Chicken
Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo Recipe
Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo Recipe – delicious creamy chicken alfredo right from the Instant Pot for almost no cleanup! Quick
- Serves 4
- Prep 10 minutes
- Cook 15 minutes
- Total 25 minutes
At Ajpal, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. My goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.
Quick Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo
This alfredo is super simple, and designed to be quick from start, easy to clean up, and full of flavor.
We love making one pot dishes – and while I thought it sounded weird originally, I am always blown away by how delicious pasta comes out in an instant pot.
Cooking the pasta in the Instant Pot with the alfredo sauce helps the sauce emulsify, and keeps it creamy, velvety, and delicious – similar to our Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs.
Complete your easy dinner with some Texas toast, garlic knots, Pan Fried Asparagus, Cherry Danish Cheesecake Bars, or Easy Apple Sopapilla Cheesecake!
To see our web story for this recipe, click here.
What Chicken To Use
This recipe calls for chicken breast, but you can also use leftover chicken, or pulled rotisserie chicken.
Cut chicken breasts into 2″ chunks, and remove any fat or gristle.
If you prefer dark meat, you can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 2″ chunks.
Cooking Pasta In An Instant Pot
After cooking the chicken, add the chicken stock, heavy cream, dried pasta, and salt.
Snap dry pasta in half.
Add the lid to the Instant Pot and ensure the valve is in the sealing position.
Don’t stir pasta – it helps the texture and will come out better without stirring.
Set the timer for 5 minutes.
When the Instant Pot has finished cooking, release the pressure manually by switching the valve to the “venting” position. Be careful– the valve will steam and may splatter.
FAQs
This recipe can be kept in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to four days.
Yes! You can use frozen chicken breasts, but increase the pressure cooking time to 10-12 minutes instead of 8 minutes for fresh chicken. The Instant Pot will take longer to come to pressure, but the cooking process remains the same.
Yes! Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work well and tend to be juicier. Keep the cooking time the same (8 minutes on high pressure).
No! The pasta cooks directly in the Instant Pot with the sauce and absorbs the flavors. Make sure it’s fully submerged in liquid for even cooking.
Yes! You can substitute with half-and-half, whole milk, or a mix of milk and cream cheese for a lighter version. If using milk, add a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch + 2 tablespoons water) to help thicken the sauce.
Dairy can curdle under high heat. To prevent this:
Add heavy cream after pressure cooking, not before.
Stir in the cheese at the end, off heat.
Yes! Use gluten-free pasta, but be aware that some gluten-free varieties can become mushy. Reduce the cooking time by 1-2 minutes and do a quick release to prevent overcooking.
Yes! Add broccoli, spinach, mushrooms, or peas after pressure cooking. Use the residual heat to soften them without overcooking
Reheat on the stove or microwave with a splash of milk or broth to bring back the creamy texture. The sauce thickens as it cools, so adding liquid helps loosen it up.
Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo is best served fresh, but you can store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. Avoid freezing, as the cream-based sauce can separate when thawed.
Yes! If using rotisserie or pre-cooked chicken, skip pressure cooking the chicken and simply stir it in after cooking the pasta to warm it up.
Yes! Substitute the pasta with zucchini noodles (zoodles), spaghetti squash, or shirataki noodles, and reduce the broth slightly to avoid excess liquid.
What to Serve With Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo
This easy pasta pairs perfectly with lots of dishes – but we love to serve creamy, rich pastas with easy vegetable dishesthat don’t weigh you down but deliver on flavor.
We’re listing some of our favorites below:
Freezer Vegetable Soup
Southwest Cobb Salad with Creamy Cumin Dressing
Hamburger Cabbage Soup
The Best Moist Zucchini Bread Ever
Chile Relleno Skillet
To find our complete side dish recipe archive, please click here.
Other Instant Pot Recipes You’ll Love
If you love this delicious alfredo, be sure to check out some of our other favorite easy Instant Pot Recipes!
- Instant Pot Italian Shredded Beef
- Instant Pot Vegetable Soup Story
- The Best Instant Pot Roasted Turkey Breast Recipe
- The Best Easy Instant Pot Lobster Tails Recipe
- Easy Instant Pot Korean Beef Recipe
- Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Chicken and Rice
Try these delicious recipes next:
Mummy Hot Dogs
Easy Almond Cake
10 Cozy Fall Breakfast Recipes You’ll Make All Season
Carne Asada Nachos
For more of our favorite Instant Pot Recipes, be sure to check our complete index for The Best Easy Instant Pot Recipes!
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The recipe
Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo
Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo Recipe – delicious creamy chicken alfredo right from the Instant Pot for almost no cleanup!
- Serves 4
- Prep 10 minutes
- Cook 15 minutes
- Total 25 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound boneless (skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1” cubes)
- 1 tablespoon garlic (minced (about 3 cloves))
- 2 ½ cups chicken stock
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 8 ounces dried fettuccine pasta
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh Parsley (to garnish)
- Red pepper flakes (if desired)
Method
- 1
Heat the Instant Pot using the Saute-Normal function.
- 2
Add the olive oil and allow it to heat for 1-2 minutes.
- 3
Add the chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes, or until the chicken is browned on all sides.
- 4
Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute.
- 5
Next, add the chicken stock, heavy cream, dried pasta, and salt.
- 6
Add the lid to the Instant Pot and ensure the valve is in the sealing position.
- 7
Set the timer for 5 minutes. When the Instant Pot has finished cooking, release the pressure manually by switching the valve to the “venting” position. Be careful– the valve will steam and may splatter.
- 8
Return the Instant Pot to the Saute-Normal function.
- 9
Stir and cook until the liquid has reduced by half, about 5 minutes.
- 10
Add the parmesan and stir to combine.
- 11
Garnish with fresh parsley and red pepper flakes, if desired.
- 12
Serve immediately.
- 13
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days.
Notes
To save time, substitute the chicken breast for rotisserie chicken and skip steps one and two. I always recommend using low sodium chicken stock if you have it available. If you don’t have chicken stock, water would also work. I highly recommend using heavy cream in this recipe. Milk will thin the alfredo sauce too much. Make sure to use a thick pasta in this recipe (such as fettuccine or tagliatelle)– thin pastas (such as angel hair) will become overcooked. Fresh Parmigiano Reggiano is a delicious splurge if you have it available! I recommend buying a block and grating it as needed for the most flavor.
Equipment
- 1 Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker, Warmer & Sterilizer, Includes App With Over 800 Recipes, Stainless Steel, 3 Quart
- 1 Herb Cutting Scissors – 5 blades
Nutrition
- Serving1 g
- Calories434 kcal
- Carbohydrates8 g
- Protein31 g
- Fat31 g
- Saturated Fat16 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat2 g
- Monounsaturated Fat11 g
- Trans Fat0.02 g
- Cholesterol140 mg
- Sodium874 mg
- Potassium651 mg
- Fiber0.04 g
- Sugar4 g
- Vitamin A879 IU
- Vitamin C1 mg
- Calcium56 mg
- Iron1 mg
Questions
How long can I keep chicken alfredo leftovers?
This recipe can be kept in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to four days.
Can I use frozen chicken in this recipe?
Yes! You can use frozen chicken breasts, but increase the pressure cooking time to 10-12 minutes instead of 8 minutes for fresh chicken. The Instant Pot will take longer to come to pressure, but the cooking process remains the same.
Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?
Yes! Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work well and tend to be juicier. Keep the cooking time the same ( 8 minutes on high pressure).
Do I need to cook the pasta separately?
No! The pasta cooks directly in the Instant Pot with the sauce and absorbs the flavors. Make sure it’s fully submerged in liquid for even cooking.
Can I make this recipe without heavy cream?
Yes! You can substitute with half-and-half, whole milk, or a mix of milk and cream cheese for a lighter version. If using milk, add a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch + 2 tablespoons water) to help thicken the sauce.
How do I prevent the sauce from curdling?
Dairy can curdle under high heat. To prevent this: Add heavy cream after pressure cooking, not before. Stir in the cheese at the end, off heat.
Can I make this dish gluten-free?
Yes! Use gluten-free pasta, but be aware that some gluten-free varieties can become mushy. Reduce the cooking time by 1-2 minutes and do a quick release to prevent overcooking.
Can I add vegetables to this dish?
Yes! Add broccoli, spinach, mushrooms, or peas after pressure cooking. Use the residual heat to soften them without overcooking
What’s the best way to reheat leftovers?
Reheat on the stove or microwave with a splash of milk or broth to bring back the creamy texture. The sauce thickens as it cools, so adding liquid helps loosen it up.
Can I make this ahead of time?
Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo is best served fresh, but you can store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. Avoid freezing, as the cream-based sauce can separate when thawed.
Can I use pre-cooked chicken?
Yes! If using rotisserie or pre-cooked chicken, skip pressure cooking the chicken and simply stir it in after cooking the pasta to warm it up.
Can I make this dish low-carb or keto-friendly?
Yes! Substitute the pasta with zucchini noodles (zoodles), spaghetti squash, or shirataki noodles, and reduce the broth slightly to avoid excess liquid.
