Need a delicious, quick dinner that’s no stress? You’ve gotta make this cozy Instant Pot pasta! It’s made with penne noodles, ground turkey, jarred marinara sauce, fresh spinach and select spices. It’s beyond easy, ready in 20 minutes, and bursting with rich, tangy tomato flavor.

pasta in a bowl with tomato sauce, spinach and cheese with a fork

In case you’re new around here, you will soon learn that I’m pretty much always looking for dinner recipes made with ground turkey. Whether it’s my Ground Turkey Pasta Bake, or a quick Turkey Bolognese, I simply prefer ground turkey over ground beef.

I am so pleased to introduce you to my all-time FAVORITE way to make pasta: In the Instant Pot. Cozy up. Get to know one another. I think you’ll be fast friends! This Instant pot ground turkey pasta
recipe is about to solve all your weeknight dinner woes. Yet another quick, easy and delicious meal that you can make with confidence!

pasta in a bowl with tomato sauce, spinach and cheese with a fork on a white background

Really, guys, making pasta in the Instant Pot has been an absolute game changer. It comes out perfectly EVERY time and you can customize this recipe to work with whatever you’re craving or, better yet, whatever you have in the kitchen! Instant Pot Penne Pasta might sound boring, but trust me, it’s anything but.

On paper, this recipe may just look like Instant pot pasta with meat sauce, and it is. However, there are a few key steps combined with simple ingredients that really make this one of the most requested meals in my kitchen.

Watch how easy it is to make

cooked ground turkey in an instant pot with dry pasta

The Instant Pot Sauté

Did you know your Instant Pot has a sauté setting? True story! For this recipe you’ll turn it on sauté, let it heat for a minute, and cook the olive oil and onion for a minute or two before adding in the meat and spices. Cook it until it’s browned through.

pasta and ground turkey in an instant pot with tomato sauce on top

Why do I get the burn notification?

Okay, this is the only part of this recipe that I have to be specific about! Pour the sauce on top of the pasta and DO NOT mix it in or you’ll get the burn notification from the due to the acidity of the tomatoes. If you leave it on top everything cooks up perfectly! Stir to combine after it’s cooked.

pasta and ground turkey in an instant pot with tomato sauce mixed in

How long does pasta take in the Instant Pot?

The amount of time you cook on high pressure should be half the time your box of pasta calls for. So if the box says to cook the pasta for 8 minutes, cook it for 4; if the box says to cook for 12 minutes, cook it for 6. I’ve followed this rule of thumb for regular pasta and even gluten-free pastas like Banza or Jovial and it turns out perfectly every time!

instant pot with spinach on top of cooked pasta

When to add spinach?

A couple handfuls of spinach gives increased nutrition and it cooks down so much that you barely even notice it. Do this as the last and final step. The residual heat from the pasta will wilt the spinach quickly.

instant pot with cooked pasta, ground turkey, tomato sauce and spinach

Instant Pot Pasta Add-Ins

Maybe the best thing about this penne pasta dinner is how versatile it is. Make it your own! What does your family love? What do you have in the fridge or freezer? Make it work, people! This Instant Pot Pasta would be great with:

  • Ground turkey (how I made it here!)
  • Ground beef
  • Chicken
  • Your favorite veggies
  • Sausage
instant pot with cooked pasta, ground turkey, tomato sauce and spinach
bowl of pasta with spinach, cheese and tomato sauce
Print
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instant pot pasta

20-Minute Instant Pot Pasta with Ground Turkey

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 23 reviews
  • Author: Laney Schwartz
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
  • Category: Pasta
  • Method: Instant Pot
  • Cuisine: Italian

Description

Need a delicious, quick dinner that’s no stress? You’ve gotta make this cozy Instant Pot pasta! It’s made with penne noodles, ground turkey, jarred marinara sauce, fresh spinach and select spices. It’s beyond easy, ready in 20 minutes, and bursting with rich, tangy tomato flavor.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 small onion, small dice
  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon lemon pepper
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 cups water
  • 12 ounces penne pasta (or any short pasta)
  • 2 cups marinara sauce (your favorite kind)
  • 23 large handfuls fresh spinach
  • 1 lemon
  • Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Press the sauté button on the Instant Pot and let it preheat. Add the olive oil and onion and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add the ground turkey, salt, garlic powder, paprika, oregano and lemon pepper and use a wooden spoon to break up the turkey meat and cook it through. Cook for about 5 minutes until turkey is browned. Add tomato paste and mix in. 
  2. Press cancel. Add the water and dried pasta and mix until well combined. Pour the tomato sauce on top but DO NOT mix in. (Mixing in the sauce can cause the Instant Pot to have the burn notification). Close lid, turn the vent to seal and cook on high pressure for about 5-6 minutes. NOTE: The amount of time you cook on high pressure should be half the amount of time the box calls for. So if the box says to cook the pasta for 8 minutes, cook it for 4 minutes on high pressure. If the box says to cook for 12 minutes, cook it for 6. Time will vary depending on which pasta you use. 
  3. Once it’s done cooking, quick release and open lid. Stir in spinach and the juice from one lemon. Add Parmesan cheese to taste and serve!

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