Instant Pot Spaghetti

Since I work long hours, I am all for easy-to-make but also delicious and satisfying dishes.

Instant pot spaghetti ticks all the boxes.

After a long day at work, grab this fast and easy instant pot spaghetti recipe so that you can end your day with a smile.

It’s filling and delicious, it’s Italian-inspired comfort food at its best.

That is just a misconception, pasta can be cooked perfectly in an Instant Pot, and this recipe is definitely one of my favorites. 

Scroll to bottom for printable recipe card.

Why I Love Instant Pot Spaghetti

There are many reasons why I love this dish:

• The instant pot spaghetti recipe is super easy to follow.
• Since everything is made in one pot, you’ll have fewer dishes to wash.

How Do You Keep Spaghetti From Sticking Together in the Instant Pot?

As the recipe shows, you have to break your spaghetti noodles in half and place them in different directions, or crisscross on top of the meat. Layering your noodles in this way prevents them from sticking together.

Does Spaghetti Sauce Count as Liquid in the Instant Pot?

Whether you opt for spaghetti or marinara sauce, you still need to add water to the dish to provide the necessary liquid for the cooking process. If you don’t add water, your sauce will be too thick and all the elements of the dish won’t cook through.

Does Olive Oil Stop Spaghetti From Sticking Together?

While olive oil will prevent the beef from sticking to the bottom of the pot, it won’t prevent the spaghetti from sticking together. Once you add water to the dish, the oil floats on top of the water and doesn’t mix with the spaghetti.

How To Serve Instant Pot Spaghetti

I like to eat my instant pot spaghetti with some parmesan shavings on top and a few pieces of baguette bread to dip into the sauce. For a bit of freshness and crispiness, you can also serve an Italian salad on the side.

Cooking Tips:

Here are my tried-and-tested tips to ensure a winner instant pot spaghetti every time:

• Although you may be tempted to stir, don’t! It will actually make your spaghetti stickier.
• If you don’t have marinara sauce, you can use any other store-bought pasta sauce, or you can make your own spaghetti sauce.
• You want to use lean ground beef so you don’t need to drain off a lot of grease after browning the meat.
• As is always the case with pasta, don’t overcook it since it will become mushy. You want your pasta to be al dente. If you know that you’re going to freeze the dish, you can even cook your pasta a bit less.

Variations:

Although the dish is traditionally made with spaghetti, you can basically use any type of pasta, including fettuccini and linguine. For a healthier version of the dish, opt for whole-wheat noodles, which provide more fiber and protein. You can also opt for another type of meat, such as chicken or turkey.

Ingredients

• Ground beef
• Water
• Italian seasoning
• Garlic powder
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Spaghetti
• Marinara sauce
• Optional: Parmesan to garnish

How to Make Instant Pot Spaghetti

Step 1. Set the Instant Pot to saute, and saute the ground beef until completely browned, and then drain thoroughly.

Step 2. Add in the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and water, stirring to combine.

Step 3. Break the spaghetti noodles in half, and layer them a little at a time on top of the meat mixture in the Instant Pot, layering the noodles in slightly different directions each time.

Step 4. This will help to keep the noodles from sticking together.

Step 5. Pour the marinara sauce on top of the noodles and meat, but do not stir.

Step 6. Place the lid on the Instant Pot, and make sure that the release valve is pointing to the sealing position.

Step 7. Set the Instant Pot to manual for 7 minutes if using white spaghetti, and for 5 minutes if using whole wheat pasta.

Step 8. Once the spaghetti is done cooking, do a quick release right away by pushing the release valve over to the venting position. When the pressure is released, open the lid and stir the spaghetti well to combine everything together nicely.

Step 9. Top with parmesan cheese for garnish if desired, and serve.

SAVE this recipe on Pinterest for later 🙂

How To Store Instant Pot Spaghetti

You can store your instant pot spaghetti in an airtight container in the fridge for about four days. It’s also OK to freeze this dish. To make it easier to thaw only the necessary amount of leftovers, freeze the pasta in smaller portions.

How To Reheat Instant Pot Spaghetti

You can reheat your spaghetti in the microwave. If you’ve frozen the pasta, thaw it overnight and reheat it in the microwave, or reheat it on the stove while still frozen. If necessary, add a bit of water.

How Long Does Instant Pot Spaghetti Last in the Fridge?

Instant pot spaghetti will be good for about four days in the fridge. You can keep it in the freezer for up to three months.

Can I Make Instant Pot Spaghetti Ahead of Time?

You can definitely make this dish ahead of time. In fact, I think it tastes even better on the second day.

Related Recipes You Might Enjoy

Here are a few nice recipes for Italian pasta dishes:

Lasagna: Here’s a great recipe for this all-time classic meal. It’s made with a tasty homemade meat sauce and three types of cheese.

Pasta Bolognese with pancetta and red wine: Pasta Bolognese is another classic Italian meal. This recipe calls for pancetta, carrots, garlic, onion, and red wine.

Italian carbonara with bacon: This delicious traditional Italian pasta dish is made with bacon, eggs, and cheese.