3-Ingredient Instant Pot Spaghetti

Only 3 ingredients make up this whole wheat Instant Pot Spaghetti recipe that your family will love. You’ll have a nutritious dinner done in about 15-20 minutes and will only dirty up one pot! You can make it with our optional meat sauce (delicious!) or no meat at all.

Photo byThriving Home

Why I’m Loving This Recipe

• Fast and Easy: Sooo easy for a weeknight meal! I can simply dump 3 ingredients into the pot and have a hands-free dinner ready in less than 25 minutes.
• With or Without Meat Sauce: While you can enjoy this recipe as meat-free, it’s super simple to make our flavorful meat sauce in the Instant Pot using my instructions below.
• Healthy: I used whole wheat spaghetti in this recipe because it is packed with nutrients such as complex carbs, protein, fiber, iron, magnesium, and zinc. And…no one will ever know the difference!
• Large Batch: This meal makes a very large batch and serves at least 8 people–especially if you add the meat sauce. It’s an easy recipe for a group.
• Budget-Friendly: Just grab a box of whole wheat spaghetti and two jars of marinara from the store and you’re down about $6-7 depending on the brands. That’s less than $1/serving!!

How to Make Instant Pot Spaghetti (With No Meat)

• 4 cups water
• 16 ounces (full package) whole wheat spaghetti
• 2 (24 ounce) jars of marinara sauce (I used our Homemade Marinara)
• Optional, for serving: freshly grated Parmesan cheese and/or fresh chopped parsley or basil

1. Add the water. Break the spaghetti in half and spread it out in layers, criss crossing each other. Make sure they aren’t clumped together. Pour the sauce over the top and make sure all the pasta is covered. DO NOT STIR.
2. Pressure cook on high for 5 minutes. Let the pressure naturally release for 5 minutes (no longer!). Then do a quick release of the rest of the pressure. Stir and let the pasta sit for about 5 minutes so it thickens up.
3. Enjoy with lots of Parmesan cheese and freshly chopped basil on top, if desired.

Photo byThriving Home

How to Make Instant Pot Spaghetti WITH Meat Sauce

This is my favorite way to make this! My family loves it. Here’s how to make it with meat sauce in one pot:

1. Turn on the Saute function on high. Heat 1-2 tablespoons olive oil. Add diced onion and saute until soft, about 4 minutes.
2. Add the ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks. Season with salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and garlic. If there’s a lot of excess grease, carefully drain off some of it. Turn off the Saute function.
3. Add the water. Break the spaghetti in half and spread it out in layers, criss crossing each other. Make sure they aren’t clumped together. Pour the sauce over the top and make sure all the pasta is covered. DO NOT STIR.
4. Pressure cook on high for 5 minutes. Let the pressure naturally release for 5 minutes (no longer!). Then do a quick release of the rest of the pressure. Stir and let the pasta sit for about 5 minutes so it thickens up.
5. Enjoy with lots of Parmesan cheese and freshly chopped basil on top, if desired.

What to Serve with Instant Pot Spaghetti

• Summer Strawberry Salad
• Oven Roasted Broccoli
• Texas Toast
• Oven Roasted Asparagus

Photo byThriving Home

How Long Do I Cook Spaghetti in the Instant Pot?

I found in all my tests that the key to perfect whole wheat spaghetti in the Instant Pot is cooking it for 5 minutes at high pressure and then letting the pressure naturally release for 5 minutes (simply don’t touch it). Then, turn the valve to do a quick release of the remaining pressure.

If for some reason your pasta is not fully done after releasing the pressure, turn on the Saute mode on low and add a 1/2 cup water (or more as needed). Stir and let it cook for a few minutes. It will soften up.

More Instant Pot Recipes You’ll Love

• 6-Ingredient Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
• 20+ Instant Pot Chicken Recipes
• Easy Instant Pot Jambalaya
• Instant Pot Potato Soup

Whether you want a healthy, kid-friendly dinner or a freezer meal on hand for later, we think you’ll love the simplicity of this Whole Wheat Instant Pot Spaghetti with meat or without meat!

Photo byThriving Home