Description
This Instant Pot Bolognese is a rich and hearty pasta dish made with extra lean ground beef, tomato sauce, and a splash of red wine, cooked to perfection in an Instant Pot for a quick and flavorful meal. It combines traditional Bolognese flavors with the convenience of pressure cooking, resulting in tender pasta infused with delicious sauce in less than 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat & Vegetables
- 1 pound extra lean ground beef
- 1 onion, diced (about ½ cup)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Pasta & Sauce
- 6 ounces spaghetti, uncooked, broken in half
- 20 ounces tomato pasta sauce (1 jar)
Liquids & Seasonings
- 1 cup water
- ¾ cup red wine
- ¼ cup milk
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼–½ cup freshly shredded parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Sauté the meat and aromatics: Select the SAUTE setting on the Instant Pot. Add the extra lean ground beef, diced onion, and minced garlic. Cook for 8 minutes, stirring frequently and breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon or meat chopper until the beef is nicely browned. Once browned, press CANCEL on the Instant Pot.
- Add liquids and pasta: Pour in the tomato pasta sauce, water, and red wine. Stir ingredients until well combined. Add the broken spaghetti into the pot and stir it into the sauce mixture evenly.
- Pressure cook the Bolognese: Close the Instant Pot lid and select the MANUAL (or PRESSURE COOK) setting. Set the timer for 8 minutes. When cooking completes, perform a quick release of the pressure to avoid overcooking the pasta.
- Finish and thicken the sauce: Open the lid carefully. Stir in the milk and freshly ground black pepper to the pasta and sauce. Cover the pot again and let it rest for 5 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken and flavors to meld together.
- Serve with cheese: Dish out the Bolognese onto plates or bowls and sprinkle each serving with ¼ to ½ cup freshly shredded parmesan cheese for added flavor and richness. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Using extra lean ground beef keeps the dish lower in fat while still flavorful.
- Breaking the spaghetti in half helps it fit in the Instant Pot and cook evenly.
- The red wine adds depth to the sauce but can be omitted or replaced with beef broth if preferred.
- Letting the dish rest after cooking allows the sauce to thicken nicely.
- Parmesan cheese can be substituted with vegetarian hard cheeses if desired.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Instant Pot Bolognese, Ground Beef Pasta, Quick Bolognese, Pressure Cooker Pasta, Easy Italian Dinner
