You want some spaghetti, but don’t want to drag out the large pots for boiling water and for cooking the sauce. You want to make a smaller amount. You’re not in the mood to stand at the stove for a long time. And you want it to taste good. This is the perfect time to make a small batch of Instant Pot Mini – Spaghetti. In this continuing “Mini Series” I give you a tasty and easy recipe for spaghetti in the 3 quart electric pressure cooker.
Instant Pot Mini – Spaghetti
If Paul goes out of town, I’m cooking for one. I don’t mind having leftovers, but my normal pot of spaghetti that I have made for years yields enough to feed 10 people! That’s a bit too much.
The 3 quart Instant Pot pressure cooker is the perfect size for making spaghetti for one or two servings. This Instant Pot Mini – Spaghetti recipe yields 3 cups, so that’s two servings for me.
I like to use marinara if I’m using jarred sauce, as I can spice it up to my liking. If you have a favorite jarred sauce, then just add in the onion and garlic as written in this recipe. It will enhance the flavor of the sauce nicely.
I have had great results with this recipe delivering noodles that don’t stick together. It’s all in how you put them in the sauce. Break them in thirds, then you have to arrange them in a random pattern, changing directions so they don’t all lay with their sides touching.
Then just push them down into the sauce without stirring it. Just make sure they get submerged. When they are done just stir them up!
Instant Pot Mini – Mac and Cheese
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Instant Pot Mini – Tasty Black Beans
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Instant Pot Mini - Spaghetti is a quick and tasty spaghetti made in your 3 quart electric pressure cooker. Makes 3 cups.
- 1/2 lb Ground Beef, lean (or lean ground turkey)
- 1/2 small Onion, diced
- 2 cloves Garlic, pressed or finely minced
- 1 cup Water
- 4 oz Spaghetti Noodles, broken in thirds
- 1 1/2 cups Spaghetti Sauce* (jarred, or homemade)
- Salt & Pepper to Taste (will depend on how salty the sauce you use is)
- 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated
- 1/2 cup Mushrooms, sliced
- 1/2 cup Bell Pepper, chopped
- 5 Fresh Basil Leaves, chopped
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Turn on the Sauté function (Normal/Med heat). When the display reads “Hot” add the meat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until almost done. If using ground turkey you may need to add a little oil first.
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Add the onion, cook, stirring occasionally, until onion starts to turn translucent.
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Add garlic, stir. Cancel the Sauté setting.
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Add the water.
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Sprinkle on the noodles in a criss cross pattern, varying the placement so not all of them are laying side by side. This is to minimize them sticking together. Use a spoon to gently press them down, but do not stir it.
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Add spaghetti sauce over noodles, covering them completely. Do Not Stir.
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Place the lid on the pressure cooker and lock it into place. Set the steam release knob to Sealing.
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Press the Pressure Cook (Manual) button and then the + or - button to choose 9 minutes (or 7 minutes for firmer al dente).
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When the cook cycle is finished, let the pot sit and naturally release pressure for 2 minutes (I use a heartier pasta, if you don't, then do a Quick Release}. Then manually release the remaining pressure by turning the steam release knob to Venting.
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When the pin in the lid drops, it is safe to open the lid. Open and stir the spaghetti. Separate any noodles that may have stuck together. Taste and adjust salt, if needed.
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Stir in the parmesan cheese and serve with any garnish you like.
*Depending on how seasoned your spaghetti sauce is, you might want to consider adding extra spices. I use marinara sauce, so I have to add spices. I like Italian seasoning, oregano, and a bay leaf.
Resources to Make Instant Pot Spaghetti Recipe and More
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This little pot is amazing! I’m a non-cook. My daughter in law gave me this 3qt to try. I’ve just made the spaghetti from ingredients I set aside while making a big batch on the stove. Instant pot batch is so much more flavorful! I’ve only had it about 2 weeks. Cooked rice and a pork roast, stew beef and pork ribs. I’m so impressed and inspired to actually try my hand at real cooking, not just microwaving frozen something!
Hi again! Could you please Change “Stir” in Step 4 to “DO NOT STIR” , like we’ve learned since you’ve posted this. Thank you!
Hi Kaye, I realize that I haven’t updated this in a long time. I revised the instructions.
Thank you and Happy New Year!
Your Oregon neighbor,
Kaye
I’m new to the Instant Pot. Does the meat need to be thawed first?
Yes, for best results.
I do not use any meat in mine, will the cook time be the same cooking with no meat?
Yes it will because of the pasta.
Thumbs up on the spaghetti recipe, the technique, and the Instant Pot!
I thought for sure when I saw all that liquid in there that it was going to be a watery mess when done, but it had pretty much a perfect consistency as far as I was concerned.
As the recipe author had for suggestions I added some diced green pepper and sliced mushrooms.
Two things I learned:
1) I didn’t read ahead in the comments of the recipe where she mentioned that thinner pasta takes less cooking time so you should adjust. I used linguini (thinner) so mine turned out on the mushy side, like you’d see in some canned spaghetti. No biggie since I kinda like it that way.
2) The sauce you use makes the difference in the seasonings, of course. I used something I wasn’t all that familiar with (Italian cuisine isn’t really my thing anyway) but a pinch of this and that (basil, oregano, etc) later and it was good to go.
Servings: I had seconds, and if I HAD to I could have finished this batch off, but I can see this easily feeding two people especially if you added some garlic bread or something.
I’ll be making this again (and again).
Hi, great review! Thank you. I’m happy that this recipe worked for you.
i bought my pot over a week ago and haven’t tried anything yet. I am in a long term facility with my husband until about 7 every night so I’m always too tired to cook when I come home. Could I prepare the meat then add all the other ingredients around 12-1 pm and set the pot on a timer for this spaghetti recipe?
I think you could. I haven’t tried it with spaghetti. And since it needs a Quick Release of pressure so the pasta doesn’t overcook, I would set the cook time to be a few minutes less. It would be a good experiment.
Just made this recipe tonight. Best IP Mini Spaghetti recipe I’ve tried yet ! This one is a keeper. Thanks !
That’s great, thank you!
PERFECTION! Thank you for the instructions. The time and ratios worked oh, so well! I used my own seasonings.
I can’t wait to try out more recipes especially suited to the mini!
That’s great, Kristin! Thank you for your review!
Hi, can I use 1lb ofbeef instead of half?
Yes.
Hi! Just got my mini. Having hard time finding pot roast recipe with carrots and potatoes. Any suggestions? Thanks! K
You can use my pot roast recipes. Just cut the roast into 1 lb pieces and the cook time will remain the same. With the Mini, you may want to reduce the liquid by 1/3 or so. Mississippi Pot Roast (with this one, halve the recipe, keep cook time the same). Instant Pot Pot Roast
What is the tip about the clip.
A metal binder clip will hold the pot in place as you stir.
Just bought this Insta-Pot mini with no clue how to use it. After a semi-successful attempt at cooking pasta last night, I looked for some 3qt size recipes online and found this site, and recipe. I tried it tonight with ground turkey (yes, one needs some olive oil to saute), fresh garlic and onion, and it was shockingly fantastic. I say shocking as I’d not used an Insta-pot before and can barely cook anyway, so I had no idea what to expect. I’d planned to make a couple of meals out of this batch, but ended eating the whole thing it was so good. Ha…you made me into an actual cook. Thanks for this recipe and I look forward to trying more of them. (oh..and the tip about the clip was perfect)
That’s great, Evan! Thank you for your review!
Can I make this recipe without using the pasta in the instapot ?
You mean just the sauce?
I have the Lux mini, not Duo, so am glad to have recipes for it.Thank you! I am going to make the spaghetti!! Love to have more of your recipes for it!!
That’s great, Martha! I hope you like them. Many of my other recipes can be cut in half to accommodate the 3 qt size.
I look forward to trying this recipe w/o meat and using GF pasta. Would the pressure cook or steam release time change? Thanks!
Hi Margaret, the only things that will change are the cook time for not frying meat (but you still cook the onion), and the GF pasta cook time. Every pasta is different. Usually half the recommended cook time, or a minute less. It depends on what it is made out of, rice, corn, etc.
Can I do this with meatballs?
Yes, just have them on the bottom.
Purchased my Instant Pot Mini last week and tried your spaghetti recipe. It was delicious. Looking forward to trying more of your recipes.
Hi Cathy! I’m happy you liked the spaghetti! Thank you for your review!
I was going to get another small slow cooker for my truck(I am an over the road trucker driver) when i splurged and bought my mini I-P. Tried out this spaghetti recipe this weekend. Results? FANTASTIC. Only variation was I also added some pepperoni.Taste?I thought it was even better than leftover spaghetti, and everyone knows 2nd day is better. Can’t wait to try the mac and cheese! Ron
Thank you for the info on converting recipes for 6 quart to 3 quart mini. Because many recipes cannot be halved without adjusting the temperature, the times, or the ratio of spices or other ingredients. The info that came with the mini said nothing about converting recipes. I was not only disappointed but angry that I spent so much on an appliance and the company couldn’t bother to provide some recipes for guaranteed success and info on conversion. I contacted the company with no response from them. Thanks again.
Hi Candace, I hear you. I’m still working on more 3 qt recipes, so please check back. If you ever have a question, please ask! Take care.
Do you think vermicelli or angel hair pasta would overcook ?Thanks
Hi Kim. yes, I do think they would overcook. You could try thin spaghetti, which is in between spaghetti and angel hair. Reduce the cook time by a minute or two. When I use vermicelli, usually in a soup, I add it after pressure cooking. Then I just simmer it for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until it is soft.
what about a smaller type pasta like penne or bowtie? would the cook times need to be adjusted?
The rule of thumb with pasta is to cook it for half of the time the package directions say to. So if the package calls for 9 minutes, do 4 minutes for more al dente, and 5 minutes for softer pasta.
I made this recipe with fake meat crumbles. Nothing fancy, I mainly wanted to make sure that the texture of the pasta would be correct.
It was great! Next time I can doctor it up with mushrooms, etc.
Thank you!
That’s great, Vada. I really like pasta done in the IP. Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for your review!
can I make the 6qt recipes in the mini by halfing the recipes
Hi Peggy, yes, as a general rule you can. The cook times will remain the same, unless the cut of meat is thicker/thinner, etc. If you ever have a question about halving one of the recipes, please ask!
I made this recipe for dinner and it turned out perfect. This was my first attempt at using the mini instant pot.
Hi Jane! That’s so great! Thank you for letting me know! Look for more Mini recipes coming soon!
Can you make this with frozen spaghetti sauce, or would you have to defrost the sauce first? Thanks!
Hi Harleen, you would want to defrost it first as the sauce is part of what cooks the pasta and makes it soft.
Are you sure 4oz of pasta is correct? That is not very much. Thank you!
Hi Jacque, yes, I’m sure. This is a recipe for the smaller, 3 quart Mini Instant Pot (for those who want to make smaller amounts). It is half of the normal recipe. Just double it (but keep the same cook time) for a full batch. Thank you for your question.
Could I make double in the mini? Have you ever tried that?
Hi Betsy, I haven’t tried making a double batch in the Mini as I also have a 6 qt and would use that. If you try it, make sure you are doing a controlled quick release as the pot will be fuller and more risk of sauce spewing out of the vent. Go slowly, in bursts until you feel certain that the coast is clear!
YUM
Thanks, I am going to try this after I make hard boiled eggs first. I have the instant pot mini.
Hi Colleen! I hope you love it! We sure do!
Could this recipe be made in a 6 quart pot? I like the smaller quantity but I have a standard size Instant Pot. Thank you.
Hi Judy! I have only tested this in the 3 quart. I think it has enough water that you could, in theory, make this in the 5 or 6 quart. Not the 8 quart without more liquid. I would just try a batch.