This Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe delivers a hearty, flavorful, one-pot meal with incredible speed and convenience. Browned ground beef, aromatic seasonings, and spaghetti all cook together in a rich tomato sauce, making weeknight dinners a breeze.

Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Sauté Aromatics & Meat: Add the 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the bottom of the Instant Pot. Turn the Instant Pot to the “Sauté” function. Add the chopped onion and sauté until softened, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in the ground beef, 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 3 teaspoons minced garlic, and salt and pepper to taste. Continue to sauté, breaking up the meat, until the beef is cooked through and browned. Drain any excess fat.
2. Remove Meat & Deglaze (Crucial Step): Scrape the cooked meat mixture out of the Instant Pot and set it aside for later. Turn the “Sauté” function off. Pour half of the 3 cups of water into the Instant Pot. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot; this is crucial to prevent a “Burn” error.
3. Layer Spaghetti: Break the 1 lb spaghetti pasta noodles in half. Layer them in an “x” pattern (criss-cross) in the bottom of the Instant Pot over the water. This helps prevent them from sticking together.
4. Add Sauce & Remaining Water: Pour the entire jar of pasta sauce and the can of diced tomatoes over the spaghetti noodles. Pour the remaining half of the water into the pot. Gently push down on the noodles to ensure they are fully submerged in the liquid. Do not stir the spaghetti and sauce layers at this point.
5. Pressure Cook: Place the lid on the Instant Pot and ensure the sealing valve is set to the “Sealing” position. Cook on Manual High Pressure (or Pressure Cook High) for 5 minutes.
6. Release Pressure: Once the cooking time is complete, allow a Natural Pressure Release (NPR) for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, carefully push the valve to the “Venting” position to quick release any remaining pressure.
7. Combine & Serve: Once the float valve drops and it’s safe to open, remove the lid. Return the cooked meat mixture to the Instant Pot. Stir everything well to combine the spaghetti, sauce, and meat. Serve hot.

Enjoy your quick and easy Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs!