Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo (Printable)
Tender chicken and fettuccine in a rich parmesan garlic sauce, made quickly in the Instant Pot for an easy weeknight meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (approximately 14 ounces), cut into bite-size pieces
→ Pasta
02 - 12 ounces fettuccine or linguine, broken in half
→ Dairy
03 - 1 cup heavy cream
04 - 3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
05 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
→ Liquids and Aromatics
06 - 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Seasonings
08 - 1 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
10 - 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning (optional)
→ Garnish
11 - Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
12 - Extra parmesan cheese (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Set the Instant Pot to 'Sauté' mode. Melt the butter, then add the chicken pieces. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until just starting to turn golden. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds more.
02 - Cancel 'Sauté' mode. Pour in chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Add salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
03 - Layer the pasta over the chicken. Press lightly so the pasta is slightly submerged but do not stir.
04 - Seal the Instant Pot. Cook on 'Manual' or 'Pressure Cook' (high pressure) for 6 minutes.
05 - Carefully quick release the pressure. Open the lid, add the heavy cream and parmesan. Stir vigorously for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens and the pasta is fully coated and creamy.
06 - Adjust seasoning if needed. Serve immediately, garnished with chopped parsley and extra parmesan if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Restaurant quality creaminess without the constant stirring and watchful eye of traditional stovetop alfredo
- One pot means practically zero cleanup—a serious win after a long day
- The pasta cooks directly in the sauce, absorbing all that savory chicken flavor
02 -
- Do not stir before pressure cooking or the pasta may stick to the bottom and burn
- The sauce looks thin right after quick release but thickens beautifully as you stir in the cream
- Stirring vigorously for that full minute is what activates the starch and creates the luxurious texture
03 -
- Room temperature cream incorporates more smoothly into the hot pasta
- Grate your parmesan right before adding for the best melting results