• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Foodie Eats
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Instant Pot Magic
  • Gluten-Free Comfort
  • Soup Season All Year
  • Real-Life Dinners
  • Desserts That Deliver
  • About
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Instant Pot Magic
  • Gluten-Free Comfort
  • Soup Season All Year
  • Real-Life Dinners
  • Desserts That Deliver
  • About
×
Home » Instant Pot Magic

Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce with Spaghetti Squash

By Gary White
This post may contain affiliate links.
Read my full disclosure here.

Published January 5, 2020. Last modified July 31, 2025 By Gary White

Jump to Recipe
Pinterest image of spaghetti squash and sauce

This Instant Pot spaghetti sauce is packed with flavor and pairs perfectly served with spaghetti squash. Perfect for Whole30, low carb, or gluten-free diets.

spaghetti squash and sauce in white bowl

(Originally published January 21, 2019. Updated content and tips January 5, 2020.)

We originally created this dish as a Whole30 compliant alternative to traditional spaghetti. However, the sauce has become a winner in our house, even when not following Whole3o. Serve the sauce over your favorite pasta, or up the veggie content of traditional spaghetti by serving it over Instant Pot spaghetti squash (squash recipe included below).

Why This Recipe Works

  1. There's no need to simmer your sauce all day for great flavor when using an Instant Pot. The pressure of the Instant Pot leads to rapid and intense boiling, which creates amazing flavor in less time.
  2. This sauce pairs perfectly with traditional pasta, or prepare it with spaghetti squash (recipe below), for a healthy, low-carb, gluten-free and high-fiber alternative to traditional pasta. 
  3. The Instant Pot makes it easy to prepare perfectly tender, but not mushy, spaghetti squash every time.

spaghetti squash and sauce on white bowl

How to make Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce with Spaghetti Squash

spaghetti squash cut in half on cutting board
Cut spaghetti squash in half lengthwise.
spaghetti squash cut in half on cutting board with seeds removed
Scoop out seeds and pulp.
empty Instant Pot with trivet and water
Place trivet in pot, along with 1 cup of water.
two uncooked spaghetti squash halves in Instant Pot
Place squash on top of trivet. Lock lid and cook for 2 minutes at high pressure.
two cooked spaghetti squash halves in Instant Pot
Once cook time is complete, quick-release pressure. Remove squash from pot and set aside to cool.
diced onions in Instant Pot with oil and salt
Clean out pot, then... Using sauté setting – add oil, onions, and ¼ teaspoon of salt to pot...
diced onions in Instant Pot with oil and salt
...and cook for 3-4 minutes, until soft and translucent.
chopped mushrooms topped with minced garlic
Add mushrooms, garlic, oregano, basil, and fennel seeds to pot.
chopped mushrooms sautéing with minced garlic
Cook for about 10 minutes, until mushrooms have released their juices...
sautéed mushrooms
...and then evaporated. Remove and set aside.
raw ground beef topped with salt and pepper
Continuing on sauté setting - add ground beef, 1 teaspoon of salt, and black pepper to pot.
raw ground beef, broken up and topped with salt and pepper
Break beef up as much as possible...
browned ground beef
...and cook until thoroughly browned. Drain and return to pot.
browned ground beef, topped with sautéed mushrooms and spices
Return mushrooms to pot, along with garlic powder, and onion powder...
browned ground beef with sautéed mushrooms
...and mix well.
tomato sauce topped with a little sugar
Pour in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, 1 teaspoon of salt, and sugar. (Leave out the sugar for Whole30 compliance.) Mix well. Then lock lid and cook for 5 minutes at high pressure.
spaghetti squash and fork
Meanwhile... Using a fork, scrape out flesh from each half of squash, making sure not to get any shell.
spaghetti squash in mixing bowl
Place in a large bowl. Just before transferring to serving dish, season spaghetti squash with salt to taste.
meat sauce in Instant Pot
Once cook time is complete, quick-release pressure. In each individual serving dish, add spaghetti squash and top with desired amount of sauce. Enjoy!

And this is the AMAZING Result…

closeup of fork with spaghetti squash and sauce

Expert Tips

  1.  To make this Whole30 compliant, omit sugar and, ideally, use 100% grass fed beef.
  2. This sauce is delicious served over pasta of choice. Serve with spaghetti squash or zoodles for a low-carb, whole30 option, or serve with your favorite traditional pasta.

 

★ Did you make this Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce? Please give it a star rating below! ★

📖 Recipe

spaghetti squash and sauce in white bowl

Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce with Spaghetti Squash

This Instant Pot spaghetti sauce is packed with flavor and pairs perfectly when served with spaghetti squash. And it's low-carb, gluten-free and Whole30 compliant.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 329kcal
Author: Gary White

Ingredients 

  • 5 lb. spaghetti squash
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • ½ cup yellow onions diced
  • 2 ¼ tsp. sea salt divided
  • 8 oz. baby bella mushrooms roughly chopped
  • 1 Tbsp. garlic minced
  • ½ tsp. dried oregano
  • ½ tsp. dried basil
  • ½ tsp. fennel seeds
  • 1 lb. ground beef 85/15*
  • ½ tsp. black pepper
  • ½ tsp. garlic powder
  • ½ tsp. onion powder
  • 28 oz. crushed tomatoes
  • 15 oz. tomato sauce
  • 1 tsp. sugar leave out for Whole30

Instructions

  • Cut spaghetti squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out seeds and pulp. Place trivet in pot, along with 1 cup of water. Place squash on top of trivet. Lock lid and cook for 2 minutes at high pressure. Once cook time is complete, quick-release pressure. Remove squash from pot and set aside to cool.
  • Clean out pot, then... Using sauté setting – add oil, onions, and ¼ teaspoon of salt to pot and cook for 3-4 minutes, until soft and translucent.
  • Add mushrooms, garlic, oregano, basil, and fennel seeds to pot. Cook for about 10 minutes, until mushrooms have released their juices and then evaporated. Remove and set aside.
  • Continuing on sauté setting – add ground beef, 1 teaspoon of salt, and black pepper to pot. Break beef up as much as possible and cook until thoroughly browned. Drain and return to pot.
  • Return mushrooms to pot, along with garlic powder, and onion powder and mix well. Pour in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, 1 teaspoon of salt, and sugar. Mix well. Then lock lid and cook for 5 minutes at high pressure.
  • Meanwhile... Using a fork, scrape out flesh from each half of squash, making sure not to get any shell. Place in a large bowl. Just before transferring to serving dish, season spaghetti squash with salt to taste.
  • Once cook time is complete, quick-release pressure. In each individual serving dish, add spaghetti squash and top with desired amount of sauce.

Notes

*Use beef that is 85% lean, 15% fat.

Nutrition

Calories: 329kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 738mg | Potassium: 1088mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 785IU | Vitamin C: 20.1mg | Calcium: 144mg | Iron: 4.4mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag us Today!Mention @thefoodieeats or tag #TheFoodieEats!

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. TO FIND OUT MORE VISIT OUR DISCLOSURE PAGE.

More Instant Pot Magic

  • Bowl of vegetable beef soup with potatoes, carrots, green beans, and bread slices on the side
    Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Soup
  • A hearty bowl of Instant Pot chicken chili, featuring tender chicken and beans, topped with cheese, sour cream, and avocado.
    Instant Pot Chicken Chili
  • Arroz con pollo inside Instant Pot
    Instant Pot Arroz con Pollo
  • Closeup of Instant Pot shrimp and grits in white bowl.
    Instant Pot Shrimp and Grits

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. B

    October 27, 2020 at 3:53 pm

    Actually a 5 lb. Spagjetti Squash takes much longer in an Instant Pot. Try actually preparing one before you share a recipe. A 3lb. Squash takes 15 minutes, then QR.

    Reply
    • Gary White

      October 27, 2020 at 5:15 pm

      I've cooked a whole lot of spaghetti squash in the IP. If you want your squash to be complete mush, by all means cook it as long as you like. There are lots of recipes on the internet.

      Reply
5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Meet Gary

I'm Gary... husband, dad, recipe developer, and comfort food nerd. I believe in real food for real life. This blog? It’s where I share the recipes my family actually eats. Simple, soulful, and full of flavor. My goal is simple: help you cook food worth making again. More about me...

As Seen On

Parade Delish Greatist

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Recipes
  • Start Here
  • About
  • Instant Pot Magic
  • Gluten-Free Comfort
  • Soup Season All Year
  • Desserts That Deliver
  • Real-Life Dinners
  • Southern & Soul Food
  • Slow Cooker & Air Fryer
  • Vegan-ish

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure

Newsletter & Contact

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates
  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 The Foodie Eats

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.