Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce is an easy dinner ready in just 30 minutes. Your family will love this simple one pot ground beef and pasta recipe!
If you’re new to the world of pressure cooking, this easy Instant Pot spaghetti and meat sauce is a terrific starter Instant Pot recipe to try. This was the very first dinner I made in the Instant Pot, and it was a huge hit with my family. One bite, and we were hooked!
Actually, Instant Pot jasmine rice was the first thing that I cooked in my new pressure cooker. I wanted to play it safe, so I chose an inexpensive side dish for the maiden voyage, so to speak. I just followed the recipe that was in the little booklet that came with the Instant Pot, and the rice was perfect — even better than the rice from our favorite Thai restaurant!
So after that win, I decided to try making spaghetti in the Instant Pot. Now personally, I’m kind of a pasta snob. And I’m usually picky about how I cook pasta, especially spaghetti.
But, I’m also all about quick an easy one pot dinners to feed the family. So after looking at what seemed like a billion recipes for Instant Pot spaghetti, I began experimenting.
I tried different amounts of pasta and different types and amounts of sauce until I was finally happy with the end result. And friends, I really, really recommend experimenting like crazy with Instant Pot recipes. What works for me may not work for you, so it may take several tries before you find that perfect spaghetti recipe — or any recipe, really!
Why this Recipe Works
But this recipe for Instant Pot spaghetti with ground beef definitely works for me, and I think you’ll like it, too! It’s simple, cooks in one pot, budget friendly and picky eater approved!
This time, I added a can of diced tomatoes after a reader told me she had done this with my Instant Pot creamy shells and beef recipe and loved the result. I used an entire 16 ounce box of spaghetti, and the liquid to pasta ratio was perfect.
I also tried using a little less than a whole box of spaghetti, and I got got the same result without using the diced tomatoes. Like I said, it’s all about experimenting.
How to Make Spaghetti in the Instant Pot
To make spaghetti and meat sauce the pressure cooker, just saute some lean or extra lean ground beef. Make sure no browned bits are sticking to the bottom — You can deglaze the pot with a little bit of water if you need to.
Layer the Spaghetti Strands
The trick to cooking spaghetti in the Instant Pot is to break the noodles in half and layering them in sort of a criss-cross pattern. This way, you can get them all under the liquid, and the noodles won’t clump together. Then, add your layered spaghetti, a jar of pasta sauce, the diced tomatoes and water.
How to Avoid the Burn Notice
You may have some spaghetti strands on the very top that stick a little, but they break apart easily once you stir everything up. I just fill up the empty jar of sauce with water and pour it all around the sides and middle of the tomato layer.
Then, I poke it a little with a spatula to make sure the water gets down through the layers and all the pasta is covered. Don’t stir it all together or it will be too thick, and you may get the burn notice.
After the pot comes to pressure, it takes just 5 minutes for the spaghetti to cook! I like to let the Instant Pot do a natural release for about 5 minutes, and then I release the steam, using a wooden spoon or cooking tongs — don’t want to risk any burns! And that’s it!
There are no messy stoves to clean up and only one pot to wash. Plus, everyone loves the texture of Instant Pot spaghetti!
Tips for Cooking Spaghetti in the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
- Season meat for extra flavor
- Deglaze pot and scrape up any browned bits after cooking meat
- Break spaghetti in half and layer in pot
- Make sure pasta is covered with liquid, but don’t stir it together
- Stir after pressure releases to break up any clumps
More Instant Pot Pasta Recipes
- Instant Pot Pasta and Meatballs
- Instant Pot Creamy Sausage and Shells
- Instant Pot Creamy Shells and Beef
Recipe for Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
Ingredients
- ½ yellow onion , chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 ½ teaspoons sea salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 16-ounce package spaghetti uncooked and broken in half
- 1 24-ounce jar marinara sauce
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 3 cups water
Instructions
- Turn Instant Pot to saute, and when it reads HOT, add the olive oil and onion, and cook until slightly soft
- Add the meat, Italian seasoning, salt, garlic powder and pepper, and cook until no pink remains, stirring frequently
- Hit CANCEL, and add a little water if needed, to deglaze bottom of pot
- Break spaghetti strands in half, and layer on top of meat in a criss-cross pattern
- Pour marinara sauce over pasta
- Pour diced tomatoes over sauce
- Pour water around sides and on top of tomatoes, and push down lightly with spatula to make sure water gets through layers and all pasta is covered
- Cover with lid, turn valve to SEALING, press PRESSURE COOK or Manuel on some models, and set cook time to 5 minutes
- When cooking is done, let pressure do a natural release for 5 minutes, then hit CANCEL, and do a quick release until pin drops
- Open lid, and stir spaghetti and meat sauce together well before serving
Notes
Nutrition
My family is crazy about this kid-friendly Instant Pot spaghetti and meat sauce, and they won’t have it any other way now. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!
Post was originally published in 2018 and updated in 2019
Can’t wait to make this! Do you think thin spaghetti would get mushy? Should I stick with regular spaghetti?
I’ve never made it with thin spaghetti, but it might be a little overcooked since it’s so much thinner.
Do you cook it on 5minutes high pressure or normal pressure?
I always use the default settings for pressure.
Do you drain the tomatoes? Does broth add any depth of flavor instead of water?
No need to drain the tomatoes. You can use broth, but I don’t — just because I don’t use broth when I make spaghetti on the stove.
I normally wld seer my red peppers and onions 1st then add my meat. Should I do the same in the IP? Thanks
You can definitely do that if you want. 🙂
Thank you!
This is a fantastic recipe. I’m so greatful for having found it. I had some mushrooms I needed to use so I roughly chopped them and also half a green pepper. I added them over the meat mixture so they didn’t over cook in the instant pot. It turned out great. I think I will go get seconds now. Thanks again.
Thank you so much, Christina! I’m so glad that you liked it! 🙂
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We are Italian, so I was a bit skeptical, but my husband told me this was a winner and I agree!
I tried this when very short on time to get dinner prepared. It truly is delicious and the spaghetti turns out perfect. I added a some red pepper flakes that gave it a little spice but not too hot.
Thanks so much for sharing! My Instant Pot is my favorite kitchen tool!
Thank you so much, Mo. You’ve totally made my day! 🙂
Love this! Made it twice now. Can you freeze the leftovers?
Thanks so much! I haven’t tried it, but I’m sure the
leftovers freeze well. 🙂
I made this last night. All that liquid scared me but I figured I could always call it “spaghetti soup”. But it came out perfect! In fact, we all agreed that the flavor was so much better than traditional method spaghetti because the pasta absorbs all the flavor of the sauce and spices as it cooks. I did sub some bulk Italian sausage (drained) for the ground beef.
I never imagined spaghetti with meat sauce could get any easier, but you did it! Thanks for sharing this recipe.
So glad to hear you liked it, Marjorie! My family prefers the IP version too! 🙂
I’ve made your recipe many times now–it’s still a top requested dish. One change I made was to substitute 1-1.5 cups of red wine for some of the water. Oh my! You’ll swear you’re eating in an Italian trattoria!
Now that sounds amazing! I’m trying it this way next time — thanks! 🙂
What’s the size of can for the diced tomatoes? 28oz?
I use the smaller size — 14.5 ounces.
Thanks for asking!
I’m ready to cook it and was quite worried!
Whew!
Made this tonight and it was fantastic. Just curious how many servings you would count this as?
That’s wonderful, Kristel! We got about 10 servings from this recipe. 🙂
Glad i found this easy recipe. Love your stuff!
Thanks so much, James! I hope you like it!
Love being able to put all the ingredients in the pot and then leave it. Can’t do that with a regular pot!
So true, Annie! That’s what I love about the Instant Pot!
My Instant Pot is my BFF at the moment. Cannot wait to try this!
Oh my goodness , you make it look so amazing! I really do need to get me one of those pots! Happy to see you here at Full Plate Thursday and thanks so much for sharing with us.
Miz Helen
This is my kid’s favorite dish! I need to try your recipe!
I love how quickly this comes together! I totally should have asked Santa for an Instant Pot this past Christmas. 😉
I so need to actually use my Instant Pot… it intimidates me! But this looks easy and tasty 🙂
This looks amazing! I’ve GOT to get an instant pot!
Thanks, Paula. We love our Instant Pot!
I do not have a pressure cooker. How would I cook it using the stove?
I’m working on a stove top version now. 🙂
Yum! Spaghetti just go easier! Love it!
I haven’t tried spaghetti in my IP yet so I’m excited to try this! Thanks for all the tips.