Here’s an easy 10 minute Instant Pot spaghetti recipe that’s a favorite one pot meal! Dump spaghetti with just a few ingredients to make a one pot pasta that feeds all five of us for under ten dollars! Use a Crockpot Express or make Ninja Foodi spaghetti the same way using high pressure.
One of our favorite easy recipes was cooked tonight. The cook time was much faster than usual though. I am obsessed with my new pressure cooker! I had to make Instant Pot spaghetti with jar sauce to see just how much easier it would be. Here’s how to make this Instant Pot recipe today 😉 (affiliate links present)
Table of Contents
- How to Make Spaghetti in Instant Pot
- How long does spaghetti take to cook in Instant Pot?
- How to Make Instant Pot Spaghetti with Frozen Meatballs
- Instant Pot Spaghetti No Meat
- Instant Pot Spaghetti Jar Sauce
- Can you pressure cook with spaghetti sauce instead of water?
- Dump Spaghetti
- Instant Pot Spaghetti Time
- Instant Pot Spaghetti Meatballs
- Which Instant Pot is best?
- Spaghetti in Instant Pot
- Instant Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
- Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
- How long does it take to cook spaghetti in Instant Pot
- Can you cook pasta in spaghetti sauce?
- Can you overcook pasta?
- How to Make Spaghetti in a Pressure Cooker
- Instant Pot Spaghetti Recipe
How to Make Spaghetti in Instant Pot
If you’re new to using this high pressure pot, this is the first recipe you should make. If you follow the directions below you’ll never make it on the stovetop again. It doesn’t matter whether yours is the Crockpot Express brand or you want to make it as an easy Ninja Foodi recipe. All of these pots work the same with high pressure.
We use Ragu jar sauce to make but with our homemade Instant Pot spaghetti sauce is possible too. Include frozen meatballs if you’d like at the same time and they will get tender all in one pot together too. A cheap meal that is family friendly.
If you are new to pressure cooking we have a lot of easy one pot meal recipes for you here. To begin with let’s start with a few basic tips:
- Make sure to Bookmark our InstaPot recipes page. We add new ones each week!
- Then PRINT this —–> Instant Pot cooking times cheat sheet that will help you understand how long meat, vegetables and beans take to cook in your pressure cooker.
- I HIGHLY recommend you buy this non stick pot.
- You should know how to deglaze a pressure cooker after sautéing but it won’t have as many issues with this better liner.
For reference, this is the model I have (a 6 quart) and use for all recipe creations.
How long does spaghetti take to cook in Instant Pot?
With everything cooked in one pot it came out perfectly in just 10 minutes AND it’s been on the most popular Instant Pot recipes TWO years in a row! So yummy right??!! It’s truly a grab your Instant Pot and set, then GO type of recipe. Even if you choose to use shells or penne pasta the timing stays the same.
How to Make Instant Pot Spaghetti with Frozen Meatballs
Want quicker, instead of browning ground beef at the get go you could instead throw in some frozen meatballs. Don’t worry, during the 10 minute cook time they will not only defrost but warm all the way thru to the middle too. Add in at the same time as your sauce, but no more than 2 cups or ratio won’t work.
You could make it vegetarian without meat, as is stated in the recipe card below, or cook porcupine meatballs in Instant Pot separately first. Then serve them together and enjoy with parmesan cheese.
Instant Pot Spaghetti No Meat
You do not have to add protein to this. Many times I have just used noodles and a jar of sauce to make it faster. Sometimes we aren’t in the mood for meat so there is no issue if you make this vegetarian instead. Add diced carrots and celery instead too if you’d like to make it heartier without proteins.
Instant Pot Spaghetti Jar Sauce
- Ground beef (ground turkey, or the best is to use spicy ground sausage)
- here is how to defrost Instant Pot frozen ground beef
- Spaghetti noodles – either break in thirds or use medium shells, for those I use half the box
- Onion
- Garlic (I use already minced)
- Instant pot or pressure cooker – I have a 6 quart
- I HIGHLY suggest you get a non stick pot too!
- If you get an Instant Pot air fryer lid you can melt cheese on the top too!
Spaghetti sauce (1 jar bottled pasta sauce of your choice) or you can make it homemade instead but we are going for easy peasy. You can certainly use jarred marinara version to make Instant Pot spaghetti no meat or brown some meat free alternative protein source at the beginning like we did for meat free.
Can you pressure cook with spaghetti sauce instead of water?
Yes and no. There is liquid in marinara let’s say but not enough, you need to thin it out with some broth or water too to make a successful pot of 10 minute Instant Pot spaghetti. For every jar add 2 cups more liquid to thin it out.
Dump Spaghetti
There are 3 main ingredients such as pasta, sauce and some water. You can just leave that as is or of course you can add other seasonings or want your sauce a bit chunkier. Optional add ins for this spaghetti Instant Pot recipe are;
- Garlic powder
- Pinch of Italian seasonings
- Salt and pepper
- 1/2 c. fresh diced tomatoes
Just in case you get the burn message displayed on your machine here is how to deglaze your Instant Pot so you can resume cooking. If you’ve never cooked spaghetti in one pot before it is so much easier than cooking everything separately. I love how the noodles turn out cooked in the sauce too.
Instant Pot Spaghetti Time
Instead of boiling them all on their own you’re just adding some water to the overall mixture so it absorbs it from there.
- You just set Instant Pot to saute. Add the olive oil, onions and ground beef. Cook meat until it’s no longer pink. That is assuming you’re adding protein.
- Drain if desired, we buy low saturated fat meat so I don’t bother. Turn pot off now. If you add frozen meatballs you can skip this step and just throw them in on the bottom.
- Spread browned meat on to the bottom of the pot. Add your marinara sauce on top. Pour water on top of that. Break the spaghetti noodles into 3 equal pieces and gently submerge into liquid.
Close lid and steam valve. Set to high pressure for 10 minutes. Quick release when done. Stir and serve. Add the ground beef pasta into bowls and top with parmesan cheese.
Instant Pot Spaghetti Meatballs
Like I said, the protein is up to you. I think it is a heartier more filling meal if you have some in there but that is totally up to you.
I would say this recipe serves 6 comfortably, so for 4 people there may be a bit left over. Of course that depends on who you are feeding. We have 1 man, 3 daughters and myself. This recipe feeds all of us with probably 1 serving for lunch I save for leftovers the next day.
Which Instant Pot is best?
I will tell you that I still have and use the “oldest” and first version that came out way back when. It was only $99 then, no fancy preset buttons, and it still works fantastic 3+ years later. You do NOT need the most expensive “fanciest” Duo, Lux, Plus, Ultra or Smart Wifi versions.
Of course if you’re techie and have to have “all the things” then go ahead but simple is best in my opinion.
Spaghetti in Instant Pot
If you want more than what the recipe calls for I would recommend making two batches separately. I personally prefer it this way though others have said doubling it works fine for them in their 8 qt.
Here are a few questions you might be asking yourself if it is your first time making this. I hope these answers help you to becoming an expert.
Yes of course, we will show you how in the video above and the instructions below. It cooks in just 10 minutes. Quick and easy.
Submerged in spaghetti sauce and water the noodles become tender when they are sprinkled in and broken. I think thirds is the right length so they don’t stick together.
I adjust the time slightly to 8 minutes usually, using the same directions here. Smaller noodles will need less time.
Make sure before you close the lid and start pressure cooking that your noodles are submerged in the liquid. Do not stir or it may trigger the burn message and/or stick to the bottom.
Yes it comes out perfectly every time. My oven and stove are crying lately because I rarely ever use them anymore.
Instant Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
Now if you want to do a twist on an already favorite dinner recipe you could make Instant Pot taco spaghetti too!!
- The only difference for this one is you’re going to follow our instructions on how to make Instant Pot taco meat.
- Then continue with the same directions below from steps 4 on.
It will give your traditional pressure cooker spaghetti dish a bit of a kick with a ton of flavor, we love both really.
Throw a loaf of the best garlic bread in the oven and top with some parmesan cheese and it’s one of our favorite Instant Pot recipes. You can find many more easy dishes on my site too if you’re looking for another IP meal!
Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
This is one of the most popular cheap Instant Pot recipes too. It costs less than $10 to feed 5-6 people which is pretty amazing. If you include a bag of meatballs it might be closer to $14 but still a bargain.
How long does it take to cook spaghetti in Instant Pot
Cook time for spaghetti depends on the method you decide to take. Using the traditional stovetop method from start to finish including waiting for the water to boil, then the noodles to come to a boil again until tender I would say 20-25 minutes might be accurate.
This takes closer to 16 minutes which may not be a huge difference but there are so many other benefits. One is, the noodles have a lot more flavor because they’re being cooked right in the sauce itself. You don’t have to watch the water or test the noodles a few times to ensure they’re tender and done.
There are less dishes to clean up because all the cooking is done in one pot. Note: Timing is set to 10 minutes, if you want your noodles more al dente set to 8 minutes instead.
Can you cook pasta in spaghetti sauce?
Yes! Using a pressure cooker is the easiest method using these directions below. If using the “old fashioned” stovetop method the instructions are very similar just thin our your spaghetti or tomato sauce with water or broth bring it to a boil add dry spaghetti noodles – I prefer to break them into 3 equal parts so everything is submerged
Cook for about 15 minutes stirring occasionally so pasta doesn’t stick
Can you overcook pasta?
Yes if you don’t watch it carefully enough in your pot it can, and noodles will become gummy. It is best to cook until al dente. Using this Instant Pot spaghetti recipe will avoid that as it is timed perfectly. I hope if you landed here looking for Instant Pot pasta recipes we have helped quite a bit!
If you have a Ninja Foodi you can follow the same instructions below, the only difference is melting cheese on the top to make a cheesy Ninja Foodi spaghetti.
How to Make Spaghetti in a Pressure Cooker
Here are a few others you might want to try to make this week; If you’d like to use your slow cooker you can try our crockpot spaghetti and meatballs recipe too.
- This Instant Pot lasagna soup is comfort food in a bowl with small noodles and WAY easier to make than using traditional wide pasta.
- More 5 ingredient Instant Pot recipes
- Instant Pot cheesy chicken spaghetti has a bit of a kick and tons of flavor.
- You’ve gotta’ try this Instant Pot chicken parmesan casserole, it is amazing.
If you let it sit what little liquid is there will get soaked up by the noodles and thicken a bit too. It stays well inside the Instant Pot for quite some time so even if we are all getting home at different times everyone can enjoy this Instant Pot spaghetti dish.
Instant Pot Spaghetti
Equipment
- 1 pressure cooker
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef, or 1 lb. spicy sausage is our new favorite instead of ground beef
- 1/4 c onion, diced
- 1 tsp garlic, minced
- 1 jar spaghetti sauce, (24 oz)
- 2 c water, I pour into spaghetti sauce jar once emptied, shake to get remainder of sauce and pour in pot, could use beef broth for even more flavor
- 8 oz spaghetti noodles
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt, optional, to taste
Instructions
- Put Instant Pot on saute.
- Add olive oil, onions, and garlic and cook until onions are softened a bit.
- Add ground beef and cook until pink is gone. Drain grease or leave in, your choice.
- Add jar of spaghetti sauce, water, break noodles into 3rds (sprinkle in so they don’t lump together) and push noodles into liquid until they are covered. (do NOT stir)
- Secure lid, close close steam valve and set to 10 minutes (if you want more al dente set for 8-9 minutes).
- Quick release when it beeps, stir and serve. Done!
- ** Do not recommend doubling this recipe as it will not turn out properly. Make two batches separately if you want more.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
ankara şömine
Justine, I just wanted to say that this is the best Instant Pot spaghetti recipe that I’ve found! It’s my go-to for spaghetti. I love that it’s easy to customize when you want to, but great as is too. I’ve found a couple of ways to make it even quicker.
1. Buy half-length (sometimes called pot-length) spaghetti, no breaking required!
2. Use a kitchen scale to measure your spaghetti by weight, seems counterintuitive, but once you’ve done it a few times, it’s much faster than guessing, and you’re assured it’ll come out right!
3. Use a bowl slightly smaller in diameter than your Instant Pot to push all of your pasta down at once. Bonus: It doesn’t sproing! out of the pan and go flying!
Thanks for this great, easy recipe.
Glad you’re loving it
Literally perfect every time!!! I love sharing this recipe with people who are too afraid to use their instapot. 9 minutes is always my go to number.
Yay it is always a winner
I wanted to drop a line and let you know how appreciative we are of you providing this recipe, as well as those who have posted with their variations (Redneck Sketti – which I used to make on the stovetop including the goulash or slumgullion).
I find that 8 oz is the max and the optimum noodles to use. That seems to be the magic number that doesn’t clump or come out a tad weird. Once I have accepted the laws of physics, everything else falls into place!
I used your recipe and my partner and I are both pleased with the taste and texture and the ease to make it. We love how much water we save and the fact we don’t have to drain the noodles. For the actual spaghetti, we prefer the THICK noodles by Meijer as opposed to regular or skinny. You have to look for it on the shelves. The Meijer ones seem to be hollow in the center and makes the meal so much better!
My partner isn’t feeling so well and she asked for meatballs. I did my ground turkey fried and placed in the bottom and then added 8 frozen turkey meatballs and she was surprised I did both!
Your recipe is straight forward, easy to use, easy to adapt, and provides a wonderful foundation for some really amazing spaghetti that is so much easier to make than stove-top.
My partner wasn’t wanting instant pot spaghetti because she gets tired of me wanting to cook everything in the instant pot but after having this meal she specifically says “Can you make some Instant Pot Spaghetti with meatballs?”. How can I say no, right?
Thanks again – well done on this timeless classic.
Thank you for the note and I’m glad it’s been helpful
This was quick easy and I am certain will become a family favorite for sure. Dinner on a budget that is easy and pleases everyone is my cup of tea.
I’ve made this recipe so many times and it’s a huge hit. However, the last few times I’ve made I keep getting the burn message. I make sure there’s plenty of water in the bottom and the pasta sauce is the last thing I add, I never stir it and yet I still get the burn. It never used to happen but does every time lately. Any tips???
So the water shouldn’t be on the bottom. For the directions it states meat, sauce, then water. Then gently submerge into liquid. Try that. Also I’d HIGHLY recommend getting a non stick pot. Link in post here. It will pretty much eliminate any burn notices from them on out.
I followed the recipe exactly.
I got burn notice, and also PR SE notice.
Is this supposed to stay on Saute while cooking for 10 minutes or is it supposed to be turned to a different setting on the IP? If it’s supposed to be on a different setting, can the blogger please note that somewhere on the recipe card?
I can’t afford to have meals not turn out edible. This was barely passable.
I used to get the burn message after I would sauté meat and then start to pressure cook in the insta pot. To fix this I learned that you need to fix it before you start to pressure cook. After I sauté meat, I get all of my meat out of the insta pot into a separate bowl and then I scrape the bottom of my insta pot with water to get all the tiny pieces of meat leftover out of the pot. After this I will place the meat back in the pot and resume cooking my dish. This has helped me eliminate the burn message. Hope this helps!!
There is nothing better than a warm, comforting plate of spaghetti! And this is all done in under 10 minutes. Best quick and easy dinner ever!
I love a classic spaghetti recipe and in an instant pot? great idea!!
I was looking for a quick IP dinner tonight and this is perfect! Thanks for the easy directions!
Oh, what a nice way to cook spaghetti directly in the sauce. No need to cook the spaghetti and the sauce in two separate pots. 🙂
I know, it was a game changer for us too
Delicious! Used water in place of beef stock, and it was still amazing. Added some shredded mozzarella and parmesan on top and some garlic toast as well. Thanks for the great recipie!
That’s ana amazing recipe that you have shared with us. I like the way you prepare this pot spaghetti.