Savory Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti (Printable Version)
Tender chicken and spaghetti in flavorful tomato sauce, made quickly in the Instant Pot for easy weeknight dining.
# 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
14 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
# Directions:
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.
# Top Tips:
01 -
- The pasta cooks directly in the sauce absorbing all those savory tomato flavors while staying perfectly al dente
- One pot means virtually zero cleanup leaving you more time to actually enjoy dinner
02 -
- The sauce might look a little thin right after pressure cooking but give it a few minutes and it will thicken up beautifully
- Never skip the deglazing step—those browned bits on the bottom prevent the burn warning and add incredible depth
03 -
- Chicken thighs work beautifully here and stay extra juicy if you prefer dark meat
- Breaking the spaghetti in half instead of thirds makes it easier to stir without making a mess