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Instant Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

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Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce makes a quick and easy weeknight dinner. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s cooked entirely in the Instant Pot so you’ll have minimal dishes and a dinner that makes the whole family happy!

A bowl of spaghetti and meat sauce topped with grated parmesan


Easy Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce

Instant Pot spaghetti and meat sauce is the solution to getting a weeknight dinner that everyone loves on the table fast.

This pasta dish comes together in less than 30 minutes from start to finish thanks to the Instant Pot (affil link). The meat sauce and pasta cook together at the same time, so you don’t need to worry about boiling the noodles separately either.

I know all of you Italians out there are shaking your head but when I fed this to my Italian husband, he came back for seconds. Sometimes quick and easy really just hits the spot!

No Instant Pot? No problem. Check out my stovetop spaghetti and meat sauce recipe instead! And if you prefer spaghetti and meatballs, check out my Instant Pot spaghetti and turkey meatballs recipe too.

Overhead view of a bowl of spaghetti and meat sauce

Why You’ll Love This Instant Pot Spaghetti

Here are a few reasons this is my favorite spaghetti and meat sauce recipe.

  • Only one pot needed. Everything is cooked together in the Instant Pot, so you’ll have virtually no dishes after preparing this dish.
  • Ready in under 30 minutes. From start to finish, this pasta dinner takes just 30 minutes to prepare.
  • Just a handful of ingredients. You won’t need much more than ground turkey, your favorite pasta sauce, and spaghetti noodles to prepare this recipe.
Delallo brand tomato basil sauce and wheat pasta

What You’ll Need

This spaghetti and meat sauce recipe uses just a handful of simple ingredients. See the recipe card below for measurements.

  • Ground turkey – You can also use ground beef.
  • Salt
  • Aromatics – Onion and garlic add flavor to the dish.
  • Sauce – I love to use Delallo Tomato Basil Pomodoro Sauce but homemade marinara is fantastic too.
  • Water
  • Spaghetti – This recipe was tested with whole wheat and gluten-free pasta. I like to use the Delallo brand.
  • Parmesan cheese – Optional for serving.

How to Make Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce

This one pot spaghetti and meat sauce recipe comes together in just a few minutes.

  • Cook the turkey and aromatics. Hit saute on the Instant Pot. When hot, add the turkey and salt. Break the turkey into crumbles and cook for about 3 minutes. Add the onions and garlic. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened.
  • Add the remaining ingredients. Break the spaghetti in half and add it, the sauce, and water to the pot. Make sure the liquid covers everything but don’t stir.
  • Cook. Cook on high pressure for 9 minutes.
  • Enjoy. Quick release then serve topped with grated parmesan.

Can I Make This On The Stovetop?

Yes, you can easily make spaghetti and meat sauce on the stove. Simply combine everything in a large pot, cover, and cook over medium-low heat for about 17 minutes. Stir halfway through the cooking time.

A bowl of spaghetti with meat sauce topped with parmesan cheese

Tips for Success

Here are a few tips for making this Instant Pot pasta dish.

  • Don’t forget to add the water. Since the pasta is cooked right in the sauce, you will need to add water to the pot along with the sauce.
  • Make sure the liquid covers the pasta. If using the proportions mentioned in the recipe, this shouldn’t be an issue. You do not want to stir the ingredients but the pasta needs to be completely covered.
  • Break the spaghetti. Break the spaghetti noodles in half, so they fit in the Instant Pot easily.
  • Make sure to use the instant release. If you try the natural release, the pasta will continue to cook and become too soft.
Overhead view of two bowls of spaghetti and meat sauce

Serving Suggestions

Enjoy your Instant Pot spaghetti and meat sauce immediately. It should be cooked to perfectly al dente and if it continues to cook, the noodles will absorb more of the sauce.

I love to top my pasta with some freshly grated parmesan cheese.

This can be enjoyed as a meal on its own but if you want to add a side, consider some garlic bread or rosemary garlic parmesan biscuits. A simple side salad, such as a wedge salad or Caesar salad, makes a lovely addition to turn it into a full meal as well.

How to Store & Reheat Leftovers

  • Store. Store any leftover spaghetti and meat sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • Reheat. You can reheat leftovers in the microwave. You may want to add a splash of extra sauce or water, as the pasta does absorb quite a bit of sauce.

More Easy Pasta Dishes

Instant Pot One-Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce

4.57 from 97 votes
9
Cals:390
Protein:23.5
Carbs:44
Fat:14
Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce makes a quick and easy weeknight dinner. Ready in just 30 minutes, it's cooked entirely in the Instant Pot so you'll have minimal dishes and a dinner that makes the whole family happy!
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Instant Pot One-Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Yield: 5 servings
Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups

Ingredients

  • 1 lb 93% ground turkey
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup diced onion
  • 1 clove minced garlic
  • 1 25.25 oz jar Delallo Tomato Basil Pomodoro Sauce
  • 2 cups water
  • 8 ounces whole wheat or gluten-free spaghetti, I used Delallo
  • Grated parmesan cheese, optional for serving

Instructions

  • Press saute on the Instant Pot. When hot add the turkey and salt and cook, breaking up about 3 minutes.
  • Add the onions, and garlic and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Add the Pomodoro sauce, water and spaghetti (broken in half), making sure the liquid covers everything without stirring.
  • Cover and cook on high pressure 9 minutes.
  • Quick release so the pasta doesn’t continue cooking, and serve topped with grated cheese if desired!

Last Step:

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Notes

Recipe created in partnership with Delallo Foods, a brand I love and use in my kitchen.
Note: The newer IP models have a hair trigger burn sensor that can’t tell the difference between a slight caramelized residue, which is good, and totally burnt. To avoid this, when using the saute button always deglaze the pot after sauteeing with a tablespoon or two of water or broth before adding your other ingredients.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 1/2 cups, Calories: 390 kcal, Carbohydrates: 44 g, Protein: 23.5 g, Fat: 14 g, Cholesterol: 64 mg, Sodium: 738 mg, Fiber: 5.5 g, Sugar: 7 g

Categories:

Recipe created in partnership with Delallo Foods, a brand I love and use in my kitchen.

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423 comments on “Instant Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce”

  1. Avatar photo
    Heather Daley

    How do you need get clumps on uncooked, stuck together spaghetti? Otherwise the kids loved it!

  2. Crowd pleaser for both young & old! Easy & fast dinner for those nights when you’re tired. I like to do Roa’s marinara & cut the meat in half. Pick up a bagged salad & bread & done!

  3. One of my favorite go-to recipes. So easy in the Instant Pot. I always use whole grain spaghetti and ground turkey. It is simple but delicous!

  4. My hubby says it’s the best pasta I’ve ever made! I also added finely chopped carrots, zucchini, and red peppers. It was excellent and so easy. The sauce infuses the pasta: no watery sauce left in the plate.

  5. A favorite–finally did this one. I usually don’t eat pasta, and go for all the possible no carb alternatives–spaghetti squash, zucchini noodles etc, but decided to give this a try as it is nostalgic for me to have pasta and meat sauce all made together this way. My mom did on stove top like this and I didn’t know spaghetti any other way! The pressure cooker makes this super easy and fast. For anyone wondering if a different size pasta works–yes it does, I was out of regular spaghetti so I used a bucatini that is much thicker–and cut back to 6 ounces. I kept the time the same. It was perfect, and after stiring and sitting it was not the least bit liquidy. In fact I might cut the pasta back even more next time. I upped the onion to .75 cup as I had some to use, used my own sauce ( Using Delallo crushed tomatoes it so happened) and added a bit more Italian seasonings-excellent and so easy! Can see why this is popular.

  6. What size IP do you use for this recipe? I have the 3qt and would like to use my IP (successfully) to make this recipe. 😆

  7. Avatar photo
    Kelly Leonard

    This is a fantastic recipe! My family absolutely loved it!!!!! Very quick and easy to make. This will be a weekly addition to our meal plan!

  8. Avatar photo
    Melissa Moffett

    Could I just cook the pasta separate and do it like you said for stovetop?  I prefer Barillo Gold pasta.

  9. This was delish! My husband said it was a keeper.
    Question..on the recipe it says “WW points”…when I click that, wants me to sign in. I am a LT member and says “not found”. Would that be because I am in Canada?

      1. This is one of my favorite instant pot recipes from Skinnytaste! Such an easy and quick recipe to do for a dinner that is delicious as well! We love it so much that it is one we like to make a lot.

  10. Hi Gina ! I just made this recipe using my homemade roasted tomato sauce . It was so simple and came out delicious! Thx for sharing!! 

  11. Great recipe for the effort!  I’ve recently started WW and is helpful to have the smart points.  This is my go to site for healthy, great tasting recipes.

  12. Avatar photo
    Caithlin Lopes

    Made this tonight. So easy and so yummy! I was a little worried that I didn’t have enough water so added about 1/2 cup more. Turned out great. Was kid approved. Served with a salad. 

  13. This recipe is fantastic, if you haven’t tried it, why comment on it? So much negativity in this world….. even as simple as the subject of cooking.

  14. You are using a jar of bolognese sauce. Are you kidding me?  This offends my brain, as I lived in Italy 🙂  I love my IP but I would never cook pasta in it. Pasta takes little to no time to cook in a saucepan and you can eyeball it and taste test it to ensure you get just the right amount of al dente. 

    1. What was the point of this comment? You’re rating something you didn’t try or plan on trying. Some of enjoy using the instant pot for a one pot meal, so I appreciate it 🙂

    2. I really don’t understand why you read this entire recipe if so much about it offends you. I was looking for an easy, one pot dish and it led me here. What were you looking for?

  15. I made this with the old fashion pressure cooker, the silver one with the pressure button that makes noise on top. I was a little scared since i’ve only used it to make beans or shred meat. It did come out amazing though and will definitely be making again in the future. Thank you Gina this week has been amazing recipes.

  16. I just made this. It’s super tasty, but the pasta is sticking. Does it need more time? I had more than 2 cups of liquid for the pasta in the pot. 

  17. Will this meal keep for a few days in the fridge or best to eat it all right away? I like to meal prep and put a few servings in the fridge for lunch throughout the week, so wondering if this meal would last okay.

  18. Avatar photo
    Sharon Golden

    Hi. I have made this before I like to put the jarred tomatoe sauce on top of the pasta seal and cook on high for 2 minutes then allow the pressure cooker a natural release for 5 minutes.  This help with splatter when you release the remaining pressure 

  19. You are right about the Delallo sauces!!! I never make my own, so I have tried most of the better brands. No matter what flavor Delallo tops them all by a wide margin!!!

  20. Avatar photo
    Eileen Walker

    I am not sure how people can lose weight eating these foods? I am diabetic and I am not able to eat many of these recipes. Could you please publish some diabetic friendly recipes?

    1. I’ve actually been working out for years and have hit a plateau for the past year so decided to try the Seven day meal plan this week and I have already lost about 4 pounds. So by changing what I eat I have noticed that these recipes are helping me lose weight.

    2. This is a very healthy version on spaghetti bolognese. At 390 calories per serving, it is very reasonable, and fits well with my weight loss plan.  

  21. I just bought my instant pot today and this was the first recipe I made with it tonight… OMG!!! So delicious 

  22. Followed recipe exactly Down to using Delallo brand! There was too  much liquid for me when I opened the pot.  I’ll try using less liquid next time around. Can’t wait to try it. Love the idea of one pot spaghetti!

    1. Correction: I came back several minutes later and all the excess liquid was absorbed! Perfection! Moral of story: let it sit!!

  23. Avatar photo
    Elisabeth Ann Mullins

    When you say cook on high pressure for 9 minutes does that mean I have to switch from sauté to pressure cook?

  24. Avatar photo
    Megan Rowlinson

    This is such a delicious and easy weeknight meal! I sometimes sub sausage or ground chicken depending on what I have on hand. Another great Skinnytaste recipe. Wilmington, DE

  25. The best spaghetti recipe ever! So easy and fast. Ive done it so so so many times and it never fails. I cant find delallo products in my stores. But i stick to healthy and organic etc and it comes out so tasty and delicious. My kids ask for more everytime-and they are the pickiest eaters! 

    1. I do. I brown 2 lbs of ground turkey with onion , drain fat. Scrape the bottom so nothing sticks. Add salt, pepper and chopped garlic and dried Italian seasoning to kick up the flavor. 16oz spaghetti noodles broken in half spread in a tangled flat mess so they wont clump. This will look odd and fill the pot. Then I take a paper plate to mash it down as much as I can. Add 2 and 3/4 cups water. On Top: DO NOT MIX! Spread one can Rotel, one 24.7 oz jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce. ( If I have a leftover jar of sauce in the fridge I add that too. Cant have too much sauce! Lol) Pressure cook 9 min, After it is done do a quick release. Open and stir. I like to add fresh torn up basil. For leftovers do not freeze. Put, still warm, in a container and close tightly or it will dry out fast. Great in fridge for a week.

  26. I have to say this one of my fav instant pot recipes! So fast and great tasting! A staple at our house!

    1. No way – add the zoodles at the very end and stir., then let it sit. Test it every few minutes until the zoodles are the consistency you like. I think zucchini noodles are a great idea!

  27. Props for a truly quick n easy one pot meal. Perfect for a week night. I followed the directions exactly except for using beef instead of turkey. Mike turned out less saucy than I’d like (certainly not dry, but it seemed nearly all the sauce had been absorbed) so next time I’ll use an extra half jar or so. I felt it could have been more flavorful, but perhaps that was my pasta sauce. Next time I’ll add more garlic and some Italian seasoning.

  28. Crazy good! Reminds me of a Baked Spaghetti Casserole without that horrible dryness. This recipe is going into our regular rotation. So easy and so delicious! I have an Instant Pot Ultra Mini (3 qt), I reduced the recipe ingredients by 1/4th, followed directions for time and it is perfect. Thanks!

  29. This is ridiculously easy and very tasty.  The picture doesn’t do it h
    justice.  GIna is right, use good sauce, I used Kroger’s private selection napoletana.
    We are so lucky to have this gal creating recipes.
    She is honestly beyond talented.

  30. Made this tonight with Garlic Knots and a side salad. Delicious! I used ST homemade marinara sauce (3 cups) but that was the only change. Easiest spaghetti recipe ever! Everyone loved it! Going in my recipe collection as a favorite! ❤

  31. Made this last night for a quick meal with the garlic knots. Super easy and turned out great. The meat was moist and tender and the pasta was perfectly done. All the family enjoyed it (which was expected since they are huge pasta fans) and they went back for seconds. The sauce used will be the determining factor of how this dish taste though.

  32. Excellent! I followed everything except the pressure cook time because I realized my spaghetti noodles were the thin kind and I was worried about turning them to mush. I set the time to 4 minutes and then let it sit for about 2 more minutes before doing the manual pressure release. Perfectly cooked.

  33. This recipe was really good! I followed it exactly except I used a little less than 2c of water and I doubled the garlic and it turned out perfect! I also used different sauce because they didn’t carry that kind at my store. Mm mm good 

  34. Avatar photo
    Alicia Turner

    Hi, Gina…love all of your recipes. What is the serving size of the spaghetti . And is this dish meal prep worthy? Thanks in advance 😘

  35. We love this recipe and I make it on my busy trying to jet off to the gym nights. Has anyone ever tried doubling or tripling it? I am too scared of messing some kind of ratio up or wasting the ingredients if it doesn’t turn out right. Just would be nice to whip this up for a bigger gathering.

  36. Made this for dinner last night. It’s a keeper! So quick and easy. Used a jar of Portobello mushroom spaghetti sauce. The sauce was a bit thick so just added a bit more water to the Instant Pot. Turned out perfect. We loved it!

  37. Avatar photo
    Gloria Carter

    I am using Barilla Protein Plus Spaghetti noodles,,,,the directions indicate that it should be cooked 10 minutes, so my question is will it be done to al dente in 5 minutes on HP.

  38. Loved the flavor! But my pasta was gummy and over cooked. . I used regular  thin spaghetti. Anyone else use this and have better luck? Wondering how to adjust my cook time down to get it right. 

  39. I have made this in the instapot and stove top and found that two cups of water is just too much for my taste.  Ended up soupy and kind of watered down.  Last time on the stove top I used grand beef and subbed one cup of beef broth for the water, and it was amazing! Perfect consistency and the flavor was excellent!

  40. Could I use a different shape pasta? I’ll obviusly adjust the time accordingly but would the liquid ratio change?? 

  41. Avatar photo
    Laura Solá Carrillo

    Just made it tonight…. GREAT!!!
    One quick question, are leftover freezer friendly? Never freeze pasta before.
    Thanks a lot

  42. Any idea on how to alter for Zoodles??? We LOOOOOVE this recipe for regular spaghetti! But have some Zoodles to use up!

  43. I do not have a food scale. The recipe calls for 8 oz of spaghetti. So if my box I bought is 16oz I should just use half? Wasn’t sure if the measurements were different. Thank you!

  44. I don’t have a food scale. When buying a box of spaghetti is the oz measuring on the box accurate to use? So if I buy a 16 oz box, I’ll use half? Thanks!

  45. This recipe did not work for me. To begin with the instapot directions say not to cover with sautee setting. I followed the recipe and the instapot turned off bc of it’s own controls (and knows not to cover while in sautee). I then had a glass lid to cover and there was way too much liquid.

    1. You would need to turn off sauté when your meat is done and then cover and turn the pot to manual pressure.

  46. Avatar photo
    Sue ohearn brennan

    I have a pasta make and like to use fresh pasta. Can I use fresh spaghetti in this recipe. If so, do i have to adjust the time?

  47. I made it exactly as written – I even ordered the Delallo pasta and sauce. It was tasty, although the consistency wasn’t quite what I’d hoped – pasta was a little softer than al dente and sauce was a little watery. But we still enjoyed it. And it was so quick and easy to make! My husband said it’s definitely worth making again. Maybe I’ll try with a bit less water next time.

  48. Hey there!

    I have an earlier model of the instant pot, and I was just curious as to whether or not that’ll affect cooking time etc.? I’ve tried the recipe twice and have acquired different results every time (first time I needed to add a few minutes, the second time the bottom of the pot got burnt a little). Regardless, the taste of the spaghetti was still amazing, I just wanted to see if there’s a method that doesn’t involve me checking on the pot after every few minutes. I love the simplicity of all the recipes too, keep up all the great recipes! 🙂

    Thanks!

  49. This turned out perfectly! Followed directions exactly because this was only my second time using my IP (except I used whole wheat penne). Definitely keeping this in the weekly dinner rotation! So so good!!! Thank you, Gina!

  50. This was my first IP recipe and man oh man am I hooked!  I ended up having to cook the fish under high pressure for 15 minutes instead of nine, but everything turned out yummy! Looking forward to trying new recipes, thanks for getting me started!

  51. This is my second time making this and I am OBSESSED!! I used San Marzano tomato basil pasta sauce and it is awesome. So quick and taste like you spent hours letting the sauce simmer. Great for busy week nights!

  52. Simple, quick, and DELICIOUS! I’ve never liked whole wheat pasta, but followed recipe exactly and taste/texture is perfect.  From now on this is how I will be making spaghetti, thanks Gina!

  53. I just today got my first pressure cooker ( 6 qt.) .it didn’t come with a recipe book. It has a setting for yogurt Do you have a recipe for yogurt and also can I bake a cake or other desserts in this cooker? 
    I am anxious to try some of your recipes out.  Thank you! 

  54. Even though the spaghetti was broke into small pieces, and covered in sauce and water, the noodles stuck right there and did not cook on the allotted time. I had to add an additional 6 minutes to the pressure cooking time. Overall, I thought the recipe was just Ok. I think I’ll stick to conventional cooking when it comes to spaghetti.

  55. This was my first meal with the instant pot and I’m hooked! I used what we had on hand (campanelle pasta instead of spaghetti) and used some boxed diced tomatoes and a ton of seasoning instead of jarred sauce. I also added a splash of whole milk at the end to make it a bit creamy. SO GOOD and SO EASY. Only difference is next time I might decrease the time a bit, the pasta was a bit too cooked for my taste (and I like it soft) even with the quick release. Can’t wait to try more recipes!

  56. I love so many of your recipes and I thought this recipe was ok, but a bit bland as written compared to my normal sauce. I just haven’t yet been able to find an instant pot tomato sauce that compares to my bake in a Dutch oven for hours sauce method. But it was super easy for a weeknight pasta and that has its place.
    I have made a lot of pasta dishes in the IP at this point and I will say that I get the most consistent results with the pasta not mush or hard and no issues with foaming or burning when I cook it on low pressure for half the time indicated on the box. So if the box says cook for 12 mins, I cook it on low pressure for 6. I think it was something I got from the Hip Pressure Cooking site. Works every time. For whole wheat pasta my brand of choice is Jovial. The taste is good and I find it doesn’t upset my belly like some of the others can.

  57. Avatar photo
    Joy Zwagerman

    I just got the instapot. I am trying tbis recioe, but have 16 oz of pasta. Do I double the other ingredients too, or is it okay to have more pasta?

    1. What size instantpot do you have? If it is the 6 quart one, I don’t think you want to try a whole box of pasta…or at least be very careful if you do. Overfilling a pressure cooker with grains or pasta is not a good idea. If you have a larger size pot, you should be ok. But I would double the whole recipe or you won’t have enough sauce for the pasta.

  58. I was confused by cooking instruction #3,  “. . . making sure the liquid covers everything without stirring”.  That didn’t make sense to me, but still, I refrained from stirring. My pasta came out in solid clumps on top of the burned sauce.  

  59. Made this for dinner tonight and it was SO GOOD! My husband who is really picky about whole wheat noodles didn’t even notice these were whole wheat! It was THAT good! The only problem I ran into was that my noodles weren’t done at 9 minutes, so I put my pot on saute and cooked it for another minute with the lid on. Came out perfect! Thanks for a keeper recipe!

  60. Made this tonight – my first attempt at pasta in the Instant Pot. I used a different sauce, as that’s what I had on hand, and threw in a bunch of fresh spinach after the pressure cooking. It turned out perfectly! 

  61. Did this stove top using low sodium Ragu and chicken italian sausage. Delicious and what a brilliant idea to “one pot” it. So creamy. An idea-Pillsbury does this too but instead of water uses chicken broth-might be worth trying.

  62. Hi Gina! You mentioned to eat it right away for al dente, otherwise the pasta continue to absorb the sauce. I was thinking about making a pot of this ahead of time for lunches for the week. Any suggestions? (I’ll be cooking it on the stove, not the IP). 

    1. It really depends on how you like your pasta. I personally like it al dente, so I eat it the same day (right after) I cook it.

  63. Worked well, I would tweak the recipe next time with my own sauce. Spaghettini noodles stuck together a little. Overall a success. I increased the amount of noodles and beef, I also added stewed tomatoes. Didn’t increase the time and it still worked out. 

  64. Gina, I love all your recipes. will this work with rotini noodle (whole wheat) instead of spaghetti? Thank you!

    1. Avatar photo
      Shelly Sigale

      I’m wondering if this cam be made with zucchini spaghetti & approximately how long it would take 

  65. I got my IP for Christmas and after about a month of intimidation, I finally jumped in with this recipe. Since then I’ve made this about once a week. It’s great freshly made and as leftovers. I halve the recipe for my 3-at duo mini and it works perfectly. Delallo sauce is not available here so I find a comparable quality sauce. Yes, it costs more than Ragu or Prego, but it’s worth it since the sauce IS the flavoring. It basically infuses the pasta. Also, season your meat when you sauté- don’t be afraid of salt or at least some pepper, garlic or onion powder.

  66. I bought an 8 qt IP.  I used Dellalo pasta and sauce as stated.  The only difference is that I wanted 16 Oz. Of pasta, so I doubled everything except the turkey.  While coming up to temp, the word “burn” came up.  Eventually, it came to temp and counted down.  When it was done, some of the pasta was burnt on the bottom of the pot.  Also, there was still a lot of liquid in the pot.  The picture made it seem like the pasta should have absorbed most of the liquid.

    1. I have not made this double, I am not sure if that is the issue? My pasta came out perfect and all the water absorbed perfectly.

  67. Really great recipe! It was my very first time making spaghetti on my own and I definitely plan to make more of it now! This was a delirious recipe and VERY EASY and beginner friendly! I used a instant-pot for the first time and it all came out great. I was able to meal-prep my lunches for the entire week with this recipe!

    Thank you Gina!

  68. I use different shaped pasta, like penne or bow ties.  It doesn’t clump as much. Easier to stir so it doesn’t clump as easily as the long thin strands.  I started out cooking this in my Ninja cooker and add italian seasoning, red pepper flakes.  I throw in whatever veggies I have- spinach is great to stir in at the end and let it wilt.  The IP makes it even quicker!  Love the pasta cooked with the sauce instead of just boiled.  Thanks for the recipe!

  69. Hi Gina,
    When making this recipe with gluten free pasta, should I cook it for less time. GF pasta tends to get mushy if overcooked and I’m wondering if I should shorten the cook time by a couple of minutes? Thank you and I can’t wait to try this!

  70. When you say cook for 9 minutes after adding the pasta, is that 9 minutes once it’s preheated? 9 minutes passed with ON still displayed, never counting down. 

    #ThirdIPMealEver #StillANewbie

    1. Allison, If it still said, “on” then the IP wasn’t pressurized. It will beep when it hits pressure, then the timer will change from “on” to your 9 minute countdown. 🙂

  71. Just made this tonight, on the stovetop because I don’t have an instant pot. Subbed in Rao’s sauce because that’s what was in the pantry. Everything else was the same. Super easy and family approved. 

  72. Best spaghetti ever!!! I have never really liked spaghetti- just because it was so BLAH. I would eat it but would never choose to cook it myself……UNTIL this recipe in my instant pot! So much flavor! I love that the noodles are cooked into the sauce so they actually taste like something. We make this almost weekly at our house now. Everyone loves it! Sometimes the noodles clump together but are still cooked through. I have found that there is not a whole lot you can do, just spread the noodles out the best you can and after cooking them “rake” the clumps of noodles from end to end and they break apart pretty well. 

  73. This is amazing. I have made it with whole wheat pasta and regular pasta and both times it’s been fantastic. It’s actually the only way my son will eat whole wheat pasta!

  74. ” breaking up about 3 minutes” Excuse me for being a little slow, have only used my IP twice so far. What does it mean, breaking up about 3 minutes?

  75. We really enjoyed this! Anyone have a suggestion for reheating the leftovers? I don’t like to microwave anything with meat in it (it’s a taste thing for me), but I don’t want to overcook the pasta either.

  76. Love this recipe!! Only 1 question: do you put it on “manual” after saute? That’s what I did because the recipe didn’t specify. Seems to have turned out ok. Thanks!

  77. I have a Instant Pot LUX60 V3 6 Qt 6-in-1 and am an instant pot newbie.
    After I sauted it. I put the instant pot on manual high and cooked for 9 mins. After releasing the steam manually, the pasta was not cooked thru. Help please! thank you!

    1. I just notice your comment. I did put mine on manual and it seemed ok. Not sure what happened in your pot. I only posted my comment to see if what I did was correct.

      1. Thanks Linn. Me either. Other pasta recipes on other sites say to put manual low. Maybe I’ll try that next time.

    2. Had the same issue. Thinking it took 9 minutes just to preheat. I was nervous 9 minutes was up but my pasta was still pretty hard. 

      1. You press 9 minutes on the pressure cooker. Sounds like the valve was not in the right position.

  78. Made this a couple of weeks ago- delish! Wondering if it will work if I halve the recipe, it makes a lot for two people :)Thanks!

  79. Avatar photo
    Leanne Swanson

    Just tried making this in my brand new instapot and when I added the pasta and it started cooking the insta pot kept beeping 5 times and saying ‘burn’. ????. I had to take it and finish it on the stove. 

    1. Sounds like you kept the machine on Saute, perhaps. I would try emptying the pot and cleaning the bottom of it and then trying again.
      Does your users manual say anything about “burn.”? If not, how about looking at instant pot online and then contacting them?

  80. This was awful! Half my noodles didn’t cook and instead all stuck together, and it was as bland as dry dread. Will definitely not be making this again. Even my garbage can kid wouldn’t eat it.

  81. Avatar photo
    Deanna Heikoop

    I’m going to make this tomorrow! I want to double the recipe. if I double the sauce, should I still double the water? 4 cups of water seems like too much. Any suggestions?

  82. I’m a HUGE Skinnytaste fan, but I just opened my Instant appt and it looks like red water with noodles.  Followed recipe exactly.  I have it baking in oven to try and thicken it up. 

  83. If you make this on the stove first would you cook the pasta separate? I don’t know how it would go with water in the sauce.
    Thanks

  84. Ive done this once  with ground beef and once with ground sausage that I had on hand. It was my first attempt with the instant pot and needless to say I don’t cook it any other way anymore. My husband raves about this for days after and asks for it at least once a week!

  85. I just got my instant pot and would like to try this recipe! Does anyone know if I can cook the ground turkey directly from frozen, or is it necessary that I thaw it first? (I understand this would add to the cook time)
    Thanks!

  86. Simply excellent, Gina! Been a fan for years…never have you steered us wrong. Here’s to more tasty recipes and years of success to come!

  87. I used brown rice pasta and it was a fail! Pasta all stuck together… so I boiled new pasta over the stove.  ???? Sauce was delicious though!  Is it because I used brown rice pasta?

  88. I used brown rice pasta and it was a fail! Pasta all stuck together… so I boiled new pasta over the stove.  ???? Sauce was delicious though!  Is it because I used brown rice pasta?

  89. The flavor of the meat sauce was nice, but everyone in my family said this is tomato soup with meat and noodles. It was not as thick as Gina’s picture. We do not like loose watery sauce. That is what this recipe makes. Sorry, but I won’t be making this recipe again.

    1. I found that you really only need enough water just to cover the spaghetti. For me, that’s less than the recipe calls for. I halve the recipe for my IP mini  pand use about 3/4 cup rather than a whole cup. I also use just a little more sauce. Of course, with the IP the amount of liquid is always crucial and it’s a delicate balance.

  90. Avatar photo
    Jenise-The Peaceful Agent

    Can you use brown rice pasta? It’s all I have in the pantry. I’m afraid it will come out mushy. Maybe it needs a different amount of water and time? Any idea??

  91. Avatar photo
    Edye Wagstaff

    Made this last night. I usually do NOT like whole wheat pasta – it’s a texture thing. HOWEVER, this was AWESOME! It was so easy and so very delicious!

    1. Gina @ Skinnytaste