This Instant Pot Chicken Pasta is a reader favorite! All the flavors of chicken parmesan are combined with pasta, to make the easiest instant pot meal, that is ready in under 30 minutes. So so good!
Breaded and fried chicken cutlets, smothered with a marinara sauce and then topped with a layer of gooey melted cheese, like the air fryer chicken parmesan is comfort food at its finest!
In this instant pot chicken pasta,I take all those flavors, and effortlessly toss in some pasta and cook in an instant pot for an easy one-pot dish.
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Why this recipe works?
Pasta water consists of starch granules, which thicken the sauce and acts as an emulsifier, resulting in a creamy consistency, that is much more efficient in coating the pasta, making the instant pot chicken pasta much tastier.
I add flavor to the store-bought marinara sauce with sauteed onion and garlic, and then cooking with the chicken, results in the pasta soaking up all those delicious flavors.
Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and amounts.
- Chicken - I like to use boneless, skinless thighs. They cook tender and succulent in the pressure cooker.
- Pasta - Any medium size pasta, like penne, fussili, farfalle or rigatoni, will work.
- Marinara sauce - My go to choice is Prego, tomato basil and garlic for it's sweet flavor.
- Cheeses - Shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheese are a classic when it comes to chicken parm.
- Olive oil - Adds authentic flavor and luxurious moisture to the instant pot chicken pasta.
How to make?
You can find full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
- Set the instant pot to saute mode. When hot, add olive oil.
- Saute chopped onion and minced garlic until it turns translucent.
- Press cancel, pour in water and marinara sauce.
- Add chicken, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
Tip: I find ¾ teaspoon salt to be perfect, for this instant pot chicken pasta recipe. However, feel free to adjust based on the type of marinara sauce used.
5 & 6. Stir all ingredients together, until well combined.
7 & 8. Add the pasta on top and gently press it into the sauce, using the back of a spoon, making sure that they are mostly immersed into the sauce.
Pro tip: Don't stir the pasta! Placing the pasta on top of the sauce will help prevent triggering the "Burn" warning. The sauce acts as a protective layer between the bottom of the pot and the pasta, reducing the risk of scorching.
9 & 10. Close instant pot and cook for 5 minutes on manual mode and then let it be in warm mode for 4 minutes.
11 & 12. Turn valve to vent and release all remaining pressure, open instant pot and sprinkle the mozzarella and parmesan on top. Close with the lid for 3 to 5 minutes, allowing the cheeses to melt. Stir instant pot chicken pasta to combine.
Pro tip: Give a good stir before serving! This allows the cheese to combine with the pasta, redistribute all ingredients, and bring the flavors together.
How to serve?
Cheesy pasta recipes are best served hot straight from the pressure cooker. I like to serve the instant pot chicken pasta with a slice of crusty bread and roasted veggies.
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Helpful tips
- Use any medium sized pasta instead of penne.
- Use boneless breasts instead of thighs.
- Adjust salt based on your taste and the type of marinara sauce used. I used Prego, tomato, basil and garlic and found ¾ teaspoon to be perfect in the instant pot chicken pasta.
More pasta recipes
Instant Pot Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 and ¼ cups marinara sauce I used Prego, tomato, basil and garlic
- ¾ cup water
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ to ¾ teaspooon salt, refer notes I used ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2-3 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite sized chunks
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- ½ cup grated mozzarella cheese
- 3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
- chopped parsley or basil, to garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Set Instant pot to saute setting. When hot, add olive oil and then chopped onion and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently for 1 to 2 minutes, or translucent.
- Press cancel and then add marinara sauce, water, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and chicken.Stir well to combine.
- Add the pasta on top and gently press it into the sauce, using the back of a spoon, making sure that they are mostly immersed into the sauce.Pro tip: Don't stir the pasta! Placing the pasta on top of the sauce will help prevent triggering the "Burn" warning. The sauce acts as a protective layer between the bottom of the pot and the pasta, reducing the risk of scorching.
- Close instant pot, making sure that the valve is set to sealing, and cook for 5 minutes on manual mode and then let it be in warm mode for 4 minutes.
- Turn valve to vent and release all remaining pressure, open instant pot and sprinkle the mozzarella and parmesan on top. Close with the lid for 3 to 5 minutes, allowing the cheeses to melt. Stir to combine.Pro tip: Give a good stir before serving! This allows the cheese to combine with the pasta, redistribute all ingredients, and bring the flavors together.
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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jeri lynn resnick-albala
my family loves his recipe and we've probably had it a dozen times. however we haven't eaten it for a couple months and I can't recall if I need to change the pasta sauce, water, or cooking time if I am using gluten free pasta (bionaturae fusilli, in this case). can you please help me with this? thank you so much. and thank you for this recipe!
Paula
This is one of my families favorite meals. We probably cook it once or twice a month.
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear! Wishing you a very happy holidays - Maria ♡
Kathleen Hansen
I made this tonight. Doubled meat, sauce and cheeses and spices. I like to have enough for another meal. It was delicious and they hope I make it again. I didn't have enough mozzarella and used what I have plus shredded Mexican cheese mix. It was very easy and a pleasure to make. I'm looking at your other recipes.
Maria Doss
Hi Kathleen, That sounds wonderful, glad you liked it! Happy Holidays:)
Kathleen Hansen
I passed the recipe on to someone else. We heated it up tonight and they loved it. It's great as a leftover too. 5 stars.
Tracy
Found this recipe and made it tonight. Was a big hit and super easy to make.. easy to follow directions.
Diane
I would like to try this recipe; however, I’m a little confused about a certain step. In step 3, it says to stir in the pasta but in the print recipe it says do not stir the pasta in with the other ingredients. Which is correct?
Maria Doss
Hi Dianne, Please follow the print recipe!
The original recipe was to stir pasta in with all other ingredients and some readers found that it resulted in the BURN notice. So, we changed the recipe accordingly, where the liquid is added and then pasta in placed on top without stirring.
We have missed to make the necessary changes in the blog post. Thanks for bringing it to our attention and so sorry for the confusion.
Maria
Diane
Thank you for the clarification! 🙂
christine harris
is this recipe made in a 6qt insta pot
Maria Doss
Hi Christina, This recipe has been tested in 3 quart and 8 quart instant pots. Maria
Bob
My kids and I really enjoyed this, thank you. I might try this with Italian Sausage next time, although the chicken thighs were delicious.
Maria Doss
Glad you loved it:)
Sarah
This was super easy and sooooo good!!
Question, can I freeze the left overs? How would you recommend I reheat if I freeze?
Lesley
Has anyone tried this recipe and left it on warm for an hour or so? I want to cook something for some friends for when they get back from holiday and not sure if this would keep warm ok or if it would go a bit stodgy. Any experience of this?
Maria Doss
Hi Lesley, If instant pot pasta is left on warm mode for an extended period of time, then it might tend to get more brown at bottom. So, we recommend not doing so! Maria
Jackie
Do you cook the pasta before hand or does it cook while in the instantpot?
Maria Doss
Hi Jackie, The pasta is added UNCOOKED in the recipe, Maria
Christina
Turned out delicious and I would definitely make it again! Next time though, I would probably double the batch because 3 servings wasn't that much for meal prep. I would also add more liquid to the pot because some of the noodles tasted a bit undercooked. But the ones that weren't undercooked tasted fabulous.
Emily
Anyone try this with Gluten Free Pasta?
Maria Doss
Hi Emily, This recipe is not tested for gluten free pasta and we do not have any readers try it as well - Maria
Marisa S.
I have cooked this multiple times for quite a while, it is beyond delicious & easy, one of my go to meals in the insta pot. Made exactly as directed, always comes out perfect. 10/10 recommend. Family loves it!
Maria Doss
Hi Marisa, that sounds wonderful! Wishing you a very happy new year, Maria
This recipe inspired me to use my Insta pot after having not touched it for two years. I am so glad I did! It was delicious.
This recipe inspired me to use my Insta pot after having not touched it for two years. I am so glad I did! It was delicious.
Maria Doss
That sounds wonderful, Maria
Jaime
Can I double the recipe?
Maria Doss
Hi Jamie, You could double the recipe if using a large instant pot (like 8-quart) otherwise, we would suggest not to! The pasta has a tendency to get overcooked and become too soft if using a smaller instant pot, Maria
Marta
Our favourite go to! My entire family loves this recipe. I make it every few weeks. I add about 8-9 chicken thighs (chunks), and a whole box of pasta. First few times I did it I burned it because I didn’t read the directions correctly and stirred. DO NOT STIR IN THE PASTA. Now I just gently press in the pasta into the liquid as you state and I personally put it on for 12 mins as I’m always suspicious of such low cooking times and it always comes out perfectly. We love this dish! Thank you for sharing.
Maria Doss
Glad to hear, have a great day hun – Maria
Linda
Soooo easy and delicious! Where was this Instant Pot when I was a working Mom? Delicious and easy recipe, will bevome one of my favourites for sure! Thanks!😊
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear! So glad you enjoyed it hun – Maria ♡
Angela
This was EXCELLENT according to my family! I unfortunately can not eat it due to a tomato allergy but the went back for seconds. Didn't have penne so used cavatappi. Used a spaghetti seasoning and an Italian blend cheese. Definitely a keeper!
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear! So glad your family love it – Maria ♡
Zeytinburnu Nakliye
It's a shame you don't have a donate button! I'd without a doubt donate to this superb blog!
I suppose for now i'll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account.
I look forward to fresh updates and will talk about this site with my Facebook group.
Chat soon!
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear – Maria ♡
Sammy
This is the best instant pot pasta recipe I've tried so far!
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear, so glad you loved it - Maria ♡