Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce — an easy family dinner ready in under 30 minutes, all made in one pot.
Instant Pot Spaghetti
I spend most of my days cooking, so there are nights when I’m just too tired to make anything complicated. On those nights, I turn to this easy Instant Pot Spaghetti recipe from my Instant Pot collection. It’s the perfect blend of convenience and flavor—everything cooks together in the pressure cooker: spaghetti, marinara, and lean ground turkey. The result is a hearty pasta dish with minimal cleanup, a healthier high-protein twist on classic spaghetti and meat sauce that’s perfect for busy weeknights when you still want a satisfying homemade meal without the fuss. If you prefer spaghetti and meatballs, check out my Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs for a fun twist. No Instant Pot? No problem. Try my stovetop spaghetti and meat sauce recipe instead!
Why You’ll Love This Instant Pot Spaghetti
I have tested hundreds of Instant Pot recipes between the dozens you’ll find on my site and my New York Times bestselling cookbook, Skinnytaste One & Done that has a whole chapter for the Instant Pot. This Instant Pot spaghetti recipe has been a hit ever since I first shared it years ago. One reader said, “I’m honestly just shocked at how great this turned out. I was suuuper skeptical… but this was actually delicious, and no, the noodles do not turn to mush!”
Here are some reasons why this is my favorite spaghetti and meat sauce recipe.
- Only one pot needed. Everything cooks together in the Instant Pot, so you’ll have less dishes to do afterward.
- Kids love it! It’s not just easy, it’s a dish my family loves too.
- Quick dinner for busy nights. This pasta dish comes together in under 30 minutes from start to finish, thanks to the Instant Pot.
- Just a handful of ingredients. You won’t need much more than ground turkey, your favorite jarred pasta sauce, and spaghetti noodles to prepare this recipe.
- High Protein Pasta Dinner: With ground turkey in the sauce, this pasta dinner has over 30 grams protein per serving.
If you want more high protein meals, don’t miss my latest cookbook Skinnytaste High Protein!
Ingredients You’ll Need
This spaghetti and meat sauce recipe uses just a few simple ingredients. See the recipe card below for the exact measurements.
- Ground Turkey: 93% lean ground turkey is a healthier alternative to beef, ground beef can also be used.
- Salt seasons the meat.
- Aromatics: Onion and garlic enhance the flavor of the dish.
- Sauce: I love DeLallo Tomato Basil Pomodoro Sauce, but homemade marinara is fantastic too.
- Water: No need to boil pasta separately! Just add the water to the pot with everything else.
- Spaghetti: This recipe was tested with Delallo wheat and gluten-free pasta with perfect results.
- Parmesan cheese: Optional for serving.
How to Make Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
This healthy Instant Pot spaghetti dinner comes together quickly. See the recipe card at the bottom for printable directions.
- Cook the ground meat and aromatics. Hit “Saute” on the Instant Pot. When hot, add the ground meat and salt, cooking until it crumbles. Add the onions and garlic, and cook until softened.
- Add water. Press cancel and add the water, scrape up any bits stuck to the bottom of the pot to avoid the burn notice.
- Add the remaining ingredients. Break the spaghetti in half so it fits, then top with the tomato sauce. Make sure it covers all the noodles, but don’t stir.
- Cook: Set the IP to “Pressure Cook.” Cook on high pressure for 9 minutes. (Note: It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to build pressure before the 9-minute timer starts.)
- Perform a quick release by immediately releasing the switch on the lid when it beeps after 9 minutes to venting. Remove the lid and stir. If the sauce looks watery, it’ll thicken as you stir. Then, serve topped with grated Parmesan if desired..
Tips for Success
Here are some tips for the perfect Spaghetti in the Instant Pot.
- How to cook spaghetti in the Instant Pot without burn message: If there are brown bits stuck to the pot after sautéing the turkey and onions, scrape the bottom clean when you add the water.
- Break the spaghetti in half so it fits in the Instant Pot easily.
- Don’t forget to add water. Since the pasta is cooked directly in the sauce, you need to add water to the pot along with the sauce.
- Make sure the sauce covers the pasta. If you use the proportions listed in the recipe, this should not be an issue. You don’t want to stir the ingredients, but the pasta must be completely covered.
- Use the quick release. If you use the natural release (i.e., letting the pasta sit in the IP while the pressure slowly releases naturally), the pasta will continue to cook and become too soft.
- Enjoy your Instant Pot spaghetti with meat sauce immediately. It should be cooked perfectly. If it continues to cook, the noodles will absorb more of the sauce.
Variations
- Meat Options: Try it with lean ground beef or chicken or even Italian chicken sausage.
- Skip the meat. For a vegetarian spaghetti dish, omit the meat.
- Add more veggies. Grate a carrot or zucchini into the sauce for some extra nutrition, or stir in spinach at the end.
- Use your favorite pasta. You can try this recipe with regular pasta or a short shape, like penne, rotini, or farfalle.
- Flavor Boosters: Add Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, or crushed red pepper. You can also stir in fresh basil before serving.
- Make it dairy-free by skipping the cheese.
Yield: servings
Serving Size: 1 3/4 cups
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Press saute on the Instant Pot. When hot add the ground turkey or beef and salt and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon about 3 minutes.
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Add the onions, and garlic and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes.
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Press cancel then add the water and using a wooden spoon, scrape up any food stuck to the bottom of the pot (to avoid the burn message).
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Add spaghetti (broken in half so it fits), then cover with the marinara sauce, making sure it covers the pasta, without stirring.
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Cover and cook on high pressure 9 minutes.
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After 9 minutes, use the quick release method (which means turn the knob to venting so the steam releases) so the pasta doesn’t continue cooking, and open the lid. Stir and serve topped with grated cheese if desired!
Last Step:
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To lower the sodium, omit the salt and use a low sodium marinara sauce.
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Note: The newer IP models have a hair trigger burn sensor that can’t tell the difference between a slight caramelized residue, and totally burnt. To avoid this, when using the saute button always deglaze the pot after sauteing with a tablespoon or two of water or broth before adding your other ingredients.
Serving: 1 3/4 cups, Calories: 530 kcal, Carbohydrates: 60 g, Protein: 32 g, Fat: 13 g, Saturated Fat: 3 g, Cholesterol: 70 mg, Sodium: 920 mg, Fiber: 5.5 g, Sugar: 7 g
How to Store & Reheat Leftovers
- Store any leftover spaghetti and meat sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Reheat leftovers in the microwave or on the stove over low heat. You might want to add a splash of extra sauce or water, since the pasta tends to absorb a lot of sauce.
FAQ
This recipe calls for 10 ounces of pasta, but most boxes contain 16 ounces. So, you can eyeball it or for more precise measuring, I love this OXO kitchen scale.
Yes! Combine everything in a large pot, cover it, and cook over medium-low heat for about 17 minutes. Stir halfway through the cooking time.
If you need to feed more people, double all the ingredients and cook for the same amount of time, making sure you don’t go over the max fill line. If you want to save money, you can use just 1 pound of meat and double the rest.
I think this dish tastes best when eaten right after it’s made, as the pasta soaks up the sauce the longer it sits. It’s fine for leftovers, but I don’t like to freeze it for that reason. However, you certainly can (in an airtight container for up to 3 months) if you have leftovers. Just know that the pasta might be less saucy once it thaws.
More Easy One Pot Pasta Dishes You’ll Love
For more dinner ideas using pasta, check out these five delicious one-pot pasta recipes to inspire your next meal!
