This Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce recipe is one of the easiest weeknight or weekend dinner ideas. And since your Instant Pot is a pro at cooking food perfectly, there's no need for you to do anything but set the table and wait. In just under 30 minutes of time, this tasty spaghetti recipe will be done and ready to enjoy!
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Why This Recipe Works
- Time-Saver: This Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce is quick and easy to prepare.
- Flavorful Feast: The recipe delivers a rich Instant Pot spaghetti sauce with robust Italian flavors.
- Family Favorite: This hearty sauce and spaghetti recipe is a crowd-pleasing dish that adults and kids alike will love.
📋 Ingredients
- Olive Oil: Used for sautéing the beef, it helps in browning and flavor development.
- Ground Beef: The main protein, it adds a hearty, savory depth to the spaghetti sauce.
- Salt: Enhances the flavors of all other ingredients, making them more pronounced.
- Onion Powder and Garlic Powder: Provide a quick and easy way to infuse the sauce with savory, aromatic flavors.
- Water: Helps deglaze the pot and cook the spaghetti to the perfect al dente texture.
- Marinara or Tomato-based Pasta Sauce: Forms the base of the sauce, adding a rich, tangy, and slightly sweet element to the dish.
- Dry Spaghetti: The core ingredient that absorbs the flavors of the sauce and provides a satisfying chew.
- Grated Parmesan Cheese: Finishes the dish with a salty, nutty note and a creamy texture.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
If you're in a pinch and don't have all the ingredients on hand for your spaghetti meat sauce, there are a few substitutions you can make.
- For the meat, ground beef is the most common choice, but ground turkey or lamb would work just as well. If you're looking for a vegetarian option, mushrooms make a great substitute for meat.
- Tomato sauce can be swapped out for crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, or even tomato soup. Just be sure to adjust the amount of liquid in the recipe accordingly.
- Finally, if you don't have any fresh herbs on hand, feel free to use dried oregano, basil, or thyme.
- Be sure to check out our Instant Pot Spaghetti Bolognese recipe for a creamier sauce!
- Add Heat: To add a little spice or a kick of heat to your meat sauce add a teaspoon of red pepper flakes.
- Water: You can use beef broth instead of water when topping up your spaghetti and meat sauce before pressure cooking.
🔪How To Cook Instant Pot Spaghetti And Meat Sauce?
- Step 1: Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Once it gets hot, add in the oil, meat, and seasonings. Brown the meat and break it up into smaller pieces. This should take about 5 minutes.
- Step 2: Turn off the sauté mode and add ½ cup of water. With your utensil, scrape the bottom of the Instant Pot to make sure any remaining residuals of the meat are off. Add in the sauce. Stir well to combine every element.
- Step 3: Take your noodles that you have broken in half and spread them in an even layer on top of the meat mixture. Do not stir.
- Step 4: Add in the remaining 1.5 cups of water. (One way to make sure you get every morsel of your pasta sauce is to pour the water in the jar, close the lid, and shake well. This way you get every oz of sauce!) Do not stir.
- Step 5: Close the Instant Pot by twisting the lid on and closing the seal. Cook on High Pressure for 8 minutes. It should take about 10 minutes to build pressure. Once it is done cooking, quick release and then serve. Enjoy!
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Sauté for Flavor: Before pressure cooking, use the Instant Pot's sauté function to brown the ground meat, onions, and garlic. This adds depth and enhances the overall flavor of the spaghetti and meat sauce.
- Layer Ingredients Smartly: When layering ingredients, place the tomato sauce on top of the other ingredients rather than at the bottom. This helps prevent the "Burn Notice", as thick sauces are less likely to stick to the bottom and trigger the Instant Pot's sensors.
💭 FAQs
Absolutely. If you’re wanting to cut down on the fat ratio, just switch out the ground beef to ground turkey instead. It’s as simple as that. And no one will probably even know the difference, either!
Yes if you want to make it from scratch add canned crushed tomatoes, fresh basil, a tablespoon of tomato paste, and 2 crushed garlic cloves. The canned tomatoes combined with these ingredients will do the same job as the marinara sauce.
Allow the spaghetti and meat sauce to cool to room temperature for about 30 minutes after cooking. Once cooled, transfer the spaghetti and meat sauce to an airtight container or cover the pot with a lid. Refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking. Consume within 3-4 days for optimal freshness. If you have leftover meat sauce, let it cool completely before transferring to a freezer-safe container. Label with the freezing date and store for up to 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating. For the entire spaghetti and meat sauce dish, portion it into meal-sized containers or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Label with the freezing date and store for up to 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
These are my favorite sides to serve with Spaghetti and Sauce:
- Garlic Breadsticks: Bake golden, buttery perfection to mop up that delicious sauce.
- Classic Caesar Salad: Crisp romaine, Parmesan, and zesty dressing make a refreshing contrast.
- Steamed Broccoli: Keep it simple, a vibrant and nutritious companion to your pasta.
🍜 Related Recipes
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Instant Pot Spaghetti And Meat Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 2 cups Water divided
- 1 Jar Pasta Sauce 24 Oz
- 8 Ounce Dry Spaghetti broken in half
- 2 tablespoon Parmesan Cheese Shredded
Instructions
- Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Once it gets hot, add in the oil, meat, and seasonings. Brown the meat and break up into smaller pieces. This should take about 5 minutes.
- Turn off the sauté mode and add ½ cup of water. With your utensil, scrape the bottom of the Instant Pot to make sure any remaining residuals of the meat is off.
- Add in the sauce. Stir well to combine every element. Take your noodles that you have broken in half and spread them in an even layer on top of the meat mixture. Do not stir.
- Add in the remaining 1.5 cups of water. (One way to make sure you get every morsel of your pasta sauce is to pour the water in the jar, close the lid, and shake well. This way you get every oz of sauce!) Do not stir.
- Close the Instant Pot by twisting the lid on and close the seal. Cook on High Pressure for 8 minutes. It should take about 10 minutes to build pressure.
- Once it is done cooking, quick release by opening the valve (make sure to use a hot pad or towel to protect yourself from the hot steam).
- Dish up your spaghetti and meat sauce. Garnish with parmesan cheese and enjoy.
Notes
- Sauté for Flavor: Before pressure cooking, use the Instant Pot's sauté function to brown the ground meat, onions, and garlic. This adds depth and enhances the overall flavor of the spaghetti and meat sauce.
- Layer Ingredients Smartly: When layering ingredients, place the tomato sauce on top of the other ingredients rather than at the bottom. This helps prevent the "Burn Notice", as thick sauces are less likely to stick to the bottom and trigger the Instant Pot's sensors.
Nutrition
More Everyday Instant Pot Recipes
If you love this homemade spaghetti sauce recipe then be sure to check out the following pasta dishes. Instant Pot cooking has never been easier.
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