Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce

Name: Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 21 min
Total time: 26 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 large onion (diced); 6 sausages (or more); 28 ounces crushed tomatoes; 6 ounces tomato paste; 12 ounces water (I use the tomato paste can); 2 teaspoons garlic paste (2 cloves garlic); 2 teaspoons dried oregano; 2 teaspoons dried basil; 3/4 teaspoon salt; 1 bay leaf

Last updated on October 29, 2020. Originally posted on September 10, 2018 By Elaine 40 Comments

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This instant pot spaghetti sauce is delicious and comforting. It’s easy and can be on the table and in your family’s bellies in less than an hour.

A sausage and gravy on some pasta in a white bowl. There is a salad and bowl of the sauce behind it

Christopher’s favorite cuisine is Italian and although I love it and seek it out when I want some comfort food, my favorite is Mexican. But this instant pot spaghetti sauce is among my favorite ways to prepare and eat gravy.

Do I have to use an instant pot to make this?

No. Of course, the recipe is created for the instant pot (or any pressure cooker), but you can make this spaghetti sauce (I call it gravy) on the stove top.

Why should I make spaghetti sauce in a pressure cooker?

Since I’ve gotten my IP, I make my gravy in it exclusively. Why? Because it is fast! Stove top gravy takes hours, especially if you cook the sausages in the sauce, which believe me, is the best way. The sausages turn out so soft and juicy!!

You say ‘spaghetti sauce’ but that’s not spaghetti, so what gives?

I’m pretty vocal about not ‘liking’ spaghetti. It’s not the pasta I don’t like, per se. It is the ‘bite’ of spaghetti I object to. I want a mouthful of hearty pasta to chew on. Besides, I don’t want to have to twirl my fork! Does that make me lazy? Maybe. But these are my preferences. You can ladle the delicious instant pot spaghetti sauce on any pasta you want!

I give you permission. 😉

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Helpful tips

Dice your onion. Sometimes it’s fun to have chunky gravy but for this dish, I want it smooth
I use crushed tomatoes in this recipe, but you can use diced instead. I’ve made it both ways and both are delicious
If you haven’t tried garlic paste, do look for it in your grocery as it saves time, is convenient and has a wonderful taste
Don’t skimp on the garlic, unless you don’t like it
Buy the best sausages you can afford

How to make this IP spaghetti sauce

Step one

Gather the ingredients – Onion, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic paste, sausages, oregano and basil.

Onion, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic paste, oregano and basil on a grey table

Step two

Chop onion in small chunks. Get your instant pot out and press the sauté button.

Step three

Add olive oil and after it heats up, add onion and sauté for 3 minutes.

Step four

Add sausages, garlic, oregano, basil and salt and continue sautéing for 3 minutes.

Sausages, onions and herbs sautéed in the instant pot container

Step five

Add the rest of your ingredients to the IP, seal the lid and make sure the venting knob is turned to the sealed position. Press the ‘Pressure Cook’ button and set the timer to 15 minutes. The IP will take between 10 – 15 minutes to come to pressure before the timer starts counting down.

Step six

After the IP beeps, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes or do a quick release. (Don an oven mitt before turning the venting knob to vent).

For this meal, I transfer most of the finished gravy to a serving bowl and add orecchiette pasta to our plates.

Sausages peaking out of a serving bowl with pasta in a bowl behind it

I ladle the gravy on the pasta and we’re ready to eat.

A white bowl filled with pasta with sauce and a sausage on top. There is a bowl with more sauce in the background

Looking delicious!

Overhead view of the a white bowl with two sausages with sauce and pasta

I hope you enjoyed this instant pot spaghetti sauce recipe!

What is your favorite meat to put in your spaghetti sauce? Or your favorite pasta? Leave me a comment as I would love to know.

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And as always, may all your dishes be delish!

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