Instant Pot Spaghetti
89 Comments
Posted: 01/02/25
Updated: 01/07/25
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Love Spaghetti? It just got easier with this easy Instant Pot Spaghetti recipe. It’s made in one pot and is completely hands off. Tender spaghetti noodles in a meat sauce. Pair with a tossed salad and garlic bread for a complete meal.
I have finally fallen in love with my pressure cooker! I was the one that left it in the box and only made a few recipes like this family favorite Hamburger stroganoff and Instant Pot beef taco soup then stuck it away until I made the specific recipe again!
But once I tried meals like this Instant Pot spaghetti recipe, I knew it would become a staple! It’s the BEST spaghetti I’ve ever had! In fact, my family loves it just as much as me. The pressure cooker makes the noodles the perfect texture and clean-up is super quick. A win all around — this recipe is totally worth it!
Why You’ll Love this Instant Pot Spaghetti
- This easy dinner recipe can be completed in just 30 minutes. You’ll have dinner on the table before you know it!
- You can make pressure cooker spaghetti with just seven simple ingredients. Keep them on hand and you’ll have everything you need for a quick dinner at a moments notice.
- There are multiple different variations of this recipe that you can make. Swap out the meat choice, noodle options and grab your favorite sauce.
Ingredients for Instant Pot Spaghetti
- Ground beef – Use lean ground beef for the best results. This will keep your pasta from getting really greasy.
- Yellow onion – Saute diced onion with the ground beef to add loads of flavor to this easy spaghetti in the Instant Pot.
- Minced garlic – Freshly minced garlic is my favorite thing to add to almost any savory recipe! It gives so much flavor to a dish and is so simple to use.
- Spaghetti sauce – Grab a jar of your favorite sauce at the grocery store or use homemade spaghetti sauce in this recipe. Either works!
- Petite diced tomatoes – A can of diced tomatoes will give this dish a bit of extra liquid to cook the noodles and makes it extra tomatoey.
- Water – For added flavor, use chicken broth or beef broth in place of water.
- Spaghetti noodles – Grab a box of your favorite spaghetti noodles to cook in this recipe. I have not tried it with gluten-free noodles, so if you want to make that swap then you may need to trial and error a bit and see what works!
Helpful Tools
- Instant Pot
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Wooden spoon
- Spaghetti server
How to Make Instant Pot Spaghetti
This is prepared in a 6 quart pressure cooker and has not been tested in any other size.
Turn pressure cooker to saute and then place ground hamburger, onions and garlic in pressure cooker. Saute for 5 minutes or until beef is almost cooked through and onions are translucent.
Drain grease off of hamburger.
Break noodles into thirds and place on top of hamburger making sure they are evenly placed. Pour pasta sauce ingredients including, spaghetti sauce, petite diced tomatoes and water, on top. Do not stir.
Place the lid on top of Instant Pot and seal, then turn on to manual and set the timer for 8 minutes.
When pressure cooker is done cooking, quick release the pressure. Stir and serve.
How to Store Leftover Spaghetti
Transfer
Can I use something other than ground beef in spaghetti?
You can totally leave out the meat in this recipe if you want! But ground turkey, ground chicken, and Italian sausage would all be a tasty substitute in place of ground beef.
What kind of pasta can I use in the Instant Pot?
Really, any of your favorite spaghetti noodles will work! You can even sneak in whole wheat pasta. If you don’t have spaghetti noodles, then feel free to use a different type of pasta. Just keep in mind that the cook time may be slightly different.
How do you keep spaghetti from burning in the Instant Pot?
It is really important to ensure that you are using plenty of liquid so that the noodles don’t stick and burn. You should also scrape the bottom of the pot before placing the lid on the Instant Pot. The order in which you layer things is also important! Put the ground beef on the bottom, layering the noodles on top and then finish with the sauce, water and tomatoes.
What to Serve with Instant Pot Spaghetti
Serve this hearty spaghetti with some cheesy garlic bread or savory air fryer garlic bread. Fluffy breadsticks are a delicious side dish too! And if you want to sneak in veggies, then these roasted vegetables are a great pairing.
A side salad works well with this dish too! And, of course, don’t forget fresh parmesan cheese on top of your spaghetti along with a garnish of parsley, fresh basil, or fresh oregano.
Pro Tips for the Best Instant Pot Spaghetti
- To thicken the pasta sauce after it cooks turn on the saute function and simmer for a few minutes.
- Cook for six minutes for an al dente noodle and 8 minutes on manual for a softer noodle.
- Make sure to arrange the noodles in alternating directions to prevent them from sticking together.
I hope you enjoy this easy one pot recipe! The pressure cooker is sure to be your bestie.
More Instant Pot Recipes You’ll Love!
- Instant Pot Ribs
- Hamburger Stroganoff
- Mashed Potatoes
- Goulash
- Spaghetti and Meatballs
- One Pot Skillet Spaghetti!
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Instant Pot Spaghetti
Quick, Easy Homemade Spaghetti with Meat Sauce Made in Your Pressure Cooker!
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 24 ounces spaghetti sauce
- 14.5 ounces petite diced tomatoes
- 2 cups water
- 8 ounces spaghetti noodles
Instructions
- Turn pressure cooker to saute. Place ground hamburger, onions and garlic in pressure cooker. Saute for 5 minutes or until beef is almost cooked through and onions are translucent. Drain grease off of hamburger.
- Break noodles into thirds and place on top of hamburger making sure they are evenly placed. Pour spaghetti sauce, petite diced tomatoes and water on top. Do not stir.
- Turn pressure cooker to manual and set timer for 8 minutes.
- When pressure cooker is done cooking, quick release the pressure. Stir and serve.
Tips
- Sneak in whole wheat pasta. When you use your pressure cooker to cook it your family will never know.
- Not a fan of hamburger? Leave it out!
- You could also use ground turkey or ground chicken instead of beef.
- Not a fan of diced tomatoes? Leave it out!
- Cook for six minutes for an al dente noodle and 8 minutes on manual for a softer noodle.
- Make sure to arrange the noodles in alternating directions to prevent them from sticking together.
- Get a good quality marinara sauce to provide it plenty of flavor.
- To thicken the sauce after it cooks turn on the saute function and simmer for a few minutes.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 361kcal (18%), Carbohydrates: 41g (14%), Protein: 21g (42%), Fat: 12g (18%), Saturated Fat: 4g (25%), Cholesterol: 51mg (17%), Sodium: 741mg (32%), Potassium: 916mg (26%), Fiber: 4g (17%), Sugar: 9g (10%), Vitamin A: 640IU (13%), Vitamin C: 16.1mg (20%), Calcium: 67mg (7%), Iron: 4.2mg (23%)
Janette Minjares says
Just got my Instant Pot for Christmas. It is a learning process. My family loves spaghetti and looking forward to
trying this recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Julie Evink says
I hope you love it! It’s one of my family’s favorite meals!
Kaitlin Van Horn says
I made this tonight, first time using my instant pot. It was a hit! Super easy and only one dirty pot to clean! This will for sure be a staple in our house.
Julie Evink says
So glad you enjoyed it!
STANLEY UNRUH says
I want to use Organic Bolivian Royal Quinoa Spaghetti. It says to cook for 10 to 14 to 16 minutes in 3 to 4 quarts of water. What is your suggested cooking time in Instan Pot?
Julie Evink says
I’m not familiar with this product but considering it takes longer to cook than regular pasta I would add a 2-3 minutes to the IP cooking time.
Carrie Beth says
I doubled this one for my large family. We will be keeping it around.
Julie Evink says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Julie says
When you doubled it, did you double the amount of water? How long did you cook it under pressure?
Barbara says
This sounds delicious! I lived in Rome as a little girl and loved twirling my spaghetti on the fork. Do you break up the spaghetti in order to make it fit in the pot, or is that personal preference? By the way, I’m excited to make all these recipes since I just got my IP for my birthday. Thank you so much for posting yummy, simple recipes!
Julie Evink says
Yes they fit better in my opinion! Hope you find some keepers!
Carol Sue says
When the instant pot says manual for 8 minutes is that height pressure or low? Since I don’t have the instant pot mine is fagor.
Julie Evink says
It is high pressure.
Sara Ratelle says
The time says 28 mins total but the prep plus cooking time is 18 mins. Where does the extra time come from if you vent the pressure right away?
Valerie says
With a recipe like this, given that there’s a fair amount of liquid, my electric pressure cooker can take up to 10 minutes to fully pressurize before the actual “cooking time” of 8 minutes (or whatever) begins.
Julie Evink says
It takes a while for the IP to come to pressure.
Angel says
The extra time is for the instant pot to pressurize and release.
Nydia Baez says
Do we need to keep cooking in the sauté mode or change it? If change to what we change it?
Julie Evink says
AFter you sauté the hamburger you will add the rest of the ingredients to the pressure cooker and then use the manual function and cook it using manual pressure.
Lynne Golson says
Made this tonight and it was soooo good! Used this recipe because it had only 1/2 pound of pasta which I thought was the correct amount for the amount of sauce. Used regular thin spaghetti and pressured for 5 minutes with qr. Thanks for the great recipe.
Julie Evink says
So glad you enjoyed it and made it work for you Lynne!
Erin @ The Speckled Palate says
WOW! This looks awesome! Like you, I’ve recently fallen in love with cooking ALL the things in the Instant Pot! I’ve yet to try spaghetti, so I’m adding this to my list. Easy dinners for the win!
Julie Evink says
Ohhhh you haven’t tried spaghetti?? You’ve gotta!
Malinda says
I have been holding off buying an Instant Pot for the same reason! But the idea of throwing everything in a pot and walking away with no stirring……that’s my kind of meal!! Plus, if I can make this spaghetti in it I’m all in!
Julie Evink says
You totally need one!
Erin @ The Speckled Palate says
I was so scared to use my Instant Pot for the first time, but it ended up being so easy, and the dish I made was SO tasty! I’m excited to give this a try because my pasta-loving family needs this in our lives!
Julie Evink says
I know! Once you try it you can’t live without it!
Jim Harper says
If I want to double recipe, how much time do you recommend I add?
Julie Evink says
I’m not sure as I have never doubled it. I’d add half the time if I had to guess.
Melissa Howell says
My daughter was asking me just last night why we didn’t have a pressure cooker! We wanted to get one at Christmas, but they all sold out before we could get one on sale! Seeing a recipe like this REALLY makes me want to pony up the dough and buy one!
Julie Evink says
Your daughter would love this!
Liz w says
They are inexpensive at Wal-Mart. I love mine, use it for everything
Danielle Green says
Nothing beats a good dinner of spaghetti!
Julie Evink says
Such a staple recipe around here!