Need a quick and easy dinner recipe everyone in your house will love? Look no further than this Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta! Who doesn’t love creamy, garlic Parmesan?
Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta is by far one of the most requested easy weekenight dinner recipe requests. It’s so delicious and creamy – pure comfort food!
This Instant Pot chicken pasta turned out so flavorful and creamy. Even better, it serves up to 6 people. It was gone the same day in our house!
Like many of our other Instant Pot recipes it can be modified to your or your families liking. For example, if you’d prefer your Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta be made with penne pasta as opposed to bow-tie, go for it! It would also be really delicious with spicy sausage or veggies such as broccoli, sundried tomatoes and more.
Below, we’re sharing our recipe tips, key ingredients and suggestions on how to make this the best Instant Pot Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta you’ll ever try. If you make it, be sure to share online and tag us! Can’t wait to hear your thoughts!
If you’re looking for a few other Instant Pot pasta recipes to try this week, here are a few of my favorites:
- Instant Pot Crack Chicken Pasta
- Creamy Chicken Stroganoff in Your Instant Pot
- Instant Pot Chicken Tequila Fettuccine || CPK Copycat
- Instant Pot Creamy Cajun Pasta With Shrimp
- Instant Pot Creamy Corned Beef Pasta {Like A Yummy Reuben In A Bowl!}
- Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta || Instant Pot & Stove Top
______ OUR FAVORITE INSTANT POT ACCESSORIES ______
TIPS FOR MAKING INSTANT POT CREAMY CHICKEN PASTA
If you’re interested in saving yourself time, feel free to use rotisserie chicken over bonesless skinless chicken breasts.
CAN I USE FROZEN CHICKEN BREASTS?
Yes, you certainly can! If you need to use frozen bonesless skinless chicken breasts simply place the chicken in your pressure cooker and keep the cooking time the same. It will be important to note that it will take the Instant Pot longer to come to pressure or to cook throughly.
WHAT TYPE OF PASTA SHOULD I USE?
What is great about this Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta recipe is you can use any pasta of your choosing. However, with a 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, rigatoni and more are our favorites.
When cooking pasta in your pressure cooker, be sure to follow the tip before for cooking time.
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. All together you would cook for 3 minutes.
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!
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INGREDIENTS FOR INSTANT POT CREAMY CHICKEN PASTA:
- 1.5 pound chicken breast, cubed
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 pound of pasta (you can choose any style you like)
- 3 cups chicken broth (vegetable or chicken stock will work fine, as well)
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon garlic and herb seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1.5 oz unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon oregano
- 1 cup half and half or heavy cream
- 5 oz Parmesan cheese
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- Fresh chopped basil
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING INSTANT POT CHICKEN PASTA:
- Turn your Instant Pot on and select the ‘Saute’ function.
- While your Instant Pot is heating up, cut chicken breasts into 1 inch cubes.
- Combine all the seasoning ingredients (salt, pepper, garlic & herb seasoning, Italian seasoning, paprika, oregano) and season the chicken cubes. As a tip, I often add the chicken cubes, seasoning and olive oil to a zip lock bag and shake until fully covered. I find the olive oil helps the chicken from sticking to the bottom of the Instant Pot.
- Once your Instant Pot is warm, add chicken and minced garlic to Instant Pot and cook evenly until chicken is lightly browned. Do not fully cook the chicken.
- When you think the chicken is cooked 50% of the way, add onions and brown evenly.
- Press the ‘Cancel’ button to reset the cooking function.
- Pour in chicken broth.
- Pour in pasta- DO NOT STIR.
- Try to cover pasta with chicken broth by pushing pasta down in pot- DO NOT STIR.
- Close the Instant Pot with the lid and move valve to “seal” position.
- Cook on manual high for time associated with the pasta that you are using. Calculate cook time based on pasta of your choice. Look at the box and take the suggested cooking time and cut it in half and subtract 2 minutes. If the box says 10 minutes, cut it in half (5 minutes) and subtract 2. So your total cook time will be 3 minutes. For reference, I cooked this recipe for 6 minutes. If for some reason you find your pasta is still not cooked, you can add the lid back on pressure cook for 0-1 minutes.
- When timer beeps, quick release pressure. If a substantial amount of liquid sprays out of the valve, quickly move valve back to seal and wait a minute or 2 and then move valve back to release. NOTE: The pasta may look a tad soupy when you first open the lid and stir in the ingredients. If so, continue to stir on the on the warming function. The ingredients will continue to thicken, about 5-6 minutes.
- Remove the lid and add in cream cheese, butter, half and half and Parmesan cheese – along with any additional spices for flavor.
- STIR!! This is when the cheesy goodness magic happens. Stir everything together until it is well combined.
- Garnish with just a bit of fresh basil.
- IT IS TIME!!! Time for you to indulge in this creamy cheesy delicious goodness! Go for it! You deserve it!
Instant Pot Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds chicken breast, cut into 1 inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 pound pasta shells
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon garlic and herb seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1.5 ounces unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 cup half and half or heavy cream
- 5 ounces Parmesan cheese
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- Fresh chopped basil
Instructions
- Turn on your Instant Pot and select the 'Saute' function.
- While the Instant Pot is heating up, cut chicken breasts into 1 inch cubes.
- Combine all the seasoning ingredients (salt, pepper, garlic & herb seasoning, Italian seasoning, paprika, oregano) and season the chicken cubes. As a tip, I often add the chicken cubes, seasoning and olive oil to a zip lock bag and shake until fully covered. I find the olive oil helps the chicken from sticking to the bottom of the Instant Pot.
- Add chicken and minced garlic to Instant Pot and cook evenly until chicken is lightly browned. Do not fully cook the chicken.
- When you think the chicken is cooked 50% of the way, add onions and brown evenly.
- Select the 'Cancel' button to reset the cooking function.
- Pour in chicken broth.
- Pour in pasta - DO NOT STIR.
- Try to cover pasta with chicken broth by pushing pasta down in pot - again, DO NOT STIR.
- Close the Instant Pot with the lid and move valve to “seal” position.
- Cook on manual high for time associated with the pasta that you are using. Calculate cook time based on pasta of your choice. Look at the box and take the suggested cooking time and cut it in half and subtract 2 minutes. If the box says 10 minutes, cut it in half (5 minutes) and subtract 2. So your total cook time will be 3 minutes. For reference, I cooked this recipe for 6 minutes. If for some reason you find your pasta is still not cooked, you can add the lid back on pressure cook for 0-1 minutes.
- When timer beeps, quick release pressure. If a substantial amount of liquid sprays out of the valve, quickly move valve back to seal and wait a minute or 2 and then move valve back to release. NOTE: The pasta may look a tad soupy when you first open the lid and stir in the ingredients. If so, continue to stir on the on the warming function. The ingredients will continue to thicken, about 5-6 minutes.
- Remove the lid and add in cream cheese, butter, half and half and Parmesan - along with any additional spices for flavor.
- STIR!! This is when the cheesy goodness magic happens. Stir everything together until it is well combined.
- Garnish with just a bit of fresh basil.
- IT IS TIME!!! Time for you to indulge in this creamy cheesy delicious goodness! Go for it! You deserve it!
Valerie says
This is amazing! I make it all the time. My only complaint is that it definitely needs more than 3 cups of chicken broth. I had to use 5 just to be able to cover the noodles.
I tried it with just three one time and there wasn’t enough liquid to even fully cook the pasta.
Other than that, I love this recipe!
Anna Baun says
Hi Valerie! Thank you so much for the comment! I am so glad you like it. It’s one of our families favorites, too! And, thank you for the feedback on the water. We’ve always only needed a few cups, but definitely something for others to consider. Hope you had a great holiday!
Nazish Shahab says
Hello there! Thank you for this quick and “instant” Instant Pot recipe! It looks delish and am sure it tastes awesome too. Will update review once we taste it…it’s in the IP right now and the house smells ahhhmaaazinggg!
Question – How do we go ahead with “refreshing” leftovers for the next day? Add more milk/cream and heat it up?
Thank you!
Evelyn Joned says
This is delicious! I added an extra half cup of chicken broth so pasta would be completely covered. Pressure cooked for 8 minutes according to the calculation from the recipe & it was cooked perfectly. I eliminated the onion since my son doesn’t care for them. He loved it!
Anna Baun says
Evelyn – thank you so much for your comment! I am so glad you liked it! It’s definitely a go-to in our house 🙂
Diana Alfaro-Vasquez says
I’d love to try this! Is there a way to make this without cream cheese?