Instant Pot Pasta with Sausage
This lasagna soup brings all the classic flavors of lasagna into a warm, comforting bowl! It’s easy to prepare, packed with flavor, and perfect for a cozy meal. Check the note below the recipe for the best pasta options for this soup.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 pound Italian chicken sausage see notes
- 1 small onion chopped
- 2 bell peppers chopped
- 3 cups water
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 12 ounces whole wheat penne pasta about 4 ½ cups dry or white penne pasta
- 25- ounce jar marinara sauce
- 3 cups fresh spinach coarsely chopped
- 2 ounces mozzarella cheese shredded (about ½ cup)
Instructions
- Turn on the Instant Pot sauté function and add the olive oil to the pot.
- If using pre-cooked sausage, slice it and add it to the Instant Pot. If using raw sausage, remove it from the casings and add it to the pot.
- Add the chopped onion and sauté with the sausage until the sausage is browned and the onion is softened. If using uncooked sausage, break it into smaller pieces as it cooks. Press cancel to turn off the sauté function.
- Add the bell peppers, water, Italian seasoning, and 1 cup of marinara sauce. Stir, scraping up any bits stuck to the bottom of the pot.
- Add the penne pasta on top without stirring. Press it down into an even layer. Pour the remaining marinara sauce evenly over the pasta without stirring.
- Close the Instant Pot lid and set the steam release valve to the sealing position. Cook on high pressure for 2 minutes. (This time is for whole wheat penne with a stovetop cook time of 9 minutes for al dente. Adjust as needed for different pasta types.)
- The Instant Pot will take about 20 minutes to reach pressure before the cook time begins. Once the cooking time ends, quick release the pressure by carefully moving the steam release valve to the venting position. When the steam has fully escaped and the pin drops, open the lid. There may be a little extra liquid, but it will absorb as the pasta rests.
- Stir the pasta, then mix in the spinach, followed by the shredded mozzarella. Serve warm.
Notes
Sausage: I usually use fully cooked Italian chicken sausage, slicing it into rounds before adding it to the Instant Pot. If using uncooked chicken, turkey, or pork sausage, remove it from the casings, crumble it, and brown it using the sauté function.
Pasta Cook Time: I’ve found that 2 minutes of pressure cooking works best for whole wheat penne with a stovetop cook time of 9 minutes. Use these guidelines for other pasta types: Pressure cook for 2 minutes if the package cook time is 6-9 minutes, 3 minutes if the cook time is 10-12 minutes, and 4 minutes if the cook time is 13 minutes or more.