Instant Pot Ground Beef Pasta
Updated Oct 24, 2025, Published Apr 19, 2020
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Instant Pot Ground Beef Pasta — kinda speaks for itself, doesn’t it? Creamy, cheesy, comforting, and all the things you love in one dish, plus half the cooking time you’d normally need. And it’s a great way to use those pantry staples!
For more terrific Instant Pot recipes, check out my popular posts for Instant Pot Chicken Marsala, Instant Pot Pot Roast and Potatoes, and Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Tacos.
Why This Recipe Works
Ingredients
- Marinara sauce – any favorite store bought or homemade version will do here.
- Short, uncooked pasta noodles like shells, macaroni, penne, bowties.
- Freshly grated mozzarella cheese – only use freshly grate! The pre-shredded cheese is packaged with a powdered coating, that will keep it from melting properly.
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes – optional but I highly recommend it! Just add a pinch, or more to your personal taste.
Here’s How You Make It
Once you get all your ingredients together, it’s time to make the cheesy beef and shells dish of your dinner dreams!
- First, set your pressure cooker to Saute. Drizzle with the oil, and then add the ground beef. Saute the beef for about 4-5 minutes, breaking the beef as it cooks. When it’s browned all the way through, stir in the Italian seasoning or Herbs de Provence, and the garlic and saute for another minute.
- Transfer the ground beef and spice mixture to a bowl and cover it to keep it warm. (not pictured)
- Next, add the marinara, water, broth, noodles, onion powder, and red pepper flakes to the pot and stir. Put the lid on the Instant Pot and lock it down. Turn the vent valve to the “sealed” position.
- Set the pot to Pressure Cook or Manual for 8 minutes. When the 8 minutes is up, do a quick release and remove the lid when the float valve drops or the steam is completely out of the valve cover.
- Stir in the ground beef mixture and the cheese. When the cheese is melted, salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with fresh parsley, basil, or thyme if you like and serve.
Customizations
The other great thing about this dish is that it can be customized to your liking. Here are some ideas for ways to change up this pasta and beef Instant Pot dish.
- If you don’t have or don’t like ground beef, you can use any other ground meat such as turkey or chicken if you like.
- To make the dish spicier, consider using ground Italian sausage instead of ground beef. Follow the directions as stated.
- For a little bit extra nutrients, you add frozen peas or corn or both during step 3.
- If you want to make this vegetarian, swap out beef broth for vegetable broth and consider adding beans instead of meat. Saute the garlic and spices with the beans, remove the beans to keep warm (as you would the meat) and transfer back during step 7.
- Add onions and saute them with the garlic.
- Instead of marinara sauce, use a homemade (or store bought) alfredo sauce. (For an alfredo recipe head to my Browned Butter Alfredo Sauce.)
- Switch up the spices from Italian to Mexican by subbing cumin and chili powder for the Italian seasonings and swapping cheddar for the mozzarella.
Expert Tips and Tricks
So you want to make the very best Instant Pot Ground Beef Pasta? I’ve got you covered. Just follow my tips for a fail-proof dinner the family will love!
- Using smaller pasta works best. If you want to use spaghetti, be sure to break it up into smaller pieces first.
- You want to cook the meat first and remove it before cooking the pasta in the Instant Pot, otherwise, the ground beef will soak up too much of the liquid and leave you with a hard pasta, or it’ll be all lumped together and not too appetizing.
- If you don’t have garlic to mince, you can use the jarred garlic or I’ve even seen frozen cubes.
- If you’re short on broth, you can make your own with water and bullion cubes. Simply follow the directions on the box/jar of cubes/bouillon you have at home. Chicken, beef, or even vegetable bullion will work!
- Make sure to vent the Instant Pot right away and don’t let it self-vent or your pasta will get too mushy.
More Easy Dinner Recipes
- Ground Beef Stroganoff – cozy, one-pan dinner , ready in just 30 minutes!
- Cheesy Bacon Alfredo Shells – this is sure to become your new comfort food favorite!
- Creamy Sausage Pasta – quick, creamy pasta dinner with savory sausage and lush sauce…it’ all about that creamy sauce!
- Lasagna Soup – all the flavor of a classic bake with just one pot and less fuss!
- Steak with Mushroom Sauce – transform any cut into a gourmet feast.
- Chicken and Mushroom Pie – take cozy to the next level and still impress!
- Stuffed Shells – easy and delicious!
- Instant Pot White Chicken Chili Recipe – warm up your week with this 30 minute meal.
- Ground Beef Tacos with Taco Seasoning from Scratch – taco night-upgraded!
- Slow Cooker or Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup – craving comfort food? Dive in and get cozy with a bowlful of warmth.
When you make this recipe, snap a photo and tag me on social – I love connecting with you and seeing what you’re up to in the kitchen!
Instant Pot Ground Beef Pasta
Instant Pot Ground Beef Pasta — kinda speaks for itself, doesn't it? Creamy, cheesy, comforting, and all the things you love in one dish, plus half the cooking time you'd normally need. And it's a great way to use those pantry staples!
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 3 teaspoons minced garlic
- 3 teaspoons Italian blend seasoning , OR Herbs de Provence
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup beef broth
- 16 ounces/1lb short uncooked pasta noodles like shells, macaroni, penne, bowties
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
- 1 cup freshly grated mozzarella cheese
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Set your pressure cooker to SAUTE. Drizzle with oil, then add the ground beef and saute 4-5 minutes, breaking beef into pieces as it cooks, until browned.
- Stir in Italian seasoning and garlic for 1 minute longer. Transfer ground beef to a bowl and cover tightly to keep warm.
- Add marinara, water, broth, noodles, onion powder, and red pepper flakes (if using) to the pot and give it a good stir.
- Place the lid on the pot and slide it into the locked position and turn the vent valve to the sealed position.
- Set to PRESSURE COOK or MANUAL for 8 minutes.
- Do a QUICK RELEASE (immediately turn the vent valve to VENT position) and remove the lid once the float valve drops.
- Stir in ground beef and mozzarella cheese. Once cheese is melted and incorporated, add salt and pepper to taste.
- Garnish with fresh parsley, basil, or thyme if desired and serve.
Notes
Add 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes for a little kick!
Nutrition
Calories: 312kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 918mg | Potassium: 634mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 667IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 132mg | Iron: 3mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this?Leave a star rating or comment below!
Typically small pastas are cooked for a lot less time in the IP. Will the pasta get very soft at 8 minutes?
Not too soft. But make sure to vent the Instant Pot right away and don’t let it self-vent or your pasta will get too mushy.
Great recipe. Came out perfect and yummy. Thank you for posting
This recipe is delicious. I used a gluten free quinoa and rice pasta from Trader Joe’s and it turned out pretty well, I prob could have done one minute less to make it less mushy though. Also, any ideas of why the bottom burned in my 8 qt?? I followed the recipe exactly except for the pasta swap. Delicious though, I will make again!
I’m glad you enjoyed it but I’m sorry it burned at the bottom! You can try and deglaze the pot after browning the meat and see if that prevents it from happening again.
Hi, the pasta shells I have says boil 14-16 mins so would the cooking time indicated be enough to cook the pasta?
Instant pots cook things faster than normal, so it should be fine 🙂
Sent the recipe to my sister I loved it so much. Thanks.
This meal was delicious. I made it with egg noodles since I didn’t have any of the short noodles. Therefore I cooked it for 3 minutes and natural released for 8 minutes. That was perfect. I also cooked the meat first and then left it in the pot with the sauce and the noodles. It worked fine. Thanks so much for the recipe.
Thank you dawn that’s the kind of noodles I have gonna make tonight will post how mine turned out.
Frozen ground beef work? How? Thank you.
I’m sorry but this has not been tested using frozen ground beef, only thawed, as such I cannot provide any specific recommendations for frozen beef. If you do give it a try, however, I would love to hear your results.
Fantastic recipe!! I’m so happy I found this one. It’s super simple, quick, and (with only 2 adults in my household) makes plenty of leftovers for lunches.
Love this!! So easy to make and so good! How long do leftovers last in the fridge?
About 3-4 days
Same cook time if doubling the recipe?
Yes, your instant pot will automatically adjust to the amount of food by taking more time to reach pressure and then cook for the same amount of time. Just make sure you don’t fill your instant pot above the fill line.
Can this dish be frozen?
This can easily be frozen and reheated in the microwave or in the oven, covered with foil.