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Instant Pot Spaghetti with Lentils

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This Instant Pot Spaghetti with Lentils makes a perfectly hearty weeknight dinner with just 7 pantry staples in 10 mins. It's tasty, rich in protein,  fiber and budget friendly. No gummy noodles plus you won't miss the meat at all. Vegan.Vegetarian. Gluten-Free.Kid Friendly. Instant Pot Video Recipe. Stove Top Recipe included.

A bowl of Vegan Spaghetti made with Lentils in an Instant Pot

Why you will love this Lentil Spaghetti

Have you ever tried combining lentils and spaghetti at all? I mean how could we not try the idea of combining two of our very popular recipes Italian Lentil Soup and Spaghetti Aglio e Olio.  It's a killer combination and has become a new family favorite.

  • Meatless Spaghetti for the veggie lovers.
  •  It's super easy to make with basic ingredients readily available at home and makes a perfect weeknight meal.
  • It's healthy and hearty with lots of flavors and texture.
  • Packed with fiber and plant based protein.
  • No babysitting.
  • One Pot recipe, no multiple utensils and after cleaning. 

I mean what's not to love about this Lentil Spaghetti?

Lentil Spaghetti in Instant Pot?

If you are thinking why Spaghetti in Instant Pot? Let us explain. If you think Instant Pot or pressure cookers are best for food with tough textures why make pasta in Instant Pot when it's already so simple to make it on the stove top. Well you are mistake here, my dear.  Instant Pot Spaghetti is way easier, faster, tastier and hassle free when made in the Instant Pot.

Honestly it's a one pot recipe. No washing and cleaning multiple pots and pans, isn't that golden? No continuous stirring or waiting for the water to boil. Just sautee the onion and garlic and toss in the remaining ingredients and the lentil spaghetti will be ready in 10 minutes. Best part unlike the traditional spaghetti where the spaghetti has to be boiled separately and then mixed in with the sauce. In the Instant Pot the Spaghetti is cooked along with the sauce which packs a lot of flavors into the Spaghetti. It's just a must-try.

If you are worried about gummy sticky noodles or uncooked lentils, don't be!!!Check out the video recipe, you can see how well the noodles and lentils are cooking without sticking to the bottom or burning. I don't know about you but I am never go back to making Spaghetti the traditional way. This is so much easier and tastier. Try it yourself.

Lentil Spaghetti in a plate

How to make the best Instant Pot Lentil Spaghetti?

Cooking pasta and noodles in the Instant Pot can always be tricky. So always go with a tried and tested recipe like this one. the last thing you want is burnt food when you have a hangry family waiting at the table. So we tested this recipe multiple times and revised this recipe with a generic brand of spaghetti available everywhere. Most important we share some of our tips and tricks to get the best results. 

Step 1: Prepare the ingredients - Gather the spaghetti, Italian seasoning, salt, water, oil,  homemade marinara sauce or tomato sauce, chop the onions and parsley, rinse the lentils.

Step 2: Saute - Using the Saute function, heat oil in the inner pot. Once the oil is hot, add the Italian seasoning, and saute for a couple minutes. 

Step 3 : Throw in remaining ingredients - Now add the water and thoroughly scrape off the bottom of the pot for any food stuck to it. This is an important step to avoid any burn notice. Also do not stir the pot anymore after this point. Next throw in the marinara or tomato sauce. Remember donot stir. Now add in the spaghetti. Spread the spaghetti evenly around the pot and lightly submerge it enough to not touch the bottom of the pot but yet covered under the liquid.  No stirring please! 

Step 4: Pressure Cook - Cover the lid, seal the vent and pressure cook for 10 minutes followed by quickly release the pressure.

Step 5 : Garnish and Serve.

step by step instructions to make instant pot lentil spaghetti

Pro tips to get the best results

  • This recipe is tested with Barilla Gluten-Free Spaghetti and also Barilla Spaghetti No. 3. 
  • Step 3 if the most critical step for getting the best results and to avoid any burn notice.
  • Do not stir the ingredients after adding the water.
  • Do not stir the sauce.
  • Spread the pasta evenly or else you will get a lumps.
  • Lightly submerge the spaghetti, making sure it doesn't touch the bottom of the bottom but is submerged enough in the liquid.
  • As soon as the timer beeps, quick release the pressure. Initially the sauce may seem to thin.  Gently mix together the noodles and sauce. Allow the spaghetti to rest for 5 minutes before serving and you will notice the sauce thicken to just the perfect consistency.
  • The pasta eating window where you can enjoy warm, tender and no gummy noodles or sauce is very small. So enjoying it while it is freshly made is always the best option.

Instant Pot says Burn - Heard and read about the dreaded burn message, here is everything you need to know about Instant Pot says Burn Message. What is it, what it means, why you get it and how to avoid it?

instant pot spagheeti

How to make Lentil Spaghetti on Stove Top?

If you don't have an Instant Pot and would like to make this recipe, use cooked lentils for this recipe. Cook the spaghetti as per the instructions on the package.In a pan heat oil, sautee the garlic and onion, until it's fragrant then add tomato or our homemade marinara sauce, cooked lentils, salt and cooked spaghetti noodles and allow to cook for a couple mins. Garnish with parsley and serve it hot.

What Lentils can I pair with Instant Pot Spaghetti?

You can make this spaghetti with either, green, brown or even red lentils. The lentils and gluten-free spaghetti take the same amount of time to cook, 10 minutes so there can't be a better match than this. I personally haven't tried using red or brown lentils for this recipe, but typically when I want the lentil texture to be soft like for soups I cook my lentils for upto 8-10 minutes.

What can you serve with this Lentil Spaghetti?

  • Salad
  • Breadsticks
  • Roasted Vegetables

Packing Spaghetti for Lunch

We use a Thermos Lunch box that keeps food warm. We have a few different ones at home that we use. Thermos Funtainer,  Vaya Tyffin, Stainless steel lunchbox with insulated bag.

Freezing or Left Overs

If you have left overs or would like to make some extra and freeze it. Divide it into the portions you want. Place individual portions of Spaghetti into freezer safe zip lock bags. The morning you want to pack Spaghetti for lunch, run warm water on then ziplock for 15 seconds. This will help separate the sides from the bags. Then toss the portion into a microwave safe container add a couple tablespoons of water and reheat in microwave. Adding water will prevent the spaghetti from drying.

vegan spaghetti wrapped around a fork

So let's get to the recipe. Hope you get around trying this Lentil Spaghetti. We would love to hear from you if you still prefer the traditional cooking method or we have converted you to use you IP to make your Spaghetti. Don't forget to take a picture and tag us on Facebook or Instagram. If you made any tweaks to this recipe, share them below in the comments. Hope you enjoy this Spaghetti as much as we did.

For more pasta recipes, click here.

Instant Pot Spaghetti with Lentils Recipe

Lentil Spaghetti in a plate

Instant Pot Spaghetti with Lentils

Yield: 2 servings
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 12 minutes

This Instant Pot Spaghetti with Lentils makes a perfectly hearty weeknight dinner with just 7 pantry staples in 10 mins. It's tasty, rich in protein,  fiber and budget friendly. No gummy noodles plus you won't miss the meat at all. Vegan.Vegetarian. Gluten-Free.Kid Friendly. Instant Pot Video Recipe. Stove Top Recipe included.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic, crushed
  • 1/2 cup onion, diced
  • 8 oz. tomato or marinara sauce
  • 1/2 cup lentils, rinsed
  • 4 oz. glutenfree spaghetti
  • 2.5 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • parsley for garnishing

Instructions

Instant Pot Lentil Spaghetti Recipe


Step 1: Prepare the ingredients - Gather the spaghetti, Italian seasoning, salt, water, oil,  homemade marinara sauce or tomato sauce, chop the onions , garlic and parsley, rinse the lentils.

Step 2: Saute - Using the Saute function, heat oil in the inner pot. Once the oil is hot, add the Italian seasoning, and saute for a couple minutes. 

Step 3 : Throw in remaining ingredients - Now add the water and thoroughly scrape off the bottom of the pot for any food stuck to it. This is an important step to avoid any burn notice. Also do not stir the pot anymore after this point. Next throw in the marinara or tomato sauce. Remember donot stir. Now add in the spaghetti. Spread the spaghetti evenly around the pot and lightly submerge it enough to not touch the bottom of the pot but yet covered under the liquid.  No stirring please! 

Step 4: Pressure Cook - Cover the lid, seal the vent and pressure cook for 10 minutes followed by quickly release the pressure.

Step 5 : Garnish and Serve.

Stove Top Lentil Spaghetti Recipe

If you don't have an Instant Pot and would like to make this recipe, use cooked lentils for this recipe. Cook the spaghetti as per the instructions on the package.In a pan heat oil, sautee the garlic and onion, until it's fragrant then add tomato or our homemade marinara sauce, cooked lentils, salt and cooked spaghetti noodles and allow to cook for a couple mins. Garnish with parsley and serve it hot.

Notes

Pro tips to get the best results

  • This recipe is tested with Barilla Gluten-Free Spaghetti and also Barilla Spaghetti No. 3. 
  • Step 3 if the most critical step for getting the best results and to avoid any burn notice.
  • Do not stir the ingredients after adding the water.
  • Do not stir the sauce.
  • Spread the pasta evenly or else you will get a lumps.
  • Lightly submerge the spaghetti, making sure it doesn't touch the bottom of the bottom but is submerged enough in the liquid.
  • As soon as the timer beeps, quick release the pressure. Initially the sauce may seem to thin.  Gently mix together the noodles and sauce. Allow the spaghetti to rest for 5 minutes before serving and you will notice the sauce thicken to just the perfect consistency.
  • The pasta eating window where you can enjoy warm, tender and no gummy noodles or sauce is very small. So enjoying it while it is freshly made is always the best option.


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Lauren

Thursday 21st of October 2021

When do you add the lentils?

Homemade Garlic Knots Video Recipe | TheBellyRulesTheMind

Friday 24th of September 2021

[…] make the perfect pairing for a lot of recipes, like our Cacio e Pepe Recipe, Spaghetti with Lentils, or our Pesto Cavatappi Recipe. They also make great dippers for our Pesto Sauce recipe or homemade […]

Cherie

Monday 22nd of February 2021

Missing in recipe: how many teaspoons of Italian season??

Joy Beach Thomas

Thursday 2nd of April 2020

I have a question. How can I change the recipe for four people? I worry that doubling it might cause issues, because it's perfect as it is for two people.

Erin

Tuesday 24th of March 2020

Made this last night, but with whole wheat spaghetti instead of gluten free. The Ingredients list (which I used to shop) didn't reference Italian Seasoning, so I had no idea how much to use - so I didn't use any, thinking it was a mistake.

The written directions didn't mention when to add the garlic, onion or lentils. I didn't watch the video and was working off a print out. I ended up putting my lentils on top of my pasta, but I did swoosh things around to get most of the pasta off the bottom. Still somehow this novice in the kitchen managed to succeed in turning out an excellent meal with no burns.

I also added extra sauce when I put it into my containers. But I like extra sauce.

I would make this again, but might scope around for another recipe which provides quantities for all ingredients and/or mark up my print out with my lessons learned for next time.

Thanks!

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