Instant Pot Salisbury Steak Meatballs and Mashed Potatoes isn’t like the Salisbury steak TV dinners from when you were a kid. This is a re-imagined version of your favorite old-fashioned comfort food dinner. Bonus–make creamy mashed potatoes at the same time!
Related: SLOW COOKER Salisbury Steak Meatballs recipe

Instant Pot Salisbury Steak Meatballs
I saw the slow cooker version of Salisbury steak meatballs on bettycrocker.com and wanted to give it a spin in the Instant Pot. I love my version of Salisbury steak in the Instant Pot and knew that the meatballs would be just as good. I was right! Yum yum! I want to make these again for dinner tonight. My main complaint is that I wish there were more meatballs. Next time I may double the meatballs portion of the recipe and stack them on top of each other.
What is Salisbury steak?
No it’s not like a t-bone steak or rib-eye. It’s hamburger meat that’s seasoned and has some additions such as breadcrumbs and egg. Then it’s shaped into patties. It’s like a fancy hamburger. This recipe version of Salisbury steak is made into meatballs instead of patties.
Pro tip: Dampen hands slightly when shaping these tender meatballs to help prevent sticking or use food safe gloves*.
What is pot-in-pot?
If you’d like you can make mashed potatoes at the same time using the pot-in-pot method. The Instant Pot pot-in-pot (PIP) cooking method is cooking food in a separate dish that’s placed on a trivet inside your Instant Pot liner. Steam is created from liquid below the trivet and builds pressure to cook the food.
Place your meatballs in the mushrooms and sauce in the bottom of the pot. Then position a long legged trivet in the pot without stabbing any of the meatballs. Fill a pan that fits inside your Instant Pot with potatoes and water and place it on top of the trivet. The potatoes will get soft and ready to mash by the time the meatballs are cooked. It’s so magical!

More Meat and Potatoes Recipes…
Instant Pot Salisbury Steak, Gravy And Mashed Potatoes–Brittany said, “It was a hit at our house!”
Instant Pot Ranch Pork Chops and Mashed Potatoes–Rhonda said, “This recipe was just what I needed tonight!”
Instant Pot Mom’s Pot Roast–Kathy said, “I have tried different pot roast recipes in the Instant Pot, this is simply the best! My husband and I ate every delicious morsel. I did not deviate from your recipe one bit and it turned out wonderful!”


Instant Pot Salisbury Steak Meatballs
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes (plus 10 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
Instant Pot Salisbury Steak Meatballs and Mashed Potatoes isn’t like the Salisbury steak TV dinners from when you were a kid. This is a re-imagined version of your favorite old-fashioned comfort food dinner. Bonus–make creamy mashed potatoes at the same time!
Ingredients
For the sauce:
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 1 cup diced onions
- 8 oz sliced mushrooms
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 Tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup beef broth
For the meatballs:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 1 Tbsp Montreal steak seasoning
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
For the potatoes (optional)
- 6 medium russet potatoes
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 3 Tbsp butter
- 1/3 cup milk
Instructions
- Turn your Instant Pot to the saute setting. When the display says HOT add in the butter and let it melt. Add in the onions and saute for 4-5 minutes. Turn off Instant Pot. Add in mushrooms, kosher salt, tomato paste and beef broth. Scrape the bottom of the pot so that nothing is sticking.
- In a medium mixing bowl use clean or gloved hands to combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, Montreal steak seasoning and Worcestershire sauce. Form into 12 meatballs and place the meatballs on top of the mushroom mixture in the Instant Pot.
- If desired, you can make mashed potatoes. You’ll need a tall trivet* and a pan* to cook the potatoes in. Peel the potatoes (if desired) and cube them. Place them in your pan. Fill the pan with enough water to cover the potatoes. Place the tall trivet in the pot and then carefully lower the potato pan on top of the trivet.
- Cover the Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure the valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook time to 10 minutes. When the time is up let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes. Move the valve to venting. If foam starts coming out of the valve move it back to sealing and wait 20 seconds and then try again. Remove the lid.
- Carefully move the potato pan out of the pot. Drain the potatoes and pour the potatoes into a bowl. Mash the potatoes until creamy and then add in the butter and milk. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Move the meatballs to a platter. Thicken the sauce with a cornstarch slurry. Turn your Instant Pot to the saute setting. In a small bowl stir together 1 Tbsp of cornstarch with 1-2 Tbsp of water, until smooth.Then pour the mixture into the Instant Pot. The cornstarch mixture will thicken up contents of pot quickly.
- Serve the meatballs and mashed potatoes with the sauce over the top.
Notes
I used my 6 quart Instant Pot Duo 60 7 in 1*. Make in the 8 quart pot with no changes. Make in the 3 quart pot with no potatoes.
- Category: Beef
- Method: Instant Pot

*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
This turned out great, thank you! I appreciate that you mentioned other sizes of instant pots, too. My little 3 quart “burns” quite easily so i added the tomato paste at the end, juuuuuuust in case. Fabulous and so quick!
★★★★★
just wanted to add that i’ve done a lot of meatball recipes. They were all, you know, good, but this one really knocks it out of the park. The flavour is quite superior, and the meatballs tender but not overdone or dry. 10/10!
★★★★★
YAY!!! Thanks so much!
Can you sub ground turkey for beef?
Yes 😊
I don’t care for mushrooms. Is it OK if the meatballs don’t have anything to ‘nestle’ in?
yes, should be fine
Oh, yummm! I made this tonight and my hubby went bonkers over it! This will definitely be added to the rotation here as not only is it easy, delicious, but also on the healthy side! I used one pound of extra lean ground beef, so I felt no guilt in enjoying my plate of savory meatballs! Thank you!
So glad you liked it! We love it too!
Superb recipe!!!! Delicious and easy. My husband really liked this!
★★★★★
I loved this one too!
Sorry for all the messages I’m new at this!
no problem!
If I cook this without the potatoes should the time be the same?
Yes same time
Where can I get the long legged trivet? Can’t wait to make this recipe!
I bought mine on Amazon.
I got mine on amazon! https://amzn.to/2YW8aA3
We are doing low carb at our house. What could you do to lower the carbs for this meal? Thought of cauliflower instead of potatoes. How would this effect cooking?
Definitely cauliflower mash to replace the potatoes. And a mix of almond flour, crushed pork rinds and parmesan cheese to replace the panko, light on the almond flour. The pork rinds won’t taste like pork rinds, so try them even if you don’t care for them as a snack. They help break up the density of the meat in much the same way as panko and the Parm and almond flour just add a bit of flavor. In this recipe, I’d use maybe a Tbsp of almond flour, a couple of Tbsp of Parmesan and the rest “pork panko.”
Thanks for the help! Totally new to the low carb game but really trying to embrace it for hy husband’s health.
Good tips! Thanks Cindy.
If I double the meatballs should I double the sauce?
I would because the sauce is the bomb dot com!
I think this is my best made sauce to date! It is da bomb! Thank you! Love all your recipes. I love your site. One of the best on the web.
★★★★★
Thank you so much Lisa!!!