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April 14, 2021

Instant Pot Penne Pasta With Spicy Italian Sausage

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A plate of Instant Pot Penne Pasta made with suasage and parmesan cheese

 

Instant Pot Penne Pasta is the easy pressure cooker pasta recipe everyone in your family will love!  It’s the delicious, easy dinner recipe that’s ready in minutes.  

 

If your family loves a good pasta dish as much as ours then you’re going to love Instant Pot Penne Pasta.  With just a few simple ingredients, likely available right in your pantry, you’ll have dinner on the table in minutes.  Watch them come running for seconds.  

Instant Pot Penne Pasta also makes for a great freezer meal, if needed.  

 

 

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COOK PENNE PASTA IN THE INSTANT POT? 

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

For example, if the pasta 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.  In our house, we like a tad bit of al dente pasta.  If you want yours even more cooked, consider adding one additional minute.  

If for any reason you don’t feel as though your pasta is cooked enough, you can always secure the lid back on your Instant Pot and pressure cook again for 0 minutes.  Following these rules should result in perfectly cooked pasta in your Instant Pot every time. 

 

CAN I FREEZE INSTANT POT PENNE PASTA?

We don’t see why not, absolutely!  To freeze, you can choose to either separate your pasta from the sauce and freeze seperately or together.  In fact, pasta sauce is one of our favorite, easy Instant Pot freezer meals to make in advance.  

To freeze your pasta and sauce together, place in a freezer-safe container or bag and follow reheat instructions above.  Pasta should last for 2-3 months if stored properly. 

 

HOW TO REHEAT PENNE PASTA

If you happen to have any leftover penne pasta, there are a number of different ways you can reheat without the pasta turning out overcooked or mushy.  Here are three simple methods:  

 

USE BOILING WATER

If you choose this method to reheat your pasta, you will only want to do so with plain pasta without sauce. 

To reheat using boiling water, fill a large pot with water and place over medium heat on the stove top.  After the water comes to a boil, add the leftover pasta in a colander and lower it into the boiling water. 

Allow the pasta to warm in the water for 30 to 60 seconds then carefully remove.  Toss your cooked pasta with our favorite pasta sauce and you’re good to go.  

 

REHEAT IN THE OVEN 

Add your leftover penne pasta and sauce in an oven-safe baking dish and cover with foil.  Preheat your oven to 325 degrees and place your dish with pasta in the oven.  Reheat for 20 minutes or until your pasta has reached your desired temperature.  If for any reason you feel your pasta has dried, be sure to add a little extra pasta sauce and/or olive oil and mix well.  

Once your pasta is properly reheated, remove from oven and serve!  Top with some parmesan cheese, too! 

 

REHEAT IN THE MICORWAVE 

For individualized portions, place the desired amount on a plate or in a bowl and place in the micorwave for 1 minute.  After the 1 minute has expired, remove from the microwave, stir the contents and place back back in for an additional 30 seconds or until you have reached your desired temperature. 

If for any reason you want to add more ‘sauce’, add a splash of water or chicken stock when heating. 

 

A plate of Instant Pot Penne Pasta made with suasage and parmesan cheese

 

HOW LONG DOES LEFTOVER PASTA LAST? 

Cooked pasta that’s properly stored can last for 3 to 5 days in the fridge. To store longer, be sure you place your cooked penne pasta in an airtight container. 

If your pasta contains sauce, you should try freezing it instead of storing it in the fridge to maximize its shelf life.

Leftover pasta can last for 1 to 2 months in the freezer and needs to be thawed before getting reheated.

 

 

ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO MAKE INSTANT POT PENNE PASTA

What we love most about this Instant Pot Penne Pasta is the number of ways to you make this easy pressure cooker recipe.  While we used a few simple ingredients, there are so many alternative ingredients to add.  Here are just a few of our family loved favorites: 

  • Red bell peppers 
  • Green bell peppers
  • Roasted red tomaotes
  • Andouille sausage 
  • Smoked sausage 
  • Ground chicken
  • Ground beef
  • Mushrooms 
  • Broccoli 
  • Spinach

 

A plate of Instant Pot Penne Pasta made with suasage and parmesan cheese

 

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INGREDIENTS FOR INSTANT POT PENNE PASTA: 

 

HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT PENNE PASTA: 

  1. Turn on your Instant Pot and select the ‘Saute’ function on high.  
  2. Add spicy Italian sausage and saute until mostly browned. 
  3. Add pasta sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic pepper and salt (to taste).  Stir until all ingredients are well combined.  Continue to saute for an additional 1-2 minutes stiring regularly. 
  4. Select the ‘Cancel’ function to reset the pressure cooking function.  With a wooden spoon or laddle, remove the majority of the pasta sauce with sausage and set aside.  NOTE:  If you prefer, you can keep the sauce and sausage in the Pot and cook with the pasta.  However, I personally like to remove so the pasta really settles into the chicken broth.  
  5. Add pasta and chicken stock or water.  Gently degalze the bottom of the pot to ensure there is nothing stuck.  Doing so will help avoid getting the ‘Burn Notice’.  
  6. Select the ‘Pressure Cook’ function on high and cook for 4 minutes.  
  7. Once the timer beeps, naturally release pressure for 1 minute then quick release the pressure.  Remove the lid. 
  8. Stir the pasta and add in pasta sauce with sausage.  Continue to sitrring the pasta until all ingredienrs are well combined.  
  9. Taste and add any additional salt and pepper, as needed.  
  10. Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.  
  11. Serve hot and enjoy!  

 

A plate of Instant Pot Penne Pasta made with suasage and parmesan cheese

 

LOOKING FOR OTHER DELICIOUS INSTANT POT PASTA RECIPES?  HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF OUR FAVORITES:

 

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Instant Pot Penne Pasta recipe

Instant Pot Penne Pasta With Spicy Italian Sausage

2.25 from 4 votes
Instant Pot Penne Pasta is the easy pressure cooker pasta recipe everyone in your family will love!  It's the delicious, easy dinner recipe that's ready in minutes. 
SERVES/MAKES: 6 people
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients:

Instructions:

  • Turn on your Instant Pot and select the 'Saute' function on high.  
  • Add spicy Italian sausage and saute until mostly browned.
  • Add pasta sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic pepper and salt (to taste).  Stir until all ingredients are well combined.  Continue to saute for an additional 1-2 minutes stiring regularly. 
  • Select the 'Cancel' function to reset the pressure cooking function.  With a wooden spoon or laddle, remove the majority of the pasta sauce with sausage and set aside.  NOTE:  If you prefer, you can keep the sauce and sausage in the Pot and cook with the pasta.  However, I personally like to remove so the pasta really settles into the chicken broth. 
  • Add pasta and chicken stock or water.  Gently degalze the bottom of the pot to ensure there is nothing stuck.  Doing so will help avoid getting the 'Burn Notice'.  
  • Select the 'Pressure Cook' function on high and cook for 4 minutes.  
  • Once the timer beeps, naturally release pressure for 1 minute then quick release the pressure.  Remove the lid. 
  • Stir the pasta and add in pasta sauce with sausage.  Continue to sitrring the pasta until all ingredienrs are well combined.  
  • Taste and add any additional salt and pepper, as needed. 
  • Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
  • Serve hot and enjoy!  

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  1. 4 stars
    It was good. Suggest perhaps cutting the sausage first and I also left it in the sauce with high protein pasta to cook together. I don’t think the sausage would have been adequately cooked otherwise. Also I did not try it with chicken broth which would have enhanced the taste. It’s a nice recipe!