Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce

Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce is the most hearty and delicious homemade pasta sauce you can make in under one hour, with fresh or canned tomatoes. The best homemade sauce you can serve with your favorite pasta on busy weeknights.

Cooking spaghetti sauce in the Instant Pot is a perfect idea because it traps in all the flavors and finishes in under an hour. This sauce will quickly become a family favorite with flavors of Italian sausage, tomatoes, fresh minced garlic, brown sugar, and various herbs and spices. Making several batches of it to freeze for other dishes is a good idea. This is not just for spaghetti!

What are the foods that you keep in your pantry for easy weeknight dinners? I usually have canned beans, wild-caught canned tuna (which by the way is amazing with mashed fresh avocado), and some type of homemade spaghetti sauce.

This Instant pot spaghetti sauce is simply perfect because it is both perfect and simple to make. You have to brown the sausage, toss everything into the pot, close it up, and let it cook. No stirring is required. The pressure cooker does all the work for you; you do not have to worry about it until it is done.

Then, you can use this sauce for spaghetti, ravioli, lasagna, and many other dishes, I may even suggest pizza. I perfected this dish by trying out a variety of tomatoes, herbs, and spices, as well as different kinds of meat. Italian sausage gives it the most incredible flavor, whether you use mild or hot. You could use ground beef, chicken, or turkey, but all those meats must be seasoned to make them taste good.

With this recipe, you can change some things without making a big difference. For example, you could leave out the red pepper flakes if you absolutely do not like any spiciness in your sauce. You could also leave out or add any of the herbs or spices.

This delicious sauce will quickly become your favorite meal. As it’s hearty and tasty, made with mild ground sausage and fresh tomatoes. You can use hot sausage or skip it altogether for a vegetarian version. It has an amazing flavor from the fresh ingredients and it tastes better than the store-bought jarred sauce.

Why you will love this recipe

• Spaghetti sauce is not just for spaghetti. It can be used for many dishes, from lasagna and ravioli to chili and stew.
• It is simple: All you need are a handful of ingredients and an instant pot.
• Easy cleanup: Using just the instant pot means you only have to clean one pot.
• Everyone loves it: From the young to the very old, everyone loves this sauce’s flavors.

What you’ll need to make instant pot spaghetti sauce

Special items:

• Instant pot – No matter what kind of pressure cooker you have, they all work for this.
• Wooden spoon – Perfect for browning the sausage without damaging the pot. 

Ingredients:

• Italian sausage – You can use hot or mild ground Italian sausage.
• Brown sugar – Light brown sugar adds a rich sweetness, while dark brown sugar gives it a deeper flavor, like molasses.
• Tomato paste – Any tomato paste is fine. Just use your favorite.
• Tomato sauce – Same here; use your favorite tomato sauce or make your own.
• Tomatoes—I prefer San Marzano plum tomatoes because they are beefy, flavorful, and a bit sweet.
• Garlic – Freshly minced garlic will add the best flavor to your sauce.
• Basil – With a sweet and slightly spicy taste, this is one of my favorite herbs.
• Parsley—Its clean, fresh, grassy flavor is tinged with a peppery taste to enhance the other flavors.
• Oregano – You really cannot make spaghetti sauce without oregano. It is the key ingredient with its savory aroma and earthy taste.
• Thyme – Similar to cloves, thyme is a mint with floral hints. 
• Fennel seeds—If you like licorice, this is probably your favorite spice. Mixing fennel seeds with onion and garlic is perfectly Italian.
• Onion powder—This powder gives your sauce the taste of both fresh and cooked onions, making it a delicious addition.
• Red pepper flakes—With all of the other herbs and spices, red pepper flakes do not add much spiciness, but you would miss it if it were not there.
• Salt – Kosher salt works great for this dish with its clean taste and no additives.
• Pepper – If you have never ground your pepper, try it. You will never go back to regular pepper.
• Olive oil – For browning the sausage.
• Water – To help blend everything.

How to make Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce recipe?

1. Saute function: First, select the saute setting on your instant pot, once hot add the oil. After that, brown the ground meat, breaking it with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink.
2. Continue to saute: Next, add the garlic, tomato paste, and brown sugar.
3. Deglaze: Afterward, add tomato sauce and water. Also, using a wooden spoon scrape the bottom of the pot of any brown bits that are stuck to it, otherwise, you will get a burn notice.
4. Combine: Now, add the rest of the ingredients and stir well to combine. Cancel saute function,
5. Pressure cook: Cover with the lid, lock it and point the pressure valve to sealing. Cook on high pressure for 14 minutes if using fresh tomatoes and 10 minutes if using canned tomatoes.
6. Natural pressure release: Once cooking time is done, do a 15-minute natural release.
7. Quick pressure release: After that, open the valve and quick release the remaining pressure. Carefully open the lid.
8. Puree: Now, using an immersion blender puree the sauce to your preferred consistency.
9. Serve: Finally, serve it on top of your favorite pasta with fresh basil and parmesan cheese. Garlic bread on the side is a must.

Canning instructions:

1. Make the mixture: First, follow the simple steps and prepare the recipe and after that let the mixture cool to room temperature.
2. Water bath: In the meantime, fill a large pot with enough water to cover the jars you will be using by 1-inch. Prepare a medium bowl and another medium pot with water over medium-high heat.
3. Prepare the jar: Once the water is boiling, place the jars into the medium pot, cover, and boil for 10 minutes. Also, add some of the boiling water to the medium bowl and add submerge the lids in it for 5 minutes. Next, let them stand in the hot water for 5 minutes.
4. Dry the jars: After that remove the jars and the lids and dry them on a clean kitchen towel.
5. Add the sauce: Afterwards, distribute the mixture into the prepared jars, and add the lids and rings.
6. Boil: Next, add the tightly closed jars to the prepared water bath and boil for 5-6 minutes.
7. Cool and Store: Arrange them on a dry kitchen towel.
8. Observe: Also, remember to let the jars rest undisturbed for 12 hours. If the jars pop, it means everything is good and you can store them in your pantry. But in case they don’t pop, store them fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Expert tip

What kind of tomatoes are best for spaghetti sauce?

If you use fresh tomatoes, choose plum tomatoes like San Marzano or Roma. You could also use cherry tomatoes. These have the wealthiest flavor with the beefiest flesh. Regular slicing tomatoes have too much juice to be suitable for this recipe. You can peel them or not, depending on your preference. I like mine with the peel-on for texture and extra vitamins.

The same goes for canned tomatoes. Find the ones made with Roma or San Marzano tomatoes. Cento San Marzano peeled tomatoes are a good choice, as are Alta Cucina plum tomatoes. Roma tomatoes are the classic Italian cooking choice, but for a sweeter and richer sauce, San Marzano is the best. Cherry tomatoes are also good, but peeling them would be very time-consuming.

Whatever kind of tomatoes you choose, make sure they are organic. This is important since organic vegetables are not treated with chemicals and pesticides. Although it is not necessary, it is essential for my family because organic is just healthier, and they taste better, too.

Recipe variations and add-ins:

• Spicy sauce: Hot Italian sausage and/or jalapenos or cayenne pepper can give your sauce excellent spiciness.
• Add booze: Italian sauces are traditionally flavored with wine. You can use white or red wine, which makes the sauce taste more complex.
• More vegetables: You can add whatever veggies you like to your sauce, such as bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, and squash.
• Other herbs and spices: Play around with herbs and spices to see what you like best.
• Canned tomatoes: As an alternative, you can make the sauce with either fresh or canned tomatoes. You can use about 12 medium fresh tomatoes or 28 ounces of diced canned tomatoes.
• Skip the sugar: This homemade tomato sauce can be made without the added sugar if you want to skip the calories.
• Heartier: As an alternative, add extra tomatoes to make the sauce thicker and heartier.

Serving suggestions:

There are so many things you can do with instant pot spaghetti sauce.

• The obvious choice is to spoon it on top of spaghetti noodles. But don’t forget the cheesy garlic bread. It is perfect for soaking up this flavorful sauce.
• You could also use this sauce when making pizza. The kids love it!
• Another way to use this sauce is on ravioli. Whether you make your own or buy them premade, ravioli and red sauce are made for each other.
• Lasagna is another way to use this sauce. There are many recipes, from cheesy lasagna to zucchini lasagna, that you can try.
• Try making my easy homemade meatballs, which are full of flavor and made with pork and beef. Serve them covered in sauce.
• Add this sauce to your next casserole to make it taste even better.
• Also, you can serve it as a dipping sauce with homemade breadsticks.
• Serve it over a lower carb option like zucchini noodles, or spaghetti squash.
• Also, use it to make instant pot spaghetti recipe or crockpot spaghetti.

Frequently asked questions

What makes spaghetti sauce taste better?

If you want to add depth to your sauce, try adding sprigs of thyme, a few strips of basil, and a fresh bay leaf. Dried herbs and spices work well, too, like red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, and oregano. Another thing to do is add fat to your sauce, like cream or butter. Black olives and capers can also add some lively flavor, as can any kind of meat, like sausage, ground beef, or veal.

What is the difference between spaghetti and marinara sauce?

A marinara sauce is just a tomato sauce, but spaghetti sauce usually includes extra vegetables and meats. You will not find bits of sausage or beef in your marinara sauce or chunks of tomatoes, onions, or peppers. Marinara sauce has just a few ingredients: tomatoes, garlic, onions, and seasonings. Spaghetti sauce is more complex with other ingredients like sugar, meat, and olive oil.

How do you keep spaghetti sauce from burning in the Instant Pot?

I usually add olive oil to the bottom of the pot because I brown the sausage before adding anything else. However, even if you are not using the sauté setting first, adding a bit of oil to the bottom is a good idea to keep anything from sticking. Also, after browning the meat, deglaze the bottom of the pot to remove the brown bits. This prevents burning as well.

How do you keep spaghetti sauce from giving you heartburn?

Having someone in the family with acid reflux means you have to be careful what you cook. When I make spaghetti sauce and other tomato-based dishes, I usually add a bit of baking soda to neutralize the acid. But many people insist on another trick. You peel and cut a potato in half and then poke some holes in it. Add it to the sauce for 30 minutes, and when you remove the potato, it will have absorbed the acid.

How to store leftovers:

• Refrigerate: First, let the instant pot pasta sauce fully cool to room temperature and after that transfer them to an airtight container and store them in the fridge for 4-5 days.
• Freeze: Tomato-based sauces tend to freeze and thaw the best, but meat-based sauces can also stand up to freezing. Let the sauce cool completely. Pour into freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Label with the date, and freeze for up to 3-4 months, or longer if you use a deep freeze.
• Thaw: Transfer the sauce to your refrigerator the night before you wish to use it to allow it to thaw.
• Reheat: Add the sauce to a saucepan and reheat it to at least 165 F before you consume it.

More Instant Pot Recipes:

Recipe tips:

• To remove a bitter taste from your spaghetti, you can add baking soda instead of sugar.
• Using plum or cherry tomatoes like Roma and San Marzano gives your spaghetti sauce a better flavor.
• Adding a bit of baking soda or a peeled and poked potato to your sauce can reduce the chances of getting heartburn.
• Make sure to deglaze the pot after browning the sausage to remove the brown bits from the bottom. Otherwise, you will receive a burn notice.
• If you want to make a lot of sauce and store it for up to a year, you can use a canning procedure.
• Make sure you reheat your sauce to 165 degrees F before serving.