Instant Pot Pizza Pasta

Instant pot pizza pasta is a meal that will make the whole family happy. Even if one person wants pizza and the other wants pasta, this recipe gives you both dishes in one. Made with thick, rich tomato sauce, four different kinds of cheese, pepperoni, ground beef, garlic, and cellentani pasta, instant pot pizza pasta is cheesy, saucy, and flavorful. You get a whole meal in one pot in about 30 minutes.

In my household, there are two pasta lovers and two pizza lovers, so it can be a chore to make a meal for two different teams. But with this blend of delicious dishes, you can please everyone. Instant pot pizza pasta like a hamburger pepperoni pizza with extra cheese without the crust. You can use either pizza sauce or pasta sauce for this dish, too, so it is versatile, depending on your mood.

My kids love the ooey gooey cheese, and my husband enjoys all the meaty beef and pepperoni. It only takes 10 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook, so that gives you time to set the table and heat up some garlic bread. I like mine with a healthy salad on the side, I usually opt for an easy Chickpea Salad or chopped Mexican Salad.

One of the best things about this recipe is how easy it is to make. You brown the beef before tossing it all in the pot to cook for five minutes. Since it is made all in one pot, you do not have a bunch of dishes to clean afterward, so you can eat and then spend time with the family.

The tart tomato sauce, the slightly salty pepperoni, create such an amazing and tasty meal. You can also customize it, add some bell peppers, mushrooms, and caramelized onions, the possibilities are endless!

Why you will love this recipe

• It pleases everyone: This dish has both, whether they ask for pizza or pasta.
• The recipe is versatile. You can Make it meatier or leave out the meat altogether. You can add veggies or more cheese—whatever you like.
• It’s a one-pot meal: Who likes to do dishes? You can make this all in one pot for less cleanup.
• Fast and delicious: Perfect for busy weeknights, you can have it on the table in just 20 minutes.

What you’ll need to make instant pot pizza pasta

Special items:

• Instant pot – I use a six-quart instant pot, but any pot will do.
• Wooden spoon – For stirring without damaging your pot.

Ingredients:

• Ground beef—For less grease, it is best to use lean ground beef. I use 80/20 or 85/15.
• Pepperoni – Any pepperoni will work for this pizza pasta.
• Tomato paste—I like to use a paste flavored with herbs and garlic, but you can use your favorite.
• Pizza sauce – Make your own or use store-bought. Whatever you like.
• Cellentani pasta—I prefer cellentani pasta because its ridged surface and corkscrew shape allow the sauce to pass through both inside and outside.
• Four-cheese mix: You can use the premade shredded cheese or buy fresh mozzarella, provolone, parmesan, and Romano cheese to shred yourself.
• Garlic – Mincing your fresh garlic gives your pizza pasta a rich flavor.
• Onion – I prefer a sweet yellow onion, but you can use what you like.
• Butter – Unsalted butter for browning the meat. You could also use olive oil.
• Beef broth – is the base that blends everything. It’s better than using water because it adds flavor. I use organic low-sodium broth for less salt.
• Red pepper flakes – This adds just a hint of spiciness that you will not even notice, but you will see if it is not there.
• Salt – Kosher salt is my preference because it is clean and pure with an excellent flavor.
• Pepper – I prefer to grind my own pepper from peppercorns for a zingy, fresh taste.
• Parsley – I recommend fresh parsley chopped and sprinkled on top.

How to make instant pot pizza pasta?

1. Sauté and brown: Set the pot to the sauté setting. When it is hot, add the butter and let it melt. Then, toss in the onions and cook for one to two minutes, stirring occasionally. Then, add the ground beef and let it get a nice sear before breaking it up with your spoon. Let it cook until it is almost done before adding the tomato paste, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
2. Add the sauce: After, pour in the beef broth and use your wooden spoon to scrape the bottom of the pot to remove any stuck bits. Then, add the pasta and stir again.
3. Cover and cook: Next, seal the lid and set it to five minutes on high pressure. When it is done, quickly release, open the pot, and stir.
4. Melt cheese and serve: Sprinkle cheese on top and shut the lid without sealing. Let it sit for two minutes to melt before serving with parsley on top.

Expert tip

Substitutes for pasta

Pasta is a comfort food because it is full of heartwarming carbohydrates. However, some people cannot have as many carbs as they want. Many substitutes for pasta are just as good, maybe even better. The first is zucchini because it has a similar texture and a mild taste that works well with any sauce. Use a spiralizer, julienne peeler, mandoline, or grater to make long strips or curly Qs.

Spaghetti squash is another great veggie to use for pasta. Although the “noodles” are thin and sometimes stringy, you do not have to shred anything. It is already shredded inside. Just scrape it out and use it in your pasta dish. Slice a head of cabbage horizontally and get long strips like they use in coleslaw. These will work well as spaghetti noodles. For chunks of “pasta” use cauliflower. It has a mild taste that will soak up all the flavors even better than pasta does.

If you want pasta, try egg noodles. There are many of them on the market that have little to no carbs at all! Also, they come in different shapes and sizes. Since they are made with eggs, they are full of protein and low in carbohydrates. You can get egg noodles made with no yolks for even less carbs.

Recipe variations and add-ins:

• Other meats: Instead of (or in addition to) ground beef and pepperoni, you could use sausage, turkey, chicken, or pork.
• Vegetarian pizza pasta: For vegetarian pizza pasta, you can leave out the meat entirely. Add mushrooms, bell peppers, corn, broccoli, spinach, tomatoes, and olives.
• Sweet and savory pizza pasta: Like pizza, you can sweeten this dish with fruit like pineapple chunks, mandarin oranges.
• Make it spicy: Alternatively, add jalapenos, chiles, sriracha sauce, and cayenne pepper for a spicy pizza pasta.
• Other sauce: Instead of pizza sauce, use my homemade spaghetti sauce or marinara sauce.
• Different pasta shapes: Experiment with other shapes like rotini, ziti, cavatappi, penne, and rigatoni.

Serving suggestions:

Instant pot pizza pasta can be served with various sides and dishes. Here are some ideas I like.

• Since garlic bread goes well with pizza and spaghetti, serve some to help soak up the extra sauce.
• Try on the side my easy and delicious crispy air fryer potatoes made with baby reds and parmesan cheese.
• Another way to make this meal heartier is to serve it with green beans, roasted asparagus, or steamed broccoli.
• A Caesar salad with garlic butter breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese would also be fantastic on the side.
• Instead of a side dish or salad, why not serve a charcuterie board of cured meats, cheeses, and crackers?
• For a more “fast food” side dish, try my fried mozzarella cheese sticks. The kids love these!

Frequently asked questions

How do I keep the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the instant pot?

Since this recipe calls for browning the ground beef with butter before you start cooking, you do not have to worry about the pasta sticking to the bottom of the pot. The butter and the grease from the beef will usually prevent that. However, remember to scrape the bits of beef and sauce from the bottom before sealing it to cook and deglaze it. Also, using the correct amount of liquid is very important.

Why is my pasta soggy?

First, remember not to cook your pasta before adding it to the pot. It will cook with the rest of the ingredients. Also, make sure you do not overcook it. If you use a different type of pasta than this recipe calls for, you may have to adjust the cooking time. For instance, if you use thin spaghetti or angel hair pasta, I suggest you cook it for four minutes. It is better to have it undercooked than overcooked because you can always cook it longer.

What other kinds of pasta can I use?

Cavatappi is almost exactly the same as cellentani, so this would be the closest choice. They are both the same size, made with the same ingredients, and hollow. Elbow macaroni is another good choice. Instead of the corkscrew shape, macaroni has that elbow curve, but they are both hollow and made of the same thing. Some other good choices are ziti, rigatoni, macaroni, or penne.

What is the difference between pizza sauce and pasta sauce?

Although they look alike, pizza sauce and pasta sauce vary in flavor and texture. Pizza sauce is extra thick to prevent the crust from absorbing it. It is usually just a thick tomato sauce without any meat or vegetables. On the other hand, pasta sauce typically has chunks of meat and veggies. Also, pasta sauce is simmered to deepen the flavor, while pizza sauce is uncooked.

How to store leftovers:

• Refrigerate: Leftovers can be put into a sealed container and kept fresh in the refrigerator for up to four days.   
• Freezing: If you haven’t eaten your leftovers in a few days, you can freeze them. Just put them in a freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag, and they will stay fresh for several months.   
• Defrost: Thaw overnight in your refrigerator for the best flavor.
• Reheating: Reheat your pizza pasta in a saucepan on the stove for a few minutes or in the microwave for one to two minutes.

More instant pot pasta recipes:

Recipe tips:

• Get the leanest ground beef you can so there is less grease in your pizza pasta.
• Also, getting the best meat you can, preferably organic, makes a difference.
• Do not skip the searing and browning process. It locks in the flavors and juices.
• You should not cook the pasta before adding it to your recipe. It will get too soggy.
• You can use a skillet for that part if your instant pot has no sauté setting.