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Home » Main Dishes

The Best Instant Pot Spaghetti

A closeup photo of Tiffany holding a bouquet.
By Tiffany
Modified: Mar 22, 2026 · Published: Aug 27, 2020

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This is the best Instant Pot Spaghetti with a delicious Italian seasoned tomato sauce with spaghetti noodles topped with grated Parmesan cheese.

Instant Pot Spaghetti

I know what you’re thinking. Why would I cook a simple and easy meal like spaghetti in an Instant Pot?

I was skeptical too. Is it really saving any time?

While the beef does have to be browned first, the great thing is not having to babysit the cooking process after that.

Layer it all in the pot, set your timer, and walk away – go do some laundry or get the kids going on their homework!

The Best Instant Pot Spaghetti

Typically when I make spaghetti, the meat sauce is kept separate from the noodles and we all make our own ratios of sauce to pasta.

But I love that the noodles cook right in the sauce and seasonings.

It allows the noodles to get a rich flavor that my regular spaghetti is lacking and the ground beef gets really tender.

Once it’s done, it’s the perfect ratio of ground beef, sauce, and spaghetti noodles.

Ingredients for Instant Pot Spaghetti

  • Ground Beef
  • Spaghetti
  • Water
  • Tomato Sauce
  • Olive Oil
  • Salt
  • Italian Seasoning
  • Garlic Powder
  • Onion Powder

Want to jazz it up?

  • Add in a can of diced tomatoes or Rotel.
  • Looking for spice? Add 1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes.

How to Make Instant Pot Spaghetti

Set the Instant Pot to the Saute setting, and add olive oil. Once hot, add ground beef and cook until browned while stirring often to break up pieces, about 5-7 minutes.

Browned Ground Beef

Turn off the Saute setting. Add 1 cup of water and scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen any pieces that are stuck. This helps avoid the dreaded “Burn” notification on the Instant Pot that is common with pasta and rice dishes. Add tomato sauce and all seasonings to the ground beef and stir. After this, no more stirring!

Ground beef, tomato sauce, seasoning, noodles, and water

Break spaghetti noodles in half so that they fit in the Instant Pot. Layer them flat on top of the ground beef, but do not stir. Pour in the remaining 2 ½ cups of water on top.

Place the lid on top, seal the vent, and use the manual setting to set the timer to 8 minutes.

Instant Pot Spaghetti

Once the timer is done, quick release the vent (and be sure to wear an oven mitt so the hot steam does not burn you!)

Instant Pot Spaghetti

Remove the lid and stir the spaghetti. Serve with freshly grated Parmesan on top.

How to Freeze Spaghetti

To freeze spaghetti after it has been cooked and mixed together, place it in an airtight freezer-safe container or Ziploc. Freeze for 1-2 months for the best quality, but up to 3 months is still safe.

When ready to thaw, place it in the refrigerator overnight the day before. By the time you’re ready to have it for dinner, it should be thawed. If it seems dry, add a little water to loosen up the sauce.

Instant Pot Spaghetti

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Instant Pot Spaghetti

The Best Instant Pot Spaghetti

Tiffany
The best Instant Pot Spaghetti with a delicious Italian seasoned tomato sauce with spaghetti noodles topped with grated Parmesan cheese.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe
Prep Time 3 minutes mins
Cook Time 25 minutes mins
Total Time 28 minutes mins
Course Main Dishes
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6 Servings
Calories 554 kcal

Equipment

  • Instant Pot Pressure Cooker, 6 Quart

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs Ground Beef
  • 16 oz Spaghetti
  • 3 ½ cups Water
  • 3-15 oz cans of Tomato Sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • 1 ½ teaspoon Salt
  • 2 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
  • ¾ teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Onion Powder

Instructions
 

  • Set the Instant Pot to the Saute setting, add olive oil. Once hot, add ground beef cook until browned while stirring often to break up pieces, about 5-7 minutes. Turn off Saute setting.
  • Add 1 cup of water and scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen any pieces that are stuck. This helps avoid the dreaded "Burn" notification on the Instant Pot. Add tomato sauce and all seasonings, stir.
  • Break spaghetti noodles in half so that they fit in the Instant Pot. Layer them flat on top of the ground beef, but do not stir. Pour in the remaining 2 ½ cups of water.
  • Place the lid on top, seal the vent, and use the manual setting to cook on high with the timer set to 8 minutes. Once the timer is done, quick release (and be sure to wear an oven mitt so the hot steam does not burn you!)
  • Remove the lid and stir spaghetti. Serve with freshly grated Parmesan on top.

Nutrition

Calories: 554kcalCarbohydrates: 46.2gProtein: 54.5gFat: 14.9gSaturated Fat: 4.4gCholesterol: 194mgSodium: 1091mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2.5g

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5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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A closeup photo of Tiffany holding a bouquet.

Hello! I'm Tiffany.

I'm the recipe developer and food photographer behind Simply Happenings. I'm also a wife, mom to two adventurous little boys, registered nurse, and I live in the great Midwest. I like to feature high-protein recipes, one-pot meals, and delicious recipes you can cook with your favorite household appliances.

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