Instant Pot Bolognese Sauce

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Instant pot Bolognese sauce is a quicker version of this classic Italian dinner recipe. No hassle, quicker than on a stovetop but equally delicious!

Instant Pot Bolognese Sauce Picture

If you like Spaghetti Bolognese, then you will definitely enjoy this instant pot Bolognese sauce.

What to cook in Instant Pot?

There are endless possibilities when it comes to cooking in a pressure cooker. Soups, stews, pasta sauces (see this pressure cooker Bolognese sauce), rice (check my Fried Rice), chili or curry dishes (Chicken Curry), Pulled Pork.

There are hundreds of recipes you can make in your Instant Pot!

How to MakeInstant Pot Bolognese Sauce Step 1 Picture
How to Make Instant Pot Bolognese Sauce Step 2 Picture

How to make Bolognese sauce in an Instant Pot:

Prep the veggies: Dice the carrots, celery and finely chop the onion. Press the “SAUTE” function and throw all the veggies in. Saute this for about 5 minutes.

Turn off the saute function and add the rest of the ingredients.

Mix everything well and close the lid. I buy plum tinned tomatoes so I like to break them with a wooden spoon before I close the lid.

Instant Pot Bolognese Sauce Tomato Tins Picture

Turn the steam release to the “SEALING” position. Press “MANUAL” (or “PRESSURE COOK” on newer models) and adjust the time to 5 minutes. Yes, 5 minutes is all it takes to make this instant pot Bolognese sauce.

Remember, that the pressure cooker needs time before AND after the active cooking time to bring the pot to pressure and then release the pressure. This time varies with every dish.

When making this Bolognese sauce count for about 10 minutes for pressurizing and after the cooking is finished, wait 10 minutes before releasing the pressure.

Tip: Let the pot depressurize itself and keep the food on the “KEEP WARM” function until you are ready to serve. It should keep warm for a few hours.

Note: I add a lot of carrots and celery because they give this Bolognese sauce an amazing flavor and that is exactly how I was taught to do it by an Italian. If you prefer more meat, rather than veggies, then simply decrease the number of carrots and celery and increase the amount of ground meat.

I recommend using less salt at the beginning and adding more (if needed) after the cooking is finished. Bear in mind that every salt has a different level of saltiness.

How to MakeInstant Pot Bolognese Sauce Step 3 Picture

Bolognese sauce – Ingredient substitutions:

  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil – regular olive oil or sunflower/vegetable oil can be also used. However, I highly recommend using olive oil.
  • Ground Beef or Pork – you can also use a mix of beef and pork.
  • Celery & Carrots – these add a ton of flavor to the pasta sauce so would not omit them nor would I substitute them. Because they are cooked in an Instant Pot, they are so soft they will melt in your mouth. However, you can reduce their amount if you feel like 3 of each sound too much for you.
  • Plum Tomatoes – To achieve a thicker consistency, you can substitute these with pureed tomatoes. They are richer and not that watery.
How to MakeInstant Pot Bolognese Sauce Step 4 Picture

Frequently asked questions:

Can you freeze Bolognese sauce?
Yes, you can! Let it cool and pour it into a freezer-friendly container with a lid or use a resealable plastic bag.

I hope you will like this instant pot Bolognese sauce as much as we do.

What to serve with Bolognese sauce?

What pasta is best for this sauce?

While in the US spaghetti is the most popular choice, in Italy it would be tagliatelle or pappardelle.

What else can I make with this ragu?

Use it in lasagna or make stuffed zucchini!

I hope you will like this pressure cooker recipe as much as we do.

It reduces the cooking time significantly and its hassle-free prep makes Bolognese sauce in a pressure cooker definitely worth it!

More popular instant pot recipes:

Want to see how to make instant pot Bolognese sauce? Watch the video!

Instant Pot Bolognese Sauce Image
Print Pin Rate
4.79 from 14 votes

Instant Pot Bolognese Sauce

Instant pot Bolognese sauce is a quicker version of this classic Italian dinner recipe. No hassle, quicker than on a stovetop but equally delicious!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Servings: 5 Portions
Author: Julia

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil , see note 1
  • 3 medium carrots , finely diced (about 1 cup)
  • 1 medium onion , minced (about 1 cup)
  • 3 celery sticks (about 1 cup)
  • 1 pound ground beef (450 grams), see note 2
  • 1 can plum tomatoes (14 ounces/400 milliliters), see note 3
  • 1 can pureed tomatoes (14 ounces/400 milliliters)
  • 3 cloves garlic , minced
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon salt , see note 4
  • 2 tablespoons dried oregano
  • black pepper , a generous pinch

Instructions 

  • Turn on Instant Pot and press “SAUTE”. Pour in olive oil and when hot add carrots, onion, and celery. Sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Add ground beef and using a fork or wooden spoon, break the meat so it cooks evenly. Add the rest of the ingredients. Break the plum tomatoes into smaller chunks and mix everything well. Turn the “SAUTE” function off.
  • Cover it with a lid and lock it into its position. Turn the steam release to “SEALING”. Press the “MANUAL” (or PRESSURE COOK) function and make sure the pressure is set on HIGH. Set the timer to 5 minutes.
  • When time is up, turn it off and wait 8 minutes before releasing the pressure manually by turning the steam release valve to “VENTING”.
  • Taste and add more seasoning, if needed.
  • Serve warm with long pasta (spaghetti, pappardelle, tagliatelle).

Notes

  1. Instead of extra virgin olive oil, regular olive oil can be used. If you don’t have these, you can substitute them with vegetable or sunflower oil.
  2. Ground beef, pork or a combination of these works well.
  3. Plum tomatoes can be substituted with a can of chopped or crushed. Choose good-quality ones – preferably Italian.
  4. Taste the sauce at the very end and add more seasoning, if you like your food saltier.
  5. This recipe was developed for a 6-quart/6-liter instant pot.
  6. Overall cooking time does not include the time the pot needs to come to pressure (about 13 minutes) and the 8 minutes you wait after it has been cooked. The sauce will be ready on your table in 30 minutes, from start to finish!
  7. Instant pot bolognese sauce can be stored in the fridge for up to 3-4 days (in an airtight container) or in the freezer for up to 3 months (use a freezer-friendly container, don’t overfill – leave about an inch/2.5-centimeters free from top.

Nutrition

Calories: 385 kcal (19%), Carbohydrates: 19 g (6%), Protein: 19 g (38%), Fat: 27 g (42%), Saturated Fat: 8 g (50%), Cholesterol: 64 mg (21%), Sodium: 598 mg (26%), Potassium: 1026 mg (29%), Fiber: 5 g (21%), Sugar: 9 g (10%), Vitamin A: 7322 IU (146%), Vitamin C: 24 mg (29%), Calcium: 100 mg (10%), Iron: 4 mg (22%)
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: Italian
Did you make this recipe? I’d love to hear how it turned out! Leave a comment and rating below or tag me on Instagram @happyfoodstube.
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28 Comments

  1. Unfortunately mine turned out so liquidy, must have been the tomatoes. I did also double the recipe. I had to saute it for so long at the end I might as well have cooked it in a pan. Slightly disappointing when I’m trying to prove to my partner that the instant pot will make things quicker.3 stars

    1. I am sorry to hear that, Hope. Yeah, the thickness can vary depending on the brand and type of tomatoes used. I might revisit the recipe and troubleshoot to improve it. Next time, you can add concentrated tomato puree at the end (if still thin). The Instant Pot is definitely worth it. Sometimes it might not make all the foods quicker but it is a hands-off device so it really helps. I recommend making our Instant Pot Chicken Risotto – people love it. Or chicken paprikash is another favorite of our readers. Happy Instant Pot Cooking!

  2. Hello! Thanks for the recipe! I want to add a little bit of red wine for the cooking process but I don’t know if I have to add time on the manual mode or I have to reduce it on the sauté mode. Hope you do know! Thanks!

      1. I actually did that for about 12 minutes. It tasted really good. Thanks for sharing and answering!5 stars

  3. I had to add extra water as my cooker (Ninja Foodi) displayed not enough liquid. Do instant pots cook with less water when using pressure cooker mode I wonder? But it was delicious but unfortunately a little bit liquidy.5 stars

    1. Hi Pam. Some of the pressure cookers have safety features that are more sensitive than others and this can be the reason yours asks for more liquid. You can still reduce it at the very end if you have the saute function. Hope this helps.

  4. Any ideas on how to make the sauce thicker? I followed this recipe yesterday but it was a little bit watered down.

    1. Hi Jen, to thicken the sauce you can stir in concentrated tomato puree at the very end. Some canned tomatoes are also more watery than others that is why I prefer not using the ready-chopped ones. Hope this helps.

  5. Certainly you add meat in with veggies to sauté? It isn’t mentioned on the recipe. I’m new to this Instant Pot stuff so thought I’d ask….

    1. Judy, you can add the meat in with veggies but it is not necessary. I saute only the veggies. Hope this helps. Happy cooking!

  6. Hello Julia,

    In most of the recipes I’ve tried it seems like the meat is browned on the saute mode first. Is that not the case here?. Thanks, looking forward to trying this one.

    1. Hi, Pete. You can brown the meat altogether with veggies if you prefer it this way. I personally don’t do it in this case. Let me know how you liked it if you do try!

    1. Not sure about this, Jamie. I guess I would add extra 2 minutes just to be sure. Hope this helps.

        1. Hi Carey, thanks so much for your feedback! I hope you will find more recipes here that you love! :)

  7. I’ve been seeing so many fun instant pot recipes! I Think I’m going to have to get one for Christmas!

  8. Yum! I just got an instant pot and I’m regretting not getting it sooner because it’s amazing! I can’t wait to try this!5 stars

    1. I too can’t believe I waited so long to get it! :) It’s a great appliance to have!

  9. I’m hopefully getting an instant pot for Christmas, this recipe will be top of my list to try!5 stars

  10. This looks so Delicious and easy to make.. instant pot has made our life so easy ;) I am always looking for new instant pot recipe and I have found one I am try this weekend!5 stars