Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce Recipe - Dessert for Two (2024)

Instant Pot Spaghetti is my latest Instant Pot Mini recipe.I love this recipe because it comes together so quickly, but tastes like it was cooked all day long!

Instant Pot Spaghetti

I left town for 4 days, and came back to a brand new Instant Pot Mini on my mom's kitchen counter. We normally discuss these kinds of purchases beforehand (and, we usually buy things like this together), but she just went out and bought one while I was gone. I was shocked!

Like any new Instant Pot owner, she's perusing the internet for Instant Pot recipes. She found a bunch she wants to make, but quickly realized they weren't portioned for the Instant Pot Mini. It looks like I'm coming to the rescue!

So, from now on, all of my Instant Pot Mini recipes will be requests from my Mom. It's not a bad deal. She has excellent taste, so I think you'll be happy, too.

The first recipe to catch her eye was Instant Pot Spaghetti. I scaled it down for her to make in the Instant Pot Mini, and I think you'll really love it, too! It uses just a half-pound of ground beef (turkey is great here, too), and fresh onion and tomato paste for a flavor boost.

Be sure you push the noodles down so that they're all covered by the liquid before cooking. Then, give it a good stir, awkward though, it is. The more I stir and separate the noodles before I pressure cook, the better my results. My last two batches didn't have any stuck-together noodles.

When it comes to liquid, I used chicken broth because I had some in the fridge, but water is just fine, too!

Spaghetti and Meat Sauce Ingredients

• Olive Oil. One tablespoon of olive oil for the bottom of the instant pot--does not need to be extra virgin.
• Ground Beef. Half a pound of lean ground beef or ground turkey. This is a small batch recipe for the 3-quart instant pot. If you want to double it and make it in the 6-quart model, use one pound of meat.
• Onion. Half of a yellow or white onion, diced. Do not use a sweet onion.
• Garlic. One clove of fresh garlic, minced, or ½ teaspoon of dried garlic granules.
• Dried Basil. One-half teaspoon of dried basil leaves. You can use twice the amount of fresh if you have it.
• Dried Oregano. One-half teaspoon of dried oregano; try to crush it in your hands before adding to the pot to release the flavors.
• Spaghetti Sauce. We need one cup of your favorite jarred spaghetti sauce. I’m partial to anything from Rao’s.
• Tomato Paste. Adding two tablespoons of tomato paste is what makes this instant pot spaghetti so rich and delicious.
• Chicken Broth. We need a small amount of liquid to cook the spaghetti noodles--you can use 1 ¼ cups of chicken broth or water.
• Parmesan Cheese. We will stir in 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese into the pot, and if you like, we can sprinkle more on top before serving.
• Spaghetti Noodles. Again, this is a small portion recipe, so we only need 6 ounce of dried spaghetti noodles. We will break them up as needed to fit into the pot.

How to Make Spaghetti in the Instant Pot

1. Press SAUTE on your Instant Pot Mini. Add the olive oil and ground beef to the Instant Pot.
2. Cook for about 3 minutes, stirring and breaking up with a spoon occasionally.
3. Next, add the chopped onion. Stir, and cook for about 4 minutes.
4. Next, stir in the garlic, basil, oregano, salt, pepper, spaghetti sauce, tomato paste broth and Parmesan cheese. Stir very well.
5. Turn off the instant pot.
6. Break the noodles in half, and layer them in the tomato mixture, ensuring they are covered by the liquid.
7. Press PRESSURE COOK and set the timer for 8 minutes.
8. Place the lid on the Instant Pot, and turn the valve to 'sealing.' Allow the instant pot to come up to pressure, and then it will begin its 8 minute countdown.
9. When the timer goes off, very carefully do a forced pressure release. Cover your hand with a kitchen towel and using a long-handled wooden spoon, gently release the steam. When you hear the float valve drop down, all of the pressure is released.
10. Open the lid to the instant pot. It may look like there is a bit too much liquid, but just stir until it all comes together.
11. If it's still too much liquid for you, press SAUTE and cook to reduce for 2 minutes. My family likes a lot of sauce on their pasta.
12. Divide into bowl, and serve topped with more Parmesan.

How long to cook spaghetti noodles in instant pot?

Spaghetti takes about 8 minutes in the instant pot, if it has enough sauce or liquid. If there is too much liquid after the cook time, turn the instant pot to SAUTE and cook until reduced slightly.

Instant Pot Spaghetti Recipe Substitutions & Variations

I don’t have any variations for this recipe. If you don’t follow a pressure cooker recipe, it might not work out. I think we should delete this.

Tips for Cooking Spaghetti in the Instant Pot

1. Break the pasta in half to fit it into the instant pot. All of the noodles need to be covered or touching the liquid in order for proper cooking.
2. If your final product has too much liquid, turn the instant pot to the SAUTE function and cook to reduce the liquid.

Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce Recipe FAQs

How many servings does this Instant Pot Spaghetti make?

This recipe makes two very big bowls (more than what is pictured), so I would say about 3 average-sized bowls of pasta. It was the perfect amount for me, my husband, and our toddler to eat for dinner one night. Let's say it's a 'generous serving for two,' but still very clearly not enough for 4-6, like most recipes make.

I'm always going to be your small-batch girl.

Does spaghetti sauce count as liquid in Instant Pot?

Yes, spaghetti sauce counts as part of the liquid in the instant pot, but it is too thick. This recipe for instant pot spaghetti calls for tomato sauce and a bit of chicken broth (or water) to ensure proper cooking.

How long do you cook pasta in Instant Pot (formula)?

Typically, pasta cooks in the same amount of time on the box, minus 1-2 minutes.

How do you keep spaghetti from sticking together in the Instant Pot?

To prevent pasta from sticking together in the instant pot, ensure that all of the raw noodles are covered by the liquid in the instant pot before the cooking process. Once the recipe is done, stir to break up any noodles.

How do you keep spaghetti sauce from burning in the Instant Pot?

If you follow a recipe that contains spaghetti sauce and the right amount of water or broth, you will not get a burn notice in your instant pot. If you change any of the ratios, you might get a burning warning.

Can you just cut regular Instant Pot recipes in half for the Instant Pot Mini?

It really depends; sometimes you can, but sometimes you can't. A few people have done it successfully, but I have had issues with the cook times and liquid ratios. If you cut a recipe in half, I would also decrease the cooking time by about 20%. As for liquid, please be mindful of the 'max fill' line on the inside of the pot.

If you accidentally end up with too much liquid after cooking, you can use the SAUTE function to boil off some liquid.

It's common to end up with too much liquid when adapting Instant Pot recipes, because liquid doesn't evaporate from a pressure cooker like it can on the stove top. This instant pot spaghetti should only be doubled carefully. At worst case, you can drain excess liquid.

Can you double my Instant Pot Mini recipes for your larger Instant Pot?

This one is a clear YES. Several people doubled my Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings to make in their 6-quart model, and said it worked great. I wish I could test all variations of a recipe for you guys, but honestly, I just cook for two. And, like, it would be weird to scale a recipe down for two, and then scale it back up. You know what I mean? I would be cooking in circles all day.

More Instant Pot Recipes like this Spaghetti with Meat Sauce:

Browse through the comments on any of my instant pot recipes, and you'll see notes from people about doubling recipes. I love when you guys share this information in the comments section!

If you're looking for an easy place to start with the instant pot, I always suggest my instant pot butter chicken. It's creamy, easy, and everyone loves it! I made it for my in-laws who don't love spice and curry-like flavors, and they loved it. It might have even inspired an instant pot mini purchase of her own!

You can use your instant pot for side dishes, too, not just main courses! I'm actually terrible at making side dishes in real life, so I rely on my instant pot mashed potatoes for two to make a meal more filling. My kids love my instant pot mac and cheese, and eat it almost weekly!

Side note: how much do I want to make this Instant Pot Homemade Hamburger Helper from Emily next?