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These easy ground bison meatballs make for the only bison meatball recipe you’ll need. Instant pot bbq meatballs are delicious as is, or paired with rice or pasta.

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Have you ever wondered, “Can you make meatballs in the instant pot?”

The answer is a resounding yes, you can. These recipe for bison meatballs will transform your life and add so much flavor to anything.

Ground bison meatballs are so delicious!

Don’t get me wrong – we love our quinoa pizza bite meatballs and turkey meatballs for baby led weaning, but these are the first of their kind – ground bison meatballs made in the instant pot.

If you’ve never had bison before, these baked bison meatballs are a great first opportunity to try them since they are chockfull of nutrition.

Or, if you’re more of a burger lover, you could try out these air fryer bison burgers instead. Bison is a leaner meat than ground beef.

According to the Bison Council, bison is up to 84% lower in fat than beef, with about half the calories.

Because of the lower fat content, bison has finer fat marbling, which usually translates to a softer and more tender meat, which is why this bison meatballs recipe is so good.

Why We Love This Bison Meatball Recipe

You’ll fall in love with these baked bison meatballs too! Here are just a few reasons why.

• One pot – These instant pot bison meatballs are an easy weeknight recipe. You can dump the ingredients into the instant pot and let it work its magic. It’s nice to have some go-to instant pot meat recipes that cook while you can work on other components of the meal.
• High protein – I also love this instant pot meatball recipe because it is a high-protein entree or appetizer, easy to pair with anything you enjoy.
• Healthy after school snack – Make these as a back to school snack for when your kiddos get home! Pair with some chips and salsa to hold them over until dinner. They are a great protein snack for kids, which can sometimes be challenging.
• Ready in under 20 minutes – Time is of the essence, especially when you’re feeding kids. These are the best bison meatballs because they are flavorful and quick since we use a storebought BBQ sauce! Make them as a bison meatball appetizer or add them to your main meal!
• Easy to freeze and reheat – I recommend them as perfect postpartum freezer meals because they’re quick and easy to freeze, which comes in handy for the third trimester and for new moms, and as easy to reheat.

Ingredients for Baked Bison Meatballs

• Ground bison – I purchase from Butcher Box because I value humane, high-quality meat, and it can be difficult to find bison at some grocery store. You can also use ground beef.
• Panko or bread crumbs – You can use gluten free breadcrumbs if you need this to be gluten free
• Egg – Our wonderful meatball binder!
• Onion – I can’t imagine meatballs without onions, can you?
• Barbecue (bbq) sauce – I take the shortcut and use storebought, but you can also make your own or use a really good quality BBQ sauce. I bet that would make these all the more flavorful!
• salt, pepper – to taste
• garlic powder – to taste
• olive oil
• water or broth – Either works, but if you want to keep the sodium low, opt for water or low-sodium broth. I also like to use bone broth for extra nutrition, too!

Bison has no added hormones, antibiotics, or fillers. It also offers more protein, omega 3‘s and iron than beef.

I wholeheartedly love my instant pot for the ease of dump-and-cook recipes, such as ground bison meatballs, chilis, and soups, like pumpkin sweet potato soup, kale and meatball soup or instant pot creamy tortellini soup.

We also use our instant pot often for rice, frozen salmon and more. I use it so much!

Next up, I need to test my favorite red curry meatballs in the instant pot!

Instant pot meatball recipes are also great for athlete meal ideas and busy families, alike. Two of my favorite groups!

Plus, meatballs are a great protein source.

Protein is a macronutrient I’ve been focusing more on in my diet and with my clients. It’s great for longevity and promoting muscle mass, plus it helps keep you full.

SAVE $50 WHEN YOU TRY BUTCHER BOX TODAY! Butcher Box sends you nourishing, grass-fed, organic meat and seafood. My personal favorites are the wild caught salmon, organic free range diced chicken breast, and beef barbacoa. We have so many recipes with these nutritious, delicious ingredients, like this salmon below.

Save $50 on your Butcher Box order!

We get our meat sources from Butcher Box, and I’ve tried these as instant pot meatballs with ground chicken and turkey also.

This is a forgiving bbq meatball recipe and they all taste great with the instant pot bbq sauce.

I recommend serving it with rice or pasta, and adding your favorite veggies (like air fried acorn squash!) for some complementary color and flavors. It’s a great one-bowl type meal.

How to Make Bison BBQ Meatballs

The prep time for this bison meatballs recipe is little to none. The total time is under 20 minutes!

First, you’ll combine your ground bison (make sure it is thawed) with egg, panko and spices.

Make sure to use a gluten free bread crumbs blend if you need these to be gluten free. Check the BBQ sauce too – it can sometimes be a sneaky source of gluten.

Next, roll them into balls. I prefer about 1-2 inches wide, making about 15-20 meatballs.

You can make larger or smaller meatballs, and you may have a different end number.

Add water and bbq sauce to the bottom of the instant pot.

Add a trivet and pile the meatballs on top. It’s okay if they are touching!

Cook on manual pressure for 7 minutes on high.

Then, let the pressure release naturally for 4-5 minutes before manually releasing the remaining pressure.

These are great to make ahead on Sundays, and then freeze in individual portions for quick dinners during the week or for the future.

Made with bbq sauce and panko, these meatballs are a combination of sweet and crispy, and leave you wanting more.

Meatballs are the perfect comfort food and this bison meatball recipe is no different.

Tips For Cooking BBQ Meatballs in Instant Pot

When using the instant pot, first make sure to always have enough liquid in the bottom of the instant pot to prevent burning!

The 1/4 cup of water or broth and a cup of bbq sauce should be plenty, but if you find you need more, add it tablespoon by tablespoon.

If you want to re-heat frozen bbq meatballs in the instant pot (let’s say you had previously cooked and frozen these), just add a 1:1 ratio of water and sauce, and cook on high for 4-5 minutes.

Let the meatballs naturally release for a few minutes before manually releasing the remaining pressure.

FAQ and Modifications

What to Pair With Easy Bison Meatballs

Veggie Pasta Bake – a natural and delicious inclusion!

Sheetpan Maple Roasted Vegetables – add a baked potato and some veggies for an easy balanced meal.

Tropical Fried Rice – throw meatballs over any rice dish.

Frozen Green Beans in the Air Fryer plus a side of grains or rolls.

Herb Cheesy Quinoa – A great carb to pair with meatballs. Like rice, quinoa is bland on its own but the bbq meatballs will add loads of flavor.

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