Make restaurant quality Chicken Alfredo in Instant pot. Ready in under 30 minutes, the pasta cooks in the sauce soaking up all the creamy, rich deliciousness. This instant pot chicken pasta is cozy and comforting.
What to cook for dinner tonight?
Sounds familiar? Especially after a long day at work, school, homework, after school activities. Everybody is hungry and mom is exhausted. Just painting a picture of a common scene in my house many a times.
And then, entered this magical appliance called the Instant pot. There is almost nothing that this little thing cannot conquer - rice, pasta, quinoa, chicken, beef, pork, boiled eggs and even desserts. Truly magical!! No wonder it is the latest trendy kitchen appliance.
What makes this Instant Pot Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo a go-to family favorite?
- One pot - Instant Pot <----- easy clean up
- Creamy and cheesy
- Easy to make
- Costs so much lesser than dining out
- Excellent for date nights
- Family favorite
Ingredients:
Butter – Salted / Unsalted / Cold / Room temperature – Anything works
Garlic – Finely chopped
Chicken stock – I used 33% reduced sodium chicken stock. If using regular sodium or no sodium then please adjust salt accordingly.
Heavy Cream – Only heavy cream and not half and half / milk.
Pasta – I used the classic fettuccini for this recipe like in creamy salmon pasta, but penne or Bow Tie works just as well.
Chicken – Boneless, skinless chicken thighs is always my go-to cut of meat, but boneless, skinless chicken breasts may be used instead.
Parmesan – Ain’t Alfredo without parmesan!
Salt and Pepper
This instant pot chicken fettuccini alfredo recipe has got to be one of my favorite Instant Pot Recipes here. What can I say? I'm a sucker for Fettuccine Alfredo. It is one of my favorite dishes (and both my kids, of course!) to order every time we dine at an Italian place. Have you tried my chicken broccoli alfredo?
How to cook chicken Alfredo in instant pot?
It is a simple two-step process -
Step-1: Heat instant pot to saute. When hot, add butter and let melt. Saute chopped garlic, just until it begins to get golden.
Step-2: Stir in chicken stock, salt and pepper (It is very important that you do not stir after this step).
Step-3: Pour in heavy cream.
Step-4: Add pasta and gently press to let the pasta submerge into the liquid.
Step-5: Place chicken evenly on top. Close and cook for 7 minutes on manual and then 7 minutes on warm.
Step-6: Add grated parmesan and stir.
Instant pot chicken Alfredo pasta for the win!!!
It is recommended to use dairy after the cooking time is done due to risk of curdling. However, when adopting a layering technique with the liquid (by adding water/stock in the bottom before adding the dairy on top), heavy cream can be used without any issues.
Generally, It is not recommended to add any dairy until the end of the cooking time as it has a tendency to curdle or give a BURN notice. But, layering the stock first and then the heavy cream on top, solves that problem in a pinch.
Generally, Alfredo sauce will thicken as it cools. Another commonly adapted technique is to stir in cubed cream cheese after the cook time, which gives a more creamier and luxurious pasta.
Chicken Alfredo is chicken cooked in creamy Alfredo sauce with/without the addition of pasta. However, fettuccini Alfredo is fettuccini pasta with Alfredo sauce with/without addition of protein like chicken or shrimp.
More Instant pot Pasta Recipes:
Healthy Instant Pot Pasta with Tomato Cream sauce
Instant Pot Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 and ½ cups chicken stock, refer notes (I used 33% less sodium)
- 1 teaspoon salt (refer notes) or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper or to taste
- 1 and ½ cups heavy cream
- 8 ounces fettuccine pasta, broken in half
- ¾ pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, chopped (about 3 thighs)
- ¾ cup grated parmesan cheese, or more if desired
Instructions
- Heat Instant pot to saute mode.
- When hot, add butter and let it melt. Add chopped garlic into the pot and saute for 20 to 30 seconds, until it begins to get golden.
- Press cancel and add chicken stock, salt and pepper. Give a good stir and please note that it is very important not to stir after this step.
- Pour in heavy cream (DO NOT STIR) and add fettuccini on top, gently pressing the pasta to be submerged into the liquid (DO NOT STIR).
- Place chicken on top in an even layer (DO NOT STIR).
- Close and lock lid (making sure the valve is in sealing position). Select manual cooking mode and set for 6 minutes (for al dente pasta ) or 7 minutes (for softer pasta).
- Once cooking time is done, let it be in warm mode for 7 minutes (or after 9 minutes for softer cooked pasta).
- Release pressure and open lid and stir in parmesan cheese. The pasta will be liquidy at this point but will thicken as it cools (do not cover).If you are using a smaller instant pot and liquid sprays out when trying to quick release, then simply turn valve back to seal and wait for few more minutes before trying again.
- Serve after few minutes with additional grated parmesan if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
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Patrick@looneyforfood.com
You can never go wrong with pasta in my opinion
Maria Doss
Agreed
Kelly @ Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats
Why oh why do I not have an instant pot yet?!! You have me sold now....I want to make this pasta for the family! So quick (and creamy and delicious). Thank you for the recipe Maria! Pinned!!
Maria Doss
Thank you Kelly:)
The Novice
My folks bought me a pressure cooker for my birthday, and it's amazing! I usually use it to cook soup and chicken pieces, so will have to try a pasta dish soon 🙂 The perfect excuse to make this recipe!
Maria Doss
Totally is, thanks dear:)
Ashika | Gardening Foodie
I really need to get an instant pot as well. I am loving this recipe Maria, and cooking it in the instant pot looks so quick and easy 🙂
Maria Doss
Sure is, thanks Ashika:)
Kim Lange
Pinned! It looks so divine Maria! I'm basically drooling right now. And I need me an instapot! Happy Weekend! 🙂
Maria Doss
Thank you so much Kim:)
Laura
Hi Maria,
2 questions: 1) Any adjustments needed if using a 6qt Instant Pot?
2) Could shrimp be substituted for chicken in this recipe, and if so, would the cook time need to be adjusted? I made your shrimp pasta in tomato cream sauce last week and it was DELICIOUS (first time using my Instant Pot- total success) so I have shrimp on my mind again. Thanks so much!
Maria Doss
Hi Laura,
1) This recipe will work perfectly in all sizes.
2) We have a recipe for Instant Pot shrimp Alfredo - https://www.kitchenathoskins.com/instant-pot-shrimp-alfredo/
You may sub fettuccini instead of bow tie.
Glad you loved the Shrimp pasta, enjoy:)