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Instant Pot Spaghetti Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 99 reviews

This Instant Pot Spaghetti recipe delivers a hearty and flavorful one-pot meal featuring perfectly cooked spaghetti combined with seasoned ground beef, savory marinara sauce, and a blend of Italian spices. Quick and convenient, it simplifies dinner preparation by layering ingredients and using pressure cooking to achieve tender noodles infused with meaty sauce, topped with freshly grated Parmesan and herbs for a comforting Italian classic.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat and Aromatics

  • 1 pound (450g) ground beef or Italian sausage
  • 1 small onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

Seasonings and Oils

  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon paprika (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Liquids and Pasta

  • 3 cups (680g or 24 oz) marinara or pasta sauce
  • 3 cups water or low-sodium beef broth
  • 12 ounces (340g) dry spaghetti, broken in half

To Serve

  • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • Fresh parsley or basil, chopped (optional garnish)

Instructions

  1. Sauté the meat: Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Add olive oil, then the ground beef and diced onion. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, breaking up the meat with a spatula until browned and the onion is softened. Drain excess grease if necessary.
  2. Add garlic and seasoning: Stir in minced garlic, salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and paprika if using. Cook for an additional 30 seconds until the garlic is fragrant, stirring continuously to avoid burning.
  3. Layer the ingredients: Pour the marinara sauce and water or beef broth into the pot over the meat mixture. Stir gently to combine all the flavors evenly, ensuring the sauce is well mixed with the meat.
  4. Add spaghetti (do not stir): Break the dry spaghetti in half and arrange it in a crisscross pattern directly on top of the sauce. Gently press the noodles down so they are mostly submerged but avoid stirring to prevent clumping.
  5. Pressure cook: Secure the lid of the Instant Pot and set the valve to the sealing position. Cook on High Pressure for 8 minutes to perfectly cook the pasta in the sauce.
  6. Quick release: Once the cooking time is complete, carefully perform a quick pressure release to let out all the steam. Open the lid and stir the spaghetti and sauce together. The sauce will thicken as it rests.
  7. Finish & serve: Let the spaghetti rest in the pot for 2 to 3 minutes. Serve warm, topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and optionally garnished with chopped fresh parsley or basil for a burst of fresh flavor.

Notes

  • Breaking the spaghetti prevents clumping and helps it cook evenly.
  • Do not stir the pasta after adding it before pressure cooking to avoid sticking.
  • Using beef broth instead of water adds more depth of flavor.
  • Drain excess grease after browning the meat to avoid greasy sauce.
  • Adjust red pepper flakes to your preferred spice level or omit entirely.
  • Letting the dish rest thickens the sauce and improves texture.

Keywords: Instant Pot spaghetti, one pot pasta, pressure cooker spaghetti, quick spaghetti recipe, Italian dinner, easy weeknight meal

Find it online: https://www.sanacooks.com/instant-pot-spaghetti-recipe/