Loaded with flavor, this Instant Pot Turkey Meatballs Spaghetti Squash recipe is ready in just 7 minutes. This Whole30, gluten-free, and Paleo-friendly dish showcases tender turkey meatballs simmered in a rich tomato sauce and served over perfectly cooked spaghetti squash.
Table of Contents
I have never been a huge fan of spaghetti squash. I know it’s a good, healthy, low-carb way to balance my carb-loving self, but I never developed a taste for it.
What I do LOVE is meatballs in sauce, which is the perfect way to give this rather bland vegetable a facelift.
Using seasoned ground turkey for the meatballs, I’ve sauteed them in the Instant Pot until they turn nice and brown on the outside. I then covered the meatballs in a savory marinara sauce and served them over the spaghetti squash. It’s so simple yet so delicious.
I have to say using the Instant Pot has helped me get dinner on the table in no time at all. It’s the perfect way to cook a healthy and nutritious meal quickly which is perfect for those busy weeknights.
Ingredients
- Ground turkey: These meatballs are made with ground turkey but you could use any ground meat you like.
- Egg: An egg helps bind the meatballs. Any type of egg will work.
- Almond flour: A touch of almond flour also helps hold the meatballs together. Almond flour is a great gluten-free, high-protein option to add to meatballs. If you don’t have any you can use any gluten-free flour.
- Nutritional yeast: Nutritional yeast adds a touch of saltiness and cheesiness.
- Seasonings: I used a combination of salt, pepper, paprika, onion + garlic powder.
- Parsley: I added a handful of fresh parsley, chopped, but you can also use cilantro.
- Olive oil: I like to use extra virgin olive oil or ghee. I use these two interchangeably in all my recipes.
- Tomato sauce or marinara sauce: You can use a Whole30-approved tomato sauce or whatever you have on hand.
- Spaghetti squash: I used a whole spaghetti squash, cut in half.
How To Make This Instant Pot Turkey Meatball Recipe
First: Place ground turkey in a medium-sized bowl with the egg, almond flour, nutritional yeast, seasonings, and parsley or cilantro and mix until well incorporated.
Second: Use an ice cream scoop or your hands to scoop the turkey meat and roll it into a ball. The turkey will be sticky. To prevent the meat from sticking to you, use wet hands.
Third: Turn your Instant Pot to sauté mode, add the oil, and once hot, add the turkey meatballs one by one. Cook the meatballs until browned on all sides. If you don’t have enough space to cook the meatballs at the same time, cook them in batches.
Fourth: Wash the spaghetti squash and cut it in half. Remove the insides, season with oil, salt, and pepper, and set aside.
Fifth: Once the meatballs are nice and brown, add tomato sauce to the pot. Do not stir.
Fifth: Turn off the sauté mode and place the trivet on top of the meatballs. Put the spaghetti squash on the trivet and cook on high pressure for 7 minutes. When you are done do a quick release all pressure QPR.
Sixth: Remove the spaghetti squash and trivet. Use a fork to pull out the strands of spaghetti squash and then transfer them to a serving platter. Top the spaghetti squash with the turkey meatballs in marinara sauce and serve.
While there is nothing wrong with ground beef, especially if you opt for lean grass-fed beef, ground turkey is a good option if you are trying to cut calories.
Turkeys are generally a leaner animal. A 99% fat-free turkey has over 45 fewer calories and much less fat and saturated fat than 95% lean beef per serving.
Yes, if you don’t have spaghetti squash, any type of pasta will go with the meatballs and sauce.
Yes, any type of ground meat will work to make the meatballs.
Storage and Make Ahead
Storage: Uneaten turkey meatballs and spaghetti squash can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat over the stove or in the microwave.
Freezer: Freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat over the stove or in the microwave.
Make ahead: Though this meal takes just minutes to prepare you could do some prep ahead of time if you wish. You can cook the meatballs and store them in the fridge until you are ready to prepare the rest of the meal. You can also prepare the whole meal and store it in the fridge so it’s ready to be reheated whenever you want to eat it.
RECIPE TIP
Use this Instant Pot trivet to hold the spaghetti squash above the turkey meatballs. I also recommend this accessory bundle so you get the most out of your instant pot.
Check out these other healthy and wholesome ground turkey recipes
- Ground Turkey Butternut Squash Skillet
- Turkey Fennel Stuffed Cabbage Rolls.
- Ground Turkey Butternut Squash Skillet
- Ground Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
If you make this Instant Pot Turkey Meatballs recipe, be sure to leave a comment and give this recipe a star rating! I love to hear from you and always do my best to respond to all your comments.
Instant Pot Turkey Meatballs with Spaghetti Squash
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp almond flour
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1/2 tsp each, salt, pepper, paprika, onion + garlic powder
- handful fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped
- 2 tbsp olive oil or ghee
- 15 oz whole30 approved tomato sauce
- 1 whole spaghetti squash, halved
- 1 pinch salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a medium bowl add ground turkey, egg, almond flour, nutritional yeast, seasonings and parsley or cilantro. Mix until well incorporated.
- Using an ice cream scooper grab a scoop full of turkey meat and roll into a ball in the palm of your hands. It will be sticky and that's okay. If you were to make them less sticky, they would turn out dry.
- Turn IP on sauté mode. Add oil or ghee until melted and hot. Add turkey meatballs one by one. You may have to work in batches. Cook until browned on both sides (about 8-10 minutes)
- Meanwhile work on the spaghetti squash. Wash the skin and cut in half. Clean the cavity. Season with oil, salt and pepper. Set aside
- When the turkey meatballs are browned, add tomato sauce to the pot but do not mix. You can rince the tomato sauce bottle with about 1/4 cup of water to make sure you use every bit of sauce if you like but you don't have to.
- Cancel sauté mode. Place the trivet on top of the turkey meatballs. Add spaghetti squash to the trivet and cook on high pressure for 7 minutes. When done quick release all pressure QPR.
- Carefully remove the spaghetti squash and trivet. Using a fork, pull the strands of spaghetti squash and transfer to a serving platter. Top with turkey meatballs and marinara sauce and serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Made this last night. It was perfect!
Delicious!
Amazing! Me and my toddler loved it! It even worked great as leftovers and I will eat almost nothing as leftovers! Can’t wait to make again!
This made my heart happy! xoxo
I did not have the yeast and almond flour and researched substitutes as Parmesan cheese and regular flour. I was still not able to form the meat so I added some bread crumbs. After browning the meatballs in oil, I had a lot of browned meat stuck to the bottom of the instant pot, so I chose to deglaze. Next the spaghetti squash halves would not fit in the pot. So I had to keep cutting them until they fit. I was concerned since they were right against the lid. I turned on the instant pot and it steamed for a long time and never counted down the time. I thought the squash against the lid was playing a role in this. I turned the pot off and left it sit for about 15 minutes. Finally, I opened it up! It was perfect and delicious!
The regular flour is too fine to hold up the consistency but I am glad you added the bread crumbs. In a recipe like this you need the coarse texture like yeast, bread crumbs, almond flour has more moisture than regular flour so it won’t dry out as much. I am glad that in the end you were able to get a delicious meal!
So you don’t have to add water before turning on the pressure cook setting?
No, only the sauce 🙂 but you could always add 1/4 cup of water to the sauce if it makes you feel more comfortable