Can you make this on the stove instead of in the Instant Pot?

You can make this as a one-pot spaghetti right on the stove! Follow the directions as-stated, but instead of cooking it via pressure in the Instant Pot, let it simmer covered on the stovetop until the noodles are cooked, stirring occasionally.

What other meat can you use?

Typically, we make this with ground beef, but I love this with Italian sausage even more. You could also use ground turkey for a healthier option!

What if I don't have Better Than Bouillon?

Just replace with 1/2 teaspoon of salt, or replace the water with chicken broth.

How could I add onions?

When the ground beef is almost cooked through, add some diced onion and sauté until softened.

Can you make this vegetarian / meatless?

Yep! Just skip the meat. I would maybe reduce the water by just a bit so it's not overly saucy.

Instant Pot Spaghetti Recipe

Name: Instant Pot Spaghetti - Pinch of Yum
Uploaded: 2025-07-31T09:53:06+00:00
Duration: 20 s
Description: My whole family loves this Instant Pot Spaghetti! Silky, flavorful, a delightfully clingy. Easy enough for my kids to make it too!

Description

My whole family loves this Instant Pot Spaghetti! Silky, flavorful, a delightfully clingy. Easy enough for my kids to make it too!

Ingredients

Units Scale

Instant Pot Spaghetti:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef (I use 85/15)
1/2 teaspoon each garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning
1 clove garlic, minced (optional)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 (24 ounce) jar pasta sauce
1 3/4 cups water
1 teaspoon Better Than Bouillon (I use the chicken base)
8 ounces spaghetti, broken in half (1/2 pound)

Extras / Toppings:

4 tablespoons butter
Parmesan cheese
parsley or basil
red pepper flakes

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Instructions

Meat: Turn the sauté function on in the Instant Pot. Add oil, ground meat, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, garlic, and salt to the Instant Pot. It should sizzle. Sauté until the meat is browned and cooked through.
Sauce: Add the jar of sauce, the water, Better than Bouillon, and the noodles. Make sure the noodles are tucked underneath the liquid.
Cook: Cover, seal, and cook on high pressure for 8 minutes.
Release Steam: Lay a towel over the vent to avoid splatters; release the steam right away to avoid overcooking the noodles.
Rest: When you open the cover, the noodles will be cooked and it will look very saucy / wet. Use tongs to stir it up and distribute the sauce; let everything rest for 10 minutes. This is important because the noodles will absorb the sauce and everything will cling together just right!
Done! Stir the butter in until melted and a little creamy. Top with Parmesan, serve with house favorite garlic bread to dunk in the sauce, and get a simple green salad on the side. Oooh so good.

Notes

Personally I love making this with Italian sausage! It has more flavor (you can even skip the salt because the sausage itself has a lot of salt in it). So, sausage is my pick – however, my family loves it with the classic ground beef so that’s what I am including in the recipe. 🙂

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Instant Pot
Cuisine: Italian

Keywords: instant pot spaghetti, easy spaghetti recipe, kid-friendly recipe, instant pot pasta recipe