Instant Pot Chicken Pasta Recipe – Simple Weeknight Meal

This instant pot chicken pasta is one of our favorite weeknight dinners, a creamy, comforting one pot pasta with tender chicken that comes together in under thirty minutes. For us that kind of fast, satisfying comfort is exactly what real food for real life is about. It is the kind of dinner that tastes like it came from a restaurant yet comes together in one pot on a busy night, creamy penne and tender chicken in a rich, savory sauce.

Chicken and penne cook right in the pressure cooker, then get finished with parmesan, cream, sun dried tomatoes, and fresh spinach for a rich, restaurant style sauce. This instant pot chicken pasta delivers cozy, creamy Italian flavor with one pot and almost no fuss. Cooking the chicken and penne right in the pressure cooker and then finishing with parmesan, cream, sun dried tomatoes, and spinach builds a cozy, creamy Italian flavor with almost no fuss.

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Creamy penne with tender chicken, sun dried tomatoes, and spinach makes this instant pot chicken pasta a cozy one pot dinner.

Why You Will Love This Instant Pot Chicken Pasta

• One pot meal. Chicken and pasta cook together in the pressure cooker for easy cleanup.
• Ready in under thirty minutes. The Instant Pot makes a creamy pasta dinner fast.
• Creamy and rich. Parmesan, cream, and sun dried tomatoes make a restaurant style sauce.
• Hands off cooking. Set the pressure and let it do the work.
• Family favorite. Creamy, cheesy pasta is always a crowd pleaser.

What Makes This Instant Pot Chicken Pasta So Good

A great instant pot chicken pasta starts with browning the chicken on saute, which builds savory flavor before pressure cooking. Deglazing with broth lifts all those tasty browned bits into the sauce. Browning the chicken on saute builds savory flavor before pressure cooking, and a good deglaze with broth lifts all those tasty browned bits up into the sauce.

Layering the pasta over the chicken and broth without stirring helps it cook evenly under pressure, soaking up flavor as it softens to perfectly tender. Layering the pasta over the chicken and broth without stirring helps it cook evenly under pressure, soaking up flavor as it softens to perfectly tender.

The key to this instant pot chicken pasta is the finish. Stirring in parmesan, cream, sun dried tomatoes, and spinach off the heat melts everything into a rich, creamy, flavor packed sauce. Stirring in parmesan, cream, sun dried tomatoes, and spinach off the heat is the finishing touch that melts everything into a rich, creamy, flavor packed sauce.

Optional Pro Tip: Layer, Do Not Stir

Add the pasta over the broth and chicken without stirring so it cooks evenly and does not stick or scorch on the bottom. For the best instant pot chicken pasta, stir in the cheese and cream after cooking so the sauce stays smooth and creamy. Adding the pasta over the broth without stirring keeps it from sticking or scorching on the bottom, and stirring the cheese and cream in after cooking keeps the sauce smooth and creamy.

Tips for the Best Instant Pot Chicken Pasta

Brown the chicken first so the instant pot chicken pasta has savory depth, and scrape up the browned bits when you deglaze. Browning the chicken first gives the dish savory depth, and scraping up the browned bits when you deglaze ensures none of that flavor is left behind.

Layer the pasta without stirring, then add the dairy at the end. Let it rest a couple of minutes so the sauce thickens before serving. Layering the pasta without stirring helps it cook evenly, and letting the dish rest a couple of minutes after the dairy goes in lets the sauce thicken before serving.

Variations and Add Ins

• Spicy. Add red pepper flakes for a little heat.
• Extra veggies. Stir in mushrooms or peas with the spinach.
• More cheese. Add extra parmesan or a little mozzarella.
• Herb forward. Add fresh basil or extra Italian seasoning.
• Lighter. Use half and half in place of heavy cream.

How to Store and Make Ahead

Store leftover instant pot chicken pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. The sauce stays rich and flavorful. Stored airtight, the sauce stays rich and flavorful for a few days, making this a comforting, creamy meal to look forward to again as a quick lunch.

Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of broth or cream to loosen the sauce, which thickens as it sits. A splash of broth or cream stirred in while reheating loosens the sauce, which naturally thickens as it sits, bringing it right back to creamy.

Serving Suggestions for Instant Pot Chicken Pasta

Serve this warm, garnished with fresh basil and extra parmesan, with a green salad or garlic bread on the side. It makes a cozy, satisfying dinner. A scattering of fresh basil and extra parmesan brightens the bowl, and a green salad or warm garlic bread alongside rounds it into a cozy, complete meal.

Much of the deep, tangy flavor here comes from sun dried tomatoes, ripe tomatoes dried to concentrate their sweetness, as described in this overview of sun dried tomatoes. They are part of what gives this instant pot chicken pasta its rich, savory character.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why layer the pasta without stirring?

Stirring can cause the pasta to clump and stick to the bottom, which may trigger a burn warning. Layering helps it cook evenly. Stirring the pasta can make it clump and stick to the bottom, which may trigger a burn warning, while layering it over the liquid helps it cook evenly.

What pasta works best?

Short shapes like penne hold the creamy sauce well and cook evenly under pressure. Short shapes like penne hold the creamy sauce beautifully in their ridges and hollows and cook evenly under pressure, so they are an ideal choice.

Can I use chicken thighs?

Yes. Boneless thighs stay extra juicy. Cut them into bite sized pieces and cook to 165 F. Boneless thighs stay extra juicy under pressure, so they are a great option, just cut them into bite sized pieces so they cook through evenly.

How do I keep the sauce creamy?

Stir in the parmesan and cream after pressure cooking, off the heat, so the dairy melts in smoothly. Stirring the parmesan and cream in after pressure cooking, off the heat, lets the dairy melt smoothly into a silky sauce rather than breaking or turning grainy.

What if I get a burn warning?

Make sure to deglaze well and layer the pasta without stirring so nothing sticks to the bottom. A burn warning usually means something stuck to the bottom, so deglazing well and layering the pasta without stirring keeps everything moving and prevents it.

Can I make it ahead?

Yes. It keeps for up to three days and reheats well with a splash of broth or cream. Because it reheats so well, it makes a great make ahead meal, returning to its rich, creamy self with just a splash of broth or cream.

Can I freeze it?

Cream and pasta can change texture when frozen, but it is doable. Thaw and reheat gently, loosening with liquid. It freezes reasonably well, though cream and pasta can shift in texture, so thaw it gently and warm it slowly, loosening with a little liquid to bring it back together.

Can I make it on the stove?

Yes. Cook the pasta separately, make the creamy chicken sauce in a skillet, then combine. On the stove, cooking the pasta separately and building the creamy chicken sauce in a skillet before combining gives you the same cozy dish without a pressure cooker.

What can I serve with it?

A green salad, garlic bread, or roasted vegetables all pair nicely. A green salad, warm garlic bread, or a side of roasted vegetables all pair nicely and round the meal out beautifully.

How do I add more flavor?

Fresh basil, extra parmesan, or a pinch of red pepper flakes all boost the flavor. Fresh basil, an extra shower of parmesan, or a pinch of red pepper flakes all deepen the flavor, so reach for them if the dish needs a lift.

A Creamy One Pot Pasta for Busy Nights

This instant pot chicken pasta brings cozy, creamy Italian flavor to the table in under thirty minutes, all in one pot. Tender chicken and rich, cheesy pasta make it pure comfort. It brings cozy, creamy Italian flavor to the table in under half an hour, all in one pot, with tender chicken and rich, cheesy pasta that taste like pure comfort.

Finish it with basil and parmesan, and add vegetables or a little heat to make it your own. It is an easy, crowd pleasing dinner perfect for busy weeknights. Finish it with basil and parmesan, and add vegetables or a little heat to make it your own for an easy, crowd pleasing dinner on the busiest weeknights.

If you love creamy, comforting pasta dishes like this, you will also enjoy our cajun chicken pasta, another favorite from our kitchen.