Instant Pot Spaghetti Recipe

Published January 4, 2018. Updated October 20, 2018

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Instant Pot Recipes are quickly becoming a new way to cook for many of us so it only makes sense that we need an Instant Pot Spaghetti Recipe. If you ask me this is one of the best, easy ways to use the Instant Pot.

You get a rich herbed spaghetti sauce covering tender noodles and it’s finished with plenty of parmesan. You just can’t go wrong here! We all love spaghetti and this may just become your new favorite way to make it!

Easy Instant Pot Spaghetti Recipe

A Homestyle Spaghetti for Your Instant Pot Recipes Collection

I don’t know maybe that was just me but I got an Instant Pot from my mother-law for Christmas a year ago then I didn’t start using it until the summer because I thought there would be this learning curve or something.

They really are so easy to use and they’re pretty much idiot-proof. I love how they cut cooking time, especially with meat. (If you’re interested in getting one btw you can purchase on Amazon HERE).

Last year I mostly made these shredded chicken tacos in my Instant Pot. I’ve also made “baked” potatoes and rice and a few other things.

I want to use it more this year so I thought I’d try out one of my go-to weeknight dinners – classic All-American spaghetti in it.

Instant One Pot Spaghetti

Ingredients for This Spaghetti

  • Olive oil
  • Lean ground beef
  • Garlic
  • Salt and pepper
  • Dry spaghetti
  • Fresh basil
  • Jar four cheese marinara sauce
  • Canned petite diced tomatoes
  • Warm water
  • Parmesan

Scroll below for full printable recipe.

How to Make This Recipe in the Instant Pot

  • Set instant pot to “saute”. Once it reads “hot” add 1 tsp olive oil then break beef into large chunks and add to instant pot along with garlic and a few pinches of salt.
  • Let beef brown, stirring and breaking up beef occasionally, until cooked through, about 6 minutes. Press the “cancel” button to turn instant pot off.
  • Break spaghetti noodles in half. Add about 1/6 into an even layer over beef, then add another 1/6 going the opposite direction into an even layer. Repeat this pattern with remaining noodles four times.
  • Add in marinara sauce, basil, tomatoes and water and season lightly with salt and pepper (don’t stir).
  • Seal the lid of the Instant Pot, making sure the valve is set to “sealing.” Press the “manual mode” button and set to 7 minutes.
  • Once time is up, use the quick release method according to manufactures instructions. Once sputtering stops open lid, remove basil and toss spaghetti with a fork.
  • Let rest two minutes (this will allow some of that extra liquid to soak in and the noodles to cook through). Sere warm with parmesan and basil leaves or chopped basil ribbons.

Instant Pot Spaghetti shown here after cooking in the instant pot garnished with fresh basil

Shortcut for an Easy Dinner

I like to take the shortcut here of a using a jar of marinara sauce instead of making it from scratch which would add more ingredients and more steps. It’s so good this way though I don’t think anyone will notice it wasn’t from scratch.

The past few years one of my go-to spaghetti sauces is Classico’s Four Cheese but you can swap that for your personal favorite.

Add Basil to the Marinara for More Flavor

However I think they don’t add enough basil and garlic to any jar of spaghetti sauce I’ve tried so I always add more. If you don’t want to pay for the fresh basil then just add some dried basil, maybe 1 tsp.

And finish it off with lots of parmesan. And more basil. Because you can never have too much basil on your spaghetti.

Instant Pot Spaghetti shown here in a single serving in a white pasta bowl with fresh bread and a side salad in the background.

What Should I Serve with This Spaghetti?

16 Quick & Easy 30 Minute Recipes! (plus weekly recipe updates)

4.75 from 51 votes

Instant Pot Spaghetti Recipe

Super easy and super fast classic spaghetti with meat sauce. A great way to use your Instant Pot and clean up is a breeze! It may just become a family favorite!
Servings: 5
Prep5 minutes
Cook25 minutes
Ready in: 30 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Set instant pot to "saute". Once it reads "hot" add 1 tsp olive oil then break beef into large chunks and add to instant pot along with garlic and a few pinches of salt.
  • Let beef brown, stirring and breaking up beef occasionally, until cooked through, about 6 minutes. Press the "cancel" button to turn instant pot off. 
  • Break spaghetti noodles in half. Add about 1/6 into an even layer over beef, then add another 1/6 going the opposite direction into an even layer. Repeat this pattern with remaining noodles four times (this doesn't need to be perfect! It's just to reduce sticking).  
  • Add in marinara sauce, basil, tomatoes and water and season lightly with salt and pepper (don't stir). 
  • Seal the lid of the Instant Pot, making sure the valve is set to "sealing." Press the "manual mode" button (or high pressure on other pressure cookers) and set to 7 minutes.
  • Once time is up, use the quick release method according to manufactures instructions (basically just stand back and flick the valve). Once sputtering stops open lid, remove basil and toss spaghetti with a fork.   
  • Let rest two minutes (this will allow some of that extra liquid to soak in and the noodles to cook through). Sere warm with parmesan and basil leaves or chopped basil ribbons. 

Notes

*Use spaghetti that lists 9 - 11 minutes to al dente.
Parmesan cheese not listed in nutritional info.
Nutrition Facts
Instant Pot Spaghetti Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 445 Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Fat 6g9%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Cholesterol 56mg19%
Sodium 892mg39%
Potassium 1156mg33%
Carbohydrates 64g21%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 11g12%
Protein 31g62%
Vitamin A 830IU17%
Vitamin C 17.7mg21%
Calcium 76mg8%
Iron 5.5mg31%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.
Recipe source: inspired by The Salty Marshmallow

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153 Comments

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      I don’t think the liquid would fully cover it so then I don’t know that you’d want to.

  • Cheri

    I got an Instant Pot for Christmas and have been trying Instant Pot versions of many standard recipes so I was excited to try spaghetti. I was really skeptical because it sounded like way too much liquid but after letting everything stand for 2 minutes, it was perfect! I used meatballs on the bottom instead of browning ground beef. I will definitely make spaghetti this way from now on. Just one pot!

  • Virginia Goranson

    I just got finished making this. It was so easy, not to mention I love using only 1 pot to make a meal. This recipe is perfect! It also seems like it can be very versatile if you wanted to change it up a little. I actually used vodka sauce and ground Italian sausage. When I first opened the lid, there was a lot of liquid, but I let it rest, like the recipe suggested and in just a few minutes, it had thickened up perfectly. Thank you!

    • Barbara Hoffman

      I’m having the same problem lots of liquid. Letting it rest! Glad I saw your post thought I had done something wrong! Sure smells good.

  • Amanda

    Sounds delicious! Do you have recommendations for how to freeze this prior to cooking? Thank you!

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      I’d cook the meat in advance then add the sauce and freeze that portion, then thaw and add the water and noodles and cook as directed. Hope that helps!

  • Julie

    Definitely pleasantly surprised! This was really good! Pasta maybe a tiny bit on the soft side. Followed recipe closely. Would 6 minutes undercook it?

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      You can try for 6 minutes and if it’s not done just let it sit covered for a few minutes longer than listed. Glad you liked it!

  • Venece Parrish

    I’m trying to figure out for sure on cook time after browning hamburger? The cook time shows 25 min but it’s stating 6 min and then 7 min so I wanted to verify the time?

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      Sorry for the confusion, in the cook time I included the time for the pressure cooker to come up to pressure and release pressure. Hope you enjoy!

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      I didn’t that’s why I recommend using a really lean ground beef so you can skip that step.