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[mv_video key=”null” volume=”70″ aspectRatio=”16:9″ title=”Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Spaghetti” thumbnail=”https://mediavine-res.cloudinary.com/video/upload/ajddlhgq1g7qevkrtnu1.jpg” id=”39154″]Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Spaghetti is a flavor packed dinner the whole family will enjoy. The from scratch creamy sauce flavored with onions and peppers compliment the chicken and al dente spaghetti noodles perfectly. This Instant Pot pasta dish will be your new go to favorite!
Creamy Chicken Spaghetti- My newest Instant Pot Pasta dish!
If you are new around here, you probably don’t know.. but all you OG’s know, I love my pasta. I could eat pasta every night and never tire of it, I swear! The very first recipe I ever made in my Instant Pot was my Dump and Start Alfredo. Granted the recipe from then to now has been refined and perfected, but Alfredo was my Instant Pot’s maiden voyage.
I swear, I will never make pasta any other way now! Love how the noodles cook right in the sauce and really soak up all of the flavor.
My absolute favorite part though? I love the fact that I don’t have to sit and babysit a pot of boiling water. No more worrying about it boiling over, a little hand reaching up and touching it, or over cooking your pasta. Nope, nada, zilch.
A good rule of thumb for cooking pasta in your Instant Pot is this: divide the lowest number on the suggested cook time by half, then minus one minute. For recipes on my site, all cook times have been thoroughly tested so you can feel confident just cooking as the instructions state. ?
Creamy Chicken Spaghetti
So this past Tuesday night, I fed the kids dinner we hurried to the park so I could sneak a run in before the sun went down and it got cold. By the time we got home and put the kids to bed, I only had 30 minutes to make Dan and I dinner before This Is Us started.
I scoured my pantry and fridge and literally threw things into the Instant Pot that I had on hand. It. was. so. good. Like, lick your bowl good!
So good in fact, I made it again the next day and wrote down the recipe this time. ? This dish is mind-boggling good! I can not wait for you to try it!
How to make Creamy Chicken Spaghetti in the Instant Pot
So when I scoured my fridge and pantry for my thrown together meal this is what I came up with: pasta, chicken tenders, chicken broth, peppers, onions, cream cheese and shredded cheese.
I know, sounds like a disaster. But like I said earlier, It was so, lip smacking, good! Dan and I ate all 4 servings that I had made. Nope, no leftovers.
Best news yet, its a dump and start! just dump everything in and push start!
Layering is very important when cooking in the Instant Pot, so we will layer the ingredients starting with the broth and pasta. To help the pasta not stick together while cooking, criss cross the pasta in the pot. Place the chicken tenders onto the pasta.
Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
Dice an onion, and a couple of bell peppers and add them to the pot along with some dried minced garlic.
Look and all of those colors! As this dish is coming to pressure it lets off the most amazing smell!
Cook on manual HIGH for 3 minutes, NPR 6 minutes before quick releasing the pressure.
Once the pressure has completely released, take off the lid and remove the chicken from the pot. Give the spaghetti noodles a good stir. Some may be slightly stuck together, but they should stir apart easily.
Add chunks of cream cheese to the Instant Pot, return the lid to the Instant Pot and let everything chill for 5-10 minutes.
While the Instant Pot is hanging out, either shred or dice the chicken. I like to cut it into chunks.
Stir the Instant Pot to incorporate the cream cheese. Add some shredded cheddar cheese to finish off the dish! If you’d like the dish a little more saucy, add a splash of milk and incorporate that into the dish. I think its pretty perfect as is, though. My husband likes it saucier.
Creamy Chicken Spaghetti is absolutely delicious! I can not wait for you to try it!
Frequently Asked Questions About Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Spaghetti
Can I use different pasta in this Instant Pot meal?
Yes, you can substitute medium shells, macaroni or small round pasta salad noodles and cook this recipe following the same instructions.
Can I use frozen chicken tenders for this recipe?
Yes and no. ? Frozen chicken tenders take a few extra minutes to cook which means that the spaghetti would be overcooked. If you want to use frozen chicken tenders, I would suggest using linguine, ziti or penne pasta instead of the spaghetti. These pastas have a longer cook time which is more suitable for the frozen chicken tenders. If using frozen chicken and one of these suggested pastas, cook for 6 minutes on High Pressure with a 6 minute NPR.
Can I use chicken breasts instead of tenders in my Creamy Chicken Spaghetti?
If you only have chicken breasts, I would suggest slicing the chicken breast into 1 inch strips so they are ‘tender sized’ pieces. Follow the directions as written.
Can I half this recipe? I don’t need the whole batch!
Yes! Cook time stays the same.
YIELD: 8 SERVINGS
Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Spaghetti
(printable recipe below)
Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Spaghetti is a flavor packed dinner the whole family will enjoy. The from scratch creamy sauce flavored with onions and peppers compliment the chicken and al dente spaghetti noodles perfectly. This Instant Pot pasta dish will be your new go to favorite!
Ingredients
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 lb (16 oz) dry spaghetti noodles
- 6 chicken tenders
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 onion, diced (approx 1 cup)
- 2 bell peppers, diced (approx 1 1/2 cups)
- 2 tsp dried minced garlic
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Pour the chicken broth into the Instant Pot
- Break the spaghetti noodles in half and place in the chicken broth alternating the direction the noodles are laying.
- Set the chicken tenders on top of the pasta. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add the onion, bell peppers and minced garlic on top of the chicken.
- Cook on manual HIGH for 3 minutes, NPR 6 minutes before quick releasing the remaining pressure.
- Remove the cooked chicken from the pot. Give the pot a good stir.
- Cut the 8 ounces of cream cheese into cubes. Add the cream cheese cubes to the Instant Pot and replace the lid. Let it sit for 10 minutes.
- While the Instant Pot is resting, slice, dice or shred the chicken.
- Add the chicken to the Instant Pot once the 10 minutes rest period is over. Stir to incorporate the cream cheese.
- Stir in the shredded cheese and serve!
Notes
If you like your spaghetti a bit ‘saucier’ you can add in a splash of milk. I like it how it is written, my husband likes it a bit saucier. ?
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Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 lb 16 oz dry spaghetti noodles
- 6 chicken tenders
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 onion, diced (approx 1 cup)
- 2 bell peppers, diced (approx 1 1/2 cups)
- 2 tsp dried minced garlic
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Pour the chicken broth into the Instant Pot
- Break the spaghetti noodles in half and place in the chicken broth alternating the direction the noodles are laying.
- Set the chicken tenders on top of the pasta. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add the onion, bell peppers and minced garlic on top of the chicken.
- Cook on manual HIGH for 3 minutes, NPR 6 minutes before quick releasing the remaining pressure.
- Remove the cooked chicken from the pot. Give the pot a good stir.
- Cut the 8 ounces of cream cheese into cubes. Add the cream cheese cubes to the Instant Pot and replace the lid. Let it sit for 10 minutes.
- While the Instant Pot is resting, slice, dice or shred the chicken.
- Add the chicken to the Instant Pot once the 10 minutes rest period is over. Stir to incorporate the cream cheese.
- Stir in the shredded cheese and serve!
Notes
Hi Carley- You can find all of the amounts in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. Let me know if you have a hard time finding it!
Could you use zoodles instead? If so, how much would you decrease the liquids?
Hi Ashley- I wouldn’t recommend using zoodles with this recipe in the Instant Pot. I have tested cooking zoodles in the Instant Pot and they always turn to mush. I might suggest cooking the chicken with 1 cup of chicken broth along with the veggies in the Instant Pot (keeping the cook time the same), then add the cream cheese to thicken the sauce after everything is cooked. I would quickly sauté your zoodles on the stovetop and then serve the chicken and sauce overtop. I hope this helps!
Would it be too much to double this recipe if feeding a larger crowd?
Hi Kasey- you could definitely double this recipe. Double all ingredients, the cook time will stay the same. 🙂
I have an IP but just purchased a Ninja Foodi and wanted to try it. I added about another cup of broth and it came out great. Do you think I could freeze my leftovers? I’m a caregiver and any way to minimize my kitchen time would help.
HI Tim! I haven’t ever frozen this particular dish, you could definitely give it a try though!
Amazing! Just the way I like my chicken spaghetti but in a short amount of time. A very easy recipe to follow and it came out perfectly. I shredded my chicken so that I get pieces in every bite. Thank you so much.
Question… we are still very new to insta pot. Do you put all the ingredients in the pot, let it come to pressure, then cook it for an additional 3 minutes? I would love to make this but we’ve used our instapot 1 time and did not have much luck with it. Thanks!
Hi Devin! So here is what you’ll do: Add all of the ingredients to the pot (follow the directions on the order things go into the pot), lock the lid in place and turn the knob to sealing. You’ll set your Instant Pot to cook on Manual (or pressure cook if your Instant Pot doesn’t have a manual button!) for 3 minutes. You Instant Pot will beep and it will say ‘ON’. It will take roughly 10 minutes for the Instant Pot to come to pressure and then the Instant Pot’s timer will count down from 3. When the cook cycle is over the Instant Pot will beep. After it beeps let the Instant Pot sit for an additional 6 minutes. This is called the NPR, or natural pressure release. Once the Instant Pot has been resting for the full 6 minutes, then you will turn the knob to release the pressure. Then follow the rest of the directions! I hope this helps a bit! Reach out with any more questions that you have!