Savory Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti (Print View)
Tender chicken and spaghetti in a flavorful tomato sauce, made quickly in the Instant Pot for an easy weeknight dinner.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1.1 lbs), cut into bite-sized pieces
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
02 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
06 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
→ Pasta
07 - 8 oz uncooked spaghetti, broken in half
→ Liquids
08 - 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
→ Seasonings
09 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
10 - 1 teaspoon paprika
11 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
12 - Salt and black pepper to taste
→ Cheeses & Finishing
13 - 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (about 2 oz)
14 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley for garnish
# How to Make:
01 - Set Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Add a drizzle of oil, then sauté onion and bell pepper for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
02 - Add chicken pieces and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until starting to brown. Chicken does not need to be fully cooked through.
03 - Stir in tomato paste, Italian seasoning, paprika, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Season with salt and pepper.
04 - Pour in chicken broth and deglaze the pot, scraping any browned bits from the bottom.
05 - Add crushed tomatoes and spread spaghetti evenly over the top, pressing down lightly into liquid. Do not stir.
06 - Secure lid and set Instant Pot to Manual or Pressure Cook on high for 7 minutes.
07 - Allow natural pressure release for 5 minutes, then carefully perform quick release.
08 - Gently stir everything together. Add Parmesan cheese and stir until melted and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve garnished with parsley.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The pasta cooks directly in the sauce, absorbing all those savory flavors
- Everything happens in one pot, so cleanup is practically nonexistent
02 -
- Breaking spaghetti in half before adding it prevents tangling and makes serving much easier
- Press the pasta into the liquid but don't stir, this stops it from clumping together while cooking
03 -
- Don't skip deglazing the pot, those browned bits are pure flavor gold
- Serve with extra red pepper flakes on the side for heat lovers