Instant Pot Spaghetti

Instant Pot Spaghetti is an easy meal that’s ready in just 30 minutes. Made in just one pot and with a few simple ingredients, this hearty dish is perfect to enjoy any time of the week!

Cooking Spaghetti in an Instant Pot

Instant Pot Spaghetti might just be one of the most popular pasta recipes made in a pressure cooker, and I just had to try it for myself. A one pot meal, made in the Instant Pot, ready in a half hour, and loaded with cozy flavors? Sign me up!

Weeknight Instant Pot recipes have quickly become a favorite of mine, and this spaghetti Instant Pot recipe is no exception. It’s comfort food and its finest, friends! And we could all use more easy dinner ideas for your family, right?

If you’re looking for your next dinner idea, the best Instant Pot spaghetti with meat sauce is just 30 minutes away, friends! I guarantee you’ll love the ease and taste of this simple comfort food.

Why Make Spaghetti in an Instant Pot?

Now, making spaghetti on the stove isn’t that hard, so why go the Instant Pot route?

Well, for starters, you can cook everything in one pot. Yep, brown the beef and boil the noodles all in one. Which means less dishes and easier cleanup…pretty much a winner in my book.

And because this Instant Pot spaghetti and meat sauce is ready in about a half hour, you can have dinner ready in no time. Which means this is a perfect weeknight dinner.

While the spaghetti is cooking, you can prepare a salad, pop in some garlic bread, and set the table. When the time goes off, dinner is ready.

Ingredients Needed for Instant Pot Spaghetti

Instant Pot spaghetti is an easy meal that’s ready in just 30 minutes. Made in just one pot and with a few simple ingredients, this hearty dish is perfect to enjoy any time of the week!

Here’s what you’ll need to make Instant Pot spaghetti with meat sauce:

• Lean ground beef
• Italian seasoning
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Salt and pepper
• Spaghetti noodles
• Jarred marinara sauce
• Low-sodium chicken broth (or water)

Can I Use Another Type of Meat?

Yes! Use whatever meat you prefer. I’ve made this with ground beef and ground turkey before, but Italian sausage, ground chicken, or even ground pork would work well, too.

Can You Make Instant Pot Spaghetti Without Meat?

Of course! Simply leave out the ground beef and start the recipe after the steps explaining how to brown the meat.

Can You Use Frozen Ground Beef?

I’ve never used frozen beef, but you could do that. You would probably need to cook it a bit longer in the Instant Pot, though I’m not sure on the time since I’ve never done that before.

How to Make Spaghetti in an Instant Pot

If you’re new to the world of Instant Pot cookie, consider this pressure cooker spaghetti recipe your new best friend. It’s practically impossible to mess up, I promise!

Here’s an overview of how this easy Instant Pot spaghetti comes together: 

1. First, you’ll brown the ground beef in the Instant Pot using the ‘saute’ setting.
2. Add the spices while the beef is cooking to blend in and give it good flavor.
3. After the beef is browned and crumbled, turn off the Instant Pot.
4. Drain the beef, if needed, then return to the pot. Be sure to scrape the bottom of the pot to stir those browned bits that might be stuck. This is to ensure that you don’t get a ‘burn warning’ for your Instant Pot.
5. Break the dry spaghetti noodles in half and layer in a criss-cross pattern over the meat. (You want to do it this way so that the noodles do not all clump together.)
6. Pour the sauce over the noodles, followed by the chicken broth or water. Do not stir, but just lightly pat down the noodles to submerge them in as much liquid as possible. It’s okay if not all of the noodles are covered with the liquid.
7. Cover and cook on high pressure until done.
8. It will seem like there is too much liquid and that is normal. Stir once, then let sit for about 10 minutes to absorb the rest of the liquid.

Tip: I’ve read that you should over-season your meat in recipes like this and it rings true so be sure to season your meat well! Because there is a mixture of sauce and liquid to cook the noodles, it can dilute some of the flavor. So season away!

How Long to Cook Spaghetti in the Instant Pot

Once the spaghetti, broth, and sauce have been added to the Instant Pot, you’ll need to cover and cook everything on high pressure for 7 minutes.

Remember that it will take the pot about 10 minutes to come to pressure, and then will start counting down from 7 minutes. Once the timer goes off, do a quick release and then remove lid.

What Size Instant Pot Should I Use?

I have a 6-quart Instant Pot, and that’s what I used to make this recipe.

What to Serve with Instant Pot Spaghetti

Not sure what to pair with this pressure cooker spaghetti? Here are some side dishes I recommend:

• A side salad! Some fresh greens, cherry tomatoes, red onions, and a touch of parmesan make a light side for this dish. Or, try the asparagus salad I’ve linked here. Another favorite of mine is this apple cranberry pecan salad.
• Cheesy garlic bread! I always have frozen garlic bread on-hand, so this works perfectly to accompany this spaghetti.
• Roasted carrots! I love this recipe because it features parmesan and garlic, two of my favorite ingredients.
• Roasted lemon broccoli! The bright lemon flavor pairs nicely with the rich meat sauce.
• Roasted asparagus and peas! This is another bright, lemony side dish that I can’t get enough of!