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Instant Pot Spaghetti

Instant Pot Spaghetti
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Instant Pot Spaghetti is a quick and flavorful one-pot meal perfect for busy weeknights. Combining tender spaghetti pasta with rich crushed tomato sauce, seasoned ground meat, and classic Italian herbs, this recipe cooks everything together in under 30 minutes, minimizing cleanup while delivering a hearty, comforting dish everyone will love.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 8 ounces spaghetti noodles (regular or whole wheat), broken in half
  • 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey (or plant-based alternative)
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 2 cups beef broth or water
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Optional: Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

Optional Variation Ingredients

  • Mushrooms, zucchini, or lentils (for vegetarian version)
  • Crushed red pepper flakes or hot sauce (for spicy kick)
  • Shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese (for cheesy delight)
  • Gluten-free pasta (to make gluten free)
  • Bell peppers, spinach, or carrots (for loaded veggie)

Instructions

  1. Sauté the Aromatics and Meat: Turn your Instant Pot to the sauté setting, heat olive oil, and cook chopped onions and garlic until fragrant. Add ground beef, breaking it apart and cooking until browned and no longer pink.
  2. Add Seasoning and Liquids: Sprinkle in Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, stirring to combine. Pour in crushed tomatoes and beef broth, scraping the bottom of the pot to release any browned bits to prevent sticking.
  3. Add Spaghetti Noodles: Break spaghetti noodles in half and layer them evenly on top of the sauce without stirring; this helps avoid clumping during pressure cooking.
  4. Pressure Cook: Seal the Instant Pot lid and set it to high pressure for 8 minutes. Once done, perform a quick release of the steam to avoid overcooking the pasta.
  5. Stir and Serve: Open the lid carefully, stir everything thoroughly to mix the noodles with the sauce, and let it sit for a minute or two to thicken. Garnish with fresh basil or Parmesan if desired.

Notes

  • Avoid stirring noodles before cooking; layer them flat on top of liquids to prevent sticking and clumping.
  • Use quick-release carefully to preserve noodle texture and avoid overcooking.
  • Always deglaze the pot by scraping the bottom after sautéing to prevent burn errors during pressure cooking.
  • Cut noodles in half to fit the Instant Pot and ensure even cooking.
  • Adjust the amount of liquid for desired sauce thickness — less for thicker sauce, more for looser.

Nutrition

Keywords: Instant Pot, Spaghetti, One-Pot Meal, Quick Dinner, Pressure Cooker Pasta, Italian, Family-Friendly, Easy Recipe

Find it online: https://marygourmet.com/instant-pot-spaghetti/