Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce

Saucy and beefy, this Instant Pot spaghetti and meat sauce cooks up together in under 30 minutes! The pasta absorbs a ton of flavor from the sauce, and there's only one pot to clean up.

When it comes to one pot meals, the Instant Pot is where it's at! From turkey chili to Cajun rice, you can cook your meals so quickly, and clean up even quicker.

This Instant Pot spaghetti and meat sauce is another simple, quick dinner that cooks up in one pot!

I love one pot pasta, because as the pasta cooks, it absorbs so much flavor from the sauce! Once you cook your pasta this way, it's hard to go back to the water-boiling method.

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Recipe video

Watch the video below to see exactly how I prepped this Instant Pot spaghetti. It’s so easy! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel.

Ingredient notes

• ground beef- I recommend using lean ground beef or ground turkey so that you don't need to drain grease off before adding the sauce. I've also successfully used plant-based ground beef crumbles.
• spaghetti- you can use spaghetti, linguini, spaghettini, or your favorite pasta shape. I share tips below on adapting for different shapes.
• marinara- grab your favorite brand; you'll need one 22 oz/ 650 mL jar
• parmesan- for additional flavor; I recommend using freshly ground parmesan

Step by step directions

Pay careful attention to the order in which ingredients are added, as it's important to avoid the dreaded burn warning on your Instant Pot.

1. Sauté beef + seasonings- Select the 'sauté' function of your Instant Pot. Add the ground beef, basil and salt to the stainless steel insert of your Instant Pot. Cook for 5-7 minutes, breaking the beef up with a spatula, and stirring frequently. Beef is cooked through when it's no longer pink.

If you used a fattier blend of ground beef, you'll want to drain extra grease off.

2. Add garlic, then water- When ground beef is cooked through, add the garlic. Cook for one minute, until fragrant. Then add the water, using your spatula to scrape anything off the bottom of the pot.

3. Add spaghetti- Grab 8 oz of spaghetti, and break it in half. Scatter evenly in the Instant Pot.

4. Add marinara sauce- Lastly, add the marinara sauce, pouring it evenly over the spaghetti. Use a spatula to gently press the spaghetti noodles into the liquid below. DO NOT STIR

5. Cook- Place the lid on your Instant Pot, set the steam release handle to 'sealing', and pressure cook for 6 minutes. When the Instant Pot completes the cooking cycle, perform a quick pressure release: carefully transfer the steam release handle to the 'venting' position to release the pressure.

Remove the Instant Pot lid- the pasta will look soupy at first, but as it cools, everything thickens up nicely.

6. Finishing touches- Using a set of tongs, gently work the spaghetti noodles apart, and stir into the sauce. Add parmesan cheese, and stir in. Taste the pasta and decide if you want to add more salt or parmesan.

FAQ

Variations

• zucchini noodles- if you'd like to add some vegetables to this recipe, consider adding one spiralized zucchini to the pot when the parmesan cheese is added. Let it sit for 5 minutes before serving
• vegetarian- omit the ground beef, or swap for plant-based 'beef' crumbles; swap the parmesan for nutritional yeast
• use frozen ground beef- follow the directions in how to cook frozen ground beef to get the beef partially thawed, then drain the water and add the salt + basil, cooking the beef all the way through using 'sauté'
• spicy- add some red pepper flakes to serve

Storage + meal prep

This recipe can be cooked ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 4 days:

1. cool completely, then portion out into meal prep containers
2. store in the fridge for up to 4 days
3. reheat in the microwave until steaming hot

check out my favorite meal prep containers!

More Instant Pot faves:

• Instant Pot Chicken Breast- 7 flavors!
• Spicy Instant Pot Peanut Noodles
• Instant Pot Pulled Pork
• Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken
• Instant Pot Taco Meat (fresh, frozen)
• Instant Pot Basmati Rice (perfect + fluffy!)

☆ Did you make this recipe? I'd love to hear how it turned out! Leave me a review and star rating in the comments below. Your reviews help so much!