Transform your dinner routine with this incredibly easy Instant Pot penne pasta recipe, featuring savory ground beef and your favorite jar sauce. This one-pot wonder is designed for busy weeknights, offering a delicious and satisfying meal that the whole family will love with minimal cleanup. Much like our popular Ninja Foodi spaghetti, this recipe harnesses the power of your pressure cooker for perfectly cooked pasta every time, but with the delightful bite of penne noodles.
Whether you crave a rich, meaty pasta dish brimming with robust flavors or a simple, comforting bowl of buttered noodles, this adaptable recipe has you covered. Utilize it as a complete, hearty one-pot meal to feed a crowd, or scale it down for an economical and satisfying side dish. Once you master this method, be sure to explore our other fantastic Instant Pot recipes for more culinary inspiration and effortless cooking.
This recipe is not only convenient but also incredibly versatile, making it perfect for using up leftover cooked beef or sausage that might otherwise go to waste. I frequently adapt this approach when preparing my Instant Pot spaghetti. If your meat is already cooked, there’s no need for the initial sauté step; simply add it directly to the pot. For those seeking a lighter or plant-based option, this dish can be effortlessly prepared meatless. At its core, it’s a brilliant 3-ingredient penne pasta foundation (excluding water), offering endless possibilities for customization.
Perfect Penne Pasta in Your Ninja Foodi or Any Pressure Cooker
While the Instant Pot is a popular choice, don’t worry if you own a different brand of pressure cooker, such as the versatile Ninja Foodi. This recipe performs identically across various models. If you swear by your Ninja Foodi, rest assured that you’ll achieve the same fantastic results, using the high-pressure function with its appropriate lid. The cook time remains consistent, ensuring delicious pasta no matter your appliance.
Achieving your preferred pasta texture is simple. For a softer noodle, add an extra minute to the cooking time. If you prefer a slightly firmer, al dente bite, reduce the cook time by one minute. Remember that the pasta will continue to absorb liquid and soften slightly as it rests after cooking, so factor this into your timing decisions.
You’ll notice many Instant Pot ground beef recipes on my blog, and there’s a good reason for it: ground beef is a universal favorite in my family of five. While we also enjoy chicken frequently, ground beef dishes tend to be more universally embraced. I particularly appreciate recipes like this one that allow me the flexibility to include meat for a heartier meal or easily adapt it into a delicious vegetarian option, served straight from the pot.
Essential Ingredient Insights for Your Penne Pasta
Crafting the perfect Instant Pot penne pasta begins with understanding your ingredients and their roles. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need and how to make the most of each component:
- Ground Beef or Sausage: Lean ground beef is a classic choice, but a mix of half beef and half spicy ground sausage adds a wonderful depth of flavor and a gentle kick. If you’re using precooked meat, such as leftover taco meat, you can conveniently skip the initial sauté step and incorporate it directly into the pot, saving even more time.
- Penne Pasta: While penne is recommended for its ideal size and shape for pressure cooking, the specific pasta shape is ultimately up to your preference. Small to medium-sized noodles like shells or spirals work equally well and typically have similar cooking times. Avoid very thin or delicate pastas that might become mushy under pressure.
- Water or Broth: Water is perfectly adequate, but substituting with vegetable or beef broth will infuse your pasta with an extra layer of savory flavor. Be mindful of sodium levels if using broth, especially when combining it with jarred sauce, which can also be high in salt. Opt for low-sodium broth to maintain control over the overall seasoning.
- Jarred Spaghetti Sauce: The convenience of a jarred sauce makes this recipe incredibly quick. However, if you have extra time and desire a truly homemade touch, consider preparing our homemade Instant Pot spaghetti sauce first, then proceed with the remaining steps. Either option yields delicious results, depending on your schedule and preference.
When selecting your pasta, ensure the shapes are relatively similar in size to ensure even cooking. Squiggly pasta, medium-sized shells, or penne all generally require the same cook time in the Instant Pot. Even macaroni noodles, though often associated with different dishes, would not significantly alter the pressure cooking time here. I personally prefer macaroni for more tomato-based, cheesy recipes like Instant Pot chili mac, but it’s entirely a matter of taste.
Instant Pot Penne Pasta with Meatballs
For an even simpler preparation, consider swapping fresh ground meat for frozen meatballs. This hack significantly reduces prep time. You can bypass the initial sauté step entirely and place the meatballs (thawed or straight from the freezer) at the very bottom of the pot before adding other ingredients.
Once your pasta is cooked to perfection, a sprinkle of fresh Parmesan cheese over the top adds a wonderful salty, umami finish. For a more fundamental recipe, you can prepare the penne with just water, noodles, and a touch of butter. This basic version provides a blank canvas for various additions. This dish epitomizes flexibility; omit the protein for a delightful vegetarian pasta recipe. Garnish with Parmesan cheese or, for dietary needs like my husband’s, keep it dairy-free. Serve alongside your favorite steamed or roasted vegetables for a complete, easy meal. Here’s a detailed look at the ingredients and steps we used to create this family favorite.
After perfecting the liquid-to-pasta ratio, I discovered the joy of cooking everything together in one pot. If you’re curious about a grain-based alternative with similar flavors, don’t miss our hearty Instant Pot ground beef and rice recipe.
Mastering the Ratio: Penne Pasta to Liquid in Your Pressure Cooker
Understanding the correct liquid-to-pasta ratio is crucial for perfectly cooked pressure cooker pasta. Generally, if you’re only adding water, the ratio is roughly double the liquid to pasta by volume. However, when incorporating a jar of spaghetti sauce, which contributes a significant amount of liquid, you’ll adjust this. For a standard 24 oz jar of sauce, you’ll typically add approximately the same amount of water as pasta (by volume, not weight). For example, if you’re using 2 cups of dry penne, you’d combine it with the 24 oz sauce and about 1 ¾ to 2 cups of water. I highly recommend using broth instead of water whenever possible, as it significantly enhances the flavor of the final dish. Just remember to account for the broth’s sodium content to prevent your meal from becoming overly salty.
Essential Tips for Perfect Instant Pot Penne Pasta
To ensure your Instant Pot penne pasta turns out perfectly every time, keep these vital tips in mind:
- Thickening After Cooking: If you’re preparing the heartier version with meat and sauce, remember that the pasta will continue to absorb liquid and the sauce will thicken considerably as it sits. If it seems a little loose right after cooking, don’t worry; it will firm up.
- Unplugging Your Pot: Always unplug your pressure cooker once cooking is complete and you’ve served your meal. Many models automatically switch to a “Keep Warm” function, which can continue to cook the food and may cause it to stick to the bottom of the pot, making cleanup more challenging.
- Resting for Flavor and Texture: For optimal flavor infusion and texture, especially when serving multiple rounds, place the lid back on the pot between servings. Allowing the pasta to sit and soak in the sauce for a few extra minutes will deepen the flavors and achieve an even richer, thicker consistency.
- Deglazing the Pot: If you sauté meat or vegetables, ensure you deglaze the bottom of the pot with a little liquid (water or broth) and scrape up any stuck-on bits before pressure cooking. This prevents a “burn” warning and helps incorporate all those flavorful fond into your dish.
- Avoiding the “Burn” Notice: Layering ingredients correctly is key. Always place the liquid (water/broth/sauce) at the bottom, then the pasta, and avoid stirring the pasta into the sauce before pressure cooking. This layering helps prevent ingredients from sticking to the bottom and triggering the burn warning.
Instant Pot Penne Pasta Recipe
Justine
10 minutes
6 minutes
6
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Equipment
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1 pressure cooker
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef, or ground sausage
- 1 tbsp olive oil, or avocado oil
- 24 oz spaghetti sauce, jarred used
- 1 3/4 cup water, or broth
- 2 cup pasta, penne used
- 1 tsp garlic, minced
- 1/2 small onion, diced
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Instructions
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Set your pressure cooker to the “Sauté” function. Add olive oil. Once hot, add the ground beef and break it up with a spatula. Incorporate the diced onions and minced garlic, cooking until the meat is no longer pink on the outside. This step builds a foundational layer of flavor. After the meat is browned, turn the pot off. Use a wooden spatula to scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pot – this is crucial for preventing a “burn” notice.
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Carefully pour in the spaghetti sauce and water (or broth). Do not stir these liquids into the meat mixture yet. Next, gently pour the penne pasta on top of the liquid layer, carefully submerging it as much as possible without stirring. It’s important to layer the ingredients this way to ensure even cooking and prevent sticking.
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Secure the lid on your pressure cooker and ensure the steam release valve is sealed. Cook on high pressure for 6 minutes. Once the cooking cycle is complete, perform a quick release of the pressure by carefully opening the steam valve. Once all the steam has escaped and the float valve drops, carefully lift the lid away from your face. Give the pasta a good stir to combine all the ingredients and break up any pasta that may have stuck together. Serve immediately, garnished with shredded Parmesan cheese if desired.
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Watch a helpful video on preparing Instant Pot Penne Pasta
Nutrition
Calories: 244kcal,
Carbohydrates: 7g,
Protein: 14g,
Fat: 18g,
Saturated Fat: 6g,
Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g,
Monounsaturated Fat: 8g,
Trans Fat: 1g,
Cholesterol: 54mg,
Sodium: 592mg,
Potassium: 554mg,
Fiber: 2g,
Sugar: 4g,
Vitamin A: 491IU,
Vitamin C: 9mg,
Calcium: 34mg,
Iron: 3mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
Entree, Main Course
American, Italian
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For those times you crave a simpler, perhaps lighter, pasta dish without meat or heavy sauce, our Instant Pot butter noodles are an absolute go-to. You’ll find the specific instructions for this variation detailed within the recipe card above. This simple yet satisfying version requires just pasta, water, and butter.
Cooking Directions for Instant Pot Pasta Without Sauce (Butter Noodles)
Preparing plain butter noodles in your pressure cooker is incredibly straightforward and yields perfectly tender pasta. Here’s how to do it:
Start with approximately 3 cups of your preferred smaller pasta shapes, such as shells or penne. Egg noodles also work wonderfully but note that they tend to become softer than other pasta types when pressure cooked. Combine the pasta with about 5 cups of water or broth (broth will add more flavor). Add a generous splash of olive oil to the pot – this helps prevent the pasta from sticking together during cooking. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper to taste.
Seal the lid and steam release valve, then cook on high pressure for just 2 minutes. Once the cooking cycle is complete, perform a quick release of the pressure. Open the lid, stir in a generous knob of butter until melted and well combined. If you decide later that you’d like a sauce, you can easily stir in a jar of your favorite pasta sauce at this stage, after the noodles are cooked. It’s a super simple and endlessly adaptable method.
If you’re looking to spice things up with a similar noodle base, consider trying our Instant Pot Mexican casserole. This dish utilizes similar pasta types, and incorporating bow-tie pasta can add a fun twist! And for those who love their Ninja Foodi, these Ninja Foodi Butter Noodles can be made following the same method. If your Ninja Foodi includes an air fryer function, you could even add a layer of cheese on top at the end and air crisp it for a beautifully browned, bubbly finish. Either way, these pressure cooker pasta methods offer a quick, easy, and universally loved meal solution.
Storing leftover Instant Pot pasta is simple, ensuring you can enjoy this delicious meal for days. Make sure the pasta is completely cool before transferring it into airtight containers or resealable bags. Store it in your refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. To reheat, simply transfer the desired portion into a heat-tolerant bowl and microwave for about 1 minute, stirring halfway through, until heated through. This method keeps your pasta moist and flavorful for subsequent servings.
