Jaclyn from Cooking Classy
A must try pasta recipe! If you haven’t broken open that Instant Pot then now is the time! This Instant Pot Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta is one of the tastiest things to make in your instant pot, and it’s so EASY!
It’s deliciously creamy, amazingly hearty and just perfectly satisfying. This is my kind of comfort food!
Image from Cooking Classy
One Pot Pasta Recipe
I love that with this recipe you are throwing all of the ingredients into one pot. Everything goes into the Instant Pot and there’s no sautéing beforehand. About 2/3 of the ingredients are added at the beginning then you’ll add the remaining 1/3 at the end.
Ingredients for Tuscan Chicken Pasta
- Low-sodium chicken broth
- Sun dried tomatoes in oil
- Italian seasoning
- Garlic
- Chicken breasts
- Campanelle pasta
- Baby spinach
- Light cream cheese (regular works too)
- Parmesan
- Fresh basil
- Salt and pepper
Image from Cooking Classy
How to Make this Pasta Recipe
First you’ll start by stirring together the chicken broth, sun dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, garlic, salt and pepper in an instant pot insert.
Image from Cooking Classy
Then mix in diced raw chicken and dry uncooked noodles. Cover and seal, make sure valve is set to “sealing” position. Set to “manual” and select 5 minutes.
Image from Cooking Classy
Once time is up select “cancel” then use the quick release method to release pressure. Wait for steaming to stop from valve then open Instant Pot.
Image from Cooking Classy
Stir in spinach, cream cheese and Parmesan. Then let mixture rest for about 5 – 10 minutes.
Image from Cooking Classy
The sauce will be very runny at first but the longer you let it rest the more it will thicken and become creamy.
Image from Cooking Classy
Substitutes for this Tuscan Chicken Pasta Recipe
- Frozen thawed and drained spinach can replace fresh.
- Regular cream cheese will work in place of light.
- If you can’t find campanelle pasta you could substitute another kind of bite size pasta such as cavatappi, bow-tie or penne.
- Garlic powder could replace fresh, I’d go with about 3/4 tsp.
- If you don’t want to buy fresh basil then use 1 tsp dried, add it along with Italian seasoning.
Image from Cooking Classy
Recipe
Servings: 6
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 (32 oz) carton low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 cup oil packed sun dried tomatoes with herbs, drained and dab excess oil off with paper towels, chopped
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 12 oz uncooked campanelle pasta
- 5 oz fresh baby spinach
- 1 (8 oz) pkg. light cream cheese, cut into cubes and softened
- 1 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese (use fresh shredded)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
Directions
- In an instant pot insert stir together broth, tomatoes, Italian seasoning, garlic, 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper (season with more at the end if needed).Stir in chicken and pasta (and try to submerge down into broth).
- Secure the lid in place, be sure pressure valve is set to “sealing” position. Select the “manual” setting or high pressure and set to 5 minutes.
- After the time is up select “cancel” then use the quick release method to release pressure – which is to carefully turn the valve to “venting” position and step back as steam will release.
- Once it stops sputtering open lid and immediately stir noodles to separate then stir in spinach, light cream cheese and Parmesan.
- Toss well. Let rest for about 5 – 10 minutes to thicken (it will seem like soup at first but as it rests and cools it will thicken right up).
- Toss in basil just before serving and serve warm (you can also garnish with a few diced sun dried tomatoes if desired).
- Recipe source: adapted from Betty Crocker with some changes.
