Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce (With Fresh Tomatoes!)

While writing The Fresh and Healthy Instant Pot Cookbook , I realized that some things are simply easier to cook from scratch in a pressure cooker. Spaghetti sauce with fresh tomatoes is one of those things. There’s no dicing required—just quarter a few veggies, and they are ready to cook in no time.

If you’re already familiar with Instant Pot cooking, you may be surprised to learn that this recipe requires no added liquid. Don’t worry, you won’t get a burn error! Fresh tomatoes are loaded with juice and release a significant amount of liquid as they cook.

And if you’re not already familiar with the Instant Pot, don’t worry. I’ll walk you through the process below step by step.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Featured Review “This was the best batch of spaghetti sauce I’ve ever made! I can’t believe it was so easy!! I changed up the spices a bit, but wow. I love how healthy it is and NO sugar!” -Kristina

spaghetti sauce in glass jars by the Instant Pot. - 2

Spaghetti Sauce Ingredients

Fresh Tomatoes. I tend to use Roma tomatoes because they are more affordable than slicing tomatoes. But if you have garden tomatoes, use those here.
Yellow Onion. These add sweetness and flavor.
Carrots. These are also added for sweetness. I originally called for two carrots, but I now prefer using three for a sweeter flavor.
Garlic. Two fresh cloves help boost the flavor with no mincing required. You can add more if you especially love garlic.
Dried Spices. Basil and oregano add a convenient Italian flavor. You can use an Italian spice blend if you prefer.
Tomato Paste. This can trigger a burn error, so it’s added at the end of the process to help thicken the sauce and deepen the tomato flavor.

fresh tomatoes, carrots, onion, garlic, and spices labeled. - 3

How to Make Fresh Spaghetti Sauce in the Instant Pot

Step 1:

Prepare the veggies by cutting the tomatoes into quarters. There’s no need to peel them or remove the seeds, so this shouldn’t take long.

You’ll also need to peel and quarter the yellow onion, then peel the carrots and slice them into chunks. That’s all the prep work required!

tomatoes, carrots, and onion cut on a cutting board. - 4

Step 2:

Add the tomatoes, yellow onion, carrots, and garlic to the stainless steel bowl of the Instant Pot. Then add the garlic cloves, spices, and salt on top. Don’t let the spices touch the bottom of the Instant Pot; they can trigger a burn error as the pot heats up.

In other words, don’t stir the ingredients.

Just secure the lid, move the steam release valve to the “Sealing” position, and cook at high pressure for 20 minutes. The pot will take at least 10 minutes to pressurize, so the screen will read “ON” before the countdown appears.

tomatoes, carrot, onion, spices, and garlic cooked in the instant pot. - 5

Step 3:

When the cooking cycle is complete, let the pressure naturally release for at least 10 minutes. This means you’ll do nothing until the screen reads “L0:10.” If you’re busy and want to wait even longer, that’s okay, too. (I’ve left it in the pot for up to 60 minutes because I was distracted, and the sauce is still great.)

Move the steam release valve to “Venting” to release any remaining pressure in the pot. When the floating valve in the lid drops, you’ll know it’s safe to remove the lid.

Use an immersion blender to blend the cooked vegetables until smooth. Then add the tomato paste and blend again to create a thicker, deeper red sauce. Adjust the seasoning to taste. I usually add another half teaspoon of salt, but you could also add Parmesan cheese or any other spices you like at this point.

tomato sauce blended with an immersion blender and tomato paste added in. - 6

Serving Tips

Enjoy this spaghetti sauce right away over your favorite noodles. It can also be used as a topping for pizza, a dip for bread, or a spread for sandwiches, among other uses.

Immersion Blender

Instant Pot

The Fresh & Healthy Instant Pot Cookbook

IngredientsUS CustomaryMetric1x2x3x

2 pounds fresh tomatoes , cut into quarters
2 yellow onions , cut into quarters
2 to 3 large carrots , cut into large chunks
2 cloves garlic (whole)
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon sea salt , plus more to taste
6 ounces tomato paste (no salt added)

Instructions

Add the tomatoes, onion, carrot, and garlic to the Instant Pot. Sprinkle the oregano, basil, and salt over the top of the vegetables, but don’t stir. (You don’t want the seasonings to touch the bottom of the Instant Pot or you could get a burn error.)
Secure the lid and move the steam release valve to Sealing. Select Manual or Pressure Cook (the name of the button will vary by machine) and cook at high pressure for 20 minutes. It will take roughly 10 minutes for the pressure to build in the pot before the cooking cycle begins, so the pot will say “On” until then.
When the cooking cycle completes, allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes. When the screen reads L0:10, move the steam release valve to Venting to release any remaining pressure. When the floating valve drops, it’s safe to remove the lid.
Use an immersion blender to blend the cooked vegetables into a smooth sauce. Add in the tomato paste and blend again to make sure it’s fully incorporated. It should thicken the sauce. Adjust any seasoning to taste, then serve warm over your favorite pasta. (I usually add another ½ teaspoon of salt.)
This sauce should keep well in an airtight container for up to a week in the fridge, or you can freeze it for up to 3 months.

Video

Notes

Nutrition

More Recipes to Try

Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes (No draining!)
Steel-Cut Oats in the Instant Pot
Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash (7-minute cycle)
Instant Pot Broccoli