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    Home » Instant Pot Pasta Recipes » Instant Pot Cavatini

    Instant Pot Cavatini

    Published: Jan 18, 2022 · Modified: Feb 18, 2022 by Kate · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Easy Instant Pot cavatini recipe that’s made entirely in one pot! This easy pasta turns ground beef and pasta into a quick dinner.

    Cavatini on a blue plate.

    If you’ve never had cavatini, you’re in for a treat! Cavatini is usually a casserole that’s made with pasta, a meat sauce, and cooked veggies like onion and bell pepper.

    Cavatini is sort of like a supreme pizza meets a pasta dish. The great thing about Instant Pot cavatini is that everything is made entirely in one pot, it’s ready in about 30 minutes, and because the pasta cooks in the sauce, it’s packed with flavor.

    How to make Instant Pot cavatini

    cooked ground beef and sausage in an instant pot inner pot.

    Press SAUTE on the Instant Pot. When it is HOT, add the ground beef and Italian sausage to the inner pot.

    Cook, stirring to break the ground beef and sausage up, until no longer pink. Drain the fat and return the ground beef and sausage to the inner pot.

    Stir in the onion and green pepper. Cook, stirring regularly, until the vegetables have softened, about 2-3 minutes.

    ground beef and sausage and veggie in an instant pot inner pot.

    Add the garlic, and cook, stirring the entire time, for 30 seconds. Press CANCEL.

    Pour in the red wine, and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the inner pot. Add dry pasta, 2 cups water, tomatoes with juice, and spaghetti sauce.

    Close and lock the lid. Turn the pressure release valve to SEALING.

    Press MANUAL high pressure and adjust the time to 4 minutes. When the cooking time is finished, carefully release the pressure by turning the pressure release valve to VENTING.

    cavatini in an instant pot inner pot.

    Add the chopped pepperoni, 2 cups of mozzarella, and ¼ cup parmesan cheese. Stir in.

    Top with remaining 1 cup mozzarella and ¼ cup parmesan cheese.

    A spoon lifting cavatini from a pot.

    Tips

    • Ground beef: I use either 85% or 90% lean ground beef in this recipe. I don’t use leaner ground beef in this recipe because it can dry out.
    • Italian sausage: You want the ground Italian sausage. You can use regular or hot.
    • Vegetables: Feel free to add in 1 cup of washed and sliced button mushrooms along with the onion and green pepper.
    • Red wine: You can use chicken or beef broth in place of the red wine.
    • Pasta: If you use another type of pasta, you may need to adjust the cooking time.
    • Italian tomatoes: The tomatoes that I use have basil, garlic, and oregano in them. If you want to use diced tomatoes, add ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning, and increase the garlic to 3 cloves.
    • Spaghetti sauce: Feel free to use any sauce you like.
    • Pepperoni: The pepperoni that you want to use is cooked and sliced pepperoni.
    Plate of cavatini next to a blue glass.

    Serving suggestions

    I serve this pasta with a simple green salad for a quick weeknight dinner. If I have more time, I add some homemade garlic bread or garlic knots on the side.

    Storage

    The cavatini will keep for up to 4 days when stored covered in the fridge.

    A plate of cavatini next to a dish of parsley.

    More Instant Pot pasta recipes!

    • Instant Pot White Cheddar Mac and Cheese
    • Instant Pot Beef and Shells
    • Instant Pot Ground Beef Stroganoff
    • Instant Pot Cheeseburger Macaroni

    If you’ve tried this Instant Pot cavatini recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who’ve made my recipes!

    You can FOLLOW ME on PINTEREST or FACEBOOK even more delicious food.

    Cavatini on a blue plate.

    Instant Pot Cavatini

    Easy cavatini recipe that's made entirely in the Instant Pot. This pasta is packed with flavor!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American, Italian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 13 minutes
    Time to Pressure: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 33 minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 660kcal
    Author: Kate at Eating in an Instant

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot/Electric Pressure Cooker

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound lean ground beef
    • 1 pound Italian sausage
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 cup diced onion
    • 1 cup diced green pepper
    • ¼ cup red wine
    • 8 ounce package penne pasta
    • 2 cups water
    • 2-14.5 ounce cans Italian diced tomatoes
    • 24 ounce jar spaghetti sauce
    • 8 ounce package sliced pepperoni chopped
    • 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
    • ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese divided

    Instructions

    • Press SAUTE on the Instant Pot.
    • When it is HOT, add the ground beef and Italian sausage to the inner pot.
    • Cook, stirring to break the ground beef and sausage up, until no longer pink.
    • Drain the fat and return the ground beef and sausage to the inner pot.
    • Stir in the onion and green pepper.
    • Cook, stirring regularly, until the vegetables have softened, about 2-3 minutes.
    • Add the garlic, and cook, stirring the entire time, for 30 seconds.
    • Press CANCEL.
    • Pour in the red wine, and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the inner pot.
    • Add dry pasta, 2 cups water, tomatoes with juice, and spaghetti sauce.
    • Close and lock the lid.
    • Turn the pressure release valve to SEALING.
    • Press MANUAL high pressure and adjust the time to 4 minutes.
    • When the cooking time is finished, carefully release the pressure by turning the pressure release valve to VENTING.
    • Add the chopped pepperoni, 2 cups of mozzarella, and ¼ cup parmesan cheese.
    • Stir in.
    • Top with remaining 1 cup mozzarella and ¼ cup parmesan cheese.

    Notes

    • Ground beef: I use either 85% or 90% lean ground beef in this recipe. I don't use leaner ground beef in this recipe because it can dry out. 
    • Italian sausage: You want the ground Italian sausage. You can use regular or hot.
    • Vegetables: Feel free to add in 1 cup of washed and sliced button mushrooms along with the onion and green pepper. 
    • Red wine: You can use chicken or beef broth in place of the red wine. 
    • Pasta: If you use another type of pasta, you may need to adjust the cooking time. 
    • Italian tomatoes: The tomatoes that I use have basil, garlic, and oregano in them. If you want to use diced tomatoes, add ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning, and increase the garlic to 3 cloves. 
    • Spaghetti sauce: Feel free to use any sauce you like. 
    • Pepperoni: The pepperoni that you want to use is cooked and sliced pepperoni. 
    • Nutritional values

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 660kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 45g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 135mg | Sodium: 2078mg | Potassium: 1120mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 1031IU | Vitamin C: 40mg | Calcium: 373mg | Iron: 10mg
    Tried this recipe?Leave me a comment below to let me know!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lily

      February 08, 2022 at 4:39 pm

      5 stars
      Better then the Hut for sure!

      Reply
      • Kate

        February 09, 2022 at 5:12 am

        Thanks!

        Reply
    2. Brittney

      February 04, 2022 at 2:06 am

      5 stars
      Better then Pizza Hut buffet!

      Reply
      • Kate

        February 04, 2022 at 3:09 am

        Thanks!

        Reply

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