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    Home » Food

    Homemade Hamburger Helper Instant Pot Ground Beef Pasta

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    Instant Pot Ground Beef and Pasta - Instant Pot Ground Beef & Pasta is a creamy, tomato-based pasta with ground beef that cooks in less than 30 minutes.

    Instant Pot Ground Beef and Pasta with basil and shaved parmesan

    This post may contain affiliate links. This means if you decide to purchase through my link, I may earn a very small commission at no additional cost to you.

    Ground Beef Pasta

    Ground Beef Pasta is easy to make and perfect for a weeknight meal. It's a version of Homemade Hamburger Helper, but better! Kids and picky eaters love it and it's quick to throw together.

    This is the kind of meal your family will be asking for seconds. It's great to make when you need a quick weeknight meal for your family.

    Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe Ingredients

    • onion
    • lean ground beef
    • salt
    • ground black pepper
    • onion powder
    • paprika
    • dried oregano
    • dried basil
    • garlic powder
    • tomato bouillon
    • mini pasta shells
    • marinara sauce
    • beef stock
    • water
    • heavy cream
    Instant Pot Ground Beef and Pasta ingredients

    How to Make Instant Pot Beef Pasta

    Detailed instructions and measurements are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

    1. Turn on your Instant Pot to the saute setting.
    2. Once it is hot, add in your onion, ground beef, salt, black pepper, onion powder, paprika, dried oregano, dried basil, and garlic powder.
    3. Cook the mixture, breaking up the ground beef until it is no longer pink and the onions are softened.
    4. Add in the tomato bouillon cube and mix to combine.
    5. Spread the ground beef mixture evenly across the bottom.
    6. Add in the pasta shells layering them on top of the meat mixture. Do not stir.
    7. Pour the marinara sauce on top of the pasta. Do not stir.
    8. Pour in the beef stock and water making sure all the pasta is covered. Do not stir.
    9. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and set the valve to SEALING.
    10. Cook on HIGH PRESSURE for 5 minutes.
    11. Once the 5 minutes are complete, QUICK-RELEASE the pressure.
    12. Carefully remove the lid and stir.
    13. Add in the heavy cream and stir to combine.
    14. Serve with some shaved parmesan and basil.
    ground beef, onion, and spices in instant pot
    tomato bouillon added to instant pot
    pasta added to instant pot
    pasta sauce poured into instant pot
    water and broth poured into the instant pot
    completed Instant Pot Ground Beef and Pasta in the instant pot before stirring

    Tips and FAQs for Homemade Hamburger Helper Beef Pasta

    • Instant Pot Ground Beef and Pasta is also great with ground turkey and ground elk.
    • You can use any pasta shape you like. I personally prefer the mini shells.
    • Use your favorite pasta sauce, whether that's jarred or homemade.
    • You can use a tablespoon of tomato paste instead of the tomato bouillon if you prefer.
    • Don't let the pasta touch the bottom of the pan. You will get a burn notice.
    Can I substitute the beef for something else?

    Yes. You can use ground turkey, ground elk, ground pork, and even ground chicken if that's what you prefer.

    What kind of ground beef is best for pasta?

    The best ground beef for pasta is one that has a moderate amount of fat like 85/15 or 90/10. If it's too fatty, you'll want to drain the extra grease. If it's too lean it may be a bit dry and lacking in flavor. Either way, you'll want to be sure to season it properly every time for the best results.

    How long does it take pasta to cook in the Instant Pot?

    For this recipe, it only takes 5 minutes on high pressure.

    Can you cook raw pasta in the instant pot?

    You can cook raw pasta in the Instant Pot. You want to make sure it's got an adequate amount of liquid and is completely covered on top.

    How long does ground beef take to cook in a pressure cooker?

    If you're browning ground beef in a pressure cooker over the saute function, it'll only need about 5-10 minutes to cook completely.

    Should you drain meat for pasta?

    If you have a fatty meat, you'll want to drain the extra grease. If you use a leaner cut like 90/10, you won't need to drain it.

    Can I freeze Instant Pot Ground Beef and Pasta?

    I would not. It won't save you much time and the texture of the pasta will change.

    Instant Pot Ground Beef and Pasta with basil and shaved parmesan

    How to Reheat Instant Pot Ground Beef Pasta

    To reheat Instant Pot Ground Beef Pasta, I recommend either placing it in the microwave for about 1 ½ minutes, loosely covered, or reheating it in a pot on the stove. The stove is my favorite method.

    alterations to lower calories and ww points

    • You can substitute the lean ground beef for 99% fat free ground turkey or white meat ground chicken.
    • You can substitute the heavy cream with nonfat plain Greek yogurt + cornstarch. You'll need to temper them so the yogurt does not separate before adding in.
    • Use a low calorie/low point pasta sauce.
    • Use a calorie friendly/point friendly pasta. Purple plans on WW could utilize whole wheat pasta.

    you may also be interested in these recipes

    • Instant Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
    • Taco Pasta
    • Tortellini Tomato Florentine

     

    Instant Pot Ground Beef and Pasta with basil and shaved parmesan

    Ground Beef Pasta (Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe)

    Instant Pot Ground Beef & Pasta is a creamy, tomato-based pasta with ground beef that cooks in less than 30 minutes.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 5 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Dinner, Main Course, Main Dish, Main Dishes
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 8 people
    Calories 252 kcal
    Protein 15 g

    Equipment

    • instant pot
    • measuring cups
    • measuring spoons

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 small onion chopped
    • 1 pound lean ground beef
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon paprika
    • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
    • 1 tablespoon dried basil
    • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
    • 1 cube tomato bouillion
    • 16 ounces mini pasta shells uncooked
    • 24 ounces marinara sauce
    • ½ cup beef stock
    • 3½ cups water
    • ½ cup heavy whipping cream

    Instructions
     

    • Turn on your Instant Pot to the saute setting.
    • Once it is hot, add in your onion, ground beef, salt, black pepper, onion powder, paprika, dried oregano, dried basil, and garlic powder. 
    • Cook the mixture, breaking up the ground beef until it is no longer pink and the onions are softened.
    • Add in the tomato bouillon cube and mix to combine. 
    • Spread the ground beef mixture evenly across the bottom. 
    • Add in the pasta shells layering them on top of the meat mixture. Do not stir. 
    • Pour the marinara sauce on top of the pasta. Do not stir. 
    • Pour in the beef stock and water making sure all the pasta is covered. Do not stir. 
    • Place the lid on the Instant Pot and set the valve to SEALING. 
    • Cook on HIGH PRESSURE for 5 minutes. 
    • Once the 5 minutes are complete, QUICK-RELEASE the pressure. 
    • Carefully remove the lid and stir. 
    • Add in the heavy cream and stir to combine. 
    • Serve with some shaved parmesan and basil. 

    Notes

    The order of ingredients is important. The layering prevents burning. 

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Ground Beef Pasta (Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe)
    Serving Size
     
    1 .25 cup
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    252
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    11
    g
    17
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    5
    g
    31
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    0
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    47
    mg
    16
    %
    Sodium
     
    711
    mg
    31
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    19
    g
    6
    %
    Fiber
     
    3
    g
    13
    %
    Sugar
     
    8
    g
    9
    %
    Protein
     
    15
    g
    30
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Keyword ground beef, instant pot, pasta
    Have you tried this recipe? Please let us know how it was in the comments or tag us on Instagram @sweetlysplendid!

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Cheryl

      November 28, 2020 at 9:17 pm

      5 stars
      This has become a staple at our house. It’s now my go-to on those many nights when I’m too tired to really cook, but want everyone to enjoy dinner.
      I’ve even improvised it when one night, I realized I had run out of marinara. I used enchilada sauce instead of marinara, taco seasoning instead of Italian, and queso instead of cream.
      Kara has literally brought my family back to the table. Once I started working full time, we found ourselves grabbing whatever we could find, or worse...nightly take out.
      But watching Kara cook and seeing her easy, fun, and creative ways to please everyone, my love for cooking was re-ignited.

      Reply
      • kara

        December 03, 2020 at 5:54 am

        This is one of the best compliments I could ever receive! I need to try this recipe with the enchilada sauce and queso. It sounds so good!!

        Reply
    2. Mari

      October 10, 2021 at 7:48 pm

      Kara. Thank you for your blog. My family seriously loves your recipes! My question is I do not have a instant pot. Would this come out okay if I made it on the stove or crock pot? Thank you in advance:)

      Reply
      • kara

        October 19, 2021 at 7:44 pm

        Hi Mari,
        Thank you so much! That means so much to me. I don't recommend cooking it in the crockpot because of the pasta, but it would do great on the stove.

        Reply
    3. Teri

      February 24, 2022 at 6:46 pm

      5 stars
      I will be making this for my grandsons this weekend! Looks delicious

      Reply
    4. Jodi

      February 24, 2022 at 9:40 pm

      This is a once a month in my house love it

      Reply
      • kara

        February 24, 2022 at 11:20 pm

        Aww I love hearing that!

        Reply

    Trackbacks

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    Kara is a wife & mother living deep in the heart of Texas. She loves all things food and spending time with her family and dogs. She has a passion for cooking and loves making yummy, family-friendly recipes.

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