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    Home » Recipes » Instant Pot

    Instant Pot Pasta with Jar Sauce

    Published: Dec 21, 2020 · Modified: Jan 4, 2021 by Adrianne

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    Instant Pot Pasta with jar sauce

    Instant Pot Pasta with jar sauce (no meat) is an INCREDIBLY EASY recipe that gets a delicious dinner on the table quickly! Choose spaghetti, penne, rigatoni, macaroni, fettucine or your favorite pasta, your favourite sauce and make this fuss free recipe. 

    Instant Pot Pasta on a white plate with for and spoon

    My Instant Pot Pasta Primavera and Instant Pot Penne Pasta are a couple of recipes to show you how to make pasta in your Instant Pot. 

    The Instant Pot Spaghetti Bolognese recipe is comfort food at its finest!

    For this recipe, I want to show you how to make pasta in your Instant Pot with a store bought jar of sauce (for those nights when time is of the essence and tiredness is creeping in). 

    If you love pasta, you might also like my Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese, Ground Beef Casserole, Blue Cheese Mac and Cheese and Tomato Mac and Cheese recipes!  

    Instant Pot pasta is quick, it is easy and it is fuss free!  

    Spaghetti with Jar Sauce (or your favourite pasta)

    To cook spaghetti with jar sauce, you simply need to choose your favourite sauce (beef, tomato, vegtarian, Italian etc) and stir the sauce through the cooked pasta.

    Recipes using jarred spaghetti sauce are perfect for busy nights!! 

    How to cook Spaghetti Sauce from Jar

    The general way to cook any spaghetti sauce from a jar is to heat it thoroughly. 

    We used to do this in the microwave when we were learning to cook as kids. 

    These days, I find it SO much faster to use my Instant Pot. 

    To cook pasta sauce from a jar, you need to heat it till it is thoroughly hot. If using a meat based jar sauce, it is essentially that the heat and time is sufficient to reheat (the meat will be precooked) the meat. 

    Instant Pot Pasta with jar sauce ingredients

    The ingredients for this recipe are shown in the photo below, you can refer to this on your phone at the shops, so you get everything you need in 1 go!

    Instant Pot Pasta with jar sauce ingredients with text over lay

    As you can see we need:

    • dried pasta (use your favourite)
    • pasta sauce
    • cracked pepper
    • parmesan cheese
    • parsley

    I love using a variety of pasta sauces for Instant Pot recipes. Once you know how easy this recipe is, you will too! 

    You can choose both your favourite pasta and your favourite pasta sauce for this recipe!

    Mine is usually penneor spaghetti with ajvar sauce. Ajvar is a vegetarian sauce consisting of roasted red peppers, eggplant and hot fefferoni (try it if you haven't, it is SERIOUSLY tasty!). 

    Instant Pot Pasta recipes

    Cooking pasta in your Instant Pot is an incredibly easy and simple way to get dinner on the table! 

    The general rule of thumb to cook any type of plain pasta, is to use the packet recommended time frame, divide it by 2 and subtract 1 minute. So for example this spaghetti packet says '10 mins cook time', so we divide it by 2 and get 5, then we subtract 1 minute, leaving 4 minutes cooking time. 

    I know what you are thinking, 'but that is too easy!', I know my friends, it is literally too easy!! 

     

    Step by Step Pasta or Spaghetti with Jar sauce 

    The 1st setting we use on our pot is the pressure cook mode.

    Start by adding the pasta and following the steps below:
    Instant Pot Pasta with jar sauce method and text over lay 1-4

    1. Add dried pasta to the Instant Pot stainless steel bowl (photo 1)
    2. Pour in enough water to just cover the top of the pasta  (photo 2)
    3. Set the pressure cook for appropriate time (photo 3)
    4. Let the pasta cook, then use oven mits to remove inner pot and drain (photo 4)

    Looking for the latest recipes on the blog? Click here! 

    Once the Instant Pot has cooked the Pasta (you can either quick release pressure, or wait for the slow release) you need to drain the pasta, press the saute mode and add the cooked pasta back to the bowl. 

    Instant Pot Pasta with jar sauce method and text over lay 5-8

    Instant Pot Jar Sauce Pasta 

    • Pour the pasta sauce into the cooked pasta (photos 5-6) 
    • Stir for 2 -3 mins (you will hear it sizzling)  (shown in photo 7)
    • Continue till the entire sauce and pasta is heated through (shown in photo 8)

    When the Instant Pot is cooking the pasta sauce, all we need to do is stir it a couple of times.

    I don't add oil to the bowl as I add the sauce so quickly that the pasta doesn't stick to the base of the pot.

    If you want to add a drop or 2 of oil, you can, however, it is not essential. We are not so much cooking anything at this point, rather we are heating. 

    Wooden spoon holding cooked pasta with sauce above an instant pot

    Doesn't the above photo make you want to eat pasta every damn night of the week!! I wish we could, but I also want my jeans to always fit, so some nights its pasta and some nights its not! 

    You can check out the most popular recipes on the blog, right here!  

    Once your pasta is cooked all you need to do is top with some parmesan cheese, parsley and cracked pepper! 

    Spaghetti with jar sauce on white plate with fork

    You can also freeze this recipe. So it works perfectly to meal prep on the weekends, then heat and eat on week nights! 

    If you want to know how to make pasta with jarred sauce taste better, simply choose the right sauce and top with the above garnishes!

    No bland, boring or basic sauces, go for top notch flavour and don't hold back on the parmesan! 

    Pasta recipes:

    If pasta is your favourite thing, then here is some recipes you need to get cooking: 

    • Instant Pot Penne Pasta
    • Instant Pot Spaghetti Bolognese
    • Garlic Spaghetti
    • Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta
    • Ground Beef Casserole
    • Tomato Mac and Cheese
    • Blue Cheese Mac and Cheese
    • Tuna Spaghetti
    • Smoked Salmon Spaghetti

    Weeknight dinners are SO easy with a few handy pasta recipes up your sleeve! 

    To check out all of the pasta recipes, I have on the blog, find them here > pasta recipes.

    Instant Pot Pasta with jar sauce quick info:

    About the recipe:

    • this recipe works with all types of pasta sauce
    • this recipe works with all types of pasta
    • there is no need to add any further ingredients to the IP other than the pasta , (water to cook) and sauce 
    • this is an easy recipe! 

    FAQs about cooking Pasta with jar sauce in the Instant Pot

    1. Add the dried pasta 1st, then enough liquid to cover it
    2. Cook the pasta for the packet recommended length, divided by 2 minus 1. 
    3. Different types of pasta take different times to cook, so check the packet closely! 
    4. Your Instant pot will automatically heat before it starts to pressure cook (approx 5-10 mins)
    5. The sauté mode is our 'stove top saucepan' method
    6. this is a freezer friendly recipe
    7. also a family friendly recipe

    Fork digging into plate of pasta on a white plate

    Here are Quick and Easy recipes which will get dinner on the table FAST! 

    Instant Pot Pasta with easy sauce Pro tips:

    These additional tips are so that you can master pasta in your instant pot from the 1st time you cook it:

    • Ensure the pasta is in one flat level in the Instant Pot
    • Pour in enough water to cover but don't pour in too much (a little less is ok) 
    • One the pasta is cooked and pressure is released, use oven mits to remove inner pot (it will be hot!) 
    • Add the cooked drained pasta, press saute and add pasta sauce straight away so pasta does not stick. 
    • The pasta and sauce will cook quickly in this mode and only take minutes to be ready

    You can check out the most popular recipes on the blog, right here!  

    Can I freeze this recipe?

    Yes, this is a freezer friendly meal! 

    To freeze your pasta and sauce, simply wait until it is cool, then portion it out into individual or family sized servings.

    To reheat this dish, simply defrost and then add to the Instant Pot again (lid off, saute mode) and stir till pasta and sauce is heated through. 

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    Use your Instant Pot to make these recipes:

    • Instant Pot Granola
    • Instant Pot Fudge
    • Pressure Cooker Bacon
    • Instant Pot Deviled Eggs

    PIN and save this recipe for later!

    Instant Pot pasta with jar sauce on a white plate

    Instant Pot Pasta with Jar Sauce

    Instant Pot Pasta with jar sauce is an EASY recipe that gets dinner on the table quickly! Choose your favourite sauce for fuss free pasta. 
    5 from 10 votes
    Print Rate
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: Australian, International
    Keyword: Instant Pot Pasta, jar sauce pasta, spaghetti with jar sauce
    Prep Time: 2 minutes
    Cook Time: 8 minutes
    5 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 54kcal
    Author: Adrianne
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot
    • Wooden spoon

    Ingredients

    Instant Pot Pasta with Jar Sauce

    • 500 grams pasta Note 1
    • 400 grams pasta sauce Note 2
    • Parmesan cheese to garnish
    • parsley to garnish
    • cracked pepper to garnish

    Instructions

    Instant Pot Pasta with jar sauce

    • Add pasta to the stainless steel Instant Pot bowl. Pour in enough water to just cover the pasta (I used 4 cups for my 8 litre Instant Pot).
    • Set the timer to 6 minutes normal and high pressure. Allow pot to pressurise. Once the pasta is cooked, press the quick release button and depressurize the pot.
    • USe oven mits to remove the inner stainless steel pot and drain your pasta over the sink using a colander.
    • Add drained pasta back to the Instant Pot, spoon or pour in pasta sauce, press the Saute Button and stir sauce through pasta till combined. When sauce is heated through (test with the tip of a finger), press the cancel button.
    • Plate and serve with Parmesan cheese, cracked pepper and parsley

    Video

    Notes

    • Note 1 The fun thing about this recipe is that you can use your favourite pasta and pasta sauce! The only difference is that each pasta will have a different cook time indicated on the packet. For example my penne pasta indicates the cook time is between 13 to 15 minutes. So we choose that time range (14 mins for example and then minus 1 for pressure cooking pasta). So my penne will take 6 mins to cook. Ensure you read the pasta cooking instructions as some pasta will cook faster than others.
    • Note 2 Any jar of pasta sauce will work for this recipe as will pesto, bolognese and roast vegetable sauces. Simply cook the pasta, drain (don't rinse), add the pasta back to the Instant Pot, press the saute button, add the sauce and stir through. Once the sauce is heated press the cancel button and your dinner is ready! 
    • Note 3 I intentionally wanted to keep this recipe SUPER SIMPLE for you. Hence we use only 5 ingredients plus the water to cook the pasta. You can use your favourite pasta garnishes, ie fresh basil, shaved cheese, grated cheese etc. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 54kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1179mg | Potassium: 745mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 974IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 2mg
    Did you make this recipe? Share on Instagram!It makes my day when you make my recipes! Tag @sweetcaramelsunday

    Pasta recipes

    I am not sure how to expressly convey to you to SERIOUSLY TRY THIS AMAZINGLY EASY RECIPE as it is life changing how quick and easy it is!!!

    Make week night's a breeze and getting dinner on the table simple but still delicious. 

    Please give me a shout if you have questions or make the recipe as I would love to hear your feedback.

    Pasta, sauce - you, me, we got this x

    Adrianne 

    RELATED RECIPES:

    Instant Pot Penne Pasta Instant Pot Spaghetti Bolognese Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese 

    Comfort Food  Dinner recipes Popular recipes

     

    Try these next...

    • Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti
    • Instant Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
    • Instant Pot Spaghetti with Jar Sauce
    • Instant Pot Spaghetti Noodles

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Amanda Wren-Grimwood says

      January 11, 2021 at 9:23 am

      5 stars
      So quick and easy and perfect for busy nights. Pasta is always a winner at my house.

      Reply
    2. Jacqueline Meldrum says

      January 11, 2021 at 9:44 am

      5 stars
      I only found out this week that you can cook pasta in an instant pot, with much less faffing about and quicker. I'm now seriously considering buying one.

      Reply
    3. Helen says

      January 11, 2021 at 11:12 am

      5 stars
      I love how quick and easy this is. I would never have thought to cook pasta in the IP - great recipe!

      Reply
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