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    Popular » Recipes » Instant Pot

    Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: Sep 7, 2021 by Dee

    This Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti recipe made with chicken breasts, spaghetti noodles and cheddar cheese is creamy and delicious. Your whole family will love this cheesy pasta dish, and it's perfect for an easy weeknight dinner! via @meamel

    This Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti recipe made with chicken breasts, spaghetti noodles and cheddar cheese is creamy and delicious. Your whole family will love this cheesy pasta dish, and it's perfect for an easy weeknight dinner!

    Jump to Recipe -
    instant pot chicken spaghetti on a plate with salad and cheddar cheese and pressure cooker in background
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Creamy Chicken Spaghetti in the Instant Pot
    • Cooking Time
    • Variations
    • How to Store
    • Recipe
    • Reviews

    If you like classic cheesy chicken spaghetti, you're going to love this quick and super easy Instant Pot recipe. Creamy chicken spaghetti is a lot like the baked chicken casserole, but it cooks all in one pot for easy clean-up.

    Unlike my Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta, there's no tomato sauce or marinara sauce in this recipe. I use diced tomatoes, heavy cream and lots of cheese.

    I also updated the recipe with instructions to make it with cream of chicken soup and sour cream. This version is perfect when you don't have cream on hand, but you still get a delicious rich, creamy sauce.

    Ingredients

    You only need a few simple ingredients to make easy instant pot chicken spaghetti. Chances are, you already have most of them in your refrigerator or pantry:

    • Chicken breasts -- boneless, skinless
    • Spaghetti noodles -- thin or regular
    • Diced tomatoes -- canned
    • Chicken broth
    • Heavy cream -- or 1 can cream of chicken soup and ½ cup sour cream
    • Cheddar cheese -- or cheddar blend or colby
    • Olive oil -- or vegetable oil or butter
    • sea salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, minced onions, garlic powder, Italian seasoning

    How to Make Creamy Chicken Spaghetti in the Instant Pot

    First, cut up your chicken into roughly 1 ½-inch pieces. Then, add olive oil to the bottom of the pot, and when it's hot, sauté the chicken on saute mode for just a couple of minutes in the Instant Pot.

    You don't want to cook the meat completely. Just cook until it's no longer pink.

    Season the meat as it cooks. If you want, you can save some of the spices to add to the different layers. I like to measure out the seasonings in a small bowl and add some as I go along.

    cook cubed chicken breast in instant pot

    Next, turn the pot off, making sure there isn't any meat sticking to the bottom of the pot. You can add a little bit of the chicken broth to deglaze the bottom of the pot if you need to.

    Break up the spaghetti noodles in half. Then, layer them in a criss-cross pattern on top of the chicken.

    I used thin spaghetti for this recipe, and it worked really well. It doesn't take as long to cook, and it was perfectly done. If you only have regular spaghetti, it's fine to use that.

    uncooked dry spaghetti noodles layered in instant pot

    Now, pour chicken broth all over the noodles. Press down with a spatula to get the noodles as covered with broth as you can.

    Then, pour the canned diced tomatoes over the noodles. Spread them out to cover the noodles, but don't stir! You'll do that after pressure cooking.

    Here's how everything looks. If you are using cream of chicken soup, spoon it on top of the tomatoes, but don't stir! This helps to avoid the burn notice.

    diced tomatoes over spaghetti noodles in pressure cooker

    Cooking Time

    Now, put the lid on the electric pressure cooker, and pressure cook for 4 minutes on high pressure. The pot will take a few minutes to reach pressure.

    Total cook time may vary with individual pressure cookers.

    After the pasta is done pressure cooking, do a quick release. I never have trouble with liquids spraying out in my 8 quart, which is what I'm using here.

    If you're using a 6 quart or liquid does start spraying, you can do a gradual quick release to prevent a mess all over your kitchen. Never do a natural release with pasta, as it will become mushy.

    cheese and cream with pasta in instant pot

    Then, give the spaghetti a good stir, and keep stirring to remove any clumps of spaghetti that may have gotten stuck together. If you're using thin spaghetti, it breaks up very easily.

    Add the heavy cream and 1 cup of cheese at a time. Keep stirring until it's all nice and melted. It may look soupy, but believe me, the liquid gets absorbed as it sits.

    If you are using sour cream, add it instead of the heavy cream. Then, add the cheese. The cheesy sauce will be thicker than if you are using the cream.

    chicken spaghetti with parsley and tomatoes and bacon on a serving spoon over pressure cooker

    This cheesy chicken pasta is absolutely delicious. It's creamy, flavorful and definitely comfort food.

    So, what to serve with chicken spaghetti? All you need is a simple side salad, dinner rolls or maybe steamed broccoli.

    Noodle lovers, this one's for you! This creamy spaghetti is already a family favorite and one of my family's favorite Instant Pot pasta recipes! We absolutely love this chicken dinner, and I hope you do too!

    Variations

    There are so many flavorful substitutions to this easy chicken spaghetti recipe. Use leftover rotisserie chicken to save time or chicken tenders instead of chicken breasts.

    Throw in some chopped bacon for extra flavor. Add froze slightly thawed peas or chopped broccoli for a one pot meal.

    Make it Mexican by substituting Rotel for the diced tomatoes and using Mexican blend cheese or pepper jack instead of cheddar.

    You can also add more cheese if you want this easy meal even cheesier. Just add it one cup at a time for easier mixing. If you have a Duo Crisp or crisp lid or a Ninja Foodi, you can layer cheese on top and broil it. Yum!

    close up of cheesy chicken spaghetti noodles

    How to Store

    This chicken pasta recipe makes a lot of food, which is a good thing when you want leftovers for later. Store leftover chicken spaghetti in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

    It should keep well for about 4 days. To reheat, place it in a casserole dish, top the spaghetti with cheese, and bake it. You've got a whole different dinner that even picky eaters love!

    Make this cheesy chicken spaghetti recipe a freezer meal -- Freeze leftover chicken spaghetti in freezer bags or freezer safe containers for up to 3 months. Or, transfer cooled, cooked cheesy spaghetti to a freezer safe container or individual gallon freezer bags.

    Perfect for sharing with friends and family or for meal prep!

    Recipe

    instant pot chicken spaghetti on a plate topped with parsley

    Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti

    Published by Dee
    This Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti recipe made with chicken breasts, spaghetti noodles and cheddar cheese is creamy and delicious. Your whole family will love this cheesy pasta dish, and it's perfect for an easy weeknight dinner!
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Recipe Share by Email
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    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 4 mins
    pressure time 10 mins
    Total Time 29 mins
    Course Main
    Cuisine American
    Servings 10
    Calories 528 kcal

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil or vegetable oil
    • 1.5 pounds chicken breast cut into 1.5 inch pieces
    • 1 tablespoon dried minced onions
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • 16 ounces thin spaghetti noodles broken in half -- 1 regular box
    • 32 ounces low sodium chicken broth 4 cups
    • 15 ounces petite diced tomatoes 1 can, undrained
    • 1 cup heavy cream
    • 3 cups grated Colby Jack Cheese or cheddar. Use more if you want
    • cooked chopped bacon (optional)

    Instructions
     

    • Hit Sauté on the Instant Pot, and when it reads Hot, add the oil. Then add chicken, and season with dried onions, sea salt, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, paprika and pepper, and cook until no longer pink, stirring frequently
    • Hit Cancel, make sure no meat is stuck to bottom of pot, and layer spaghetti noodles in criss cross pattern over chicken
    • Pour chicken broth over noodles, press down with spatula to cover with liquid, and add diced tomatoes over pasta. Do not stir! Place lid on pot, make sure valve is on sealing position, and cook for 4 minutes. Pot will take a few minutes to pressurize. When pot beeps, do quick release or gradual release, then wait for pin to drop and open lid carefully
    • Stir well, then pour in heavy cream, and gradually add 1 cup of cheese at a time, stirring until fully blended. Add bacon pieces if desired, and allow to sit and absorb some of the liquid before serving.

    Notes

    Recipe was made in 8-quart Instant Pot pressure cooker, but can be made in a 6 quart without changing amounts.
    Thin spaghetti (Barilla) works best here, but if using regular spaghetti, cook for 5 minutes or half the time recommended on box.
    If spaghetti sticks together, stir until it loosens up. There will be a lot of liquid, but sauce will thicken up as it cools.
    Use 1 can of cream of chicken soup and ½ cup of sour cream instead of the heavy cream. Add the chicken soup over tomatoes before pressure cooking (don't stir) and stir in sour cream after pressure cooking.

    Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 528kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 33gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 114mgSodium: 646mgPotassium: 635mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 905IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 322mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate it! Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!

    For more easy Instant Pot recipes and other delicious easy recipes, be sure to sign up for the weekly newsletter!

    Don't forget to follow me on social media and share this chicken spaghetti Instant Pot recipe if you like it as much as we do!

    Recipe originally published in 2020 and updated in 2021

    bowl of instant pot chicken spaghetti with bacon and parsley and cheese on the table
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    More Recipes made in the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

    • Instant Pot Kraft Mac and Cheese
    • Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
    • Instant Pot Turkey Stock
    • Best Instant Pot Baked Ziti

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. James says

      September 15, 2020 at 11:43 am

      Made this for dinner last night. What a hit. Kids ate it all up. They asked to have again this week! Dad loved it too!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        September 15, 2020 at 3:32 pm

        You made my day, James! Thank you so much!

    2. Ileana says

      September 08, 2020 at 8:29 pm

      I made this for dinner tonight, and it was a complete hit! I loved how easy it was to make. It was also so cheesy! Can’t wait to have it for leftovers!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        September 08, 2020 at 8:58 pm

        Yea! So glad you enjoyed the spaghetti -- Thanks for the wonderful review!

    3. Sandra says

      September 08, 2020 at 1:44 pm

      This is such a perfect addition to our weeknight favorites!! So good!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        September 08, 2020 at 9:01 pm

        Thank you so much, Sandra. I'm glad you liked it!

    4. Sara Welch says

      September 07, 2020 at 2:40 pm

      Wow! Another great recipe for my Instant Pot! Adding this to my dinner line up for the week; looks divine!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        September 12, 2020 at 1:40 pm

        Thank you, Sara! Hope you enjoy the spaghetti!

    5. Suzy says

      September 04, 2020 at 4:07 pm

      Love how easily this cooks up in the instant pot! So good!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        September 08, 2020 at 11:57 am

        Thanks so much,Suzy! Glad you like it!

    6. Toni Dash says

      September 04, 2020 at 8:42 am

      This is such a perfect meal for weeknights! A great addition to our list!5 stars

      Reply
    7. Erin says

      September 03, 2020 at 7:16 pm

      This Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti is seriously making me hungry!5 stars

      Reply
    8. Amanda says

      September 03, 2020 at 3:33 pm

      I cannot wait to use my instant pot for this, it looks so amazing!

      Reply
    9. Beth says

      September 03, 2020 at 7:14 am

      Oh my goodness does this look delicious! My husband and son are going to eat this up. I can't wait to make this!5 stars

      Reply

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    I’m the blogger, chief cook, recipe developer and photographer behind Meatloaf and Melodrama. I absolutely love to create easy, budget-friendly, homemade meals and treats for my family. I also love to think of new ways to repurpose leftovers so that my family will actually eat them!

    More about me →

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