Homemade Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

This Homemade Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce is rich, flavorful, and easy to make in just a fraction of the time compared to traditional stovetop methods. Using fresh ingredients and a pressure cooker, this sauce develops a deep and robust flavor, perfect for pasta dishes, lasagna, or as a dipping sauce for garlic bread. It’s a great base to keep on hand for any Italian-inspired meal!

Ingredients:

• For the sauce:
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage (optional)
  • 2 cans (15 oz each) tomato sauce
  • 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
  • 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional for heat)
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar or red wine (for depth of flavor)
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil (optional)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 cup water or chicken broth

Directions:

1. Set up the Instant Pot:
   • Set your Instant Pot to the “Sauté” function and add the olive oil. Let it heat up for a minute.
2. Cook the onions and garlic:
   • Add the chopped onions to the Instant Pot and sauté for 3-4 minutes until they become translucent.
   • Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
3. Brown the meat (optional):
   • If using ground beef or Italian sausage, add it to the Instant Pot and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Drain any excess fat if necessary.
4. Add the tomatoes and seasoning:
   • Pour in the tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, and tomato paste. Stir until well combined.
   • Add the sugar, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, balsamic vinegar or wine, and bay leaf. Stir everything together.
5. Add water or broth:
   • Pour in 1 cup of water or chicken broth to help the sauce cook and prevent burning at the bottom of the pot.
6. Pressure cook:
   • Cancel the “Sauté” function, secure the Instant Pot lid, and set the valve to “Sealing.”
   • Cook on High Pressure for 15 minutes.
7. Natural release:
   • Once the cooking time is up, let the Instant Pot release pressure naturally for 10-15 minutes, then carefully turn the valve to “Venting” to release any remaining pressure.
8. Finish the sauce:
   • Open the lid and stir the sauce. If it seems too thick, you can add a little water or broth to reach your desired consistency.
   • Remove the bay leaf and stir in fresh basil if using.
9. Serve:
   • Serve the sauce over cooked pasta, or use it in your favorite Italian dishes like lasagna, spaghetti, or meatball subs.