Here’s a hearty Instant Pot Bolognese with Zucchini Noodles recipe that will fill your 8-quart Instant Pot and provide multiple healthy meals for meal prep. It includes ground turkey or beef and spiralized zucchini for a low-carb, nutrient-packed meal. This recipe should make enough for several servings.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs ground turkey (or lean ground beef)

• 2 large onions, finely chopped

• 6 cloves garlic, minced

• 3 large carrots, diced

• 3 celery stalks, diced

• 2 cans (28 oz each) crushed tomatoes

• 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste

• 2 cups beef or chicken broth (low-sodium)

• ½ cup red wine (optional, for richer flavor)

• 3 tbsp olive oil

• 2 tbsp Italian seasoning

• 1 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for spice)

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 4 large zucchini, spiralized

• Fresh basil (optional, for garnish)

• Parmesan cheese (optional, for serving)

Instructions:

1. Sauté the Vegetables: Turn on the sauté function on your Instant Pot. Add olive oil, onions, garlic, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until the onions are soft and translucent.

2. Brown the Meat: Add the ground turkey or beef to the pot. Break it up with a spoon and cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Deglaze the Pot: If using, pour in the red wine to deglaze the pot, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.

4. Add Tomatoes and Broth: Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, broth, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Mix everything well to combine.

5. Pressure Cook: Lock the Instant Pot lid in place. Set it to Manual High Pressure for 20 minutes. Once the time is up, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then do a quick release to finish.

6. Prepare Zucchini Noodles: While the bolognese is cooking, spiralize your zucchini. You can lightly sauté the zucchini noodles in a pan with olive oil for a couple of minutes to soften them, or serve them raw for extra crunch.

7. Combine and Serve: Once the pressure is released, open the lid and stir the sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve the bolognese over the zucchini noodles and garnish with fresh basil and parmesan if desired.

Storage Tips:

This recipe is perfect for meal prep. Store the bolognese sauce in airtight containers, separate from the zucchini noodles to avoid sogginess. You can refrigerate the sauce for up to 5 days or freeze it for up to 3 months. Spiralized zucchini noodles should be eaten fresh or stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Nutritional Info (per serving, approx. 1 cup sauce with 1 cup zucchini noodles):

• Calories: ~300

• Protein: ~25g

• Carbs: ~15g (mainly from vegetables)

• Fat: ~15g

This large batch should make around 10-12 servings depending on portion size, making it ideal for meal prepping!