
It snowed today, and for the first time in I don’t know how long, we got girls up faster than you can say…….snow day (normally it’s quite a different story). They were dressed, hair combed and teeth brushed in 1o mins flat, and then it was out to make snowmen before school. If only everything was that fast. 🙂
But actually, cooking a tasty and satisfying meal can be when you cook with the Instant Pot.
Take this recipe for Creamy Instant Pot Tuscan Chicken Pasta for example. This is rich, luscious comfort food at its finest. And since this is pretty much a dump and start recipe, you get maximum deliciousness with a minimum amount of effort. I loooooove how you don’t have to precook the chicken. Just toss it in with the rest of the ingredients and you get moist, juicy and perfectly cooked chicken. Talk about a formula for success: one pot meal = easy weeknight supper!
You can double and even even triple this recipe without having to add any extra cooking time. Amaaaazing. Which makes it perfect for larger families, or when you decide to invite the neighbors over for an impromptu dinner party.
Oh, and Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta is also a great freezer meal. Check out the how to freeze and how to thaw sections below, and then add this dish to your next meal prep lineup.
This really is the perfect recipe for any time you’re having one of those let’s have an easy peasy onepot day meal day. Especially during those hectic after school moments when the kids need supper like yesterday, super easy Instant Pot recipes like this one are exactly what we all need. Am I right?
Instant Pot Tuscan Chicken Pasta Tools
KITCHEN TOOLS, UTENSILS & APPLIANCES NEEDED
This post contains affiliate links. For more information, check out my disclosure.
Here are some of the items you will need to make this recipe.
- 8 qt Instant Pot.
- I use and love the 8 qt, extra Instant Pot Insert & sealing ring.
- 3 qt Instant Pot or 6 qt Instant Pot depending on family size.
- Handy tongs.
- These awesome measuring jugs or cups.
- Measuring teaspoons.
- Sea Salt Flakes <= amazing salt that makes your food taste good.
- Fragrant spices.
- Bowls with covers.
- For storing your leftover food.
Ready to learn just how easy it is to make Instant Pot Tuscan Chicken Pasta? Then gather up your ingredients and let me show you…..
How to Make Instant Pot Tuscan Chicken Pasta
- Pour stock into the Instant Pot insert, then add the rest of the ingredients up to the best ever Sea Salt Flakes (not the cream cheese, Parmesan or spinach….that comes later).
- Close the lid and turn the vent to the sealing position. Set the Instant Pot to manual high pressure for 4 mins.
- Cook till done, then allow for a natural pressure release (NPR) of 5 mins before performing a quick release to let out remaining steam.
- Open lid, select the sauté function and stir in the cream cheese and Parmesan till it all melts in.
- Then switch off the heat, add the baby spinach and let it wilt before serving.
Tips for Making Instant Pot Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
- When you first open there will be a bit more liquid, but if you mix and it let stand for a bit, the liquid will be absorbed.
- And if you like your pasta with lots of sauce, add an extra half to one cup of stock or cream.
- Feel free to double or (even triple) the ingredients in this recipe to feed a crowd without having to adjust the cook time at all!
- You can sprinkle in even more Parmesan cheese, or add some grated mozzarella for extra cheesy goodness.
- Add in a few tablespoons of cooked bacon for some extra meatiness. YUM.
- No penne on hand? You can swap in the pasta of your choice (eg, fusilli, rigatoni, shell pasta).
Other Spices To Add In Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
This chicken pasta recipe has a few simple spices to make it oh so delicious. However, you can season it with a variety of other spices to suit your taste. Here are a few suggestions for you to try:
- Chili flakes.
- Paprika.
- Thyme.
- Rosemary.
- Onion powder.
How Long To Cook Pasta in the Instant Pot?
You will get perfectly cooked penne pasta in the Instant Pot when you set it for 4 mins on pressure cook high pressure / manual high pressure. Then allow for a NPR of 5mins before releasing the remaining steam.
Chef’s Tip: the cook time for the pasta remains the same whether you are making 8 ounces, 16 ounces, or 24 ounces of pasta.
How to Freeze Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
- Let the pasta cool down then transfer into these very handy Ziploc freezer bags.
- Squeeze out all the extra air and seal the bags.
- Label the bags and then lay them flat in the freezer.
- Store in the freezer for 3 months.
How to Thaw Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
-
- Remove from the freezer the night before needed and let it thaw in the fridge.
- For a faster thaw, you can add it into a microwave and thaw according to the microwave’s instructions.
- Transfer the thawed pasta into a bowl and reheat on low heat in a microwave.
- Or transfer the thawed pasta into a saucepan and reheat over low to medium heat.
What to Serve With Instant Pot Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
More Easy Instant Pot Pasta Recipes
Instant Pot Garlic Butter Spaghetti.
And check out the rest of my Instant Pot recipes.
Thank you for reading my Creamy Pressure Cooker Tuscan Chicken Pasta Recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, UK food blog.
Get The Creamy Instant Pot Tuscan Chicken Pasta Recipe:
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Instant Pot Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 cups (500ml) vegetable stock
- 1 cup (240ml) heavy whipping cream
- 3 cups (250g) penne or similar pasta
- 1 tsp garlic purée
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 lb (450g) uncooked chicken breast diced
- ½ cup sun dried tomatoes drained and chopped
- sea salt flakes to taste
- 8 oz (226g) cream cheese
- 2/3 cup (80g) Parmesan cheese grated
- 2 cups baby spinach optional
Instructions
- Pour stock into the Instant Pot insert, then add the rest of the ingredients up to the sea salt flakes.
- Close the lid and turn the vent to sealing position. Set the Instant Pot to manual high pressure for 4 mins.
- Cook till done, then allow for a natural pressure release (NPR) of 5 mins before performing a quick release to let out remaining steam.
- Open lid and change to sauté mode, stir in the cream cheese and Parmesan till melted.
- Switch of the heat, add the baby spinach and allow it to wilt before serving.
Notes
- When you first open there will be a bit more liquid, but if you mix and it let stand for a bit, the liquid will be absorbed.
- And if you like your pasta with lots of sauce, add an extra half to one cup of stock or cream.
- Feel free to double or (even triple) the ingredients in this recipe to feed a crowd without having to adjust the cook time at all!
- You can sprinkle in even more Parmesan cheese, or add some grated mozzarella for extra cheesy goodness.
- Add cooked bacon for some extra meatiness. YUM.
- No penne on hand? You can swap in the pasta of your choice (eg, fusilli, rigatoni, shell pasta).
Quick, easy and delicious. Subbed frozen plum tomatoes for sun dried and chicken broth for the veg stock. This one is a keeper!