Instant Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta
Creamy Instant Pot penne pasta with seasoned chicken, broccoli, cream cheese, and Parmesan—ready in minutes for an easy one-pot dinner.
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoonsunsalted butter
- 2 teaspoonssmoked paprika regular paprika may be substituted
- 1 teaspoongarlic powder
- 1 teaspoononion powder
- 1 teaspoonmustard powder the dry or ground seasoning, not actual liquid mustard
- 1 teaspoonsalt or to taste
- 1 teaspoonground pepper or to taste
- 1 poundboneless skinless chicken breast diced into bite-sized pieces
- 1 poundpenne pasta dry, uncooked
- 4 cupsreduced sodium chicken broth
- 4 ouncesfull-fat cream cheese brick-style; not spreadable, whipped, lite, or fat-free
- 4 cupsfresh broccoli florets diced into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cupheavy cream half-and-half may be substituted but don’t use any lower fat percentage dairy
- 1/2 cupColby Jack cheese shredded
- 1/4 cupParmesan cheese plus more for garnishing if desired
- 1/2 teaspooncrushed red pepper flakes optional for garnishing
- Fresh basil optional for garnishing
Instructions
Instructions
- Turn a 6-quart (or 8-quart) Instant Pot to Sauté. Add 2 tablespoons unsalted butter and melt.
- While the butter melts, place 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon mustard powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon ground pepper into a large zip-top bag. Add 1 pound diced boneless skinless chicken breast, seal the bag, and shake to coat the chicken evenly with the spices.
- Add the seasoned chicken to the melted butter and sauté uncovered for 2 minutes, stirring and flipping frequently to lightly brown the pieces (the chicken will finish cooking under pressure).
- Add 1 pound dry penne pasta to the pot. Pour in 4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth and stir to combine, ensuring the pasta is mostly submerged.
- Secure the lid and set the valve to Sealed. Select High Pressure and set the cook time for 3 minutes. (It will take several minutes to come to pressure; the food cooks during the warm-up.)
- When the cook time ends, perform a quick release. Use caution—steam is very hot—and open the lid carefully.
- Set the Instant Pot to Sauté. Add 4 ounces full-fat brick-style cream cheese to the pot and push it into the pasta. Stir until the cream cheese begins to soften and incorporate, about 1–2 minutes.
- Turn the Instant Pot off. Add 4 cups fresh broccoli florets and stir to combine. Close the lid (no pressure) and let the pot sit, machine off, for 5 minutes to steam the broccoli.
- Open the lid. Add 1 cup heavy cream, ½ cup shredded Colby Jack cheese, and ¼ cup Parmesan cheese. Stir continuously until the cheeses melt and the sauce is smooth, about 1–2 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt or pepper if desired.
- Serve immediately and optionally garnish with additional Parmesan, ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, and fresh basil. Store leftovers airtight in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 4 months.
Equipment
- 1 (6-Quart) Instant Pot
Notes
In a very large skillet, melt the butter (or you can use 2 tablespoons olive oil instead), add the chicken, add the seasonings (or shake the chicken and seasonings all together in a ziplock beforehand like in the Instant Pot method), and saute over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, stirring and flipping the chicken intermittently to cook evenly. Allow it to rest in the skillet when it’s done.
While the chicken is sauteing, get started boiling the penne pasta separately in a pot of water and cook it according to package directions
In the last 3 minutes, add the broccoli florets.
Drain the water when the pasta isal dente.Reserve3 cups of pasta water. This is going to take the place of the chicken stock in the IP version.
Add the drained pasta and broccoli to the skillet with the chicken, add the cream cheese, heavy cream, Colby Jack, Parm, and stir to combine and
Allow the cheeses to melt.
Depending on how thin or thick you like your sauce, add the reserved pasta water, a little bit at a time, and stirring as you go.Tip– You will probably only use 1 to 2 cups, max.
Taste, make any necessary seasoning adjustments, garnish as desired, and serve!
While the chicken is sauteing, get started boiling the penne pasta separately in a pot of water and cook it according to package directions
In the last 3 minutes, add the broccoli florets.
Drain the water when the pasta isal dente.Reserve3 cups of pasta water. This is going to take the place of the chicken stock in the IP version.
Add the drained pasta and broccoli to the skillet with the chicken, add the cream cheese, heavy cream, Colby Jack, Parm, and stir to combine and
Allow the cheeses to melt.
Depending on how thin or thick you like your sauce, add the reserved pasta water, a little bit at a time, and stirring as you go.Tip– You will probably only use 1 to 2 cups, max.
Taste, make any necessary seasoning adjustments, garnish as desired, and serve!