🍝 Instant Pot Mini Rao’s Boosted Meat Sauce (2 Servings)
Ingredients
- ½ jar Rao’s Marinara (about 12 oz)
- 4–5 oz ground beef (lean if you have it)
- ¼ cup onion, finely diced
- ¼ cup yellow bell pepper, finely diced
- 1 tsp olive oil (optional, if beef is very lean)
- ½ tsp garlic powder (or 1 small clove, minced)
- ¼ tsp dried oregano
- ¼ tsp dried basil (optional)
- Pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
- Black pepper, to taste
- Salt (only if needed — Rao’s is seasoned)
Optional (nice touches):
- 1 tbsp water or broth (prevents scorching)
- Pinch of sugar substitute or Kerry’s syrup (⅛ tsp) if you want extra balance
🔥 Instructions (Instant Pot Mini – 3 Qt)
1) Sauté the Beef & Veg
- Press SAUTÉ → Normal
- Add olive oil (if using)
- Add ground beef, onion, and bell pepper
- Cook 4–5 minutes, breaking up beef
- Until beef is mostly browned
- Veg is softened
Drain excess fat if needed.
2) Season
Add:
- Garlic
- Oregano
- Basil
- Black pepper
- Red pepper flakes (if using)
Stir 30 seconds to bloom spices.
3) Add Sauce
- Pour in ½ jar Rao’s
- Add 1 tbsp water/broth (optional but smart)
- Stir well
- Scrape bottom (important → no burn warning)
4) Pressure Cook
- Cancel Sauté
- Close lid
- Pressure: HIGH
- Time: 5 minutes
- Natural Release: 10 minutes
- Then quick release remaining pressure
5) Finish
Open lid and stir.
If too thin:
- Press SAUTÉ → Low
- Simmer 3–5 min
Taste and adjust:
- Salt?
- Pepper?
- Tiny sweetness?
🍽️ Serve With
- About 2 servings cooked spaghetti (≈3 oz dry each)
- Sprinkle Parmesan if you like
- Side of veggies if you’re watching carbs
🩺 Diabetic-Friendly Angle (Your Wheelhouse)
This works well for you because:
✅ Rao’s = low sugar
✅ Bell pepper adds sweetness without sugar spike
✅ Protein slows carb absorption
If you pair with:
- Half pasta / half zucchini noodles
or - Smaller pasta portion + greens
…it’s even better for blood sugar.
Bill Gibson, II 