Simple Instant Pot Spaghetti

This one-pot Instant Pot spaghetti turns hectic evenings into tasty family meals with zero hassle. Minimal effort, amazing taste - this dish has rescued countless nights at my house when we're short on time but big on hunger.

I stumbled on this lifesaver after a wild evening of kids' soccer when dinner needed to happen pronto. My bunch thought I'd spent hours cooking when they tasted it. Now it's our go-to when the clock's ticking but we still want something homey.

What You'll Need

• Extra virgin olive oil: forms the tasty foundation for cooking the meat
• Ground beef: adds rich protein though turkey or plant-based options work great too
• Kosher salt: boosts all the tasty bits without going overboard
• Dried parsley: brings mild herby flavor that works with the sauce
• Onion powder: adds deep flavor without dealing with real onions
• Red pepper flakes: offer a tiny kick that brightens the sauce
• Fresh garlic cloves: create that must-have smell and taste
• Chopped kale or other greens: sneak in the good stuff without changing the comfort food vibe
• Water: creates just the right cooking setup in your pressure cooker
• Jarred marinara sauce: cuts corners while giving great tomato taste
• Whole wheat spaghetti: offers earthy flavor and healthy fiber
• Parmesan cheese: melts in for rich depth and savory finish
• Fresh herbs: perk up your finished bowl with color and fresh pop

Cooking Guide

Brown Your Meat:

Switch your Instant Pot to sauté and pour in olive oil until it's hot. Toss in ground beef and smash it into tiny bits with your wooden spoon. This trick makes sure it cooks evenly with no big chunks. Toss in the salt, dried parsley, onion powder, and red pepper flakes while the beef browns. Keep breaking it up until it's all cooked, about 5 minutes tops.

Create Your Base:

Toss in the minced garlic and stir for just half a minute until you can smell it but before it browns. Garlic gets bitter fast if burned, so keep an eye on it. Add 3/4 cup water and scrape all those tasty brown bits off the bottom. This step stops the burn warning and grabs all that good flavor.

Add Veggies and Sauce:

Now's when you'll add kale or whatever greens you picked. Pour in your marinara sauce and mix it all up. The greens will soften perfectly during cooking without turning to mush. Getting the sauce spread out helps everything cook right.

Layer Your Pasta:

Snap the spaghetti in half and lay it in two crossed layers right on top of your meat mix. Don't stir it in! This special crossing pattern stops the pasta from sticking together and helps it cook evenly. How you arrange it really matters for the right texture.

Get Every Drop of Sauce:

Take your empty sauce jar, add the other 1 1/4 cups water, pop the lid on, shake it up, and pour this over your pasta. Still don't stir! This clever move gets every bit of sauce from the jar and gives just the right amount of liquid for perfect pasta.

Start Cooking:

Close up your Instant Pot, set the valve to seal, and cook on HIGH pressure for exactly 8 minutes. This timing gives you pasta with a bit of bite, not mush. While it cooks, all those flavors mix together as the pasta soaks up the yummy sauce.

Finish It Off:

Right when it's done, release the pressure by hand. Open carefully and mix in the Parmesan cheese. Don't worry if it looks a bit soupy at first - the pasta will keep drinking up liquid as it sits. That's normal and makes the sauce just right.

Let It Settle:

Turn off your pot and let everything hang out uncovered for a couple minutes. This little break lets the sauce thicken up and flavors come together. Give it one more stir before dishing into bowls with extra Parmesan and fresh herbs on top for that perfect finishing touch.

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Worth Noting

• Packed with protein that fills up even the hungriest family members
• Just one pot means way less dishes to wash after dinner
• Makes enough extra for second helpings or tomorrow's lunch
• Can get ingredients ready ahead when you have a spare minute
• Works with different diets by swapping out the protein

The coolest trick in this dish is definitely using the pasta sauce jar to catch every bit of flavor. My kid actually jumped up and down with excitement when she first watched me shake water in the jar - now she calls herself the "official jar shaker" whenever this family hit makes it to our table. These tiny kitchen moments build memories that stick around forever.

Tasty Twists

This dish loves when you get creative with it. Want it hotter? Throw in twice the red pepper flakes or add some hot sauce. Need more veggies? Chop up some bell peppers, zucchini, or mushrooms and toss them in with the garlic. Looking for something richer? Stir in some heavy cream with your Parmesan. The basic steps stay the same while you make it perfect for your family's taste buds.

Keeping Leftovers

The funny thing about this Instant Pot spaghetti is it actually tastes better the next day as all those flavors get cozy together. Keep it in sealed containers in your fridge up to 4 days. The pasta might soak up more sauce while it sits, so when you warm it up, splash in a bit of water or broth to loosen things up. For easy lunches, pack single servings that heat up great in the microwave.

Quick Fixes

If your pot flashes a burn message while cooking, quickly let the pressure out, lift the lid, and add a splash more water (about 1/4 cup). Lightly mix just the top part, seal it back up, and keep cooking. This usually happens when there's not enough liquid or you didn't scrape the bottom well enough earlier. Want runnier sauce? Use a bit less pasta. Need thicker sauce? Let it sit longer after cooking or try a thicker pasta type like bucatini.

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Recipe FAQs

→ Can I use ground turkey instead of beef in this Instant Pot spaghetti?

Absolutely, ground turkey makes a great stand-in for beef in this meal. Just add another tablespoon of olive oil when browning because turkey doesn't have as much fat. Cook it for the same amount of time and you'll still end up with a yummy dinner using a lighter meat option.

→ Why shouldn't I stir the spaghetti after adding it to the Instant Pot?

Keeping the spaghetti unstirred stops it from sticking together and forming a mass at the bottom, which might trigger that annoying burn message. The way we layer things makes sure the pasta cooks evenly while letting the pot build up the right pressure.

→ What if I don't have whole wheat spaghetti?

Regular pasta works just fine for this recipe. Stick with the same cooking time of 8 minutes for normal thickness pasta. If you've got thin spaghetti or angel hair pasta in your pantry, just cut the cooking time down to 5-6 minutes so it doesn't turn mushy.

→ Can I double this Instant Pot spaghetti recipe?

You can definitely double up as long as everything stays below the max fill line on your pot. The cooking time stays the same, but remember it'll take a bit longer to reach pressure. Just make sure all your pasta gets covered with liquid before you start cooking.

→ Why does my spaghetti look soupy right after cooking?

That extra liquid is totally normal and actually a good thing! As noted in the steps, your pasta will keep soaking up liquid while it sits. This stops your spaghetti from drying out and lets the starches make a smooth, silky sauce. Just let it rest uncovered for a few minutes and you'll see the texture improve a lot.

→ How can I make this Instant Pot spaghetti vegetarian?

You can easily swap out the beef for meatless crumbles like the ingredients mention, or throw in some sautéed mushrooms, zucchini and bell peppers for a veggie version. You'll follow the exact same cooking steps, and still end up with a tasty, filling dinner without any meat.