Easy Instant Pot Bolognese Recipe
A hearty weeknight dinner, this Instant Pot Rigatoni Bolognese is so easy to make and made with only a few simple ingredients! This is sure to be a dinner the whole family will love!
Give my Instant Pot mac and cheese a try too! Making pasta in the Instant pot is so easy and so good!
Pasta dinners are an easy and filling dinner to make any night of the week! This Instant Pot rigatoni recipe is loaded with a hearty meat sauce and made entirely in your electric pressure cooker.
Instant Pot pasta recipes are some of my favorite to make. Instant Pot feta pasta, Instant Pot Shrimp Scampi, and Instant Pot chicken tetrazzini are some of my other favorite recipes to make!
Jump to:
- What is Rigatoni Bolognese Sauce?
- Why You'll Love This Recipe for Rigatoni Bolognese
- Instant Pot Bolognese Recipe Ingredients
- How To Make Instant Pot Rigatoni Bolognese
- Instant Pot Bolognese Tips & Tricks
- Instant Pot Bolognese Recipe Variations
- What to Serve with Instant Pot Bolognese
- How to Store Bolognese Rigatoni
- Instant Pot Rigatoni Bolognese Recipe FAQs
- More Easy Recipes
- 📖 Recipe
What is Rigatoni Bolognese Sauce?
There are lots of different types of pasta sauce out there. Marinara sauce is a typical tomato sauce. It is made with tomatoes, olive oil, and garlic.
Bolognese sauce is a hearty meat sauce made with carrots, celery, onions, and ground beef.
When picking out the type of pasta to serve, rigatoni pasta has lots of ridges and lines in the pasta. That will catch all the delicious sauce right in the pasta. Rotini, penne, or shells would work in this recipe too.
Why You'll Love This Recipe for Rigatoni Bolognese
- Big flavor in minutes! You get rich, hearty Bolognese flavor without hours of simmering.
- This recipe has been tested and loved by kids and adults alike, it’s a true crowd-pleaser.
- You don’t need anything fancy, pantry staples and a few fresh ingredients are all it takes.
- The Instant Pot does the work, so cleanup is easy and stress-free.
- It’s reliable, fast, and filling, a recipe you’ll turn to again and again.
Instant Pot Bolognese Recipe Ingredients
- Vegetables. You will need carrots, celery, and onions.
- Ground meat. I like ground beef, a 93/7 or 90/10 mixture. To make this lighter, you can also use ground turkey or ground chicken instead.
- Pasta. We are using one pound of rigatoni.
- Italian seasoning. For a little added flavor.
- Canned Tomatoes. Crushed tomatoes in a 28 ounce can.
- Beef broth. Chicken broth or water will work too.
- Kosher salt and black pepper. To season as we cook.
Recommended Equipment
- Instant Pot- You'll need at least a 6 quart Instant Pot or the pasta won't fit.
- Cutting Boards
- Knives
- Food Processor
How To Make Instant Pot Rigatoni Bolognese
1. Peel the carrots and onion and chop them into large chunks. Add them to the food processor. Wash the celery and cut that into chunks and add it to the food processor.
2. Turn your food processor on and blend until the vegetables are minced.
3. Add the olive oil to your Instant Pot and turn the sauté function on. Pour the minced vegetables into the bottom of the pot and saute for 3-4 minutes until the vegetables are soft. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Add the ground beef to the Instant Pot and saute for another 3-5 minutes until the beef is browned. Season again with salt and black pepper.
5. Pour the pasta, Italian seasoning, and beef broth into the Instant Pot and give the mixture a good stir. Cancel saute mode and close the lid and make sure the pressure valve is set to the sealing position.
6. Set the cook time to 7 minutes on high pressure. After 7 minutes, quick pressure release the pressure. Open the lid and stir the pasta. Serve immediately with lots of parmesan cheese and fresh basil on top of the pasta.
Lynn's Tip! Be careful when releasing the pressure as liquid may spill out the top of the pressure valve.
Instant Pot Bolognese Tips & Tricks
- The Instant Pot will take 8-10 minutes to come up to pressure before it begins cooking.
- If you use another type of pasta, check the timing of the pasta on the back of the box. Depending on the shape, it might take a little longer to cook the pasta.
- If you do not have a 28 ounce can of tomato sauce, you can use your favorite jar sauce instead. You can also use ¼ cup of tomato paste with 4 cups of beef broth.
Instant Pot Bolognese Recipe Variations
- Add more veggies! In the food processor, feel free to add more veggies like bell pepper, zucchini, or yellow squash.
- Make it cheesy! After the pasta cooks, stir in mozzarella cheese or Ricotta cheese for more cheesy goodness!
- Make it spicy! Add red pepper flakes or spicy Italian sausage to the mixture.
What to Serve with Instant Pot Bolognese
Bolognese is a hearty dish, so pairing it with the right sides makes the meal even better:
- Garlic bread or focaccia for soaking up the sauce
- Simple green salad with a light vinaigrette to balance the richness
- Roasted vegetables like broccoli, zucchini, or carrots
- Parmesan or fresh basil for topping and extra flavor
How to Store Bolognese Rigatoni
Let leftovers cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For longer storage, portion into freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw in the fridge overnight if frozen, then warm gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of water or broth if needed to loosen the sauce.
Instant Pot Rigatoni Bolognese Recipe FAQs
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, add the leftovers to a pan on the stovetop or use the saute function on your Instant Pot to reheat the pasta.
That probably means that you did not have enough liquid in the Instant Pot. You need at least 3 cups water, beef broth, or chicken broth for this recipe on top of the tomato puree.
Yes! You can make this pasta with gluten free pasta, chickpea pasta, or your favorite brand of pasta. Make sure to check the cook time on the back of the box to make sure you are cooking the pasta long enough and not overcooking it. You want that perfectly al dente pasta!
More Easy Recipes
- More Instant Pot Recipes
- Instant Pot Cabbage Soup
- Instant Pot Creme Brulee
- Stuffed Pepper Soup- In the Instant Pot
- Instant Pot Marinara Sauce
- Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken
Did you make this recipe and love it?
If you did, don't forget to leave a 5-star review and comment below! Show me your creation on Instagram or Facebook. Just mention @Lynn'sWayofLife or use this hashtag #lynnswayoflife.
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Rigatoni Bolognese Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Large Onion
- 3 Carrots
- 3 Celery Sticks
- 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 lb Ground Beef 93/7
- 1 lb Rigatoni
- 3 cups Beef Broth
- 1 can Crushed Tomatoes 28 ounces
- 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
- ¼ cup Heavy Cream or Whole Milk
Instructions
- Peel the carrots and onion and chop them into large chunks. Add them to the food processor. Wash the celery and cut that into chunks and add it to the food processor.
- Turn your food processor on and blend until the vegetables are minced.
- Add the olive oil to your Instant Pot and turn the sauté function on. Pour the minced vegetables into the bottom of the pot and saute for 3-4 minutes until the vegetables are soft. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add the ground beef to the Instant Pot and saute for another 3-5 minutes until the beef is browned. Season again with salt and black pepper.
- Pour the pasta, crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and beef broth into the Instant Pot and give the mixture a good stir. Cancel saute mode and close the lid and make sure the pressure valve is set to the sealing position.
- Set the cook time to 7 minutes on high pressure. After 7 minutes, quick pressure release the pressure. Open the lid and stir the heavy cream into the pasta. Serve immediately.
Notes
- The Instant Pot will take 8-10 minutes to come up to pressure.
- Make sure to salt and pepper well. Because we are not boiling a large pot of water and adding salt, you will need to add salt as you saute the vegetables and the ground beef.
- Use your favorite pasta and check the back of the box to see how long you will need to cook the pasta.
- Whole milk can be used instead of heavy cream.
