Pasta with Meat Sauce an Instant Pot Version – A small batch

aka American Goulash

I was skeptical the first time I read about making pasta in the Instant Pot, but the pressurized cooking makes the pasta very creamy in texture. 

1 cup tomato sauce
2 cups water (or stock)
1/2 an onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 a green pepper, chopped
1 small can mushrooms (or fresh, sliced)
1/2 lb. ground meat
1 cup pasta (check the cooking time on the package and divide in half for IP cooking time)
1 teaspoon dry oregano
1 teaspoon dry basil
oil, for sauteing
salt and pepper

Preheat the Instant Pot by pressing the Saute button
begin cooking when the display reads “HOT”

Add and cook onions until translucent
add peppers and cook until softened
add garlic, stir to combine
add your meat, season with salt and pepper, and brown
add the sauce and water
add mushrooms and seasonings

Stir to combine and make sure to scrape up the browned goodness stuck to the bottom of the pot
Add the pasta (make sure the pasta has been submerged beneath the liquid… mostly)

Close the lid of the Instant Pot
make sure the valve is closed
cancel saute
set to Pressure Cook on High
set time for 7 minutes

Quick release
stir to combine
season to taste and sprinkle with cheese of you are so inclined

Sometimes the water/stock is not fully absorbed after the suggested cooking time. I just put the lid back on and let it sit for a few more minutes until the liquid is absorbed.