Pres the Saute button and wait for it to get HOT. Add the oil, swirl it around, then add the onions. Cook until the onions start to soften. Add the garlic and stir to combine.
Add the ground beef/turkey and cook until most of the pink is gone.
Press the Cancel button, then the Manual button. Add the water and scrape the bottom of the pot to make sure there are no stuck on bits that can burn.
Break the spaghetti noodles in half and lay them on top of the meat.
Pour the sauce on top of the spaghetti noodles. Grab a pair of tongs and carefully fold the ingredients together. Make sure all of the noodles are covered with liquid. {It’s really easy to do and none of my noodles broke}
Secure the lid and make sure the knob is in the Sealing position. Press the – or + buttons and set the time for 5 minutes.
When the pot beeps, allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes, then carefully release the remaining pressure. Stir everything together and serve with grated Parmesan cheese and Garlic Bread {if desired}
Notes
Adding the cold oil to a very hot pot helps keep the foods from sticking.
For a vegan meal, omit the ground beef and continue on with the recipe.
I used Prego Traditional Pasta Sauce to keep things nice and simple. It is thinner than a Homemade Marinara Sauce so you may need to add additional water if your sauce is very thick. The noodles need the water to cook properly, so compare to the image above when in doubt.
I used 97% lean, grass-fed ground beef so I would not have to drain off the fat.
I used Barilla Spaghetti, the regular one not the thin or thick version.
You can substitute Italian sausage for half of the ground beef for even more flavor.
I chose 5 minutes because the cooking instructions on the box state “Al dente perfection in 9 – 10 minutes”. I must not like al dente because I always add an additional minute or two. The basic formula for cooking noodles in an Instant Pot is to cook for half of the lowest time stated on the box, so 5 minutes was the winner.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 4 days.