Instant Pot Marry Me Chicken Pasta
A creamy and delicious pasta dish made in the Instant Pot, perfect for any family dinner.
Equipment
- Instant Pot Ensures quick cooking and easy cleanup.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth, divided
- 16 ounces uncooked penne pasta
- 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
- 0.5 teaspoon paprika
- 0.25 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 0.5 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and roughly chopped
- 1 cup fresh spinach
- Fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Set your Instant Pot to the sauté function. Once it reads “hot,” add the olive oil.
- Add the chicken pieces to the pot and cook until browned, about 2-3 minutes. This step helps to develop rich flavors.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Pour in ½ cup of chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot to enhance flavor.
- Add the remaining chicken broth and then the uncooked penne pasta. Make sure the pasta is submerged in the broth.
- Sprinkle the Italian seasoning, paprika, and pepper over the top. Do not stir, as this helps the pasta cook evenly.
- Close and lock the lid of the Instant Pot. Set it to manual high pressure and adjust the cooking time to 4 minutes. Ensure the pressure release valve is set to sealing.
- Once the cooking time is complete, carefully turn the pressure release valve to venting to release the pressure. Be cautious of the steam!
- Unlock the lid and give everything a good stir. This will mix all the flavors beautifully.
- Stir in the grated parmesan cheese until it melts into the pasta, creating a rich and creamy sauce.
- Add the heavy cream and mix well to incorporate the creaminess.
- Finally, stir in the spinach and chopped sun-dried tomatoes until everything is combined and the spinach wilts slightly.
- Serve hot, garnished with fresh basil for a lovely presentation.
Notes
For a lighter version, you can use half-and-half instead of heavy cream. Feel free to add other vegetables like bell peppers or zucchini for extra flavor and nutrition. No alcoholic drinks allowed, please substitute with a non-alcoholic option.