PF
Appetizing homemade pasta with sauce on plate placed on wooden board in kitchen with different ingredients
Instant Pot~45 minComplexity

Instant Pot Spaghetti

This Instant Pot Spaghetti delivers 43g protein and 617 calories per serving by combining pasta with ground meat in one pot. Batch 4 servings in quick prep time without draining water separately, cutting prep steps to a minimum. The carb-protein ratio makes this reliable for post-workout meals when you're balancing muscle gain with training volume.

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Ingredients

4 servings
  • Olive oil(15g)

    Regular (not extra-virgin) olive oil for high-heat cooking. EVOO for dressings.

  • 90/10 Ground Beef(454g)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • Onion powder(5g)
  • Red pepper flakes(1g)
  • Garlic(15g)
  • Kale(960g)
  • 2 cups water (divided)
  • Pasta Sauce, Marinara, Canned
  • Pasta, Spaghetti, Whole Wheat, Dry(227g)
  • Parmesan Cheese(80g)

    Grated Parmesan — the shelf-stable canister is fine for cooking.

  • Basil, Fresh

Instructions

  1. 1Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat for 1–2 minutes until shimmering. Add the ground beef and cook for 5–7 minutes, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink and browned throughout. Drain excess fat if needed.
  2. 2Stir in the fresh garlic, onion powder, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. 3Pour in 3/4 cup water and scrape the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon to release any stuck-on bits. Add the marinara sauce and raw kale, stirring to combine evenly.
  4. 4Break the whole wheat spaghetti in half and arrange it in two layers directly over the beef mixture. Do not stir. Pour the remaining 1 1/4 cups water evenly over the pasta without stirring.
  5. 5Cover the pot with a lid and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium and cook for 8–10 minutes until the pasta is tender and most liquid is absorbed.
  6. 6Remove from heat and let sit uncovered for 2–3 minutes to allow remaining liquid to absorb. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.
  7. 7Divide the spaghetti evenly into 4 airtight containers while hot. Cool to room temperature before sealing and refrigerating.
  8. 8To serve, reheat in a microwave or stovetop with a splash of water if needed. Top with additional fresh basil and Parmesan before serving.

Nutrition — Per Serving

617

calories

43g

protein

26g

fat

Carbohydrates
57g
Saturated fat
8.7g
Sodium
571 mg
Dietary fiber
15.9g

4 servings per batch · ~439g each

Macro data sourced from USDA FoodData Central

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Common questions

How much protein does Instant Pot Spaghetti have per serving?

Each serving contains 43g of protein and 617 calories with 26g fat and 57g carbs. This is a carb-forward meal that works well on high-activity training days.

How long does Instant Pot Spaghetti take to prepare?

This recipe qualifies as quick prep and serves 4 people, so you're getting multiple complete meals from a single cooking session. The one-pot format minimizes cleanup while delivering a full pasta-based dinner.

Is Instant Pot Spaghetti good for muscle gain?

At 43g protein and 617 calories with 57g carbs per serving, this recipe supports muscle gain phases where post-workout carbohydrate replenishment matters. The higher calorie and carb content makes it ideal for fueling intense training sessions.

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