
- Keep hands clean when forming meatballs
- Don’t quick release immediately (can make meatballs tough)
- Discard if left at room temperature over 2 hours
- Store promptly after cooling
- Always use clean utensils when serving
These Cajun breakfast meatballs bring excitement to your morning routine. Perfect with eggs, grits, or on their own, they’ll become a breakfast favorite. The detailed instructions ensure success even if you’re new to using an Instant Pot or making meatballs.
