Instant Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta

INSTANT POT CHICKEN FAJITA PASTA

Who can resist this creamy Instant Pot chicken fajita pasta recipe? This creamy chicken pasta dish is one everyone in your family will love. Made with juicy chicken breasts, freshly chopped vegetables, creamy pasta sauce, and spicy fajita seasoning. If you love Mexican foods, this easy pasta dish is for you.

Celebrating Cinco do Mayo? Look no further than this easy recipe.

What’s better? This easy weeknight dinner is ready and on the table for your family in less than 30 minutes and can be made easily in your Instant Pot or one pan easily. It’s one of our family’s favorite easy meals – pure comfort food!

And, if you love pasta recipes as much as we do, we recommend you also try Easy Instant Pot Shrimp Alfredo, Instant Pot Creamy Parmesan Garlic Brussel Sprouts and Creamy Lemon Pepper Pasta With Shrimp & Parmesan.

In this article, we will cover the following. Feel free to use these links to navigate the recipe details.

• Instant Pot chicken fajita pasta ingredients.
• How to make Instant Pot chicken fajita pasta.
• Substitutes you can use in fajita pasta.
• Tips for making Instant Pot chicken fajita pasta.
• Additional topping ideas.
• Other delicious Instant Pot recipes.
• What Instant Pot do we use?

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INSTANT POT CHICKEN FAJITA PASTA INGREDIENTS

SKINLESS BONELESS CHICKEN BREASTS

We prefer to use grass-fed free-range boneless skinless chicken breasts, but boneless chicken tenders or chicken thighs work well also. You can also use shrimp or spicy sausage if preferred.

FRESH VEGETABLES

This Instant Pot chicken fajita recipe is made delicious with a combination of fresh chopped onions and bell peppers. We used a combination of green bell peppers, orange bell peppers, and red bell peppers, but feel free to use any pepper combination you might like.

Similarly, we used a medium white onion in this pasta recipe, but a chopped red onion tastes absolutely delicious, too!

PASTA

When you are making a creamy chicken pasta dish such as this one, we always recommend a pasta shell that will hold on to the rich sauce. Because of that, we recommend penne pasta, farfalle, elbow pasta, or rigatoni.

FAJITA SEASONING

When possible, we always prefer to use homemade seasonings as opposed to pre-packaged seasoning. Using homemade seasonings such as cayenne pepper, paprika, chili powder, cumin, garlic, etc. allows us to control the heat.

CHICKEN BROTH

If you don’t have chicken broth on hand you are welcome to use reserved pasta water, chicken stock or vegetable broth.

HEAVY CREAM

Heavy cream really helps this absolutely delicious pasta recipe come together. We use heavy cream but have used half and half in the pasta which works well also.

CHEESE

We used both cream cheese and cheddar cheese in this recipe. When possible, I recommend shredding your own cheddar cheese as opposed to pre-packaged cheese. Pre-packaged cheese is made with an agent/ingredients that prevent it from clumping in the package. Those ingredients can prevent the cheese from melting as well.

HOW TO MAKE INTANT POT CHICKEN FAJITA PASTA

First, turn on your Instant Pot and select the ‘Saute’ function on high. Add olive oil and chicken breasts. Sprinkle each side of the chicken breasts with a pinch of garlic pepper and salt, about 1/2 a teaspoon. Cook each chicken breast for about 4 minutes on each side. Adjust slightly based on the thickness of each of your breasts.

Remove the chicken from your Instant Pot and set it aside for now. Press the ‘Cancel’ function to reset the cooking function.

Next, add chicken broth. With a wooden spoon or spatula gently deglaze the bottom of the pot to ensure nothing is stuck or sticking. Doing so will ensure you do not get the ‘burn notice’ during the pressure cooking phase.

Add the pasta in the Instant Pot. Secure the lid and select the ‘Pressure Cook’ function on high for 4 minutes. NOTE: you may need to adjust the cooking time based on the pasta shells you choose. See tips below for more details.

Once the timer beeps, carefully quick release the pressure and remove the lid.

Remove the pot and drain the pasta. Set pasta aside for now. Select the ‘Cancel’ button to reset the cooking function.

Add olive oil, peppers, and onions. Saute until fragrant, about 4-5 minutes.

Add minced garlic, cream cheese, and 1/2 cup chicken broth. Stir to combine all ingredients. Continue to saute until sauce has thickened slightly. Now, add cheddar cheese and stir to combine ingredients. Continue stirring occasionally until cheese is melted.

Add cayenne pepper, paprika, salt and cumin to the cream sauce and stir until well combined. Continue to saute the chicken fajita pasta sauce until it has reached your desired thickness. Taste and add any additional fajita seasonings based on taste and heat preference.

Add pasta shells and chicken. Stir until combined well. Top with fresh parsley or fresh cilantro. Serve hot and enjoy!

TIPS FOR MAKING CHICKEN FAJITA PASTA

If you love spicy foods, feel free to add green chiles or jalapeno peppers to the mix. Additionally, kick up the heat by adding more chili powder or cayenne pepper.

Also, if you are looking to make this easy chicken pasta dish a tad healthier, consider using whole wheat, whole grain or gluten-free pasta. Similarly, feel free to use non-dairy cheese and vegan meat crumbles as mentioned above.

TIPS FOR COOKING PASTA IN YOUR INSTANT POT

When cooking Instant Pot recipes with pasta feel free to choose any pasta shell you might prefer.  Regardless of which pasta you choose, be sure to follow the cooking times indicated on the box of your pasta choice.  Whatever the box says – cut it in half and subtract 2 minutes. 

For example, if the box says to cook for 10 minutes, you will cut that in half (5) and subtract 2.  Altogether you would cook for 3 minutes for pasta that is slightly more al dente.  If you like your pasta slightly more cooked, consider adding 1 minute.

If for any reason you don’t feel as though your pasta is cooked enough, you can always place the lid back on your Instant Pot and pressure cook again for 0 minutes.  That should do the trick!

WHAT TYPE OF PASTA IS BEST FOR CHICKEN FAJITA PASTA?

What is great about this Instant Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta is you can use any pasta of your choosing.  However, with creamy pasta such as this, we love to use pasta shells that hold on to the cream sauce well.  Pasta shells such as penne pasta, fettuccini, angel hair pasta, rigatoni, and more are our favorites. 

When cooking pasta in your pressure cooker, be sure to follow the tip before for cooking time.  

SUBSTITUTES YOU CAN USE IN CHICKEN FAJITA PASTA

One of the things we love most about this delicious weeknight dinner recipe is how versatile it is. There are so many great alternatives you can use to best fit your family’s taste buds. Here are just a few of our favorite substitutes:

• Ground turkey
• Ground beef
• Shrimp
• Vegan meat crumbles
• Black beans
• Green chilies
• Rotel tomatoes
• Diced tomatoes
• Whole grain, gluten-free pasta

ADDITIONAL TOPPING IDEAS

• Shredded cheese
• Avocado
• Sour Cream
• Green onions
• Fresh jalapenos
• Green chilies

OTHER DELICIOUS INSTANT POT RECIPES

• Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup
• Instant Pot Shrimp Scampi
• Easy Instant Pot Shrimp Alfredo
• Instant Pot Ravioli Soup || Vegan Option Included
• Instant Pot Vegetable Soup | Easy Dump & Go Recipe
• Instant Pot Creamy Parmesan Garlic Brussel Sprouts

WHAT INSTANT POT DID YOU USE?

We use the Instant Pot Max Multi-Use 6-Quart Pressure Cooker. This vegetarian soup recipe will work well with any 6-quart or 8-quart recipe. If you only have a 3-quart, feel free to reduce the recipe by half.