This Cheesy Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti is a delicious easy meal that is perfect for weeknights. Make restaurant quality pasta all in one pot.
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I love making pasta in my electric pressure cooker. I’m sold, it works. There is no draining, awesome flavor, and it's seriously hands off.
First it was this Pressure Cooker White Cheddar Pasta, then it was these Instant Pot Garlic Noodles, and now this Chicken Spaghetti Pasta in the Instant Pot.
I came up with this recipe after realizing that most people added chicken to my other pasta recipes. It was genius and I needed to go on ahead and make an all inclusive meal. So I thank you all 🙂
So about this chicken spaghetti recipe...It has mushrooms, chicken, and cheese which provides so much flavor. There is some sautéing involved but for the most part, it’s a dump it in the pot kind of meal.
How to Make Chicken Spaghetti in a Pressure Cooker
For this recipe, I like start with the "More" Sauté function on my Instant Pot. I sauté my onions, mushrooms, and garlic in butter until those onions and mushrooms are nice and softened, about 4-5 minutes. I call this step "flavor releasing" and I think it’s pretty crucial for this recipe.
Once those veggies are nice and satueéd, I like to add my red bell pepper and dry seasonings. I give it a quick stir and then press “Cancel” on my Instant Pot.
I then add my cut up chicken breast and lay it across the bottom of the pot over the onions and mushrooms. I do not sauté the chicken in this step. Fact is, since it’s chicken breast, it could easily overcook if I chose to sauté and then pressure cook these small chunks. They will get completely cooked during the pressure cook cycle. Plus, satueéing chicken breast at this stage wouldn’t add much of anything to the flavor profile of this dish.
Add a little bit of salt and pepper to the chicken pieces. I like to use a pinch of salt and a couple of twist on my fresh black pepper mill.
Pour in your chicken broth and lay your pasta pieces on top in a fan like way. This will help with your noodles so they don’t stick. Lightly push the noodles down and try to get the liquid to cover them all. It’s ok if the noodles are not completely submerged in the liquid.
Cover, and cook on high pressure for 6 minutes. Once that time is complete, slowly move the valve over and quick release. Open and begin to stir. Add heavy cream and cheese and stir until the noodles are separated and cheese has melted.
Press "Cancel" on your Instant Pot and select "Sauté." Allow pasta dish to simmer for 3-5 minutes, stirring to ensure that pasta doesn't stick to the bottom and sauce thickens.
Notes about Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti Pasta
I’ve made this recipe in both my Instant Pot and Ninja Foodi and it’s worked well in both machines.
Some of your noodles will stick together after pressure cooking. You must stir like a champion as soon as you open that lid to make them break apart.
Some Instant Pot recipes that use heavy cream add the heavy cream before pressure cooking. It does work in some recipes and can and did work in this one. However, after testing it out both ways, I preferred to add the heavy cream in this recipe after pressure cooking.
Your pasta will be a little watery when you open it. I do recommend sautéing it for 3-5 minutes after you have added your heavy cream and cheese, remembering to stir so it doesn’t stick to the bottom. Your sauce will also thicken when it’s done cooking.
Other Pasta Recipes to Try:
Pin Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti for Later
Instant Pot Pasta Recipes
Looking for more Instant Pot Pasta Recipes? Try these out:
Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoon butter
- 1.5 lbs chicken breast cut into 1 inch pieces
- 8 oz baby bella mushrooms sliced
- 1 medium onion chopped
- ½ cup red bell pepper chopped
- 2 teaspoon garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon dry basil
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2.5 cups chicken broth
- 10 oz thin spaghetti broken in half
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups medium cheddar cheese shredded
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Select Sauté on your Instant Pot. Once Instant Pot says “HOT”, add your butter and melt it.
- Add onions, mushrooms, and garlic and stir. Cook until onions have softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add red bell pepper, seasoned salt, paprika, basil, red pepper flakes and stir. Press “Cancel” on Instant Pot.
- Lay chicken breast pieces in layer in the Instant Pot. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper. Pour in chicken broth. Spread spaghetti noodles in Instant Pot. Push down so it gets covered by liquid. Place lid on Instant Pot, ensuring that the valve is set to “Sealing.”
- Press "Pressure Cook" or "Manual" and select High Pressure for 6 minutes.
- Once timer is done, do a quick release by moving valve to “Venting”. Open lid and stir to loosen up noodles. Add heavy cream and cheese and continue to stir.
- Press “Cancel” and then select Sauté. Cook for about 3-5 minutes, stirring to thicken the sauce.
Video
Notes
Notes on Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti
- Some of your noodles will stick together after pressure cooking. You must stir like a champion as soon as you open that lid to make them break apart.
- Some Instant Pot recipes that use heavy cream add the heavy cream before pressure cooking. It does work in some recipes and can and did work in this one. However, after testing it out both ways, I preferred to add the heavy cream in this recipe afterwards.
- Your pasta will look watery when you open it. I do recommend sautéing it for 3-5 minutes after you have added all your ingredients, remembering to stir so it doesn’t stick to the bottom. Your sauce will also thicken when it’s done cooking.
Maggie says
Wow. That was incredibly good. Made it lower calorie by using less butter and cheese, and it was still excellent and tasted decadent. Thank you for this great recipe!
Natalie says
Cooked this tonight and it came out delicious. I omitted the mushrooms as none of us eat them. My over-the-top picky 7 year old even liked it! I'll be cooking this again soon!
Tanya says
Yay! So glad you liked it 🙂
JoyJ says
Very tasty, I will make it again. It was delicious and so easy to prepare. I'm not sure you are aware but the font in this comments section is extremely light gray and nearly impossible to read. If it were my blog/website, I would use a darker font.
Tanya says
Hi JoyJ, so glad you liked the recipe. You’re right about the text. That was the default that came with my site. I just changed it to black so it can be easier to read. Thanks for letting me know ?
Tanya says
Hi JoyJ, so glad you liked the recipe. You're right about the text. That was the default that came with my site. I just changed it to black so it can be easier to read. Thanks for letting me know 🙂
Diymom4 says
Hello I am making this as a type it looks wonderful thank you for your great ideas you have a new follower have a blessed day .
Tiffany says
This was great! I cheated a tad and used frozen bell peppers and onion mix because it was easier and less time consuming. The kids gobbled it up!
Tanya says
That's a great idea! Thank you. I love shortcuts in the kitchen, I'm saving your idea for the next time 🙂
Lynda says
I cooked up several bone-in chicken breasts to use for salads etc. I ended up with a ton of chicken and thought about freezing some of it and then, bam, light bulb.
I made this recipe but didn’t add the chicken to it. When it came to adding the cream and cheese I added my already cooked chicken, success!
Tanya says
Lynda, such a great way to use up leftover chicken. Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Kathy says
Delicious, yet simple meal to cook in the Indtant Pot. Made it tonight . My husband and kids really enjoyed it.
Tanya says
Awesome Kathy! So glad your family enjoyed it 🙂
Stephanie G says
Can Instant Pot recipes be used in the Ninja Foodi?
Tanya says
Yes, they can. I've made this recipe and a few others in both my Instant Pot and Ninja Foodi. Same cook time and measurements.
Susan says
I tried to make this recipe in foodie with same ingredients and I cant get my foodie to work on pressure cooker. Keeps telling me it needs more water. Have added some buy no change. Any ideas?
Tanya says
Hi Susan, It may be that you are having issues with sealing ring. I'd check to make sure it's completely in the lid properly. That could cause the machine to struggle to build pressure.
Sheri Boucher says
Made this for dinner. Easy to adjust for kids.
This is a keeper!
Brian Jones says
I've not cooked pasta in my Instant Pot yet, what a fun idea.
Cristie | Little Big H says
I'm always looking for easy week night meal so I can't wait try this. Looks delicious and I love that its nice and easy.
Jeannette says
I showed my husband this recipe and him AND my kids immediately asked me to make it!
Natalie says
Looks so delicious! I love chicken spaghetti! Perfect for dinner.
Tisha says
Love this is all done In one pot. The flavors will all marry together nicely!