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Close-up of tagliatelle pasta coated in rich Instant Pot Bolognese sauce

Instant Pot Bolognese Sauce

This Instant Pot Bolognese Sauce delivers rich, slow-simmered flavor in a fraction of the time using ground beef, crushed tomatoes, aromatics, and Italian seasoning. Served over traditional tagliatelle pasta, this hearty Italian-inspired meat sauce is perfect for cozy weeknight dinners, meal prep, and freezer meals.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 543

Ingredients
  

Equipment

  • Instant Pot: for pressure cooking the sauce quickly while building deep flavor
  • Wooden Spoon or Spatula for browning the beef and stirring
  • Knife and Cutting Board for prepping vegetables
  • Large pot for cooking pasta separately

Method
 

  1. Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Add the olive oil, onion, carrots, celery, and garlic. Cook for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and fragrant.
  2. Add the ground beef and cook for 5–7 minutes, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until browned and no longer pink.
  3. Pour in the beef broth and white wine vinegar. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot to prevent a burn notice.
  4. Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, The Spice Girl Kitchen Italian Seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine.
  5. Cancel Sauté mode. Secure the lid and set the Instant Pot to High Pressure for 25 minutes.
  6. Once cooking is complete, carefully quick release the pressure or allow a natural release for deeper flavor.
  7. Turn the Instant Pot back to Sauté mode and simmer uncovered for 5–10 minutes if you’d like a thicker sauce.
  8. Meanwhile, cook the tagliatelle according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining.
  9. Toss the cooked pasta with the sauce, adding a splash of reserved pasta water if needed to loosen. Serve topped with fresh basil and Parmesan.

Video

Notes

  • Optional Flavor Boost: Add a Parmesan rind while pressure cooking for deeper flavor. Remove before serving.
  • Traditional Pasta: Tagliatelle is the traditional pasta served with Bolognese because the wide noodles hold onto the hearty meat sauce beautifully. Pappardelle or rigatoni also work well.
  • Consistency: Simmer uncovered on Sauté mode after pressure cooking if you prefer a thicker sauce.
  • Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
  • Nutrition (per serving, 6 servings): 543 calories, 24g fat, 41g carbs, 38g protein, 5g fiber. Nutrition information is an estimate. Actual values may vary based on specific ingredients and brands used.