Print

Easy Creamy Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce Recipe for Perfect Weeknight Dinners

instant pot spaghetti and meat sauce - featured image
Print Recipe

A quick and easy Instant Pot recipe for creamy spaghetti and meat sauce that delivers rich flavor and perfect pasta in under 30 minutes, ideal for busy weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 preferred)
  • 8 ounces spaghetti, broken in half
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
  • 2 cups beef broth, low sodium
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup milk or half-and-half (60 ml), or unsweetened almond milk for dairy-free
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (25 g)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

  1. Turn the Instant Pot to ‘Sauté’ mode. Add olive oil, then chopped onion and garlic. Cook until softened and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
  2. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with your spoon, until browned and no pink remains, about 5-6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Stir in tomato paste, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Let cook for 1 minute to deepen flavors.
  4. Add crushed tomatoes and beef broth, stirring gently to combine. Scatter broken spaghetti over the sauce—do not stir it in, just press it down lightly so it’s mostly submerged.
  5. Seal the Instant Pot lid and set to ‘Manual’ or ‘Pressure Cook’ on high for 8 minutes.
  6. When cooking finishes, carefully do a quick release of pressure. Open the lid and immediately stir the pasta and sauce gently, mixing the spaghetti fully into the sauce to avoid clumping.
  7. Stir in the milk or half-and-half and grated Parmesan cheese. Taste and adjust salt or pepper as desired.
  8. Serve warm, optionally garnished with fresh herbs or extra cheese.

Notes

Do not stir pasta into sauce before pressure cooking to avoid sticking. Use quick release to prevent overcooking pasta. Add milk and Parmesan after cooking for creaminess without heavy cream. If sauce is too thick, add a splash of broth or milk to loosen. For gluten-free pasta, adjust cooking time as per package instructions.

Nutrition

Keywords: Instant Pot, spaghetti, meat sauce, creamy pasta, quick dinner, weeknight meal, easy recipe

Find it online: https://evabake.com/easy-creamy-instant-pot-spaghetti-and-meat-sauce-recipe-for-perfect-weeknight-dinners/