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Home » Instant Pot Recipes » Instant Pot Beef Recipes

Instant Pot Bolognese Sauce

Published: Sep 16, 2018 · Modified: Dec 29, 2023 by Irena Macri · This post may contain affiliate links · 35 Comments

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Learn how to make a delicious Instant Pot Bolognese sauce with our beginner-friendly, step-by-step recipe. Making a Bolognese sauce in the Instant Pot pressure cooker not only saves time but it also locks in all those gorgeous, hearty flavours and nutrients. Enjoy over favorite pasta or zucchini noodles!  We've included modifications for gluten-free, Whole30/Paleo versions.


Instant Pot Bolognese Sauce Recipe

In This Post:

  • ℹ️ Overview
  • 🛒 What You Need
  • 📝 Go To Full Recipe
  • 📷 How To Make It Step-By-Step
  • 🫙Storage Tips
  • 🌮Using Up Leftovers
  • ⭐️ Comment On & Rate This Recipe

For more delicious meat recipes, check out our Incredible Italian Beef Ragu, Instant Pot Beef Cheeks (Served 4 Ways), Instant Pot Short Ribs With Garlic & Wine, and Instant Pot Ground Beef Stroganoff.


Instant Pot Bolognese

In our humble opinion, if you're going to master only a handful of pressure cooker recipes, one of them should definitely be a good, hearty Instant Pot Bolognese sauce. Served over good quality pasta, rice or zucchini noodles, this nourishing beef ragu sauce is always a crowd-pleaser. The best part - it's super versatile and can be turned into many other dishes, such as Shepherd's Pie or spicy beef chilli.

The secret to a good Bolognese sauce is good quality meat, organic tomatoes (they are sweeter!) and slow cooking. The longer you can cook the sauce the better; however, not everyone has the time. Right? That's when your trusted Instant Pot comes into play.

Instant Pot Bolognese sauce takes half the time, yet the result is as good as if you've been cooking it all afternoon. Plus, you seal in all those nutrients and flavours.  In today's beginner-friendly recipe, we show you how to make pressure cooker Bolognese sauce using the Instant Pot. It's super easy and you will love the flavors of our version.

PS. The more authentic Italian Bolognese uses fewer tomatoes but we like it nice and saucy this way. This recipe is gluten-free, Whole30 and paleo-friendly.

Instant Pot Spaghetti Bolognese Sauce Recipe

What You Need For Instant Pot Bolognese

  • Ground beef
  • Bacon or pancetta
  • Tomato sauce
  • Veggies: onion, celery, carrots, and garlic.
  • For flavor: tomato paste, dried thyme, salt and pepper, bay leaf.
  • Stock: chicken or beef stock
  • For extra flavor (optional, not in the main ingredients): 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, cinnamon, a tablespoon of soy sauce, a teaspoon of fish sauce, ½ teaspoon of chili powder; throw these in at the same time as other spices:
Ingredients for Instant Pot Bolognese sauce

This Bolognese sauce recipe is part of our Instant Pot for beginner series. If you’re new to the Instant Pot, make sure to check out these posts as well:

  • How Does An Instant Pot Work? Cooking Stages + Key Features Explained
  • How To Use The Instant Pot For Beginners
  • How To Cook Rice In Instant Pot
  • Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes (Instant Pot Step-By-Step Recipe)
  • The First 10 Meals You Should Make In Your Instant Pot

Full Recipe

Find the full list of ingredients, instructions, and a nutritional breakdown below. If you have questions or cook this recipe, please let us know in the comments, and make sure to rate this recipe so it’s easy for others to find.

Rate This Recipe

4.54 from 13 votes

Instant Pot Bolognese Sauce Recipe

Use our beginner-friendly, easy recipe to make this delicious Instant Pot Bolognese sauce to save time and lock in all those gorgeous, hearty flavours and nutrients. Enjoy pasta or zucchini noodles! Please note, we have updated the earlier recipe to simplify it. See Notes below for optional add-ons from the previous recipe if you loved that more complex-flavour version.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time20 minutes mins
Cook Time35 minutes mins
Total Time55 minutes mins
Servings: 7
Calories: 444kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion medium, finely diced
  • 1 carrot, large carrot or 2 small, diced into small cubes
  • 2 celery ribs diced into small cubes
  • 3 oz. bacon about 90 g, diced into small cubes
  • 2.5 lbs. ground beef we used grass-fed, about 1.1-1.2kg
  • 4 cloves garlic diced finely
  • 1.5 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg powder optional
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme or basil
  • 2 bay leaves
  • ½ cup dry white wine you could use red too
  • 1 cup chicken stock or beef stock
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 14 oz. tomato sauce 1 can or jar of tomato sauce or puree, also known as passata, about 400 g (we love this brand)

To finish: 

  • 2 tablespoons flour all-purpose or gluten-free flour, tapioca/arrowroot for Whole30 or paleo
  • ¼ cup milk optional, to mellow out the acidity from tomatoes

To serve

  • Fresh parsley or basil
  • Cooked spaghetti pasta or zucchini noodles
  • Grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  • Prep. Dice onions, carrots, celery, bacon and garlic. Set garlic aside. 
  • Sauté stage. Turn the Instant Pot on and press the Sauté function key (it will show Normal, 30 minutes). Once hot, add olive oil, onions, celery, carrots and bacon and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring a few times. In the meantime, prepare the rest of the ingredients. 
  • After 3-4 minutes, add the beef, garlic, salt, pepper and spices/herbs and stir through breaking the meat apart with a spatula. Add ½ cup of white wine and stir into the beef, allow it to bubble for 30 seconds or so. Follow with the stock and press Cancel to stop the Sauté process. Mix the beef and stock through really well, keep breaking the meat apart if it's in large clumps. Use the spatula to scrape anything that might have stuck to the bottom.
  • Now, pour the tomato puree/sauce over the top and spread it evenly, don't stir through all the way. This will prevent any possible BURN error as tomato sauce can get caramelized on the bottom.
  • Set & cook. Secure the lid on top and turn to lock in place. If using earlier models, check that the steam releasing handle is pointing to Sealing. Press Manual/Pressure Cook button and use the + / - keys to adjust the time to 15 minutes. It should say HIGH pressure. If not, change to HIGH using the Pressure Level button. After a couple of seconds, the screen will show ON and the pot will start to heat up and build the pressure.
  • The Instant Pot will take about 10 minutes to come to pressure. The more liquid/ingredients you have in the pot, the longer it usually takes. Once the pressure is built up, the float valve will come to the UP position.Now, the 15-minute timer will show on the screen. Note that the cooking actually begins during the pressurizing stage.
  • Once the timer is done, the Instant Pot will change to a natural pressure release stage. Allow about 10 minutes to rest and then use the quick release to manually let off the remaining pressure (press the Quick Release button on the top). If Keep Warm is selected, you will see a new timer on the screen to let you know how many minutes the pressure cooker has been staying warm (you can use it as your timer for natural release).
  • Thicken the sauce. Open the lid and stir the sauce. At first, it may seem like it's got too much liquid but we're not done just yet. Press the Sauté button again. Allow the sauce to come to a simmering bubble and cook it for 5-7 minutes, stirring a few times. This will allow some of that liquid to evaporate.
  • In the meantime, mix 2 tablespoons of flour and 3 tablespoons of water in a small bowl into a smooth slurry. Pour this liquid into the sauce and stir immediately. Press Cancel to stop the Sauté function. The sauce will now look more thickened and glossy. Taste for seasoning.
  • Optional: Many authentic Italian recipes call for a few splashes of milk at the end of cooking. Milk mellows out the acidity of tomatoes. Stir in ¼ cup right at the end if you wish.
  • The sauce can be served right away or stored in the fridge or freezer. Make sure to cool it down completely before storing. Serve with your favorite pasta (spaghetti is more traditional) or gluten-free alternatives. Zucchini noodles are great for Whole30, Keto, Paleo version.

Notes

Pressurizing time: 10 minutes | Cooking under pressure: 15 minutes (on HIGH) | Release: 10 minutes natural release + quick Release | Saute Time: 10 minutes | Total cooking time: 45 minutes
MEAT. We used grass-fed ground beef, but you can use half beef and half pork; also, ground lamb or chicken meat will work. Grass-fed meat is optional but it's more nutritious and really does taste so much better.
TOMATO SAUCE. Good, ideally organic tomatoes is another key to an amazing Bolognese. They tend to be sweeter and definitely better for you. We used tomato sauce (pureed tomato passata sauce) but you can also use chopped tinned tomatoes (we love this brand).
ADD-ONS FROM THE EARLIER RECIPE. For a bolder, more in-depth flavor, you can add any or all of the following: 1 teaspoon paprika powder, ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 2 tablespoons Tamari gluten-free soy sauce, 1 teaspoon fish sauce (don’t worry, you can’t taste it), 1-2 bay leaves and chili flakes or powder to spice it up. In this recipe, we have also added bacon which is optional.

Nutrition

Calories: 444kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 106mg | Sodium: 1183mg | Potassium: 867mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1786IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 5mg
CourseMain
CuisineItalian
KeywordBolognese, Bolognese Sauce, Gluten-Free, Ground Beef, Instant Pot, Italian, Paleo, Pressure Cooking, Spaghetti, Tomato Sauce, Whole30
Made this recipe?Mention @instantpoteats or tag #instantpoteats!

How To Make Bolognese Sauce In Instant Pot

Here are step-by-step instructions for making Bolognese sauce in the Instant Pot pressure cooker. We used Instant Pot Duo Nova 6-quart for this recipe. There are three stages to making this dish: the initial Sautéing, Pressure Cooking, final Sautéing & thickening of the sauce. 

  • Step 1. Turn the Instant Pot on and press the Sauté function key. Once hot, add olive oil, onions, celery, carrots and bacon and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring a few times.  
  • Step 2. Once the vegetables have softened up, add the beef, garlic, salt, pepper and spices/herbs and stir through breaking the meat apart with a spatula.
Instant Pot sauteeing vegetable for Bolognese sauce
How to make bolognese in Instant Pot steps 2
  • Step 3. Add the white wine and stir into the beef, allow it to bubble for 30 seconds or so. Follow with the stock and press Cancel to stop the Sauté process. Mix the beef and stock through really well, keep breaking the meat apart if it's in large clumps. Use the spatula to scrape anything that might have stuck to the bottom. 
  • Step 4. Now, pour the tomato puree/sauce over the top and spread it evenly, no need to stir through all the way. This will prevent any possible BURN error as tomato sauce can get caramelized on the bottom.
  • Step 5. Secure the lid on top and turn to lock in place. If using earlier models, check that the steam releasing handle is pointing to Sealing. Press Manual/Pressure Cook button and use the + and - keys to adjust the time to 15 minutes. It should say HIGH pressure. If not, change to HIGH.
Step 3 for making Bolognese sauce in the Instant Pot
Making Bolognese sauce in the Instant Pot step 4

After a couple of seconds, the screen will show ON and the Instant Pot will start to heat up and build the pressure inside. You will see Heating & Pressure icons on top of the screen. The Instant Pot will now take about 10 minutes to come to pressure. The more liquid/ingredients you have in the pot, the longer it might take. Once the pressure is built up, the float valve will come to the UP position. Now, the 15-minute timer will show on the screen. Note that the cooking actually begins during the pressurizing stage.

Once the timer is done, the Instant Pot will change to a natural pressure release stage. Allow about 10 minutes to rest and use the quick release to manually let off the remaining pressure.

Tip: If Keep Warm is selected, you will see a new 00:00 timer on the screen letting you know how much time the pot has been resting at a warm temperature. You can use that timer for your natural release count. 

Instant Pot settings for making Bolognese sauce
  • Step 6. Open the lid and stir the sauce. At first, it may seem like it's got too much liquid but we're not done just yet. Now, press the Cancel button and change back to Saute function. Allow the sauce to come to a simmering bubble and cook it for 5-7 minutes, stirring a few times. This will allow some of that liquid to evaporate.
Instant Pot steps for finishing the bolognese sauce
  • Step 7. In the meantime, mix 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour and 3 tablespoons of water in a small bowl into a smooth slurry. Pour this liquid into the sauce and stir immediately. Press Cancel to stop the Saute function. The sauce will now look more thickened and glossy. Taste for seasoning.
How to thicken bolognese sauce in Instant Pot

Storage Tips

This recipe makes 6-8 servings because we like to make a big batch of the sauce to then use as leftovers and to turn into other dishes. The sauce can be served right away or stored in the fridge or freezer. Make sure to cool it down completely before storing it. Divide the sauce between Ziplock bags or containers and freeze the leftovers for up to 3 months.


How To Use Up Leftover Bolognese 

Instant Pot Bolognese sauce recipe
If you have leftover Bolognese sauce, there are quite a few ways to use it up. Obviously, you can reheat it for another spaghetti Bolognese meal.

  • Cold Bolognese is great in a Shepherd's or cottage pie.
  • You can re-fry the Bolognese sauce with added Tex-Mex spices and turn it into taco and burrito filling.
  • If you add some ginger, garlic and soy sauce, you can turn it into a more Asian-inspired dish and serve it with rice.
  • Pan-fry the sauce for 5-10 minutes to evaporate some of the liquid. Once it thickens, add some BBQ sauce and/or Worcestershire sauce and turn it into Sloppy Joes.

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Instant Pot Bolognese Recipe

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ian

    November 28, 2024 at 10:50 pm

    I've made Bol sauce before in a slow cooker. I'm kept/low carb and with your recipe there is the flour in it. When I make it, it usually is a bit liquidy, but when I'm serving I stir through some sour cream and that thickens it up and adds a lovely extra taste and mouth feel. Do you have any suggestion for a low carb thickener to sub for the flour? Thanks for your recipe.

    Reply
  2. Nick Warren

    February 2, 2023 at 10:11 am

    Looks like a good recipe and I will definitely try it, but please include metric measures. "Cups" really isn't great method to use. And "sticks" of butter. I know it's not in this recipe but, oh lordy

    Reply
  3. Anonymous

    November 28, 2022 at 7:13 pm

    Very greasy I would strain the oil off the meat next time

    Reply
    • Instant Pot Eats

      December 6, 2022 at 1:49 am

      This depends on how fatty the ground beef is that you use.

      Reply
  4. Noris

    March 9, 2021 at 2:41 pm

    I did the previous recipe so many times!! cant find it! Can you please help by sending the previous recipe!

    Reply
    • Instant Pot Eats

      March 12, 2021 at 4:17 am

      See Notes under the recipe for the extra ingredients used in the previous recipe and omit the bacon (unless you like a little bacon in your Bol sauce). The rest is pretty much the same.

      Reply
  5. Pandie

    January 19, 2021 at 4:27 pm

    I did love the previous version but I’ll try this too

    Reply
    • Instant Pot Eats

      January 20, 2021 at 11:43 pm

      And make sure to check the notes as we left all those add-ons that were included in a more complex original recipe. The rest is pretty much the same really.

      Reply
  6. Matt

    January 19, 2021 at 1:55 am

    The old version of this was amazing!!! A family staple for years. Thanks for including the original ingredients in the notes, but I think I might try to track it down on the Internet Archive and save it to my cloud drive. It was that good.

    Reply
    • Instant Pot Eats

      January 20, 2021 at 11:44 pm

      The basic recipe template is the same, it was mainly the addition of those spices/condiments that was different in the original. Plus, we added a little bacon but can be omitted.

      Reply
    • Alli

      February 12, 2022 at 2:55 pm

      Matt if you found the full original in the archive would you be willing to send to me? Loved that one too.

      Reply
  7. Jezebel James

    January 16, 2021 at 12:40 pm

    Did you change this recipe? I thought it had star anise, smoked paprika and bay leaves. Also fish sauce and aminos. I'm disappointed loved it that way!

    Reply
    • Instant Pot Eats

      January 17, 2021 at 5:22 am

      We have simplified the ingredients for a more accessible version. We have left all the add-ons from the previous recipe in the Notes under the recipe.

      ADD-ONS FROM THE EARLIER RECIPE. For a bolder, more in-depth flavor, you can add any or all of the following: 1 teaspoon paprika powder, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 2 tablespoons Tamari gluten-free soy sauce, 1 teaspoon fish sauce (don’t worry, you can’t taste it), 1-2 bay leaves and chili flakes or powder to spice it up. In this recipe, we have also added bacon which is optional.

      Reply
  8. Kelly

    January 12, 2021 at 9:34 pm

    When did the recipe change or do you have a link to the old version with cinnamon, fish sauce, diced tomatoes, etc? I’ve been making that version for years and it’s a family favorite.

    Reply
    • Instant Pot Eats

      January 14, 2021 at 11:05 pm

      Hey Kelly,

      If you look in the notes, you will see all those other ingredients in there as optional. We simplified the main recipe so it was easier for people that didn't have those ingredients on hand, but left them in the Notes below the recipe. We also added bacon to the main recipe, which you can take out.

      PS. we can vouch that this one is just as tasty but agree, the cinnamon and fish sauce give it an extra special quality so.

      IPE team

      Reply
  9. Dru

    September 29, 2020 at 7:18 pm

    What size Instant Pot is this for?

    Reply
    • Ann Fabrizio

      September 30, 2020 at 5:55 pm

      6 qt.

      Reply
  10. Jen

    April 2, 2020 at 10:56 pm

    This is the best recipe! I've made it so many times in the middle of a busy week. Highly reccommend.

    Reply
  11. Angel N Glaze

    February 26, 2020 at 2:52 am

    I used turkey instead of beef.I loved it. Bold, flavorful, and healthy!

    Reply
    • instantpoteats

      February 28, 2020 at 12:56 pm

      Thanks, Angel. Ground turkey would work so well, I can taste it 🙂

      Reply
  12. Angel N Glaze

    February 26, 2020 at 2:50 am

    Loved it. Bold, flavorful, and healthy!

    Reply
  13. Ghooper

    April 15, 2019 at 8:53 pm

    That is defiantly cilantro you garnished with?????????

    Reply
  14. Liz

    November 8, 2018 at 1:49 am

    Absolutely loved this recipe. I was looking for something with ground beef that wasn't "chili" like and this fit the bill. I skimped on the salt and later added it back to the recipe. Served with spaghetti squash, this was the perfect meal.

    Reply
    • instantpoteats

      November 12, 2018 at 11:37 am

      Thank you! Sounds like a very healthy meal to serve it over spaghetti squash.

      Reply
  15. nickyb

    October 23, 2018 at 8:00 pm

    My whole family, including the 5 year old and 1 year old LOVED this! Thanks!

    Only issue was the star anise breaks up in the instant pot so you get a crunchy surprise once in a while - any way to prevent this??

    Reply
    • instantpoteats

      October 24, 2018 at 10:34 am

      Hi Nicky, first of all, thank you. I'm super glad you enjoyed the recipe. In regards to the star anise, I am not sure if there is a way to keep it intact. Whenever I cook with it on a stovetop, it doesn't break up into pieces, but I guess pressure cooking softens it up enough for it to fall apart. Not really sure you can avoid it, but you could omit it from the recipe if it really bothers you or the kids. You might also be able to grind the star anise in a mortar & pestle before adding it to the pot so that you still get the flavour but not the crunchy bits.

      Reply
  16. Tam

    January 30, 2018 at 5:44 am

    I used half of the cinnamon that was called for and added 1tsp of onion powder, basil, oregano, and parsley along with everything else except fish sauce. Fab.

    Reply
  17. Sy

    January 15, 2018 at 1:57 am

    Wow, this is insanely good. My family went wild! Thanks!

    Reply
  18. Sally

    December 18, 2017 at 2:27 pm

    Can I add baby Bella mushrooms?

    Reply
    • instantpoteats

      December 22, 2017 at 2:14 pm

      Absolutely!

      Reply
  19. erin

    December 5, 2017 at 8:38 pm

    hi there! looks awesome. can i double it and will it still fit in the instant pot?

    Reply
    • instantpoteats

      December 7, 2017 at 1:19 am

      Yes, it should fit okay 🙂

      Reply
  20. KM

    September 12, 2017 at 9:21 pm

    Tried this and it was absolutely perfect. To double this recipe, what adaptations should I make?

    Reply
  21. John Marshall

    March 2, 2017 at 4:49 pm

    Great instruction for newbies. Keep posting them.

    Reply
  22. Jennifer

    January 30, 2017 at 4:30 am

    Hi, I assume you put in the bay leaves when you add the tomatoes? There is nothing written about when to add them. Looks delicious.

    Reply

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