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    Popular » Recipes » Instant Pot

    Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: Jun 4, 2023 by Dee

    Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce with spaghetti noodles, ground beef and pasta sauce is an easy dinner perfect for busy weeknights. This easy Instant Pot spaghetti recipe is a family favorite ready in just 30 minutes! via @meamel

    Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce with spaghetti noodles, ground beef and pasta sauce is an easy dinner perfect for busy weeknights. This easy Instant Pot spaghetti recipe is a family favorite ready in just 30 minutes!

    Jump to Recipe -
    instant pot spaghetti and meat sauce in white bowl with basil, Parmesan cheese and bread
    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love Instant Pot Spaghetti
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Spaghetti in the Instant Pot
    • Cook Time
    • How to Store and Reheat
    • Expert Cooking Tips
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Recipe
    • Reviews

    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 years ago.

    This easy Instant Pot pasta was a huge hit with my whole family, and I have been making this easy recipe ever since. One bite, and we were hooked!

    Since then, I cook pasta in the Instant Pot whenever I can. If you like Instant Pot pasta recipes, try my Instant Pot Creamy Shells and Beef or Instant Pot Creamy Taco Pasta. Check out my collection of Instant Pot Recipes for even more electric pressure cooker recipes!

    instant pot spaghetti and meat sauce in white bowl

    Why You'll Love Instant Pot Spaghetti

    • Easy and Delicious
    • Simple ingredients
    • Cooks in one pot -- no draining!
    • No messy stove to clean up
    • Budget friendly -- makes a lot so you have leftovers!
    • Perfect for busy families
    • Picky eater approved -- trust me on this!

    Ingredients

    You can find the ingredients for this easy dinner recipe in any grocery store.

    • Ground beef -- choose lean ground beef or extra lean ground beef so you don't have to drain the grease. Can sub ground Turkey or Italian sausage.
    • Onion -- can sub onion powder or dried minced onion
    • Olive oil -- to prevent sticking
    • Seasonings -- sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, Italian seasoning
    • Spaghetti noodles -- thin spaghetti or thick spaghetti. Break them in half before using
    • Pasta sauce -- I love Bertolli brand or Rao's pasta sauce. You can use homemade pasta sauce or your favorite marinara sauce
    • Diced tomatoes -- adds texture and extra liquid without watering sauce down. You can add tomato sauce instead of diced tomatoes
    • Water -- to cook the pasta or beef broth for more flavor. Some readers use red wine!

    How to Make Spaghetti in the Instant Pot

    Here's an overview of the spaghetti and meat sauce recipe. You'll find details in the printable recipe card below.

    First cook the onion in olive oil on saute mode. Then add ground beef, seasonings, and cook until no longer pink.

    Make sure no browned bits are sticking to the bottom of the pot -- You can deglaze the pot with a little bit of water or broth if you need to.

    brown ground beef, onions and spices in instant pot

    After cooking, place dry uncooked spaghetti on top of the cooked meat. The trick to cooking spaghetti in the Instant Pot is to break the noodles in half. Then, layer them in sort of a criss-cross pattern. 

    If you have ever played Pick Up Sticks, you'll get this!

    This way, you can get them all under the liquid, and the noodles won't clump together. 

    layer spaghetti over meat to make in instant pot

    Then, add a jar of pasta sauce, the diced tomatoes and water.

    You may have some spaghetti strands on the very top that stick a little, but they break apart easily once you stir everything up. 

    instant pot spaghetti and meat sauce with diced tomatoes in pot

    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.

    Cook Time

    After the pot comes to pressure, it takes just 5 minutes of cooking time on high pressure for the spaghetti to cook!

    If you want more al dente pasta, cook for 4 minutes. Then, do a quick pressure release. You can use a wooden spoon or cooking tongs for this part.

    stir spaghetti noodles and meat sauce in instant pot

    Be sure to stir the cooked pasta very well after pressure cooking. This will help break up any noodles that stick together. Don't be alarmed if it looks watery. The pasta will absorb more of the liquid as it cools down.

    How to Store and Reheat

    Refrigerate leftover spaghetti in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat individual portions in your microwave. Freeze spaghetti in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months.

    Expert Cooking Tips

    • Season meat for extra flavor
    • Deglaze pot and scrape up any browned bits after cooking meat to avoid burn message
    • Break spaghetti in half and layer in pot
    • Make sure pasta is covered with liquid, but do not stir before pressure cooking!
    • Toggle the release valve back and forth for a gradual quick release if liquid sprays out during pressure release.
    • Stir very well after pressure releases to break up any clumps of pasta
    • If you use a larger jar of pasta sauce, you can skip the diced tomatoes
    instant pot spaghetti and meat sauce in bowl with side of bread

    Serving Suggestions

    We love homemade garlic bread and a green salad with this one-pot dinner. Top the spaghetti with fresh basil or fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese for extra flavor.

    Recipe

    instant pot spaghetti and meat sauce in white bowl with basil and Parmesan

    Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce

    Published by Dee
    Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce with spaghetti noodles, ground beef and pasta sauce is an easy dinner perfect for busy weeknights. This easy Instant Pot spaghetti recipe is a family favorite ready in just 30 minutes!
    5 from 23 votes
    Print Recipe Share by Email
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 2 minutes mins
    Cook Time 5 minutes mins
    pressure time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 22 minutes mins
    Course Main
    Cuisine American
    Servings 10
    Calories 271 kcal

    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, turn the pressure release valve to do a quick pressure release or gradual quick release, hen hit CANCEL
    • When pin drops, carefully open lid, and stir spaghetti and meat sauce together well before serving

    Notes

    I use Barilla brand pasta and Bertolli or Rao's marinara sauce, but any brand is fine, although results may be different depending upon thickness of the sauce.
    For al dente pasta, cook for 4 minutes and do a gradual quick release.
    To make spaghetti and meatballs, put meatballs on bottom, and layer remaining ingredients on top.
    If you use a larger jar of pasta sauce, 32-oz or more, you can skip the diced tomatoes.

    Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 271kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 17gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 712mgPotassium: 557mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 352IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 48mgIron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate it! Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!

    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!

    If you love this pasta recipe as much as we do, please leave a star rating and/or comment. For more easy family recipes and comfort food anyone can make, sign up for the weekly newsletter and follow on social media.

    Post was originally published in 2018 and updated in 2023.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Karla says

      July 14, 2019 at 3:27 pm

      Can’t wait to make this! Do you think thin spaghetti would get mushy? Should I stick with regular spaghetti?

      Reply
      • Dee says

        July 14, 2019 at 4:33 pm

        I've never made it with thin spaghetti, but it might be a little overcooked since it's so much thinner.

    2. Bug says

      May 27, 2019 at 12:54 pm

      Do you cook it on 5minutes high pressure or normal pressure?

      Reply
      • Dee says

        May 28, 2019 at 9:33 am

        I always use the default settings for pressure.

    3. Jason says

      December 03, 2018 at 1:16 pm

      Do you drain the tomatoes? Does broth add any depth of flavor instead of water?

      Reply
      • Dee says

        December 03, 2018 at 2:29 pm

        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.

    4. Wendy says

      November 17, 2018 at 2:57 pm

      I normally wld seer my red peppers and onions 1st then add my meat. Should I do the same in the IP? Thanks

      Reply
      • Dee says

        November 18, 2018 at 1:15 am

        You can definitely do that if you want. 🙂

      • Wendy says

        November 18, 2018 at 9:21 am

        Thank you!

    5. Christina says

      September 27, 2018 at 5:07 pm

      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.5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        September 28, 2018 at 6:55 am

        Thank you so much, Christina! I'm so glad that you liked it! 🙂

    6. Mo says

      June 22, 2018 at 8:10 pm

      ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
      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!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        June 22, 2018 at 8:38 pm

        Thank you so much, Mo. You've totally made my day! 🙂

    7. Jessica says

      May 24, 2018 at 6:05 pm

      Love this! Made it twice now. Can you freeze the leftovers?5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        May 24, 2018 at 9:02 pm

        Thanks so much! I haven't tried it, but I'm sure the
        leftovers freeze well. 🙂

    8. Marjorie Nye says

      May 17, 2018 at 6:01 am

      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.5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        May 17, 2018 at 11:18 am

        So glad to hear you liked it, Marjorie! My family prefers the IP version too! 🙂

      • Marjorie says

        January 04, 2019 at 7:44 am

        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!5 stars

      • Dee says

        January 04, 2019 at 10:49 am

        Now that sounds amazing! I'm trying it this way next time -- thanks! 🙂

    9. Leah Bartel says

      February 20, 2018 at 2:28 pm

      What's the size of can for the diced tomatoes? 28oz?

      Reply
      • Dee says

        February 20, 2018 at 5:32 pm

        I use the smaller size -- 14.5 ounces.

      • Laurie says

        August 04, 2020 at 11:29 am

        Thanks for asking!
        I'm ready to cook it and was quite worried!
        Whew!

    10. Kristel says

      January 21, 2018 at 7:07 pm

      Made this tonight and it was fantastic. Just curious how many servings you would count this as?5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        January 21, 2018 at 9:49 pm

        That's wonderful, Kristel! We got about 10 servings from this recipe. 🙂

    11. James says

      January 17, 2018 at 2:31 pm

      Glad i found this easy recipe. Love your stuff!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        January 21, 2018 at 9:37 pm

        Thanks so much, James! I hope you like it!

    12. Annie says

      January 15, 2018 at 11:32 pm

      Love being able to put all the ingredients in the pot and then leave it. Can't do that with a regular pot!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        January 16, 2018 at 9:29 am

        So true, Annie! That's what I love about the Instant Pot!

    13. Jessica | Novice Chef says

      January 14, 2018 at 7:35 pm

      My Instant Pot is my BFF at the moment. Cannot wait to try this!

      Reply
    14. Miz Helen says

      January 07, 2018 at 8:18 am

      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 Helen5 stars

      Reply
    15. Abeer says

      January 03, 2018 at 1:22 pm

      This is my kid's favorite dish! I need to try your recipe!

      Reply
    16. carrie @ frugal foodie mama says

      January 03, 2018 at 6:49 am

      I love how quickly this comes together! I totally should have asked Santa for an Instant Pot this past Christmas. 😉

      Reply
    17. Amanda says

      January 02, 2018 at 6:41 pm

      I so need to actually use my Instant Pot... it intimidates me! But this looks easy and tasty 🙂

      Reply
    18. Paula says

      January 02, 2018 at 6:30 pm

      This looks amazing! I've GOT to get an instant pot!

      Reply
      • Dee says

        January 05, 2018 at 9:37 am

        Thanks, Paula. We love our Instant Pot!

      • Christy Hilburn says

        July 13, 2019 at 9:19 am

        I do not have a pressure cooker. How would I cook it using the stove?

      • Dee says

        September 30, 2019 at 9:11 am

        I'm working on a stove top version now. 🙂

    19. Krista says

      January 02, 2018 at 6:07 pm

      Yum! Spaghetti just go easier! Love it!

      Reply
    20. Jen says

      January 02, 2018 at 1:40 pm

      I haven't tried spaghetti in my IP yet so I'm excited to try this! Thanks for all the tips.

      Reply
    Newer Comments »

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    I’m the blogger, chief cook, recipe developer and photographer behind Meatloaf and Melodrama. I absolutely love to create easy, budget-friendly, homemade meals and treats for my family. I also love to think of new ways to repurpose leftovers so that my family will actually eat them!

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