Instant Pot Spaghetti – family dinner, FAST!
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A super-fast family dinner – spaghetti in the instant pot is minimal prep, ingredients and clean up – making this a slam dunk for weeknights!
This Instant Pot Spaghetti recipe will change pasta night forever! Such a super easy recipe, with amazing results – just cook it all together, and serve fast!
Step-by-step photos and instructions are below. Jump to the recipe card if you wish!
Why you’ll love this
- Very little prep time
- Very few ingredients
- Quick and easy – just 8 minutes cooking time (once pot has come to pressure).
- Mostly hands-off – saute the onions, garlic and ground beef, add the rest of the ingredients – and walk away. The result? Perfect al dente spaghetti and sauce, all in one pot.
Cooking pasta in the instant pot is my new favorite way to get dinner on the table. I really love that the spaghetti is cooked in the sauce, adding more flavor to the noodles that just cooking in water.
If you’re wondering why we’d even bother using the pressure cooker for this – I mean, making spaghetti on the stove top is not exactly DIFFICULT, right? Let me just say that aside from not having to dirty 2 pans and a colander – you’ll only have to wash the pot insert – the meat gets SO tender, and the starch from the pasta makes the sauce the perfect thickness. IT’S SO GOOD, YOU GUYS!!
The instant pot makes quick work of dinner – you can get home, throw it all together and go do something else until the timer is up. Make a salad, maybe? Whip up a little garlic bread?
Mix it up by using different sauce flavors, adding some crushed chili flakes, or other seasonings, use a mixture of beef & pork, or go for a lighter version and use ground turkey! My job is provide you the method, and some suggested ingredients – but you’re in the driver’s seat, and the flavors are 100% up to YOU!
If you love instant pot recipes – you’ll swoon over my Instant Pot Ribs, Instant Pot Chicken & Rice or this easy Instant Pot Beef Stew (with red wine and rosemary)
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Key Recipe Ingredients
Note: This highlights some ingredients. Full list is in the recipe card.
- Olive oil. Used to start everything off and soften the onion. You can swap with any neutral oil if needed.
- Onion. Adds flavor and a little sweetness to the base. Dice it small so it cooks down nicely and blends into the sauce.
- Garlic. Brings that classic Italian flavor. Fresh is best, but you can use garlic powder if that’s what you’ve got.
- Ground beef. Makes this hearty and filling. I usually go lean, but anything works since you can drain the fat after browning. You can also swap with ground turkey or a beef/pork mix.
- Spaghetti pasta. Regular spaghetti works great, but honestly any pasta you have will work. Breaking it in half helps it fit and cook evenly in the pot.
- Marinara sauce. Use your favorite jar – this is where a lot of the flavor comes from. You can switch it up with different sauces depending on your mood.
- Water. Helps cook the pasta and keeps everything from sticking. The pasta absorbs it as it cooks, helping create the sauce.
- Italian seasoning. Adds that herby flavor to tie everything together. If you don’t have it, make your own homemade Italian Seasoning or grab some from the store
How to make this recipe
This is a step-by-step photo guide. Full ingredients and instructions are in the printable recipe card below.
Jump- Set the pot on saute mode, and allow to heat. Add 1 Tbs olive oil, and saute the onion until softened, then add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
- Add the ground beef, and brown.
- Add the spaghetti (I break it up and put it in the pot in varying directions – a criss cross pattern works well!).
- Pour the pasta sauce over the top, and then pour the water around the sides. Sprinkle over the Italian seasoning. DO NOT STIR! (you might end up with the dreaded “burn notice”. You want the pasta submerged in liquid, but you want there to definitely be a separation – mixing it all together is a bad idea!!)
- Place the lid on the instant pot, and set to seal, and cook on high pressure for 8 minutes.
- Do a natural pressure release for 5 minutes, then perform quick release.
- Open the lid, stir the food, add a little parmesan and parsley… and…
- DEVOUR.
Instant Pot Cooking Terms
What is Natural Pressure Release – aka NPR?
A natural pressure release happens when the cooking time is over and the valve is left closed. The pressure decreases without doing anything. Your Instant Pot will automatically switch to the Keep Warm setting.
As soon as it switches to Keep Warm the pressure will begin to drop and will release the pressure by itself. You’ll know it’s done when the pin drops!
What is Quick Release?
Quick Release: this means to let the Instant Pot release pressure naturally for a few minutes. After the time has elapsed, switch the valve to “venting” to quickly release any remaining pressure. The pressure will release to a point where the pin drops, and you can open the lid.
More recipes to love
Looking for more instant pot recipes?
- Instant Pot Pulled Pork. Sweet, spicy, juicy pulled pork – using an instant pot for maximum speed but tender, mouthwatering results. This is one to make over and over!
- Instant Pot Baked Beans Recipe (with Bacon). Learn how to make flavorful and tender Instant Pot baked beans super fast! Smoky, sweet and easy to make, you’ll bring this to family gatherings forever!
- Instant Pot Risotto. Instant Pot Risotto is a game changer! Get this classic Italian side dish, a dreamy, creamy risotto super fast, and hands OFF!
- Instant Pot Chicken & Rice. Instant Pot Chicken and Rice is a family friendly dinner! Grab your electric pressure cooker and some basic ingredients and dinner will be SUPER fast (and really tasty, too).
- ALL INSTANT POT RECIPES
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Instant Pot Spaghetti
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup finely chopped onion
- 2 cloves minced garlic minced
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 12oz spaghetti
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- 2 1/2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
Instructions
- Set the pot on sauté mode, and allow to heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil, and sauté 1 cup finely chopped onion until softened, then add 2 cloves minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
- Add 1 pound lean ground beef, and brown. Drain if necessary.
- Add 12oz spaghetti (I break it up and put it in the pot in varying directions – a criss cross pattern works well!).
- Pour 24 ounces marinara sauce over the top, and then pour 2 1/2 cups water around the sides. Sprinkle over 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning DO NOT STIR.
- Place the lid on the instant pot, and set to seal, and cook on high pressure for 8 minutes.
- Do a natural pressure release for 5 minutes, then perform quick release.
- Remove the lid, stir the food until well combined.
- DEVOUR.
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Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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About Kylee Ayotte
I am a born and raised New Zealander (a Kiwi), now living in Phoenix, Arizona. I’m happily married to the love of my life – a hot American boy I met while traveling the world. I’m a mama to 2 awesome little boys and love red things, rugby, cheesecake, and bacon. Mmmmm. Bacon. Meet Kylee
Drooling over pasta. The recipe is so delicios. Thanks for sharing.
My toddler LOVES spaghetti, and it was so nice to be able to make this all in one pot, in such a short amount of time! I had it on the table for her to devour so quickly that she actually SAT and ate dinner instead of getting up eleventy-bazillion times and running around between bites. Thanks for sharing!!
My hubby and I made this for dinner the other night and it was a big hit! The kiddos absolutely loved it! Will be making again! Thanks so much for sharing!
This recipe is one of my boys favorites! They can be a hard duo to please, and it never fails that they goggle up this recipe and ask for seconds! I love how simple it is and how fast dinner gets to the table!