This Instant Pot Pesto Pasta is made using only 5 ingredients but is shockingly flavorful and satisfying. Simply combine everything in the instant pot and cook, for a quick 20-minute dinner.
This pasta dish is made with minimal ingredients, perfect for a lazy day or when time is tight. But don't be fooled into thinking it's bland!
The key lies in selecting inherently flavorful ingredients. Despite using only 5 simple ingredients, this dish bursts with deliciousness, like the one pot alfredo pasta recipe.
What makes this pesto pasta exceptional is its adaptability to your preferences. Looking for something lighter? Swap out half and half for milk.
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Why you'll love it?
- Mega flavorful!
- 5 ingredient dinner
- Dump and Cook
- Lighten it up by using milk instead
- Ready in 20 minutes
- Made without cream
Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and amounts.
- Pasta – I used penne pasta in this recipe, as with all our penne pasta recipes. However, you can also use any medium-sized pasta such as fusilli, farfalle, rigatoni, or even spaghetti.
- Pesto sauce – I prefer using store-bought pesto from Costco. Of course, you can use your favorite brand or make it homemade if you prefer.
- Half & Half - We use a full cup of half and half. For a richer dish, you can substitute heavy cream, or opt for a lighter version by using one cup of whole milk instead.
- Stock - I use 33% reduced sodium chicken stock. Adjust the salt if you are using regular sodium stock.
- Red pepper flakes - A dash of red pepper flakes adds a subtle heat that enhances the flavor, but feel free to omit it if you prefer.
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.
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Step 9 - Release pressure, open and give a good stir. Serve hot!
How to serve?
This basil pesto pasta is best enjoyed piping hot straight from the pressure cooker. It also pairs wonderfully with sides like oven-baked potato wedges and garlic bread, for a kid friendly meal.
Helpful tips
- Salt - The amount of salt needed may vary based on the type of stock and pesto sauce you use. I used 33% reduced sodium chicken stock and added 1 teaspoon of salt. However, feel free to adjust the salt to suit your taste preferences.
- Pasta - You can use other pasta shapes such as fusilli, farfalle, rigatoni, or spaghetti instead of penne.
- Stock - Use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock to keep it vegetarian.
More easy dinner recipes
Instant Pot Pesto Pasta
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup Half & half (use whole milk for a lighter version)
- 1 cup chicken or vegetable stock (I used 33% reduced sodium chicken stock)
- ½ cup basil pesto
- ¾ to 1 teaspoon salt, refer notes
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 8 ounces Penne pasta
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except the pasta into the instant pot. Stir well to combine.
- Place 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. But, don't stir after adding the pasta!
- Cook on manual for 5 minutes. Let it be in warm mode for an additional 5 to 6 minutes.
- Release pressure, give a good stir and serve!
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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Anitha
Thank you Hema for this quick fix recipe. Serves perfectly to box for school-lunch for my 3 kids. I tried with whole milk instead of heavy cream, and it came out just as creamy I'd wanted it to be.
Michael Reid
This looks great going to try this one