Easy Instant Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce Recipe
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This Instant Pot spaghetti recipe is one of our family favorites. The noodles cook right in the meat sauce for a perfect, flavorful al dente bite. Plus, it’s a one-pot meal, so cleanup is a breeze.
Table of Contents
Lately, I’ve been all about recipes with fresh-milled flour, so an Instant Pot recipe with store-bought noodles might seem a little out of place.
But that’s the beauty of scratch cooking—it meets you where you are.
Some days, I mill flour at home and bake sourdough bread. Other days, I need something quick, like Instant Pot spaghetti.
But either way, it’s homemade food that is cheaper and way better than any takeout meal.
The Instant Pot is a lifesaver on busy nights. I use it for spare ribs, Hawaiian pork, and quick sides like boiled eggs, but our go-to is often spaghetti (or noodles with sauce, as my daughter calls it).
I know spaghetti is easy to make without an Instant Pot, but trust me, once you try it this way, you won’t go back!
The noodles cook right in the meat sauce, soaking up all the flavor. And there’s just one pot that goes straight into the dishwasher when you’re done.
Quick, delicious, and barely any cleanup. That, my friends, is my kind of dinner!
Why You’ll Love Instant Pot Spaghetti
- One Pot: Everything is made in the Instant Pot. There’s no boiling water separately, no colander, and no extra saucepots.
- Quick: Instant Pot spaghetti is great for busy weeknights or bulk meal prep because it is fast. Once the pressure cooker has pressurized, it only takes 8 minutes.
- Perfect Pasta: Every time I make this recipe, the pasta is perfectly al dente.
- Hands-Off: You don’t have to worry about making the ingredients separately and standing over a hot stove. Most of this recipe is totally hands-off.
- Family-Friendly: Spaghetti is always a crowd pleaser. The whole family will love this quick dinner!
Ingredients
- Ground Beef: If possible, use lean ground beef so you won’t have to worry about draining the excess fat. I used 90/10. You could also use ground turkey.
- Spaghetti Noodles: I use regular white boxed spaghetti. You can also use whole wheat pasta, but you may need to cook it 1 minute longer.
- Marinara Sauce: I use a quality store-bought pasta sauce to keep it easy. Use any marinara sauce you have on hand, or even use homemade.
Get the full list of ingredients and measurements on the printable recipe card below.
Tools You’ll Need
- Instant Pot: I prefer an 8-quart Instant Pot because I can make larger batches of food, but any size will work.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Set the Instant Pot to the sauté function. Once preheated, add the ground beef and cook until it’s mostly brown, about 5 minutes. If necessary, use a wooden spoon to break apart the meat.
Step 2: Add the onion and cook until translucent and the meat is fully browned, about 3 minutes. Add any preferred seasonings.
Add the garlic and cook just until aromatic, about 1 minute.
Step 3: Break the spaghetti noodles in half and place them in the Instant Pot so they lay horizontally over the meat.
Arrange them in a crisscross pattern to prevent them from sticking. You don’t want any noodles sticking upright.
Step 4: Pour the spaghetti sauce over the noodles and meat. Do not stir.
Step 5: Add the water to the Instant Pot. Use a wooden spoon to push the spaghetti under the water. Again, do not stir.
Step 6: Put the lid on the Instant Pot. Pressure cook on high for 8 minutes.
The pressure cooker will take about 10-15 minutes to get to temperature and pressurize before it starts cooking.
Step 7: When finished, manually quick-release the pressure cooker.
When you open the Instant Pot, the spaghetti will look watery. Stir thoroughly to combine the liquid, noodles, and sauce.
Step 8: Serve right away. Garnish with basil, parmesan, or a drizzle of homemade béchamel. Serve with a side of sourdough toast, and enjoy!
Video – Instant Pot Spaghetti & Meal Prep
Check out my Instant Pot meal prep vlog to see how I make Instant Pot spaghetti and other simple Instant Pot dinners for the week.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel. New videos come out weekly!
Tips for Success
- Crisscross the Noodles: Lay handfuls of noodles in opposite directions to prevent them from sticking together while cooking.
- Season to Taste: Toss in your go-to spaghetti seasonings—basil, garlic powder, or Italian seasoning. I love using freeze-dried herbs because they add flavor with no extra fuss!
- Add Veggies: Add carrots, bell peppers, or other veggies. Sauté them with the onions and follow the recipe as usual. Lacto-fermented peppers and onions work great and add extra flavor.
- Use Quality Sauce: The noodles cook directly in the sauce and absorb its flavor. Use a quality store-bought sauce or even a homemade or home-canned pasta sauce.
- Quick Release Immediately: Release the pressure as soon as the timer goes off to avoid overcooking the noodles.
Storing, Freezing, & Reheating
- Store leftover spaghetti in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
- To reheat, add a splash of water to prevent the noodles from drying out. You can reheat it on the stove over low heat or pop it in the microwave.
- To freeze, let the spaghetti cool to room temperature. Toss it in a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months. Let it thaw entirely before reheating.
- For freezer meals, I recommend slightly undercooking the spaghetti (5-6 minutes on high) so it doesn’t get mushy when you reheat it.
FAQs & Troubleshooting
Crisscross the pasta as you layer it in the Instant Pot to prevent sticking. If it sticks together, use a fork to break it apart and stir it into the sauce.
Watery sauce means there was too much water in the pot. Remember, the Instant Pot uses less water because you don’t have to account for evaporation like on the stove. Use 1 cup of water for every 4 ounces of pasta.
Yes, you can definitely double Instant Pot spaghetti. Make sure you add enough water to cover the noodles. You don’t need to double the cook time.
Theoretically, you can make Instant Pot spaghetti with fresh-milled flour pasta. However, fresh pasta cooks quickly, and you may risk overcooking it. I recommend making your fresh-milled spaghetti on the stovetop.
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Instant Pot Spaghetti
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 16 oz boxed spaghetti noodles
- 24 oz jar marinara sauce
- 4 cups water, plus more if needed
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: basil and parmesan, for garnish
Instructions
- Set the Instant Pot to the sauté function. Once preheated, add the ground beef and cook until it's mostly brown, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Use a wooden spoon to break apart the meat if necessary.1 lb lean ground beef, Salt and pepper to taste
- Add the onion and cook until translucent and the meat is fully browned, about 3 minutes. Add any preferred seasonings (see notes).1/2 onion
- Add the garlic and cook just until aromatic, about 1 minute.1 clove garlic
- Break the spaghetti noodles in half and place them in the Instant Pot so they lay horizontally over the meat. Arrange them in a crisscross pattern to prevent them from sticking. You don't want any noodles sticking upright.16 oz boxed spaghetti noodles
- Pour the spaghetti sauce over the noodles and meat. Do not stir.24 oz jar marinara sauce
- Add the water to the Instant Pot. Use a wooden spoon to push the spaghetti under the water. Again, do not stir.4 cups water
- Put the lid on the Instant Pot. Pressure cook on high for 8 minutes. The pressure cooker will take about 10-15 minutes to get to temperature and pressurize before it starts cooking.
- When finished, manually quick-release the pressure cooker. When you open the Instant Pot, the spaghetti will look watery. Stir thoroughly to combine the liquid, noodles, and sauce.
- Serve right away. Garnish with basil, parmesan, or a drizzle of homemade béchamel. Serve with a side of sourdough toast, and enjoy!Optional: basil and parmesan
This is the BEST way to make spaghetti. We had it for dinner last night, and my husband took leftovers to work for lunch today. So easy!