Description
This Instant Pot Spaghetti recipe offers a quick and delicious way to enjoy classic spaghetti with a rich, savory tomato and beef sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights, it combines lean ground beef, aromatic spices, and a flavorful tomato base, all cooked together with pasta in one pot for a fuss-free meal that serves 8 hearty portions.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion, diced
- Drizzle of olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 pound thick spaghetti
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth (or water)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
Optional Serving
- Crusty bread or garlic bread, for serving
Instructions
- Brown the beef and onion: Press the “sauté” button on the Instant Pot. Add a drizzle of olive oil to the pot and then add the lean ground beef along with the diced onion. Cook until the beef is browned and the onion is softened.
- Add spices and seasonings: Stir in the minced garlic, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, granulated sugar, salt, and pepper. Cook this mixture for 1 minute to develop the flavors. Then press “cancel” to stop the sauté function.
- Add tomatoes, sauce, and pasta: Pour in the canned whole tomatoes and tomato sauce. Use a potato masher to crush the whole tomatoes inside the pot. Break the spaghetti in half and layer it crosswise over the sauce mixture. Add the chicken broth to the pot, and gently stir everything together, making sure to scrape the bottom of the pot to prevent any burning or sticking.
- Pressure cook the spaghetti: Secure the Instant Pot lid and ensure the valve is set to “sealing.” Select the pressure cook (manual) function on high pressure and set the timer for 8 minutes. Once cooking is complete, perform a manual release of the pressure carefully.
- Finish and serve: Open the pot and use a pasta fork to break up any clumps of spaghetti. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and fresh chopped basil. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Serve the spaghetti hot, optionally accompanied by crusty bread or garlic bread.
Notes
- If preferred, use water instead of chicken broth for a lighter flavor.
- Breaking spaghetti in half helps it fit better in the pot and cook evenly.
- Be sure to scrape the bottom of the pot after adding liquids to avoid the burn warning on the Instant Pot.
- Manual pressure release after cooking prevents overcooking the pasta.
- Fresh basil adds brightness but can be substituted with dried basil if fresh is unavailable.
- Adding Parmesan cheese at the end gives a creamy, cheesy flavor to the dish.
- Adjust salt and pepper after cooking for best seasoning.
