Why you’ll love this recipe:
Instant Pot spaghetti and meatballs is a lifesaving recipe on those super busy weeknights when you don’t know what to cook but need to get dinner on the table. The perfect last-minute dinner, it requires no prep work as long as you have meatballs on hand!
- Hands-off – This recipe only requires 5 minutes of prep time and has a total time of 30 minutes, with the Instant Pot doing all the hard work!
- Family favorite – Who can resist hearty meatballs, tender noodles, and savory pasta sauce? This is one meal that will have even the pickiest eaters asking for seconds.
- One pot – Everything cooks in the Instant Pot, meaning cleanup is quick and easy.
You may never go back to traditional stovetop spaghetti recipes again!
Find more Instant Pot recipes here.
Key Ingredient Notes:
- Meatballs – I use my go-to meatballs recipe, but you can use any kind of meatballs here. Beef, chicken, or turkey meatballs are all great. Cooked or uncooked, fresh or frozen, it doesn’t matter. Frozen meatballs don’t need to be thawed, and uncooked meatballs don’t require more cooking time!
- Spaghetti – Any kind will work here. Whole wheat, regular, gluten-free – it all tastes great! If preferred you can even use a different type of pasta such as penne.
- Pasta sauce – Store-bought or homemade spaghetti sauce are the most common options, but any pasta sauce you like best will taste great. I like mushroom and basil sauce for more flavor, but feel free to experiment with different options like cherry tomato sauce, too!
- Olive oil – This helps prevent the spaghetti from clumping together and adds a little extra flavor.
- Topping options – Freshly grated parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of fresh basil are the perfect garnishes!
How to make Instant Pot spaghetti:
Learn how to make the best pressure cooker spaghetti with the simple steps below. It’s a hands-off recipe that’s unbelievably tasty!
- Step 1. Arrange the meatballs in an even layer in the bottom of the Instant Pot.
- Step 2. Break the spaghetti in half, and arrange the pieces over the meatball in criss-cross layers.
- Step 3. Drizzle olive oil evenly over the spaghetti.
- Step 4. Pour the pasta sauce and water on top. Make sure you coat the spaghetti completely. Otherwise, the pasta won’t become tender.
- Step 5. Cover, and set the Instant Pot to manual for 10 minutes at high pressure. Quick release the pressure, and carefully open the lid. Make sure to allow all the pressure to release first!
- Step 6. Divide your spaghetti onto plates, add parmesan and fresh basil, and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
This spaghetti recipe is filling enough to serve on its own. However, I like to bulk up the meal with a side of crusty bread, a refreshing salad, or extra veggies. Some of my favorite recipes to pair with this dish include:
Time-Saving Tips:
- Use pre-made meatballs. I always have a batch of meatballs in my freezer. It’s a game-changer when it comes to preparing quick weeknight meals. The best part is, you don’t even have to thaw them for this dish!
- Purchase half-length spaghetti. If you can find half-length spaghetti, it makes layering the noodles a lot easier. They fit in the Instant Pot nicely, meaning you don’t have to snap them in half and send noodles soaring all over your kitchen!
- Use store-bought sauce. This probably goes without saying, but it’s so worth the time and effort saved to just pick up a jar of your favorite store-bought pasta sauce instead of making it from scratch.
Storing Tips:
This Instant Pot spaghetti and meatballs recipe is great to prepare in advance because it stores and reheats well.
- Transfer leftovers to an airtight container, and store them in the fridge for 3-5 days.
- Freeze your spaghetti and meatballs for up to 6 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before serving.
- Reheat leftovers in the microwave. Or, transfer them to a baking dish, and bake covered at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes or until heated through.
Instant Pot Spaghetti & Meatballs FAQs:
No, spaghetti sauce does not count as a liquid, which is why the addition of water is crucial for this recipe. Otherwise, your noodles won’t cook properly!
Layering the spaghetti noodles in a criss-cross fashion will prevent them from clumping together. It’s okay if a few of them stick to each other!
Yes, setting your Instant Pot to pressure cook too long will cause the noodles to overcook and become mushy. Be sure to release the pressure as soon as the timer goes off!
Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 lb meatballs Note 1
- 8 oz spaghetti Note 2
- 24 oz pasta sauce of your choice
- 2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Optional toppings:
- Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil
Instructions
- Arrange meatballs in Instant Pot in one layer.
- Break spaghetti in half and arrange them over the meatballs in criss cross layers. (See image below.)
- Drizzle olive oil over spaghetti.
- Pour pasta sauce and water, making sure spaghetti is completely covered.
- Cover and set the Instant Pot to manual for 10 minutes at high pressure.
- Quick release pressure and carefully open the lid.
- Serve with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.If you tried this recipe, I’d love to read your feedback. Please leave your comment and rating below, or share on Instagram with #busycooks and tag us @busy_cooks. Thank you!!
Notes
Nutrition
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full nutrition disclosure.
Sharing of this recipe is encouraged and appreciated. Copying of full recipe to any social media is prohibited.
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This recipe was originally published on Novermber 9, 2018.
Reader's Reviews
Sue B says
You need a go-to spaghetti and meatballs recipe, and this is it. Fast and easy and good.
Shinee says
So happy you loved the recipe, Sue. Thank you for your feedback!
Carla says
The sauce came out a bit more watery than I would like, so next time I will probably try this with a bit less water, but other than that it was great. Thanks for this easy, delicious recipe!
Heather says
Mine has done that before. I just let it set a little and it set up.
This is one of my favorites!!
Shinee says
Hi, Carla. Thank you for your feedback. As Heather mentioned, it usually sets up nicely in a bit.
Gail says
This was really good quick and easy. I do however like my spaghetti more al dente, but for a quick dinner this was fine. I added more meatballs than the recipe called for because that is what I had. We like a lot of sauce, so after it was done I added extra sauce to the finished product. Served it with salad and everyone was happy. Thanks for the recipe.
Shinee says
Thank you, Gail, for your feedback! So glad you gave it a try!
Heather says
LOVE! LOVE!! LOVE!!!!!
SO SIMPLE. SO EASY! SO TASTY!
I CAN’T WAIT TO MAKE IT AGAIN!
Shinee says
Yay, so happy you tried and loved the recipe, Heather! Thank you for your feedback!
Trudy Buchanan says
I’ve used this recipe several times and it always comes out perfectly! Thank you for sharing it with us.
Shinee says
Awesome. So happy you and your family enjoys this recipe, Trudy! I really appreciate your feedback.
Jennifer K says
Made this tonight with frozen raw meatballs and it came out absolutely delicious! Thank you for this easy, yet flavorful recipe! My new ‘go-to’ for spaghetti! 💖
Shinee says
Yay, so happy you loved it, Jennifer! I appreciate your feedback!
Cheryl says
This recipe was fast and easy, the kids loved it! It made enough for our family of four to eat it twice. Thanks for posting this recipe! The rating stuff below is not displaying right, I would give it the best rating.
Shinee says
Cheryl, thank you SO much for your feedback! I’m glad your family enjoyed it.
Viviana says
This is the only recipe that I use to make spaghetti and meatballs in my IP. Love it! It’s so easy. Thank you so much!
Shinee says
That’s awesome. So happy you’re loving this recipe, Viviana. Thank you for your review!
Jeff Doughtie says
Your recipe is my go to !! I use a Foodie also, so it works the same !!!! Very easy in 20 mins and done !!
Shinee says
That’s awesome, Jeff. Thank you for your feedback!
Rose says
This is Rose I wonder if I had to be following before I could see the recipe, because today I found your recipe real easy
If I knew how to send you the screen shot page from yesterday you would see why I couldn’t find the recipe.
Shinee says
Glad you were able to find the recipe now, Rose. All of our recipes are available for free to everyone, no following or subscribing required.
Rose says
Is there any way of putting your recipe first thing you see, instead of making it hard to find .
I had to use a different recipe because I couldn’t find yours
Shinee says
Hi, Rose. It makes me sad to read this comment. I intentionally placed the recipe right at the top so you don’t have to scroll down to look for recipe. (Maybe I should move it down, so it’s more “traditional”. Just thinking outloud. 🤷♀️ )
Kacey says
This is the best spaghetti and meatballs recipe I have tried in the Instant Pot. The liquid amount is perfect, and the consistency comes out perfect!
Shinee says
So happy you loved the result. Thank you for sharing your feedback, Kacey!!
Martha Seagle says
Love this recipe—super quick and easy! And, most of all—it is GOOD!
Shinee says
Awesome. I’m so glad you enjoy this recipe, Martha. Thank you!!
Karen M. Gray says
What if you want to make a large pot with the whole box of pasta and a 54 oz bottle of prego? How much water would you add?
Shinee says
Hi, Karen. You’ll probably need to double the water as well. But instead of adding all of it at once, add it slowly until it the noodles are mostly covered. Hope this helps.
Debi gillespie says
The best spaghetti I’ve ever had!
Shinee says
Fantastic! So glad you tried and loved it, Debi. It’s out favorite too!
D. Polly Pedersen says
Made this tonight and it came out ok. I would add more sauce next time.. Put in 24 oz of pasta sauce plus a 15 oz can of diced tomatoes. When it was finished, still seemed a bit too dry so I added another 1/2 of a 15 oz can of tomato sauce. Added the rest of the sauce from that can. later.. Definitely increase the liquids or decrease the pasta. I would make this again with some tweaks. Isn’t that what cooking is all about? Thank you for this go to recipe. Very kid friendly!
Shinee says
Hi, Polly. Thank you for your feedback and sharing your tweaks! Cooking (unlike baking) is definitely all about personal touches and tweaks! It’s interesting though, the most common complaint about Instant Pot spaghetti recipes is pasta being too watery. And I intentionally tested and retested different amount of liquid to settle on the least amount of water. Anyway, I appreciate your feedback!
D. Polly Pedersen says
Hi Shinee,
One of the helpful tips I learned from your recipe was how to cook frozen meatballs, which is why I tried the recipe. 🙂 They got a little black on the bottom but not enough to spoil the recipe. Has that happened to you ? Next time I will spray a bit of oil on the bottom. I liked the directions to add bit of olive oil to the pasta. I used rotini.
Shinee says
Hmm, I have never had that happen to me, Polly. And I make this recipe quite often. I just want to make sure. You did add 2 cups of water, right?
Dave Smith says
I’ve made this pasta and meatballs twice. The first was ok but a little bland for our taste. I think it was the sauce. The next pot I made I added one package of spaghetti sauce mix. Made a lot of difference to my gang.
Shinee says
Thank you for your feedback, Dave, and for sharing your adaptation. Is the spaghetti sauce mix a dry spice mix?
Christine says
Can you use Uncooked frozen meatballs? Would the uncooked meatballs need to be thawed first?
Shinee says
Yes, you can use frozen uncooked meatballs. I’ve tested with raw frozen meatballs, works just as great. No need to thaw them and no need to adjust cooking time either. Hope you’ll enjoy, Christine.
Amber Nixon says
What about doubling the recipe?
Amber Nixon says
*Specifically doubling the pasta and noodles? I made ground sausage meatballs that were very good, but I could have used more pasta!*
Shinee says
Hi, Amber. So sorry for delayed answer. You can definitely double the pasta. But you’ll need to add more water/sauce. I can’t say exactly how much, but you want the noodles fully submerged.
Tee says
What if I wanted to add fresh mushrooms, green peppers and onions? Same directions?
Shinee says
Hi, Tee. Yes, just add those veggies over meatballs and follow the same directions. Let us know how you like it. Thanks!
Michele Matter says
Could you use Italian sausage in place of meatballs?
Shinee says
I think so, but I’d brown it first and drain excess fat.
Lesley Wolff says
Can you use any type of pasta, like penne pasta
Shinee says
Yes, absolutely. I have used penne pasta many times, and honestly I kind of prefer penne over spaghetti. Let me know if you give it a try.
Phyllis Wright says
how do I change this to cook for 2 servings?
Shinee says
Hi, Phyllis. You can half the recipe, but keep the cooking time the same. Let me know if you give it a try!