Instant Pot Spaghetti

Close-up of spaghetti with meat sauce, basil, and parmesan on a white plate.

5 from 2 votes

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.

Prep Time15

Cook Time8

Instant Pot Preheat10

Total Time33

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Instant Pot, one-pot, weeknight

Servings: servings

Calories: 295kcal

Author: Rebecca Warfield

Equipment

Instant Pot

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

Notes

Feel free to add your favorite spaghetti seasonings, such as basil, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, etc.

Release the pressure as soon as the timer goes off to avoid overcooking the noodles.

Before adding the onion, drain the beef of excess fat if necessary. Then, add it back to the Instant Pot and continue the recipe as usual.

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.

You can add carrots, bell peppers, or other veggies if you prefer. Sauté them with the onions and follow the recipe as usual.

Nutrition