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October 27, 2021

Instant Pot Easy Does It Spaghetti

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Instant Pot Easy Does It Spaghetti–easy, meaty spaghetti and sauce that turns out perfect in the Instant Pot or the Crockpot every time!

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Note: the SLOW COOKER instructions are listed in the recipe card below

instant pot spaghetti

Instant Pot Easy Does It Spaghetti

I came across a vintage recipe for “easy does it spaghetti” and wondered what it was all about. I couldn’t find out why the original author named it easy does it spaghetti but my guess is that this recipe uses less spaghetti noodles to the meat and sauce ratio than I’m normally used to. Plus it was originally a crockpot recipe and really was an easy way to make spaghetti. I wondered would it be good? I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was! My kids and I ate it all by ourselves! Sorry Greg! If you haven’t tried spaghetti in the Instant Pot I think you’ll really like it and I think you will love this recipe! Give it a shot!

Why you’ll love this Instant Pot Spaghetti Recipe

  • It’s meaty and saucy
  • The hardest part of this recipe is browning the ground beef and draining the excess grease…after that it’s smooth sailing! No need to worry about water boiling over on the stove.
  • There is only a 4 minute pressure cook time
  • The spaghetti doesn’t stick and burn like some recipes
  • This dish has lots of flavor because instead of water to cook the pasta tomato juice is used

Ingredients for Instant Pot Spaghetti

  • 1 pound ground beef–you can also use ground turkey. I used 70/30 ground beef and drained off the excess grease.
  • 2 ½ cups V8 or tomato juice–to cook the pasta in! This adds lots of flavor
  • 4 oz spaghetti–I used whole wheat pasta and it worked perfectly
  • Minced dry onion, garlic powder, dry mustard, allspice, black pepper, bay leaf, kosher salt, Italian seasoning–for flavoring the spaghetti sauce
  • 8 oz chopped mushrooms–to add some body to the sauce. If you don’t like mushrooms you can leave them out.
  • 1 (8 oz) tomato sauce–for the sauce
  • 1 tsp red wine vinegar–for a splash of flavor
  • Parmesan cheese–for topping

How To Make the Best Instant Pot Spaghetti

In my mind the key to making the best Instant Pot spaghetti is using V8 (or tomato juice) as the liquid for cooking the spaghetti in. Here’s how to make spaghetti in the Instant Pot and the Crockpot…you choose!

Instant Pot Instructions:

  1. Brown ground beef: Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the ground beef and break it up. Brown for about 5 minutes. Drain off excess grease. 
  2. Deglaze the pot: Pour in the V8 and scrape the bottom of the pot so that nothing is sticking. Turn off Instant Pot.
  3. Season it up: Add in the minced onion, garlic powder, mustard, allspice, pepper, bay leaf, salt, Italian seasoning.
  4. Strategically add in the pasta: Break the spaghetti into 2 inch pieces and scatter them into the pot in a criss cross pattern. This will prevent them from sticking together. Press down to submerge a little.
  5. Layer: Add the chopped mushrooms and tomato sauce evenly over the top of the spaghetti. Don’t stir (this helps prevent the burn message).
  6. Pressure cook: Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 4 minutes on high pressure. When time is up let the pot sit for 5-10 minutes and then move the valve to venting. (I prefer the 5-10 minute natural pressure release over a quick release because there won’t be foam and sauce coming out of your valve). Remove the lid. Discard the bay leaf. 
  7. Finish it off: Stir in the vinegar to add a little brightness. Stir well and serve topped with parmesan cheese. 

Slow Cooker Instructions:

  1. Brown ground beef: Brown beef and drain. Some slow cookers have a stovetop or saute feature that you can use for this step. If not, do this step of the stove. Add beef to the slow cooker.
  2. Add ingredients: Add in the V8, minced dry onion, garlic powder, dry mustard, allspice, pepper, bay leaf, salt, Italian seasoning, mushrooms and tomato sauce and stir.
  3. Cook and add in pasta: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high 3-5 hours. Turn on high the last hour and stir in the dry spaghetti (break into 2 inch pieces). 
  4. Finish it off: Discard the bay leaf. Stir in the vinegar. Serve topped with parmesan cheese. 

Tips for making Spaghetti in the Instant Pot

  • How I drain grease off of beef: Try this pro tip for draining grease off of the ground beef: Tilt the Instant Pot to one side while holding the ground meat against the other side with a wooden spoon. This should make most of the grease pool on the tilted side. Lower the Instant Pot down, the meat should stay to its side and the grease on the other. Place a couple paper towels into the grease and use the spoon to sop up the grease. Discard the paper towels.
  • Don’t stir: In order to prevent the burn error message layer the ingredients as stated in the recipe instructions instead of stirring all together. This will keep the thinner liquid on the bottom of the pot so that nothing burns.
  • Placing the chopped mushrooms evenly over the pasta will help the pasta cook correctly. The mushrooms release moisture that helps cook the pasta perfectly. Don’t like mushrooms? It’s fine you can leave them out. Just press the pasta down as much as you can to submerge in the liquid.
  • Equipment: I used my 6 quart Instant Pot Duo 60 7 in 1*. You can also make this in your 8 quart or 3 quart pot with no changes. (You can make this with most brands of electric pressure cookers)
  • You can easily double this recipe in the 6 or 8 quart pot. Double all the ingredients and keep the cooking time the same. You can also halve the recipe and have success.

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easy instant pot spaghetti recipe

Freezing and Storing Spaghetti

I don’t know what it is about Italian food, but it’s always better after the flavors have melded together overnight. If you have leftovers you’re lucky!

  • Storing: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • Freeze: Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Cool the spaghetti a bit before placing lids on the containers. When ready to eat, thaw overnight in the fridge and warm on the stove top or in the microwave.

How to prevent a bland tasting Instant Pot spaghetti?

  • Use V8 or tomato juice in the place of water
  • Add in all the seasonings listed. Add more to taste after the spaghetti has cooked.
  • Add in a splash of red wine vinegar for some brightness
  • If you like a sweeter spaghetti sauce add in a teaspoon or two of sugar
  • For an extra boost of flavor use half ground beef and half Italian sausage

How long does it take to cook spaghetti in the Instant Pot?

To figure out how long to cook different types of pasta look on the back of the box and see how long it says to boil the pasta for. Take that number and divide by 2 and then subtract 1 minute. (Example: 10 minutes / 2 = 5 minutes – 1 minute = 4 minute pressure cook time). I like to cook spaghetti for 4 minutes with a 5-10 minute natural pressure release (to prevent foaming out of the valve).

Can I use frozen beef to make Instant Pot spaghetti?

If the beef is already browned you can use frozen beef. This actually makes this recipe even easier! When you buy ground beef at the grocery store come home and brown it and drain the grease. Then place in a ziploc freezer bags and press flat and freeze. This makes for a quick and easy weeknight meal.

What Should I Serve with This Spaghetti?

Serve with a slice of garlic bread. Try looking for the frozen texas garlic toast next time you’re at the grocery store. It is easily warmed through and tastes great. Make a tossed green salad and you have a meal!

More Instant Pot Recipes That Use Spaghetti Noodles…

Instant Pot Million Dollar Casserole

Instant Pot Jo Mama’s Spaghetti

Instant Pot Chicken Stir Fry

Instant Pot Ground Beef Divan

Instant Pot Firefighter’s Spaghetti

Instant Pot Panda Express Chow Mein

Instant Pot Peanut Noodles

Instant Pot Family Delight

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meaty instant pot spaghetti recipe

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Instant Pot Easy Does It Spaghetti


★★★★★

4.8 from 5 reviews

  • Author: 365 Days of Slow and Pressure Cooking
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 4 minutes (plus 5 minute NPR)
  • Total Time: 19 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
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Description

Easy, meaty spaghetti and sauce that turns out perfect in the Instant Pot or the Crockpot every time!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 2 1/2 cups V8 or tomato juice
  • 4 oz spaghetti (whole wheat is okay)
  • 1 Tbsp minced dry onion
  • 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp dry mustard
  • 1/4 tsp allspice
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 8 oz chopped mushrooms
  • 1 (8 oz) tomato sauce
  • 1 tsp red wine vinegar
  • Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Instant Pot Instructions:

  1. Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the ground beef and break it up. Brown for about 5 minutes. Drain off excess grease. 
  2. Pour in the V8 and scrape the bottom of the pot so that nothing is sticking. Turn off Instant Pot.
  3. Add in the minced onion, garlic powder, mustard, allspice, pepper, bay leaf, salt, Italian seasoning.
  4. Break the spaghetti into 2 inch pieces and scatter them into the pot. Press down to submerge a little.
  5. Add the chopped mushrooms and tomato sauce evenly over the top of the spaghetti. Don’t stir.
  6. Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 4 minutes. When time is up let the pot sit for 5-10 minutes and then move the valve to venting. Remove the lid. Discard the bay leaf. 
  7. Stir in the vinegar. Stir well and serve topped with parmesan cheese. 

Slow Cooker Instructions:

  1. Brown beef and drain. Add to the slow cooker.
  2. Add in the V8, minced dry onion, garlic powder, dry mustard, allspice, pepper, bay leaf, salt, Italian seasoning, mushrooms and tomato sauce.
  3. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high 3-5 hours. Turn on high the last hour and stir in the dry spaghetti (break into 2 inch pieces). 
  4. Discard the bay leaf. Stir in the vinegar. Serve topped with parmesan cheese. 

Notes

Read the notes above for more tips and tricks.

  • Category: Beef
  • Method: Instant Pot or Slow Cooker

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @365dayscrockpot on Instagram

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instant pot spaghetti recipe with ground beef

*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

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23 Comments Filed Under: All Recipes, Beef, Instant Pot, Pasta, Slow Cooker

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Comments

  1. Missy F says

    September 4, 2022 at 2:21 pm

    This looks so good! If you were to increase the pasta to 6 oz., would you need to increase the liquid? If so, how much and what liquid?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      September 6, 2022 at 4:08 pm

      Since it’s only 2 extra ounces I think you’ll be just fine with the amount of liquid listed

      Reply
  2. Tami says

    October 30, 2021 at 1:04 pm

    This was fantastic! I added a bit more V8 and a small sliced zucchini. 4oz pasta, no red wine vinegar. I used a jarred marinara for the tomato sauce. Ground turkey instead of beef. After venting, I added about 1.5c fresh torn spinach leaves and stirred in. Absolutely delicious, everyone wanted more more more! This goes into regular rotation! So easy!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Karen says

      November 2, 2021 at 1:05 pm

      Sounds like an awesome version with all the veg!

      Reply
  3. Sharon says

    October 29, 2021 at 9:15 am

    I used 6 oz and it was just about right.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      November 2, 2021 at 1:56 pm

      Good to know! Thanks for sharing your experience.

      Reply
  4. Gail Fesnak says

    October 28, 2021 at 1:52 pm

    Would love to try this. I have everything to try it, but waiting for a clarification on the pasta is it 4 ounces or 8 ounces. I gave it 5 stars because your recipes have never failed me yet, and I have made plenty of them.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Karen says

      November 2, 2021 at 1:55 pm

      4 ounces is correct. It is called easy does it spaghetti because there is less pasta, more sauce, more meat than normal. This makes 4 servings.

      Reply
    • Gail says

      November 4, 2021 at 5:00 pm

      Thank you so…..much for getting back to so soon. Don’t know if you realize this but you are helping so many people with your recipes. I don’t mind cooking in the oven, or stove top, but your recipes truly helps people who work, have children and need food on the table fast. You are a true blessing. I have tried most of your recipes and they are spot on with the instant pot. Again thank you from me for helping get dinner on the table fast

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Karen says

        November 6, 2021 at 12:23 pm

        Ahhh, thanks Gail! This is just the boost I needed today 🙂

        Reply
  5. Kim B. says

    October 28, 2021 at 11:58 am

    Can’t wait to try this. Love the concept of LESS noodles & MORE sauce. Great idea!! Thanks, Karen, for finding these neat recipes & converting them for us to use in IP. Will be back with stars, my hubby is a “spaghetti monster” & I thinks he’s gonna love this one.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      November 2, 2021 at 1:55 pm

      I hope you both like it Kim!

      Reply
  6. Lisa M says

    October 28, 2021 at 8:10 am

    What about gluten free noodles? Can I use them instead?

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Karen says

      November 2, 2021 at 1:54 pm

      I personally haven’t tried that but I bet it would be okay.

      Reply
    • Allan Wright says

      December 1, 2021 at 6:21 pm

      I often make spaghetti and meatballs in the Instant Pot with 8 oz of spaghetti. Once I used gluten-free spaghetti by mistake and the spaghetti TOTALLY stuck together in large sheets, so I had to throw it all out.

      ★★★★

      Reply
  7. Carol says

    October 27, 2021 at 7:10 pm

    Wait for the clarification on the quanity of pasta. I’ll probably be 8 oz. The reason for breaking the pasta in smaller pieces is because it has to fit in the pot. So, break it into a size that will fit lying flat in the pot.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      November 2, 2021 at 1:54 pm

      4 ounces is correct. It is called easy does it spaghetti because there is less pasta, more sauce, more meat than normal. This makes 4 servings.

      Reply
      • Carol says

        November 2, 2021 at 11:20 pm

        Thanks for the quick reply. 1 once per person is great, it’ll fit into my keto lifestyle. Soo glad I wrote to you!

        Reply
  8. Carol says

    October 27, 2021 at 3:06 pm

    Is there a typo, 4oz of pasta seems too low for 3 people?

    Reply
    • Carol Hardie says

      October 27, 2021 at 5:42 pm

      yes, please clarify & also “what” instead of whole wheat

      Reply
    • Karen says

      November 2, 2021 at 1:54 pm

      That is correct. It is called easy does it spaghetti because there is less pasta, more sauce, more meat than normal. This makes 4 servings.

      Reply
  9. Sue says

    October 27, 2021 at 1:45 pm

    2 inch pieces of spaghetti are really small…is it really necessary to break it that small?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      November 2, 2021 at 1:53 pm

      You don’t have to. You could just break them in half if you’d like.

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Karen. I know that dinner time can be less than relaxing. Busy schedules and cranky kids and a hundred other things can lead to weariness when it comes to putting dinner on the table. I can help! I make homemade, family-friendly slow cooker and Instant Pot dinners and share the recipes with you.

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