Instant Pot Bolognese
Looking for a quick and delicious Instant Pot beef dish to make for dinner tonight? This saucy and savory Instant Pot Bolognese is perfect! This super easy recipe comes together in just 30 minutes and is sure to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.
If you’re a fan of Italian cuisine, you will love this Instant Pot spaghetti bolognese. This classic pasta dish is loaded with aromatic spices, tender ground beef, and a rich tomato sauce. And, thanks to the Instant Pot, it can be made in just a fraction of the time! In no time, you’ll have a flavorful and satisfying meal hot and ready to serve to your friends, family, or even unexpected dinner guests. Baked Ziti with Ricotta is another one of our pasta recipes if you enjoy making easy Italian meals.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 ½ tsp dried oregano
- 1 ½ tsp dried basil
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 24 oz red pasta sauce
- 1 lb uncooked spaghetti noodles
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup fresh parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Equipment You’ll Need
You’ll only need a few basic kitchen tools to make this delicious Instant Pot bolognese. Be sure that you have a set of measuring cups, a sturdy cutting board, a chef’s knife, a cheese grater, a wooden spoon, and of course an Instant Pot or other pressure cooker.
How to Make Easy Instant Pot Bolognese
- Use the sauté function on your Instant Pot to brown together the ground beef and minced garlic.
- Layer the spaghetti into the pot and add enough water to submerge it.
- Add the basil, oregano, onion powder, and marinara sauce and stir to combine.
- Cook the spaghetti on high pressure until al-dente.
- Quickly release the pressure before removing the lid of the Instant Pot.
- Stir in the freshly shredded parmesan cheese, serve, and enjoy!
Expert Tips and Tricks
Not a fan of beef? You can swap out the ground beef for crumbled Italian sausage, ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground lamb.
Be mindful of the amount of salt, pepper, and other seasonings you add to this pasta dish. I recommend measuring out each spice because the flavor can become more concentrated during the cooking process.
If you’re in a rush, you can make this dish with precooked or leftover ground beef! If you choose to go this route, I recommend substituting the fresh garlic for some garlic powder and adding it to the dish along with the other spices.
You can use 85/15 ground beef instead of 90/10 in this Instant Pot bolognese. Just be aware that you may need to drain off some excess fat before continuing with the cooking process.
This Instant Pot bolognese recipe can be tweaked to sneak in some extra veggies. Try cooking some chopped celery, onion, or carrots with your beef mixture. Or toss in some spinach right before serving and let it wilt into this tangy and hearty dish.
How To Store and Serve Instant Pot Bolognese
To store: You can refrigerate any leftover pasta in an airtight container. When stored properly, it should stay fresh for up to 5 days.
To freeze: Allow any leftovers to cool completely before transferring them to a freezer zip-top bag. Lay the bag of spaghetti flat in the freezer where it should stay good for up to 3 months.
To reheat: Place any chilled bolognese in a small saucepan and warm over medium heat. Add splashes of beef broth as necessary. Alternatively, you can heat this dish in the microwave in 30-second increments.
To serve: I recommend pairing this hearty dish with some steamed veggies, garlic bread, or a garden salad. Don’t forget to garnish your pasta with some fresh basil and extra parmesan cheese!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does bolognese taste better the longer you cook it?
In a traditional bolognese recipe, yes. But, thanks to the immense pressure that builds up in the instant pot, you can achieve that cooked-all-day flavor in a matter of minutes.
What is the difference between meat sauce and bolognese?
Classic Italian bolognese is not typically a tomato-based sauce. Instead, it’s a milk-based sauce with just a hint of tomato. This American version, however, is much more similar to what you might call a meat sauce. It consists of ground beef and spices simmered together with a marinara sauce.
Should I add milk to Instant Pot bolognese?
I don’t find this necessary! However, if you’d like to make a creamier, more traditional spaghetti bolognese, you can stir in some heavy cream along with the parmesan. Just ¼ cup will add a ton of creaminess and richness to this meat and veggie sauce.
More Recipes:
Instant Pot Bolognese
Looking for a quick and delicious Instant Pot beef dish to make for dinner tonight? This saucy and savory Instant Pot Bolognese is perfect! This super easy recipe comes together in just 30 minutes and is sure to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 ½ tsp dried oregano
- 1 ½ tsp dried basil
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 24 oz red pasta sauce
- 1 lb uncooked spaghetti noodles
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup fresh parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Ingredient Notes
- Ground Beef—90/10 ground beef will add tons of rich and savory flavor to your meat sauce.
- Spaghetti—Or your favorite pasta shape.
- Marinara Sauce—Your favorite jarred sauce or homemade recipe.
- Parmesan Cheese—Freshly shredded will give this dish the best possible flavor.
- Spices—An aromatic blend of minced garlic, basil, oregano, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
Instructions
- Set your instant pot to the sear/ sauté function. Cook the ground beef in the instant pot and cook until the meat is browned.
- Stir in the minced garlic, basil, oregano, and onion powder. Stir until the spices evenly coat the cooked ground beef. Once the beef is evenly coated in the spices, add the noodles and water, and scrape the bottom of the instant pot with a wooden spoon or spatula to ensure nothing is stuck.
- Add the pasta sauce and pressure cook the pasta for 5 minutes followed by a quick release.
- Return the instant pot to the sear/ sauté function and add the parmesan cheese. Stir the pasta for 2-3 minutes, or until it begins to bubble.
- Add salt and pepper to taste and enjoy!
Notes
- This dish is great served with garlic bread, side salad, etc. We like to top this dish with some extra freshly grated parmesan cheese and dried oregano.
- After the pressure releases from the instant pot, the noodles might be stuck together, but they will bread apart as you stir in the cheese.
- I typically use 90/10 ground beef for this recipe; however, any ground beef will work great. If you use 85/15, you will want to remove some of the excess fat after the beef finishes cooking.
- You can store the left-over pasta in a plastic container for 3 days in the fridge.
- This dish is great for busy weeknights because it comes together in under 30 minutes.
- You can precook the beef and store it in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
Nutrition Information
Yield
6Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 778Total Fat 25gSaturated Fat 10gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 11gCholesterol 99mgSodium 1355mgCarbohydrates 90gFiber 8gSugar 13gProtein 45g
