Instant Pot Rigatoni with Jar Sauce

Rigatoni recipe with Jar Sauce (use your favourite sauce!)

To cook rigatoni with jar sauce using the Instant Pot, you need a delicious pasta sauce.

My favourite is a vegetarian sauce that is packed with flavour.

Some nights you don't have time for detailed cooking and this recipe takes away all the tiny details!

Rigatoni versus Penne

Rigatoni is a large tubular pasta that has a ribbed texture to the surface. It is easy and fun to cook!

It is very similar to penne pasta (but larger) and smaller than cannelloni (common for stuffing).

How much water do I put in my Instant Pot for rigatoni pasta?

The method I am going to show you for this recipe came about after using my Instant Pot time and time again and learning how to use it how I would my stove top.

My method uses both the pressure cooker function and the saute mode.

We need enough water to cover the pasta. The ratio of water to pasta is that you will need more water than pasta.

Add the dried rigatoni to the stainless steel inner pot and then use a glass measuring jug to pour in water so that it comes up to the top of the pasta

My Instant Pot is the 8 litre version and I generally need 2 ½ cups of water to cover. You can also poke any pasta pieces that are sticking up down into the water as it will keep the pasta firm and al dente.

Instant Pot Rigatoni 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!

As you can see we need:

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

Your pasta sauce can be tomato based, creamy or meat, whichever you prefer!

The sauce I am using for this recipe is ajvar sauce. It is a vegetarian relish combining roasted red peppers, eggplant and hot fefferoni (full of flavour!)

Can you boil Pasta in the Instant Pot

Stove Top pasta cooking generally involves letting a pot of salted water come to the boil before adding pasta and cooking according to the packet instructions.

To cook pasta in the Instant Pot, we pressure cook it.

This is as easy as adding a few things, pushing a few buttons and walking away.

You will likely sit and contemplate how easy it is to cook pasta in the pressure cooker and you will be right my friends!

Step by Step Rigatoni with Jar sauce 

We start the recipe by adding the dried rigatoni to the inner stainless steel bowl as shown in the photos below:

1. Add dried rigatoni 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. Add a pinch of salt (photo 3)
4. Press the pressure cook button (high pressure) and set the timer. Once the pasta has cooked, quick release, then drain and add back to the Instant Pot (photo 4)

My rigatoni packet indicates a 14 minute cook time. I divide this by 2 (7) then subtract 1 (6) to know it will take 6 mins to cook.

Press the sauté mode as you add the cooked rigatoni back to the pot.

• Add pasta sauce to the cooked rigatoni (photo 5)
• Stir till both pasta and sauce is heated through  (photo 6)

One of the reasons why this is my preferred method for pasta and sauce in the Instant Pot is that it sautes very quickly as the pot is already warm from the pressure cooking.

Instant Pot Jar Sauce Rigatoni

I don't add oil to this recipe, as soon as the cooked pasta goes in, I add the sauce and get my wooden (non scratch) spoon ready to stir a couple of times.

There is a notable sizzle as the ingredients sauté and you will be amazed how effortless and easy it is!  

All that is left to do is plate and garnish as you wish!

My favourite pasta toppings are fresh Parmesan cheese, cracked pepper and parsley (from the garden if you grow it).

You can use your favourite toppings too!  

It doesn't get much easier to get dinner on the table than this recipe and it tastes delicious at the same time!

Pasta recipes:

If you love pasta and trying new flavour combinations, give the following a go: 

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

Freezer friendly, kid friendly and easy, there is no secrets to making this recipe!

To indulge your waistline with carbs, take the time to find your favourite flavour here > pasta recipes.

Instant Pot Rigatoni with Jar Sauce quick info

About the recipe:

• rigatoni is a tubular pasta with a ribbed texture
• use your favourite sauce
• add a pinch of salt to the water to season the pasta
• this is an easy recipe! 

FAQs about cooking rigatoni with jar sauce in the Instant Pot

1. Add the dried rigatoni, then pour in just enough water to cover
2. Refer to the packet instructions (pasta), divide by 2 & subtract 1
3. It will take 5 -10 mins for the pot to pressurize (this is normal)
4. The saute mode will be quick as the pot is already warm
5. you can freeze this recipe
6. this is a kid friendly recipe

Instant Pot Rigatoni 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:

• Make sure the rigatoni is flat (not heaped in one area)
• You can poke any sticking up bits of pieces down into the water
• Don't be worried if you push the button and it doesn't seem like anything is happening, it needs to heat up 1st.
• Work quickly stirring the jar sauce through the cooked pasta so it doesn't stick to the pot (more cleaning up!)
• It will take 2-3 mins for the sauce to cook and pasta to reheat

Can I freeze this recipe?

Yes, this is a freezer friendly meal! 

To freeze your rigatoni and sauce, let it cool down 1st.

Once cool, portion into zip locked bag and lay flat in the freezer.

Simply remove from freezer (use the sauté mode again) allow to defrost and then heat and eat!

For pasta it is better to defrost before trying to reheat (so it doesn't break apart).

Adrianne

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