I borrowed my sister’s Instant Pot one day before church, so I could let some pot roast cook a little faster than what my crockpot would do. Mind you, I have become a crockpot lover over the years. With a small business, 2 kids, and now currently pregnant with the third, easy dinner meals save my day.
So I tried out her pressure cooker and absolutely fell in love with it. I bought my own the very next day! I snagged the Pioneer Woman brand from Walmart. It was only $59 and so stunning! The cream color with speckles is so gorgeous on a kitchen counter.
After I opened it and got it set up, I wanted to cook everything under the sun with it. I\’ve been experimenting with different recipes, and it’s been so fun!
Well, we use a points system for our kids where doing good things earns you points (and bad things take away points). My son earned enough points to get to choose what we ate for dinner.
He chose spaghetti.
And while spaghetti isn’t inherently hard or takes long to make, it was on a night where I still had work to do, and the kids had jiujitsu. I got the brilliant idea of trying a recipe to make the spaghetti in the pressure cooker, so I could free up some extra time. It could cook while I worked!
With a little searching and crafting, this recipe was born. I tried it, and the whole house loved it. My kids literally asked for the leftovers for breakfast the next morning.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Between kids’ activities, work, and maybe five minutes of “me” time, dinner has to be quick and dependable. This Dump-and-Go Pressure Cooker Spaghetti delivers on flavor and simplicity—with almost no cleanup. It’s also kid and husband-approved and freezer-friendly. What more could you want?
Quick Details
| Prep Time | Cook Time | Total Time | Servings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 minutes | 8 min + natural release | ~ 30 minutes | 6-8 |
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef or turkey (optional, raw)
- 1 small onion, chopped (or 1 tsp onion powder)
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced (or ½ tsp garlic powder)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 lb spaghetti, broken in half
- 1 jar (24 oz) spaghetti sauce
- 3¾ cups water or broth (add extra ¼ cup for full natural release)
Instructions
- Layer ingredients: meat, onion, garlic, seasonings, spaghetti (crisscrossed).
- Pour sauce & water on top—don’t stir.
- Set to High Pressure for 8 minutes.
- Let pressure naturally release (fully is fine!)
- Stir, let sit a few minutes to thicken. Serve with Parmesan or herbs.
Enjoy It Now And Later
Leftovers are just as delicious the next day with this recipe. The noodles softened nicely as they reheated! Your kids will love it, your busy body will thank you, and you’ll save this recipe in your recipe binder for later.
Don’t have a recipe binder? Check out my post about creating one!
I hope you love it and share this recipe with friends. Comment your thoughts or share one of your favorite recipes with me!
🪴The Daily Mama