Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta

by Gayle on Jan 31, 2022 (updated Apr 2, 2023) 8 comments »

Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta is a garlicky, cheesy one-pot pasta recipe that’s perfect for busy weeknights. Serve with a side salad or a loaf of garlic bread for a full meal!

Instant Pot creamy chicken pasta on a white plate with a fork.

This Instant Pot chicken pasta is creamy, cheesy, and packed with garlic flavor. Best of all, it’s made in just one pot — your Instant Pot!

If you’ve not yet purchased an Instant Pot and are wondering whether it’s worth the hype, it definitely is. Instant Pot pasta recipes like this one are quick and easy to make, plus you can make a big batch of something and have planned leftovers to enjoy for lunch the following day.

This particular Instant Pot recipe features creamy chicken pasta in a white sauce. For a simple weeknight meal, I like to pair the pasta with a side salad, roasted broccoli, or even a loaf of garlic bread.

Instant Pot creamy chicken pasta would also be a great meal to prepare when you have company over. Everyone loves the cheesy white pasta sauce!

Overhead view of two plates of creamy garlic chicken pasta, garnished with fresh parsley.

Ingredients for Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta

I made the creamy garlic chicken pasta with just a handful of basic ingredients. I typically have most of them in the pantry or fridge, so this pasta recipe comes in handy when I don’t want to dirty a lot of pots and pans for dinner.

Here’s everything you’ll need to make the one-pot creamy chicken pasta:

Olive oil
Chicken breasts
Spices (salt, pepper, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, paprika)
Onion
Chicken broth
Cavatappi pasta
Heavy cream
Cream cheese
Parmesan cheese

Two plates of Instant Pot creamy chicken pasta in white sauce, with Instant Pot in background.

How to Make Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta

Whether you just bought an Instant Pot or you’ve been cooking with on for years, this creamy chicken pasta in white sauce is pretty much impossible to mess up!

Here’s a look at how the pasta is made:

Set the Instant Pot to ‘saute.’ Once the pot is hot, add olive oil.
Add cubed chicken and season.
Add onion and sauté just until the chicken starts to brown.
Press the ‘cancel’ button on Instant Pot.
Add the chicken broth and the uncooked pasta to the pot and stir.
Cover, place into lock position and make sure the valve is in the ‘sealing’ position. Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes.
When the timer goes off, turn off the Instant Pot and do a quick release.
Remove the lid and stir in the heavy cream, cream cheese, and Parmesan cheese.
Let sit for several minutes to thicken and then serve.

Overhead view of a plate of Instant Pot creamy chicken pasta.

Can I Use Another Type of Pasta?

Yes! Any short, sturdy pasta shape will work for this recipe. Rotini, rigatoni, or penne should also work, but may need to increase the amount of chicken broth by 1/2 cup.

Can I Add Vegetables to the Pasta?

Most likely, yes. However, I’ve only made the Instant Pot creamy chicken pasta recipe as written, so I can’t offer advice on how long or what type of vegetables can be added to the pot.

Can This Recipe Be Made in Advance?

Yes, but like all pasta recipes it tastes best right after it’s done cooking. However, leftovers are perfect for lunch the next day.

Whether you reheat the creamy chicken pasta in the microwave or on the stovetop, you may want to add a splash or broth or cream to prevent it from drying out.

Close up view of a plate of creamy garlic chicken pasta with a fork.

Tips for Making Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta

I recommend using garlic powder and not fresh garlic in this recipe. Garlic powder imparts more flavor and there’s no risk of it burning in the Instant Pot.
I recommend using a 6-quart or larger Instant Pot to make this pasta.
To make just the pasta in white sauce, you can omit the chicken entirely.