Instant Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
A quick and easy one-pot meal that combines flavorful meat sauce and spaghetti cooked to perfection in the Instant Pot.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef 80 to 90 percent lean
- 1 small onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 12 oz spaghetti broken in half
- 24 oz marinara sauce your favorite brand
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken or beef broth or water
- 2 tbsp olive oil for sautéing
- 1 tsp salt adjust to taste
- 1 tsp black pepper adjust to taste
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning for flavor
- 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes optional for heat
Optional Finishers
- 1 splash cream for creaminess
- 1 tbsp butter for richness
- 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese for topping
Instructions
Preparation
- Turn the Instant Pot to Sauté. Add olive oil, then the onion and a pinch of salt. Cook until the onion softens.
- Add the garlic and stir until fragrant. Crumble in the ground meat and cook until no longer pink.
- Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom with a little broth to prevent a burn warning.
Cooking
- Break the spaghetti noodles in half and scatter them on top of the meat in a crisscross pattern.
- Pour the remaining broth or water over the noodles, then spread the marinara sauce directly on top without stirring.
- Seal the lid and set the Instant Pot to High Pressure for 5 minutes.
- When the timer beeps, let it naturally release for 5 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.
- Open the lid and gently stir until the noodles and sauce are combined. Adjust thickness by adding a splash of hot water if too thick.
- Finish with grated Parmesan, butter, or cream as desired.
Notes
Don't skip deglazing to prevent burn warnings. For creaminess, consider adding a splash of cream or mascarpone. Keep layers intact while cooking to avoid clumping.