Are you craving a delicious, home-cooked Italian meal but short on time? Say goodbye to complicated cooking methods and hello to the ultimate weeknight dinner hack! Our Instant Pot Spaghetti Dinner is about to revolutionize your meal prep, delivering restaurant-quality flavor with minimal effort. Imagine tender pasta, perfectly browned ground beef, and rich marinara sauce all coming together in a single pot - without hours of cooking or mountains of dirty dishes!
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 15 mins
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 lb spaghetti
- 4 cups water
- 1 jar marinara sauce
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Begin by gathering all your ingredients: 1 lb of spaghetti, 4 cups of water, 1 jar of marinara sauce, 1 lb of ground beef, and 1 tsp of Italian seasoning.
- Set your Instant Pot to the 'Sauté' mode. Allow it to heat up for a few minutes.
- Add the ground beef to the pot. Use a wooden spoon to break it up as it cooks. Sauté for about 5 minutes or until the beef is browned and fully cooked.
- Once the beef is cooked, carefully drain any excess fat from the pot. Be cautious as the pot will be hot.
- Add the Italian seasoning to the cooked ground beef and stir well to combine, allowing the flavors to meld for about 1 minute.
- Pour in the 4 cups of water and stir to deglaze the pot, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
- Break the spaghetti in half and add it to the pot, ensuring it is submerged in the water. Do not stir the spaghetti, as this can cause it to clump together.
- Pour the jar of marinara sauce over the spaghetti. Do not stir; simply spread it evenly over the top.
- Secure the lid on the Instant Pot and make sure the steam release valve is set to 'Sealing'.
- Set the Instant Pot to 'Manual' or 'Pressure Cook' mode on high pressure for 8 minutes.
- Once the cooking time is complete, allow the Instant Pot to naturally release pressure for about 2 minutes, then carefully switch the steam release valve to 'Venting' to release any remaining pressure.
- Open the lid and give the spaghetti a gentle stir to combine with the sauce and meat. If the spaghetti seems a bit sticky, add a splash of water and stir again.
- Serve the spaghetti hot, garnished with grated Parmesan cheese or fresh basil if desired. Enjoy your Instant Pot Spaghetti Dinner!
Tips
- Break spaghetti noodles in half to ensure even cooking and easier serving.
- Do NOT stir the pasta before pressure cooking - this prevents clumping and helps achieve perfect texture.
- Use high-quality marinara sauce for the best flavor profile.
- Let the Instant Pot naturally release pressure for 2 minutes to prevent overcooking.
- If the pasta seems too dry after cooking, add a splash of water or extra marinara sauce.
- For extra flavor, consider adding garlic, onions, or red pepper flakes during the sauté stage.
- Always use caution when releasing steam and opening the Instant Pot lid.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 450kcal
Carbohydrates: 55g
Protein: 25g
Fat: 15g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Cholesterol: 70mg
