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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!

instant pot spaghetti in the pot, pulled out with tongs

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)

Why this recipe works:

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.

instant pot spaghetti in a white bowl with parsley and parmesan

Ingredients:

OLIVE OIL – ooops, forgot to add that to the ingredients picture…. you could also use vegetable oil.
ONION – dice this up finely
GROUND BEEF – I use a 97/3 blend, but 80/20 is good too (you will drain it anyway, so not a big deal)
GARLIC – no garlic? no problem! Just add a little garlic powder with the Italian Seasoning.
SPAGHETTI – you can use any kind of pasta you have in the pantry.
PASTA SAUCE – your favorite jar of sauce!
WATER
ITALIAN SEASONING – make your own homemade Italian Seasoning or grab some from the store. If not, some dried basil and oregano works just fine.

How to make this recipe:

Full, printable recipe below – just scroll down to the recipe card!

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.

how to make spaghetti in the instant pot

INSTANT POT COOKING TERMS EXPLAINED

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 means to let the Instant Pot release pressure naturally slowly for a few minutes (usually between 5 and 15 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.

SUBSTITUTIONS

SAUCE: If you don’t have a jar of sauce, use some canned tomato sauce and add garlic powder, onion powder, salt & pepper as well as Italian seasoning.
PASTA: Any kind will do!
More Instant Pot Recipes?
- Instant Pot Pulled Pork – Sweet, spicy, juicy – this recipe uses an instant pot for maximum speed but tender, mouthwatering results.
- Instant Pot Chicken Stew – A delightful riff on chicken noodle soup, this delicious Instant Pot Chicken Stew with Quinoa will make you want to eat a second (and third) bowl!
- ALL INSTANT POT RECIPES

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