The Best Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce

I love easy healthy meals. I also love spaghetti, but spaghetti is not known to be healthy, until now! With a few simple changes, I’ve made this a healthy Instant Pot Spaghetti recipe that your whole family will love. 

The best part is this is an Instant Pot recipe–it’s easier than ever before and it cooks in one pot. No Instant Pot? That’s ok, there are stovetop directions below!

Just the spaghetti recipe, please.

I have readers from all levels of comfort and experience in the kitchen and I receive a lot of questions about how to make recipes.

To better serve all of my readers here at My Crazy Good Life, I’ve committed to put a ton of helpful information in all of my posts. If you’d like to skip over the parts about freezing, swapping ingredients, and diet information, please simply scroll to the bottom of the page, where you will find the printable Instant Pot Spaghetti recipe.

Ingredients 

• Ground meat: While turkey and beef are comparable nutrient wise, turkey does have a lower amount of saturated fat which is better for heart health. I normally use ground turkey in this recipe.
• Italian seasoning: All of your favorite Italian herbs mixed together in one blend. If you don’t have these in your pantry you can use a little oregano, basil or parsley. Whatever you have on hand. 
• Onions: Onions contain antioxidants and compounds that fight inflammation, decrease triglycerides and reduce cholesterol levels. 
• Chicken Broth: Make sure and grab low-sodium or salt free broth. 
• Spaghetti Sauce: Sometimes it is hard to find a good store-bought sauce. A lot contain added sugar and highly processed oils. Take a look at the ingredients label and find a sauce that only has vegetables and olive oil. Avoid any with added sugar or highly processed oils. Remember, tomatoes have naturally occurring sugar so you will always see some sugar in the Nutrition Facts. 
• Whole Wheat Spaghetti: Whole wheat pasta is a better choice because it is full of complex carbs, fiber, iron, magnesium, and zinc. White pasta is a refined carb and has been stripped of most of its nutrients during processing. 
• Bay Leaves: Adding whole bay leaves to soups, and sauces is an easy way to add extra flavor. Just be sure to pull the leaves out before serving. Or don’t, my family tradition was whomever found the bay leaf did the dishes. ;)

Instant Pot Instructions:

Time needed: 13 minutes

Time needed for this Pressure Cooker Spaghetti recipe does not include time for your Instant Pot to come to pressure, since this varies depending on size and altitude.

1. Add olive oil to the bottom of your pot, or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Turn the Instant Pot to sauté. When the Instant Pot is hot, add the ground turkey, Italian seasoning, and onions.
3. Use a spatula to stir, and break apart and large chunks of turkey. Once the turkey is cooked, drain the excess grease from the pot.
4. Add your chicken broth to the pot and break your noodles in half. Spread the spaghetti noodles in a thin layer over your turkey, then add your bay leaves and cover your noodles with sauce. Do not stir.
5. Close and lock the lid, then turn the pressure valve to sealing. Set your pot to cook on high pressure for 4 minutes. 
6. When the cook time is complete, quick release the pressure and open the lid. Quick release means that you will move your sealing valve from Sealing to Venting, and steam will come out of the valve to stop the cooking.
7. Stir your spaghetti and let it sit in the pot for a couple of minutes to soak up any remaining liquid.
8. Garnish with freshly grated parmesan, if desired, and serve warm. For meal prep, separate into individual serving size containers and refrigerate or freeze until ready to eat.  

Stovetop Instructions

Note: Chicken stock is not needed with this cooking method. 

1. In a large bowl, mix together raw ground meat, seasonings, and onion.
2. Add water to a large pot and turn on high. Covering the pot will help it to boil faster.
3. Add oil to a large pan and cook ground meat mixture until brown.
4. When pot of water is boiling, add pasta and cook according to package directions.
5. When turkey is cooked, add sauce to the pan and heat thoroughly.
6. When noodles are cooked, rinse.
7. Make your plate and enjoy!

Healthy Eating Plans:

• 21 Day Fix: The entire recipe for 21 Day Fix Spaghetti is 4 Green Containers, 4 Red Containers, and 12 Yellow Containers.
  • Per 1 ½ cup serving, count these containers: ½ Green Containers, ½ Red Container, and 1 ½ Yellow Container.  
  • Note: I give the container count for the full recipe so it’s easy for you to re-calculate your containers if you change something.
• 2B Mindset: This is a great lunch recipe when 25% of your plate is vegetables.  
• Weight Watchers myWW Plans: 6 2023 Plan Points | 8 Blue Plan Points | 8 Green Plan Points | 2 Purple Plan Points per 1 ½ cup serving. 

This is a perfect Weight Watchers Spaghetti recipe because it’s filling, contains low point foods, and is a generous serving size.

More Instant Pot recipes:

• Teriyaki Meatballs
• Healthy Goulash Recipe
• Instant Pot Cauliflower Rice
• Healthy Egg Drop Soup
• Instant Pot Baked Oatmeal

Even more easy recipes that are perfect for busy weeknights:

• Homemade Rotisserie Chicken I love cooking this on the weekends to prep for the week!
• Healthy Mac and Cheese
• Tuscan Chicken Pasta
• Healthy Beef Stroganoff

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The Best Instant Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

Created by: Becca Ludlum

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 3 minutes mins

Total Time 13 minutes mins

Approximate Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups

Servings 8

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This easy Instant Pot Spaghetti and meat sauce is a quick meal for busy weeknights! Whole grain pasta makes this a healthy family dinner recipe. Stovetop directions included.

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Equipment

• Instant Pot 6 qt
• Sealing Rings

Ingredients 

US CustomaryMetric

• ▢ 1 lb ground turkey
• ▢ 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
• ▢ 1 cup onion chopped
• ▢ 2 cups chicken broth low sodium
• ▢ 16 oz whole wheat pasta spaghetti
• ▢ 2 bay leaves
• ▢ 24 oz spaghetti sauce no sugar added, or homemade

Instructions

Instant Pot:

• Spray your Instant Pot with cooking spray and set to Sauté. Once the pot is hot add the ground turkey, Italian seasoning, and onions. Use a spatula to stir, and break apart and large chunks of turkey. Once the turkey is cooked, drain the excess grease from the pot. 1 lb ground turkey, 1 tbsp Italian seasoning, 1 cup onion
• Next add your chicken broth. Break your noodles in half and spread in a thin layer over your turkey, add your bay leaves, then cover your noodles with your sauce. Do not stir. 2 cups chicken broth , 16 oz whole wheat pasta, 2 bay leaves, 24 oz spaghetti sauce
• Close and lock the lid and turn the pressure valve to sealing. Set your pot to Pressure Cook (high) for 4 minutes.
• When the cook time is complete, quick release the pressure and remove the lid. Stir your spaghetti and let it sit in the pot for a couple minutes to soak up any remaining liquid.
• Optional: Garnish with freshly grated parmesan and serve warm. For meal prep, separate into individual serving size containers and refrigerate or freeze until ready to eat.

Stovetop:

• In a large bowl, mix together raw ground meat, seasonings, and onion. 1 lb ground turkey, 1 tbsp Italian seasoning, 1 cup onion
• Add water to a large pot and turn on high. Covering the pot will help it to boil faster.
• Add oil or nonstick cooking spray to a large pan and cook ground meat mixture until brown.
• When the pot of water is boiling, add pasta and cook according to package directions. 16 oz whole wheat pasta
• When turkey is cooked, add sauce to the pan and heat thoroughly. When noodles are cooked, rinse. Make your plate and enjoy! 24 oz spaghetti sauce

Video

Notes

*Nutritional values were calculated using my homemade spaghetti sauce. 

Healthy Eating Plans:

• 21 Day Fix: The entire recipe for 21 Day Fix Spaghetti is 4 Green Containers, 4 Red Containers, and 12 Yellow Containers. Per 1 ½ cup serving ½ Green Containers, ½ Red Container, and 1 ½ Yellow Container.  
• 2B Mindset: This is a great lunch recipe when 25% of your plate is vegetables.  
• Weight Watchers 2023 Plan: 6 Points per serving. 
• Weight Watchers Blue Plan: 8 Points per 1 ½ cup serving. 
• Weight Watcher Green Plan: 8 Points per 1 ½ cup serving.
• Weight Watchers Purple Plan: 2 Points per 1 ½ cup serving.

Tips

• Check out my recipe to make your own healthy spaghetti sauce. 
• Chop your onions in a food processor, or sub them for 1 tbsp of onion powder. 
• This recipe works well with ground beef as well, but increases the fat content. 
• If pasta is undercooked for your taste, turn your Instant Pot to sauté and allow it to simmer for a couple of minutes until noodles reach your desired doneness. 
• Add salt and pepper to taste.

Nutrition

Calories: 300kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 53mg | Potassium: 658mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 393IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 4mg

Make This Recipe?

Make sure to follow on Pinterest @bludlum and on Instagram @beccaludlum