Easy One-Pot Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce: Your Go-To Weeknight Meal
Imagine a hearty, flavorful spaghetti and meat sauce dinner on your table in just about 30 minutes, all cooked in a single pot. Sound like a dream? With the magic of your Instant Pot, it’s an achievable reality! This recipe for Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce is designed for ultimate convenience without compromising on taste, making it an absolute game-changer for busy weeknights.
Say goodbye to juggling multiple pots for boiling pasta and browning meat. This streamlined method lets your pressure cooker do all the heavy lifting, infusing every strand of spaghetti with rich, savory meat sauce. It’s not just fast; it’s incredibly delicious and leaves you with minimal cleanup, giving you more time to enjoy with your family.
Why This Instant Pot Spaghetti Recipe is a Must-Try
This Instant Pot spaghetti and meat sauce truly elevates the concept of one-pot meals. Beyond the obvious time-saving benefits, here’s why this recipe deserves a permanent spot in your rotation:
- No Pre-Boiling Pasta Required: Forget waiting for a large pot of water to boil! The spaghetti cooks directly in the sauce within the Instant Pot, absorbing all those delicious flavors. This not only saves time but also results in incredibly tender and flavorful noodles.
- One-Pot Wonder for Easy Cleanup: The biggest perk of this recipe is that everything—from browning the meat to cooking the pasta—happens in a single pot. This drastically cuts down on dirty dishes, making post-dinner cleanup a breeze. Less time scrubbing means more time relaxing!
- Incredible Flavor Infusion: When pasta cooks directly in the sauce, it soaks up all the aromatic ingredients, leading to a much deeper and richer flavor profile compared to boiling noodles separately. Every bite is packed with savory goodness.
- Fast and Efficient: From start to finish, this meal comes together in about 30 minutes. It’s perfect for those busy weeknights when you need a satisfying and wholesome dinner on the table without hours of effort.
- Family-Friendly and Customizable: Spaghetti and meat sauce is a classic comfort food that appeals to almost everyone. This recipe is easily adaptable to different tastes and dietary needs, ensuring a meal that even picky eaters will love.
SERVE THIS WITH warm, crusty bread, rolls, or fluffy biscuits to soak up every last drop of that incredible sauce. We have several homemade bread and roll recipes that would pair wonderfully with this satisfying meal.
- Homemade Pull Apart Dinner Rolls
- Herb Buttermilk Biscuits
- Parmesan Garlic Rolls
- Garlic Cheese Rolls
- Homemade Italian Bread
- See all of our bread and rolls here
Key Ingredients for Your Instant Pot Spaghetti
You’ll love how simple the ingredient list is for this Instant Pot spaghetti and meat sauce! Most items are likely already in your pantry or easily found at any grocery store. For exact measurements and detailed instructions, refer to the printable recipe card at the end of this post.
- Meat: We typically opt for lean ground beef (90% or higher) to reduce excess grease, but feel free to use regular ground beef if you prefer. For a lighter option or a different flavor profile, ground turkey or ground chicken work beautifully. You could even use Italian sausage (mild or spicy) for an extra kick!
- Spaghetti Noodles: Standard dry spaghetti works best here. The key is to break them in half so they fit neatly into your Instant Pot and cook evenly.
- Spaghetti Sauce: For ultimate convenience, we use a quality jarred spaghetti sauce. Don’t be afraid to choose your family’s favorite! If you’re feeling ambitious, a homemade spaghetti sauce or our rich bolognese sauce would be an excellent substitute.
- Diced Tomatoes: A can of diced tomatoes (undrained) adds a burst of fresh tomato flavor and crucial liquid for the pasta to cook in.
- Aromatics: Fresh onion and plenty of fresh garlic are essential for building a robust flavor base. Don’t skimp on these!
- Seasonings: Classic dried Italian seasoning, along with salt and black pepper, brings all the flavors together.
- Water: This is the crucial liquid that allows the pasta to cook perfectly under pressure.
- Olive Oil: Used for sautéing the meat and aromatics.
- Optional Garnishes: Grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves add a wonderful finishing touch and pop of color.
Step-by-Step: How to Master Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
These step-by-step photos and detailed instructions are here to guide you through making this incredibly easy and delicious one-pot meal. For a quick reference or the printable version, you can Jump to Recipe to get the full list of measurements and instructions.
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Sauté the Meat and Aromatics
Turn your Instant Pot to the “Sauté” setting and allow it to heat up. Once hot, add the olive oil, ground beef, chopped onion, and crushed garlic. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beef is thoroughly browned and the onions are translucent. This step is vital for developing rich flavor. Once browned, press “Cancel” to turn off the Instant Pot. Important: Do not stir from this point forward. This layering technique is key to preventing a “BURN” notice!
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Add the Spaghetti Noodles
Carefully break the spaghetti noodles in half. This helps them fit better in the Instant Pot and ensures they cook evenly. Lay the broken spaghetti noodles gently on top of the browned meat mixture in an even layer. Do not stir.
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Layer Tomatoes and Seasonings
Evenly spread the diced tomatoes (undrained) on top of the spaghetti noodles. Follow this by sprinkling the Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper over the tomatoes. Creating these distinct layers helps prevent the dreaded “BURN” notice often caused by thick sauces directly touching the bottom of the pot.
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Add Sauce and Water
Pour the spaghetti sauce evenly over the layered ingredients. Finally, add the water. Ensure that all the spaghetti noodles are submerged in liquid as much as possible, as this is how they will cook. Again, resist the urge to stir! The layering is essential for proper pressure cooking.
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Pressure Cook to Perfection
Secure the lid on your Instant Pot, ensuring the sealing vent is set to “Sealing”. Cook on “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” (depending on your model) at “High Pressure” for 8 minutes. Once the cooking cycle is complete, carefully perform a quick release by turning the valve to “Venting”. Be cautious of the hot steam.
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Stir and Serve
After the pressure has fully released and the lid is safely removed, give the pasta a good stir for about 2 minutes. The remaining liquid in the pot will be absorbed as you stir, creating a perfectly saucy and cohesive spaghetti dish. Serve immediately, topped with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves, if desired, for an extra touch of freshness and flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
You can store your leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For longer storage, this dish also freezes well. Simply transfer cooled spaghetti into freezer-safe containers or bags and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of water or broth if it seems too dry.
No, you absolutely do not have to use meat for this recipe! It’s easily adaptable for a delicious vegetarian version. Simply omit the ground beef. You will still want to sauté the onion for 5-6 minutes until translucent, add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute, and then continue with the remaining recipe instructions. To add more heartiness, consider incorporating sautéed mushrooms, bell peppers, or even a can of drained lentils along with the onions.
Absolutely not! That’s the beauty and convenience of this Instant Pot spaghetti recipe. The noodles cook directly within the sauce inside the pressure cooker, absorbing all the wonderful flavors. This “one-pot” method saves you time, effort, and dirty dishes by eliminating the need to boil pasta separately.
The key to avoiding the “BURN” notice in this recipe is careful layering and *not stirring* after browning the meat. Ensure you scrape the bottom of the pot thoroughly after sautéing to deglaze any stuck-on bits. Then, create distinct layers: meat, broken spaghetti, diced tomatoes, seasonings, then sauce, and finally water on top. The water acts as a buffer. Avoid pushing the sauce all the way to the bottom. If you follow these layering steps, you should have no issues!
While this recipe is optimized for spaghetti, you can experiment with other long, thin pasta shapes like linguine or fettuccine, breaking them in half as well. For shorter pasta like penne or rotini, the cooking time might need slight adjustment (usually less time). The general rule for Instant Pot pasta is half the package cooking time plus one minute, but always ensure sufficient liquid to cover the pasta.
This Instant Pot spaghetti and meat sauce is truly the ultimate easy one-pot weeknight meal. Its ability to deliver a quick, satisfying, and filling dinner in around 30 minutes with minimal cleanup makes it a staple for any busy household. Enjoy the rich flavors and effortless preparation!
Explore More Delicious Pasta Recipes
If you loved this easy Instant Pot spaghetti, you’ll want to try these other fantastic pasta dishes:
- Baked Ziti
- Instant Pot Lasagna
- Italian Lasagna
- One Pot Sloppy Joe Pasta
- Sun Dried Tomato Pesto
- Million Dollar Spaghetti
- Chicken Spaghetti
- Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff
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Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
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Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb 90% lean ground beef
- 1 onion peeled and chopped
- 5 cloves garlic crushed
- 1 lb spaghetti noodles
- 2 tomatoes diced
- ½ Tbsp dried Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 24 oz spaghetti sauce 1 jar
- 4 ¼ cup water 1 liter
- grated parmesan cheese for garnish, optional
- fresh basil leaves for garnish, optional
Things You’ll Need
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Instant Pot
Before You Begin & Expert Tips
- Meat Choice: We recommend lean ground beef (90% or higher) for less grease, but regular ground beef, ground turkey, or even Italian sausage can be used. Adjust cooking time slightly if using very high-fat meat, and drain excess fat if necessary after sautéing.
- Storage: Leftover spaghetti can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It also freezes well for up to 3 months.
- Preventing “BURN”: The most crucial step is to avoid stirring after layering the ingredients. The distinct layers of meat, pasta, tomatoes, sauce, and water are essential to prevent the “BURN” notice. Make sure to scrape the bottom of the pot after browning the meat.
- Perfectly Cooked Pasta: The 8-minute high-pressure cooking time works perfectly for spaghetti broken in half. This ensures al dente pasta that’s infused with flavor.
- Adjusting Seasoning: Taste the sauce after pressure cooking and before serving. Adjust salt, pepper, or Italian seasoning to your preference. A pinch of sugar can balance the acidity of the tomatoes if desired.
Instructions
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Turn the Instant Pot on “Sauté” and wait for it to heat up. Add the olive oil, ground beef, chopped onion, and crushed garlic. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beef is browned and the onions are translucent. Press “Cancel” to turn off the Instant Pot.
Important: Do not stir from this point forward. This layering technique prevents the “BURN” notice.
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Break the spaghetti noodles in half and place them on top of the browned meat mixture in an even layer.
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Spread the diced tomatoes (undrained) evenly on top of the spaghetti.
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Sprinkle on the Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper over the tomatoes.
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Add the spaghetti sauce over the seasonings, ensuring it covers the spaghetti. Then, add the water, making sure all noodles are mostly submerged.
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Put the lid on the Instant Pot and set the vent to “Sealing”. Cook on “Manual, High Pressure” for 8 minutes. Once finished, carefully perform a quick release of pressure.
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Once pressure is released and the lid is removed, stir the pasta thoroughly for about 2 minutes. The pasta will absorb any remaining liquid, and the sauce will thicken.
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Serve the pasta immediately, topped with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves if desired.
Nutrition Information (Estimated Per Serving)
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.