Savory Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti (Printable Version)
Tender chicken and spaghetti in savory tomato sauce, made quickly in one pot for easy weeknight comfort.
# Ingredient List:
→ 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
14 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley for garnish
# Step-by-Step Instructions:
01 - Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Add a drizzle of oil, then sauté the onion and bell pepper for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
02 - Add chicken pieces and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until starting to brown (they do 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 the liquid (do not stir).
06 - Secure the lid. Set Instant Pot to Manual or Pressure Cook on high for 7 minutes.
07 - Once cooking is complete, allow a natural pressure release for 5 minutes, then carefully do a 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.
# Tips from hearthlykitchen:
01 -
- The pasta cooks directly in the sauce, absorbing all those deep tomato flavors while the chicken stays impossibly tender
- Its one of those rare weeknight meals that tastes like you spent hours simmering it, but actually took 35 minutes start to finish
02 -
- The sauce might look slightly thin right after cooking but it will thicken considerably as it stands for a few minutes
- Breaking the spaghetti in half before adding it prevents uneven cooking and makes serving so much less messy
03 -
- Use the sauté function to reduce the sauce for a few minutes after pressure cooking if you prefer it thicker
- A splash of cream or half-and-half stirred in at the end makes it incredibly luxurious