Description
This Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe combines juicy meatballs made from ground beef and pork with spaghetti cooked in a rich marinara sauce, all in one pot for a quick and satisfying meal. Perfect for busy weeknights!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef (or a mix of beef and pork)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (or 2 tablespoons dried parsley)
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
- 4 cups water or broth
- 12 ounces spaghetti (uncooked)
- Extra Parmesan cheese for serving (optional)
- Fresh basil for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, egg, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Using your hands, mix everything together until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the meatballs tough.
- Once mixed, form the mixture into meatballs, about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter. You should get around 12-15 meatballs, depending on the size you make them.
- Place the formed meatballs on a plate and set them aside while we prepare the Instant Pot.
- Pour 4 cups of water or broth into the Instant Pot. This will help create steam for cooking the spaghetti.
- Add the jar of marinara sauce directly into the pot, stirring it gently to combine with the water or broth.
- Carefully place the meatballs into the sauce, ensuring they are submerged as much as possible.
- Break the uncooked spaghetti in half and lay it over the meatballs in a crisscross pattern.
- Do not stir the spaghetti into the sauce; just let it rest on top of the meatballs.
- Secure the lid on the Instant Pot and ensure the valve is set to the sealing position.
- Select the Manual or Pressure Cook setting and set the timer for 8 minutes.
- Once the cooking time is complete, allow the Instant Pot to naturally release pressure for 5 minutes. After that, carefully switch the valve to the venting position to release any remaining pressure.
- When the pressure has fully released, carefully open the lid.
- Using tongs or a slotted spoon, gently stir the spaghetti and meatballs to combine them with the sauce.
- If you find the sauce is too thick, you can add a splash of water or broth to loosen it up a bit.
- Serve the spaghetti and meatballs in bowls, garnishing with extra grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil if desired.
- Enjoy your delicious Instant Pot spaghetti and meatballs with a side salad or garlic bread for a complete meal!
Notes
- Feel free to customize the meatballs by adding your favorite herbs or spices.
- You can also use ground turkey or chicken for a lighter option.
- For a spicier kick, consider adding red pepper flakes to the marinara sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes