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Home / Recipes / Main Courses / Pasta / Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs

Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs

Published on May 22, 2019. Last updated August 20, 2021 · 124 Comments · As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs I earn from qualifying purchases; see all disclosures.

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Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs is a one pot dump and push meal, using pantry items and frozen meatballs and ready in under 30 minutes.

Big plate of spaghetti and meatballs on a white serving platter on a rustic wood table

Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs

Easy and delicious, Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs started the craze of frozen meatballs and jarred sauce for a quick ‘Soccer Mom’ spaghetti meal. Meatballs can be bagged from the store, or homemade raw, then frozen meatballs.

Cast of Ingredients for Pressure Cooker Soccer Mom Spaghetti and Meatballs

Cast of Ingredients for Pressure Cooker Soccer Mom Spaghetti and Meatballs

Many moms and dads are very busy driving their kids all over town and need a quick and easy recipe for dinner. Toss a few things in their Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker, get the kids situated and sit down to a good and hearty meal with little effort; “Soccer Mom” Spaghetti and Meatballs to the rescue.

Jump to Section

  • Ingredients for Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
  • Can I use Homemade Meatballs?
  • Best Pasta for Instant Pot Spaghetti
  • Can Other Types of Pasta be Used?
  • Water or Chicken Broth
  • Clumping Spaghetti
  • Tips and Tricks for Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
  • Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs

Ingredients for Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs

  • Frozen Meatballs – any brand. You can even use your own fresh and then frozen raw meatballs.
  • Spaghetti
  • Spaghetti / Pasta Sauce
  • Water or Chicken Broth

Pro Tip: a Tablespoon of Chicken Base added to the water increases the richness of the dish.

Add Olive Oil to Cooking Pot

Add Olive Oil to Cooking Pot

Olive oil is an ingredient where quality matters a lot and does make a difference in taste. I recommend and use Kasandrinos Organic Extra Virgin Greek Olive Oil for my cooking.

Pro Tip: A little bit of olive oil added to the cooking pot will help keep the noodles from sticking together, as well as adding as some homemade taste to the jarred spaghetti sauce.

Add all the Frozen Meatballs

Add all the Frozen Meatballs

Can I use Homemade Meatballs?

  • Sure. Many people who do not like to cook or need to cook in a hurry will by meatballs from the freezer section at the grocery store and keep bags of frozen meatballs in their freezer.

Both my Instant Pot Greek Meatballs {Keftedes} and Pressure Cooker Italian Meatballs would be incredible in this recipe. The meatballs can be made in advance and frozen to use in Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe. My famous Low Carb Margherita Pizza Meatballs, which are stuffed full of cheese, would also be awesome.

Homemade Meatball Idea

    • We like to buy a bunch of ground meat when it is on sale. The meat can be beef, chicken, turkey, pork, lamb, whichever you prefer.
    • We then make up ton of meatballs and freeze them raw in freezer save bags. This way, whenever we want Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs, we are good to go.

Pro Tip: Vegetarians love to make Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs with Gardein Classic Meatless Meatballs.

Spaghetti Being Broken in Half and Added to Cooking Pot

Spaghetti Being Broken in Half and Added to Cooking Pot

Every time I break spaghetti in half, Ed cringes. And I get it. I like long noodles too, but when using a pressure cooker, unlike the stove, you don’t have the option of pushing the noodles down into hot boiling water.

Pro Tip: Breaking the spaghetti in half allows the spaghetti to be submerged under the water. This will help in even cooking.

Add Broken Spaghetti to Pot Over Meatballs.

Add Broken Spaghetti to Pot Over Meatballs.

Best Pasta for Instant Pot Spaghetti

  • De Cecco Brand Pasta is very forging under pressure. It holds up better than other brands for a perfect al dente finish. The taste and texture of De Cecco Brand Pasta is terrific.

I use Amazon Subscribe and Save for all my De Cecco Pasta. I find the S&S significantly cheaper than buying the De Cecco Brand Pasta in the grocery stores. Check the prices, they are always changing on line and I grab a bunch when the price drops.

Pro Tip: When making recipes using a layering technique, it is important to add the ingredients into the cooking pot in the order of what needs the most cooking. In this case, raw frozen meatballs would take longer than pasta, so they go in first. They are closest to the heat source.

Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs with Gemelli Pasta

Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs with Gemelli Pasta

Can Other Types of Pasta be Used?

  • Of course. Everyone loves spaghetti and meatballs, but a different shaped pasta is just fine.
  • I’ve used gemelli to make Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs, as well as other shapes and types.

Pro Tip: If using a different type of pasta, remember to use my “Rule of Thumb” found in the notes section below, to get the proper cook time.

Sprinkle Salt Over Spaghetti

Sprinkle Salt Over Spaghetti

The time to add salt when cooking spaghetti noodles or pasta is to the cooking water. This is the time when the spaghetti itself will get seasoned.

Cover the Spaghetti with the Large Jar of Spaghetti Sauce

Cover the Spaghetti with the Large Jar of Spaghetti Sauce

Use a nice quality spaghetti sauce like Rao brand or Muir Glen since you are using a jar. Ragu Traditional is another good brand to use. Personally, we love my Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce for Pasta [Homemade] and strongly suggest making a huge batch and freezing into portions so that you always have homemade sauce on hand.

If you like a more saucy Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs feel free to add more sauce.

Fill Jar of Spaghetti Sauce with Water and Pour into Cooking Pot

Fill Jar of Spaghetti Sauce with Water and Pour into Cooking Pot

Chicken broth and water both work well in this Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe and either is fine to use.

Water or Chicken Broth

  • My Pressure Cooker Bone Broth/Stock is great to use and add so much flavor.
  • You can also add a tablespoon of Better than Bouillon Chicken base to water in the cooking pot, which will add wonderful flavor.

Pro Tip: Chicken Broth will add another layer of flavor.

That’s it. Go change your clothes and set the table. Seriously, that’s it. How much time did that take?

Stir Spaghetti Around to Remove Any Clumps

Stir Spaghetti Around to Remove Any Clumps

Clumping Spaghetti

  • Often times, you will find some of the spaghetti clumping together. Do not panic.
  • Merely take a fork or a spaghetti server and break up the spaghetti and push it back into the sauce.

When you first open the pot, there will be excess liquid. The spaghetti will continue to cook and absorb the liquid while your are mixing out the any clumps of noodles. It’s a good thing as this gives you time to mix the spaghetti without worrying about over cooking the noodles.

There you go. Delicious and filling and most importantly, since this is called Pressure Cooker Soccer Mom Spaghetti and Meatballs, QUICK! It looks great!

Watch the video below as I walk you though every step and detail of this recipe. I’ve given you a ton of information above, but sometimes a live visual of the process helps so you can follow along. I have my own cooking show on you YouTube Channel, so be sure to check it out and subscribe!


Watch my video and then scroll to the bottom for the printable recipe card.

Tips and Tricks for Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs

  1. Grocery store frozen meatballs or your own homemade frozen raw meatballs will work.
  2. Swirl the oil around the bottom of the cooking pot.
  3. Don’t fret the clumps and sticking of the pasta. It happens and is easily remedied by stirring before serving.
  4. Homemade meatballs and sauce can be made in advance, frozen and then used for this recipe instead of store bought meatballs and sauce.

Another delicious pasta recipe the kids will especially love is my Pressure Cooker Beef and Macaroni. You will be happy not to have to use a can of the stuff!

Enjoy the Glee in your Partners Eyes as he Takes His/Her First Bite

Enjoy the Glee in your Partners Eyes as he Takes His/Her First Bite

Can you see the joy in Ed’s eyes as he takes that first bite? Ed can eat pasta several times a week. Spaghetti and Meatballs is one of his favorite meals..

Pro Tip: Add a dollop of ricotta cheese!

Big plate of spaghetti and meatballs on a white serving platter on a rustic wood table

Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs

I love adding freshly grated Asiago or Parmesan cheese to all my pasta dishes and a big dollop of ricotta cheese. OMG, so much yum! You’ve got to make some delicious Air Fryer Garlic Bread Buns to go with spaghetti and meatballs.

More Easy Instant Pot Recipes to Make

  • Instant Pot BBQ Ranch Chicken (Pressure Cooker)
  • Instant Pot Italian Chicken Olive Garden
  • Instant Pot BBQ Chicken (Pressure Cooker Zesty Chicken)
  • Instant Pot Creamy Baked Ziti

I hope that this Pressure Cooker Soccer Mom Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe will save you lots of time in the kitchen and more time with your families.

Kitchen Equipment and Essentials

  • Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker
  • Cilio Olivewood Spatula
  • Microplane Artisan Ribbon Grater
  • De Cecco Spaghetti
  • Rao’s Homemade Marinara Sauce

Caring is sharing! If you would like to support This Old Gal, please share this recipe on Social Media, so that I can continue to bring you more wonderful recipes!

If you share a picture of something you make from our blog, tag it with #thisoldgalcooks so we can see it. We might feature it on Instagram! It makes my day when I see you’ve made one of our recipes!

Here is the handy printable recipe:

Big plate of spaghetti and meatballs on a white serving platter on a rustic wood table

Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs

5 from 31 votes
Print Pin SaveSaved! Rate
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
Pressure Release: 5 minutes minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 483kcal
Author: Jill Selkowitz

Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 24-26 ounces Frozen Meatballs (or frozen homemade)
  • 16 ounces Spaghetti broken in half
  • 1 Tablespoon Kosher Salt (or 1.5 tsp sea salt)
  • 2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning Blend (optional)
  • 24-36 ounces Spaghetti / Pasta Sauce
  • 3 cups Fresh Water Chicken Broth or (3 cups water + 1 TBL Better than Bouillon Chicken Base)

Optional

  • 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese shredded
US Customary - Metric

Recommended Products

Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker
Liquid Measuring Cup Set
Spaghetti Server/Pasta Fork

Instructions

  • Add olive oil to cooking pot and swirl to coat the bottom.
  • Add frozen meatballs to cooking pot, spreading out across the pot.
  • Break spaghetti in half and place over meatballs. Make sure spaghetti is spread out evenly.
  • Sprinkle salt and Italian seasoning over spaghetti noodles.
  • Dump in jar of spaghetti sauce, trying to keep the sauce over the broken spaghetti.
  • Fill empty spaghetti sauce jar with water or chicken broth and pour into the cooking pot. Make sure the spaghetti is submerged in the liquid.
  • If you are using chicken base instead of chicken broth, add the chicken base to the jar of water and shake to mix. Then pour the liquid into the cooking pot.
  • Lock on lid and close pressure valve. Cook at high pressure for 3 minutes.
  • When beep sounds, wait 5 minutes and then slowly release the rest of the pressure.
  • Remove lid and mix together, breaking up any pasta which has clumped together. The noodles will continue to soften and absorb the liquid and sauce.
  • If there is excess liquid (there shouldn't be), simmer to reduce.

Video

Notes

Adding a little oil to the cooking pot will help keep the pasta from sticking.
When cooking layered recipes in a pressure cooker, it is important to add the ingredient which takes the longest to cook into the pot first, before the other ingredients, like spaghetti, which is fast cooking.
Salting the the pasta with the water before cooking is the best time to season the pasta with salt.
Breaking spaghetti  in half will ensure that the spaghetti is submerged in the liquid and will cook evenly.
For a saucier spaghetti and meatballs, add more sauce to fit your tastes. Do not increase amount of liquid. Try to keep the sauce on top of the spaghetti, so that it does not totally drip to the bottom of the pot. This will keep the spaghetti from burning.
If you prefer homemade meatballs, yet want a quick spaghetti and meatball recipe, buy meat when it is on sale and follow my Instant Pot Meatball recipe. Freeze the raw meatballs in 26 ounce packages and use them for this Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe.
If there is any sticking of the spaghetti noodles, simply use a fork or spaghetti server/pasta fork and break up the clumps. Push the noodles into the liquid. My short cook time allows for extra mixing of the spaghetti, as the spaghetti will continue to absorb the water and the fettuccine will be perfectly al dente.
Any type of pasta or semolina noodle is fine to use in this recipe. If using a different shape of pasta or noodle, your cook time may be different.

This Old Gal's Pasta Rule of Thumb

  • Look at package of pasta and find the variable cook time. Choose the lesser time given and then subtract 2 minutes. For example, if your package of pasta says "cook for 8 - 11 minutes," take that 8 minute number and cut it in half, which is 4. Then subtract 2 minutes from the 4 minutes and you will end up with the proper cook time. In this case the cook time will be 2 minutes.
  • After the 2 minute pressure cook time is up, wait 5 minutes and then release the rest of the pressure.
  • If the variable cook time on your package of pasta is 11 - 16 minutes, err on the lesser side. In this instance, the cook time would be 3 minutes. It is better to end up with overly firm pasta rather than mushy because you can continue to cook the pasta, but if it is mushy, there is nothing you can do to correct.
  • If the pasta is too firm or al dente for your taste, simply put the lid back on the pot and let the pasta sit in the hot pot.  The residual heat will continue to cook the pasta. Check after a few minutes to see if the pasta has reached the perfect firmness for your liking. If not give it a stir and let sit some more.
This recipe uses a bit of a natural release and the total time is figured into that, so only the cook time needs to be adjusted. This allows for a little natural pressure release time, so that the starchy water can settle and not spit out through the pressure valve when the pressure is released.
Originally published on April 16, 2016. Republished with new photos and video on May 22, 2019.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
Amount Per Serving
Calories 483 Calories from Fat 198
% Daily Value*
Fat 22g34%
Saturated Fat 8g50%
Cholesterol 63mg21%
Sodium 1424mg62%
Potassium 658mg19%
Carbohydrates 47g16%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 24g48%
Vitamin A 401IU8%
Vitamin C 7mg8%
Calcium 83mg8%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @ThisOldGalCooks or tag #thisoldgalcooks!
© ThisOldGal.com - Sharing the recipe link to any of my recipes posts are both encouraged and appreciated. Unauthorized and improperly attributed or non-attributed use of this material, including screen shots, copy/paste of full recipes to any social media site, website, mobile application or service (e.g., copymethat, recipe keeper, pepper) or cookbook, without the requisite attribution or otherwise with express written permission from Jill Selkowitz is strictly prohibited. You may share a photo with a link back instead.

PIN this Pressure Cooker Soccer Mom Spaghetti and Meatballs!

Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs [Pressure Cooker]

Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs [Pressure Cooker]

May 22, 2019

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Comments

  1. Jennifer says

    July 15, 2021 at 6:27 pm

    5 stars
    I have absolutely fallen in love with the instant pot and don’t know why I delayed using it for as long as I did. And while I have a lot of favorite recipes, by far, this spaghetti and meatballs recipe, is my all-time favorite.

    Oh, The magic that happens with the pasta water and those noodles and the sauce… How that silky decadent texture happens, like the noodles are coated in a butter sauce or something…. You just can’t describe it until you eat it!

    My children absolutely devour it and cheer when they find out I’m making it.
    I do use two jars of sauce. And I absolutely think chicken bouillon is essential (I love the Maggi brand).
    And I also use my homemade meatballs

    Reply
    • Jill Selkowitz says

      July 16, 2021 at 10:06 am

      Hi Jennifer. I am so glad you and your family love this recipe so much. Thank you for your wonderful and kind words. Homemade meatballs are the best! Jill

      Reply
  2. Misty Hylkema says

    December 8, 2020 at 3:36 pm

    Hi. What a great idea…can’t wait to try. That you know of, would doubling this recipe fit in an 8qt? And the time wouldn’t change, right.

    Reply
  3. Jeff says

    October 29, 2020 at 2:47 pm

    I’m just curious – coked tomatoes give me heartburn. Would I be able to substitute a jar of Alfredo apace?

    Reply
    • Jill Selkowitz says

      November 2, 2020 at 6:26 pm

      I don’t see why not. Jill

      Reply
  4. April says

    June 5, 2020 at 2:34 pm

    Will this not work if I use thawed meatballs instead?

    Reply
    • Jill Selkowitz says

      June 6, 2020 at 2:55 am

      It will work fine. Jill

      Reply
  5. Andrea says

    May 28, 2020 at 6:58 am

    5 stars
    Delicious, quick and best part… EASY! Thank you for this recipe!

    I assumed 1 can of tomato sauce would be enough (damn metric system), but luckily I had a red bell pepper and turned it into something sauce-like. Also, to make the meal more balanced, I also mixed in mushrooms and spinach.

    Reply
    • Jill Selkowitz says

      May 28, 2020 at 8:29 pm

      Hi Andrea. Thank you so much. Sounds wonderful with your additions. Jill

      Reply
  6. Tash says

    May 16, 2020 at 7:17 pm

    Can I cut this recipe in half? It makes too much for my small family. Do I change the times for anything?

    Reply
  7. Vicky DeBerry says

    December 31, 2019 at 8:27 am

    Would there be any adjustment in time with Gluten free spaghetti that usually comes in 12 ounce packages? I know your Chicken Pesto Penne gives 7 minutes for the gluten free penne – which by the way is absolutely our favorite dish. Would 7 minutes be too long for the Gluten free spaghetti?

    Reply
    • Jill Selkowitz says

      January 9, 2020 at 5:13 pm

      Please check the timing on your pasta and cook according to the notes section in the recipe. Each brand of pasta is different. Jill

      Reply
  8. Carol Smith says

    October 23, 2019 at 2:22 pm

    Can I make this spaghetti and meatballs using DeCecco Thin Spaghetti No, 11? What is the cooking time for thin?

    Reply
  9. Sandra EGGERTSON says

    September 27, 2019 at 5:56 am

    Would this work with Gluten Free Pasta?

    Reply
    • Jill Selkowitz says

      September 27, 2019 at 4:14 pm

      Yes, it would. Jill

      Reply
  10. Kathleen says

    September 25, 2019 at 6:28 pm

    5 stars
    Seriously good! The pasta absorbs and oozes flavor. I made it exactly as written, but would reduce salt the next time if I use the Better than Bouillion. That was a great tip. Do you think it would be okay to omit salt altogether or just reduce amounts of both the bouillion and salt? Thanks for a perfectly detailed recipe for a newbie Instapot user.

    Reply
    • Jill Selkowitz says

      September 26, 2019 at 4:07 pm

      Thank you so much. Glad you enjoyed your meal. This is a personal taste, so whatever you like is perfect. You should start with less as you an always add more. Jill

      Reply
  11. Lorraine says

    August 17, 2019 at 6:02 am

    5 stars
    Super great in a pinch.

    Reply
    • Jill Selkowitz says

      August 22, 2019 at 7:02 pm

      Thanks, Lorraine. Jill

      Reply
  12. Allison says

    August 16, 2019 at 3:53 am

    5 stars
    This is a lifesaver recipe for busy weeknight meals!

    Reply
    • Jill Selkowitz says

      August 17, 2019 at 4:11 am

      Thanks, Allison. Jill

      Reply
  13. Bev Mohler says

    August 15, 2019 at 3:00 pm

    5 stars
    This is so easy and so good. Shoukd be a staple in every busy Mom’s recipe file.

    Reply
    • Jill Selkowitz says

      August 16, 2019 at 7:29 pm

      Thank you, Bev. Jill

      Reply
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