Description

This Instant Pot Spaghetti recipe delivers a delicious, hearty meal with tender pasta cooked perfectly in a rich, flavorful sauce. Using an Instant Pot speeds up the process, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully while making cleanup easy. Ideal for a weeknight dinner, this dish combines ground beef, Italian seasonings, and a savory sauce, finished with butter and Parmesan for richness.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat and Seasonings

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef (85/15)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 clove garlic, minced (optional)
1 teaspoon kosher salt

Liquids and Pasta

1 (24 ounce) jar pasta sauce
1 3/4 cups water
1 teaspoon Better Than Bouillon (chicken base)
8 ounces spaghetti, broken in half

Finishing Touches

4 tablespoons butter
Parmesan cheese, for topping
Parsley or basil, for garnish
Red pepper flakes, optional

Instructions

Meat Preparation: Turn on the Instant Pot to the sauté function. Add olive oil, ground beef, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, minced garlic (if using), and kosher salt. Sauté until the beef is browned and cooked through, stirring occasionally to break up the meat and ensure even cooking.
Add Sauce and Pasta: Pour in the jar of pasta sauce, 1 3/4 cups of water, and 1 teaspoon of Better Than Bouillon chicken base. Stir gently to combine. Then add the broken spaghetti noodles, making sure to tuck them underneath the liquid so they are mostly submerged.
Pressure Cook: Close the Instant Pot lid and set the valve to seal. Cook on high pressure for 8 minutes. This short cook time will perfectly soften the pasta while allowing it to absorb the flavors of the sauce and seasonings.
Release Steam Safely: Carefully lay a towel over the steam vent to prevent splattering, then immediately perform a quick release of the pressure to avoid overcooking the noodles.
Rest and Absorb: Open the lid and stir the contents using tongs to evenly distribute the sauce. The dish will appear saucy at this point. Let the spaghetti rest for 10 minutes inside the pot; this allows the noodles to absorb the liquid fully and thicken the sauce so it clings well.
Finish and Serve: Stir in 4 tablespoons of butter until melted and creamy. Top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, a sprinkle of parsley or basil, and red pepper flakes if desired. Serve with garlic bread and a simple green salad for a complete meal.

Notes

Breaking the spaghetti in half helps it fit better into the Instant Pot and ensures even cooking.
The quick pressure release is important to prevent the pasta from becoming mushy.
Letting the dish rest after cooking improves texture by allowing the noodles to soak up the sauce.
Better Than Bouillon adds extra depth of flavor to the sauce but can be omitted or substituted with chicken broth or bouillon cubes if preferred.
For a vegetarian version, substitute ground beef with plant-based meat alternatives and use vegetable bouillon.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Instant Pot
Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: Instant Pot Spaghetti, Easy Pasta Recipe, One Pot Spaghetti, Quick Dinner, Ground Beef Spaghetti, Pressure Cooker Pasta