Instant Pot Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo – One Pot Dish for Busy Weeknights!
Need a true one-pot meal idea using the Instant Pot?
What if I said you can make a homemade Fettuccine Alfredo meal at home in under 30 minutes with your Instant Pot pressure cooker?! IT’S TRUE, and one of my favorite Instant Pot hacks! I love that you can cook fettuccine noodles, meat, and sauce all together like this.
This quick idea uses simple ingredients and results in a cheesy garlic cream sauce that’ll turn into a comforting family favorite for sure! I love that you can use the sauté function on the Instant Pot to brown the meat first, then compile sauce and add in the fettuccine noodles. So easy!
Tips for making the best Instant Pot fettuccine alfredo:
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- You can use chicken breasts or chicken thighs for this recipe. I have tried it used both, and they both turned out great.
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- Make sure to use a spatula to scrape the bottom of the inner pot well after browning the chicken to avoid getting a burn notice from your Instant Pot.
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- Do a natural release on the pressure after the cooking time for at least 6-7 minutes or so, which means you leave it alone to release pressure on its own for a bit. If you try a quick release, the sauce could splatter everywhere.
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- The mixture may look a little watery at first after cooking, but stir in the parmesan cheese and it will thicken nicely as it cools!
Instant Pot Fettuccine Alfredo
yield: 4 SERVINGS
prep time: 15 MINUTES
cook time: 13 MINUTES
total time: 28 MINUTES
Your family will love this rich and comforting chicken & pasta dish with garlic cream sauce that's easily cooked together in your Instant Pot!
Ingredients
- 3-4 small raw chicken breasts (about 2 pounds)
- 1 tablespoons olive oil
- pinch of salt & pepper (for chicken)
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 lb dry fettuccine noodles
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Directions
1
Turn Instant Pot to sauté function and brown chicken for a couple of minutes on each side using the olive oil. Season with salt & pepper. Remove chicken and set aside.
2
Melt butter and sauté minced garlic, stirring the browned bits from chicken for a couple of minutes. Scrape the bottom of the pot well before continuing to avoid getting a burn notice from Instant Pot.
3
Whisk in the heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Add the salt and stir in the chicken broth.
4
Break the noodles in half and add to the pot. You can criss-cross them so they won't get stuck together while cooking.
5
Add chicken breasts back in.
6
Close lid and set to manual (high) for 6 minutes.
7
Let pressure natural release for about 7 minutes.
8
Remove lid, stir in Parmesan cheese. The sauce mixture will thicken as it cools.
9
Serve with chopped parsley or fresh basil, if desired. Enjoy!
I’ve made this easy weeknight meal idea a few times now. It’s my kids’ favorite pasta dish… they really LOVE it!
Making Fettuccine Alfredo in the Instant Pot ROCKS! You can’t beat just one pot to wash too! EASY and DELICIOUS! I usually steam a veggie like broccoli to serve with it as well.
Keep this meal in mind during busy weeknights to make life easier. 😊
My teammate Jenna LOVED this recipe! Here’s what she said :
“My kids were just asking for fettuccine alfredo for dinner, so this was perfect. I have never made it in the Instant Pot, but I will never make it without my Instant Pot again!
My favorite part (besides that the noodles go uncooked right into the pot) was that there was no need for three pans going at once, it all cooks together! Usually I am making the chicken in one pan, noodles in another, and a sauce in a third! Not only is this so much easier and quicker, but it tastes amazing. This whole recipe worked out beautifully!”
You have to try making homemade Instant Pot Mac & Cheese, too!
Do you have to use Heavy whipping cream? (I am on WW and that’s way toooo many points :))
i wonder if i can substitute for almond milk? Ill try it out..
I would gather that any other milk would work it would just change the thickness of the sauce.
Yes. Sometimes I use milk, half and half, and heavy whipping cream. I sub them all the time
That’s not going to make an alfredo sauce though…it’s going to be very watery and unappetizing. You could just have a smaller portion of the real thing.
Let us know. I’m anxious to hear how it goes!
You could use coconut milk in place of the cream also.
I sub evaporated fat free milk for heavy whipping cream all the time and it usually works out great!
Ok so I made it last night with fairlife milk 2% and it came out amazing works just as well as with heavy cream. This was also the first time ever using my instant pot it was awesome so fast!
Thanks for reporting back! That’s great news 👍🏻
Try fat free half and half
I agree with the half and half. I use that to make a garlic pasta and it usually turns out just as creamy as the heavy cream it originally calls for.
Just made this. I used 1/2 & 1/2. Not sure if that was the problem but when I removed the lid my liquid was curdled. It tasted fine, just didn’t look appealing Once I stirred in cheese and added fresh spinach and frozen broccoli it didn’t look as bad. I did doctor up the seasonings. Added red pepper flakes to chicken as I browned it. Also added a few dashes of Worchestershire Sauce to the cream. Husband liked it so its a keeper!
How’s WW working out for you? Would you that it is sustainable?
I use fat free 1/2 1/2. I think it works well instead of cream.
Thanks for the recipe! I am always looking for new ideas for my instant pot! Keep them coming! Going to put this on my menu for next week.
You’re welcome! Thanks Julie!
What, get outta here! Ok, I need an instant pot
I absolutely love mine. Wait til Black Friday to buy one. Walmart has a great deal on the them.
Ha yes you do!! ❤️
I finally caved and bought an Instant Pot a few weeks ago. For a long time I thought it would be just another kitchen appliance. I was SO, SO wrong. It has quickly become my favorite thing ever. I made boneless spare ribs last night in 12 minutes and my husband said they are the best ones I’ve ever made in 7 years. So glad to add this recipe to our arsenal as well! Thank you!
Do you have the recipe you could share?
Definitely. Here is the one I used. The one suggestion I would make is to maybe add some non-stick spray to the pan before you saute. I didn’t and they stuck a little bit but I was able to get them free after a few tugs.
https://www.hearthopeandhustle.com/easy-pressure-cooker-boneless-ribs/
Yum! Thanks for sharing 👍🏻
Thanks a bunch
That’s so great to hear and I agree! I’ve been using mine more and more! Spare ribs sound yummy 👍🏻
Thank you for this wonderful recipe. Can’t wait to make it! I would love to see more recipes for the pressure cooker.
Trying this recipe tonight!
I like fettuccine with shrimp or crawfish better. Good recipe!!
How do you cook it with instant pot? Or do you just add the sauted shrimp when the pasta is done? I made chicken Alfredo last week and my hubby wants shrimp next time.
A recipe I have, calls for a bag of frozen, cooked shrimp. You add the bag in with the pasta & broth (after sauteing the garlic) and set the timer for 7 minutes, and do a quick release. Then add the cream & parm cheese.
A tip for quick release so you don’t get steam scalded, is to put a dish towel over the release valve, then you can turn it and the towel catches all the steam!
Thank you, Mel 🙂 I’m such a scaredy cat when I first use my instant pot, I used wooden spoon (i still do) to turn the quick release knob, then ran out of the kitchen!
LOL, sounds like me
Thanks Mel!
Thank you. I wondered how long shrimp would take.
Oh my gosh this looks amazing . I’ve requested this as Christmas present so hoping my wish comes true . This would be the first meal I would cook in it. Gosh is it time for dinner yet. 😉 thanks for posting
This looks delicious and really makes me want to get one of these instant pressure cookers!
Thanks Ashley!
Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
that looks awesome Lina thanks i love chicken recipes i could live on chicken alone thanks!
Oh thanks!
Im sorry i am used to a slow cooker. the cook time is only 13 minutes is that right? do i have to cook the chicken first before putting it into the pressure cook
Brown the chicken first, not all the way cooked. Then compile sauce, add in uncooked needles. And then you’ll set machine to 6 minutes!
Then natural release (let sit) for about 7 minutes!
Stir in cheese and it’s done 👍🏻
wow thanks Lina i need to stick you in my pocket your good to have around!!!!!
I noticed that the Walmart Black Friday Instant Pot is a 5 QT. How big is the pot that is used in this recipe? Also, is the 5 QT big enough for a family of 5?
Mine is a 6 quart in photo. So far it’s been perfect for my family of 4 – hope that helps!
Made this for supper tonight. It was delicious! This will be a regular for sure! Thanks for sharing!
That made my day! Thanks for sharing 👍🏻
This Alfredo looks crazy delicious! Thank you for sharing this recipe! 😋😋😋
You’re so welcome!
Made this tonight and it was just as good as my regular Alfredo that normally takes at least 3 different pots to make! The only thing I would change is to use water instead of the chicken broth. I could taste a lot of broth. Thanks for sharing!
Oh that’s great to hear and thanks for suggestion!!
Do you think I could add frozen broccoli or would it become mush?
Yes! Just let it defrost a bit and maybe mix it in at the end after mixing in cheese.
Taste really good but my bottom noodles stuck and came out dry. Guessing I needed more liquid. Any thoughts?
If you have an 8qt you might need to adapt recipes like this to have more liquid.
I just got my instapot and getting used to it! Well I made this last night and I ended up with burned noodles I could never get it to get all the way to pressure it kept saying burn. I tried changing the setting to chicken and it still said burn and finally opened the lid and the noodles on the bottom were burned but the chicken temped after boiling it for over and hour and waiting and waiting! It was delicious but I don’t know what I did wrong! Help thanks.
Oh no! I’m so sorry for the frustration. I’ve been trying to research the burn error and found a helpful article. If you scroll down it takes about making this meal with the cream sauce in a separate dish. https://www.pressurecookrecipes.com/instant-pot-burn/
Lina, is the cook time for the pasta the same if you use fresh pasta? I recently tried making my own pasta and will not go back to the store bought stuff.
Hi Stu, you kinda stumped us all with this question. I would hate for your pasta to come out over cooked – honestly I would consider cooking separate. Or what about after cooking the chicken, turn on the sauté function and let noodles cook to taste, thanks!
I have found that I either need to not brown the chicken before I cook it, or brown it in a separate pan. Every time I brown it in the instapot, even after deglazing, i get the burn error.
First of all, I have an 8 at and to accommodate the liquid requirement, I add about 50% extra of everything except the chicken and the noodles. (So 2 cups becomes 3 cups, ect) I also add about 2-3 cups of broccoli on top of the chicken before I pressure cook it. The broccoli breaks down and incorporates a great flavor into the sauce that my picky eaters don’t care about, they love it and it adds their veggies. Even without the broccoli the extra liquid, (and seasoning to support the extra liquid) works out better in the 8 qt.
I make this all the time, my kids love it
Oh yay- I’m so glad they enjoy it!
My Instant Pot has no timer while on manual. I am I to watch the clock for the 6 minutes? One my lid is on, the digital screen says “on” for a while and then what seem like forever it reads “30” and counts backwards. So , is the six minutes from the countdown from the digital screen or from me watching the clock? After 6 minutes I checked and I had a watery mess. I have attempted this recipe before and it always comes out icky. i would not think taht Instant Pots would vary.
Hi hmmm..so set it for 6 minutes and then it should take maybe 10-15 minutes to come to pressure. That part will vary. Then it will start counting down. It will then beep when done..and start releasing pressure. Are your noodles cooking? Sorry you’rr having issues- darn.
This may be a “dumb” question, as I am new to cooking in the instant pot/pressure cooker. Wouldn’t the noddles stick together?
They get steamed from the liquid and a few may stick but stirring afterwards helps. 👍
If I wanted to add in frozen broccoli also would I still add it in at the same time?
I would add that in during step 8 after cooking. Then stir in broccoli..maybe close lid for a few minutes to let it cook.
Or steam broccoli seperate in the microwave and throw it in at the end when serving.
What! Today I learned that newer Instant Pots tell you when you are burning food! I had no idea!
I wish there was an easy way to print these recipes without doing a copy/paste. Thanks!
There is a print option at the top right of the post OR at the very bottom. That should make it a lot easier!
Can you use water instead of olive oil when cooking the chicken?
I keep getting a burn notice even though I scraped up all the stuck bits?
I have a viva 8 qt