This Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo is the perfect one-pot meal! Tender, juicy, aromatic chicken with perfectly cooked penne pasta.
This is the easiest way to make delicious Alfredo pasta and it takes only 10 minutes!
Like many other Instant Pot pasta recipes, The Instant Pot will do all the work for you!
All you have to do is to cook the chicken as the first step and then add the rest of the ingredients. Simple as that.
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Recipe Video
Why This Recipe Works
This pasta with chicken is a great meal for you and the entire family. Every time I make it, it’s such a universal crowd pleaser!
And speaking from the nutritionist side, the dish has a decent amount of protein from the chicken and the cheese, perfectly balanced with the carbs from the pasta.
Oftentimes if you were to order Chicken Alfredo at a restaurant, it was be extravagantly rich and creamy, filled with excess carbs and fat. But we took the classic dish and not only made it easier to prepare, but also a bit lighter and healthier.
It's also SO easy to make and so flexible! You can easily swap pasta shapes-- any type of dried pasta should work without needing to change the cook time.
The recipe can easily be doubled if you want to use the whole 16 oz. box of pasta, since it makes for great leftovers! (Even though it's so delicious, there might not be any leftover!) To double the recipe, double the quantity of each ingredient-- including the water, which is very important-- and add 2 minutes to the cook time.
Ingredients
Chicken – I use chicken breast, you can substitute thighs but it won’t turn out quite the same in my opinion. Chicken breasts are the best choice for this Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo recipe.
Pasta – you can use penne or any other type of short tubular pasta, like ziti.
Cream cheese – the secret shortcut ingredient to a perfect, creamy texture! You can also substitute heavy cream.
Parmesan cheese – make sure you have enough for the 1 cup in the sauce + additional for garnishing at the end!
How To Make
First, gather your ingredients:
Press saute and add olive oil.
Add chicken and saute until brown.
Add garlic powder, salt and pepper and stir well.
Next, add the pasta.
Add butter and water.
Mix well until the butter melts.
Close the lid and cook on high pressure for 6 minutes. Don't forget to set the valve to sealing if needed.
When cooking time is complete, do a quick pressure release.
Add cream cheese (or heavy cream) and parmesan cheese and stir well.
Adjust the seasoning to taste if needed.
That's all :]
Serve with parmesan and parsley on top and enjoy a delicious one-pot meal.
Recipe Notes
- Here’s a troubleshooting tip: if the sauce is too thin or watery after the last step, just simmer the pasta for an additional 3 minutes on sauté mode (no need to pressure cook).
- Want to substitute shrimp instead of chicken? Just follow this Instant Pot Shrimp Alfredo recipe instead.
How to Serve
This Instant Pot dish is perfect as is.
If you want to upgrade, feel free to sprinkle some freshly grated lemon zest and extra parmesan on top.
You can also check out What to Serve With Chicken Alfredo for more delicious ideas.
Recipe FAQs
How do I make sure my Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo doesn't get soggy?
If you are worried that the pasta may be too soggy, just count on me. I’ve made this recipe a few times and it always comes out perfectly.
The cooking time in this Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo recipe is the perfect amount of time to get a perfectly cooked al dente pasta.
Can I make this recipe gluten-free?
Yes! If you are gluten-sensitive, you can use gluten-free pasta. The cooking time will stay the same.
Can I make this recipe dairy-free?
Yes!
With a few tweaks… First, use oil instead of the butter. Instead of cream cheese, use a vegan substitute. And of course, use a vegan cheese instead of the parmesan.
More One-Pot Pasta Recipes
If you like this recipe, you should try the Instant Pot Spaghetti Bolognese or this pasta primavera. After you try those, here are more to choose from:
Instant Pot Tuscan Chicken Pasta
Instant Pot Crack Chicken Pasta
Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb chicken breasts boneless, skinless and cubed
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 box penne pasta 8 ounce
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup cream cheese
- 1 cup parmesan cheese shredded
Instructions
- Select saute and add olive oil.
- Add the chicken and cook until brown, stirring frequently.
- Add in garlic powder, salt and pepper and stir well.
- Add pasta, butter and water and stir well to combine.
- Close the lid and cook on high pressure for 6 minutes.
- When cooking time is complete, do a quick pressure release and open the lid.
- Add cream cheese (or heavy cream) and parmesan cheese and stir well.
- Serve and enjoy 🙂
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Nutrition
Pasta-lutely Perfect Instant Pot Cluckin' Alfredo
I make this often! One of my very favorite instant pot recipes
I always sautee mushrooms with the chicken, and today I had a package of Boursin garlic herb cheese, so I added that and 1/2 c heavy cream. Will ALWAYS make it this way now! Absolutely delicious
I LOVE this recipe! I usually have everything I need for it in the house. It's super fast, delicious and easy.
I've made both the cream cheese and heavy cream version and I like them the same. I often add mushrooms 🙂