One Pot Spaghetti in the Instant Pot

plated spaghetti garnished with basil and parmesan cheese.

5 from 2 votes

One Pot Spaghetti in the Instant Pot

This Instant Pot Bolognese is a rich and hearty pasta dish made fast! Try this Instant Pot spaghetti recipe for bold Bolognese sauce flavors in no time.

Prep Time5

Cook Time10

Time to bring pot to pressure8

Total Time23

Course: Lunch, Dinner

Cuisine: Italian, American

Keyword: One Pot Meal, Instant Pot, spaghetti, spaghetti with meat sauce, One pot spaghetti with meat sauce, Instant Pot spaghetti bolognese

Servings: Servings

Calories: 338kcal

Author: Renae Gerhardstein

Equipment

1 Pressure cooker (Instant Pot)

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef or Italian sausage
½ cup diced onions
8 ounces spaghetti pasta
1 cup water
3 cups marinara sauce

Optional

½ cup sliced button mushrooms
½ cup shredded carrots

Instructions

Press the SAUTÉ button on the pressure cooker. When it’s ready (mine says HOT), add the ground beef or Italian sausage. Break up the meat and add the diced onions and mushrooms or carrots, if using. Sauté for 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the ground meat has browned and the onions are translucent. Drain fat, if needed.
Spread the ground meat and onions (and veggies, if using) into a single layer on the bottom of the pot. Break the pasta in half and spread it over the meat. Top with 1 cup water and 3 cups marinara sauce. DO NOT STIR (this is important because the sauce can scorch on the bottom of the pot, creating a burn notification). Press CANCEL.
Twist on the lid to seal, and turn or press the sealing lever to seal the pressure cooker lid. Set the pressure cooker to HIGH PRESSURE for 8 minutes. Once the pressure cooking is done (your pot should beep), do a QUICK RELEASE by pushing or turning the sealing lever. ).
Carefully twist off the lid (keeping the steam away from you. Stir the pasta and meat sauce and garnish with parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, or fresh basil before serving.

Notes

It's important not to stir the ingredients together! This prevents the sauce from burning at the bottom of the pressure cooker.
Use tongs and a paper towel to absorb the remaining fat! It's easier and time-saving.
It's important not to stir the ingredients together! This prevents the sauce from burning at the bottom of the pressure cooker.

Recipe Variations:

- Meaty Bolognese – Swap out ground beef for ground turkey or ground pork.

- Spicy Bolognese – Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for some heat.

- Vegetable-loaded – Stir in mushrooms, zucchini, celery, or carrots for extra nutrition. Sauté them in olive oil before browning the meat for enhanced depth of flavor.

- Wine Bolognese – For extra depth of flavor, add a splash of dry red wine; it enhances the richness of the meat sauce.

Storing Instructions:

Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

*nutritional facts calculated with 85% ground beef and without mushrooms and carrots.

Nutrition