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🍝 Instant Pot Mini Rao’s Boosted Spaghetti Meat Sauce

bgibson135

🍝 Instant Pot Mini Rao’s Boosted Meat Sauce (3 Servings)

I’m re-writing this because I’ve found an easy sauce that tastes pretty good and it’s different from what I might have done in the past.

I suggest using green bell pepper (as I would for also making chili) and fresh button mushrooms.

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Ingredients

  • ½ jar Rao’s Marinara (about 12 oz)
  • 4–5 oz ground beef (lean if you have it)
  • 15 oz. can Hunt’s Diced, Fire Roasted Tomatoes
  • ¼ cup onion, finely diced
  • 1/2 cup green bell pepper
  • 1/2 cup button mushrooms
  • 1 tsp olive oil (optional, if beef is very lean)
  • ½ tsp garlic powder (or 1 small clove, minced)
  • ¼ tsp dried oregano
  • 1/4 tsp Marjorham
  • ¼ tsp dried basil (optional or fresh basil)
  • Pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Pinch of sugar substitute (⅛ tsp) if you want extra balance
  • Black pepper, to taste
  • Salt (only if needed — Rao’s is seasoned)
  • 1/3 Cup of water

I cooked this for 8 min High Pressure with about 6 minutes cool down. It came out a little too watery but the flavor was very good.

🔥 Instructions (Instant Pot Mini – 3 Qt)

1) Sauté the Beef & Veg

  1. Press SAUTÉ → Normal
  2. Add olive oil (if using)
  3. Add ground beef, onion, and bell pepper
  4. 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

  1. Pour in ½ jar Rao’s
  2. Add 15 oz. Hunt’s Diced Fire Roasted Tomatoes
  3. Add 1 tbsp water/broth (optional but smart)
  4. Stir well
  5. Scrape bottom (important → no burn warning)

4) Pressure Cook

  • Cancel Sauté
  • Close lid
  • Pressure: HIGH
  • Time: 8 minutes
  • Natural Release: 6 minutes (if sauce is too watery, Saute for 7 minutes more)
  • 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.

NOTE [05/01/26]: This basic spaghetti sauce has been very pleasing to me for the last month or so. In years past before I started using RAO’s Marinara as a starter sauce, I used the $1 cans of other popular sauces, but RAO’s does have an exceptional flavor. I also like adding a can of Hunt’s Diced Tomatoes (Fire Roasted or Fire Roasted Garlic). — and as I’ve mentioned. I now like the flavor that the Green Bell Pepper gives, more than the Red/Orange/Yellow peppers, which are sweeter & have more Vitamin C.

Also lately I’ve been able to get fresh White Button Mushrooms at Pate’s Farm Market.

It all works together very well, is simple to make and very repeatable. [end NOTE].