This 30 minute Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo recipe is a staple of our monthly meal rotation. Creamy, cheesy, and garlicky, it’s a pasta that makes everyone happy!
Love alfredo? This easy one pan Spinach Alfredo Pasta is a family favorite. Simply dump it all in a 13×9, bake, and enjoy! Or try our alfredo stuffed shells for an easy freezer recipe.
Instant Pot Alfredo Recipe
Making alfredo is already a simple dinner. For instance, this Sausage Alfredo is ready in under 30 minutes.
So why choose the instant pot?
Well, for one, less mess. The pasta, chicken and sauce all cook in ONE pot. Makes clean up so easy.
It’s also a wonderful method to use if you want a level of “set it and forget it” to your cooking. You can leave the pasta and chicken while it cooks and trust that it’s cooked to perfection when the timer goes off.
- 7 simple ingredients.
- One pot recipe.
- Extra creamy sauce.
- Perfect Parmesan flavor.
- An easy kid-friendly dinner any night of the week!
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken breast. Boneless skinless chicken thighs make a great substitute!
- Heavy cream. Gives chicken alfredo the cream quality alfredo sauce is famous for.
- Chicken broth. Combines with the heavy cream to form a delicious savory sauce.
- Pressed garlic. For that irresistible aromatic flavor.
- Fettuccini noodles. Other long noodles can be used. Break them in half so they all fit into your Instant Pot.
- Parmesan cheese. Because what’s chicken alfredo without it? Grate it fresh before adding to the cooked pasta and sauce.
Recipe FAQs
In this recipe, the chicken breast should be sliced after cooking. This ensures it is done at the same time as the pasta and Alfredo sauce.
Chicken Alfredo is a versatile meal that tastes great with most vegetables.
Serve it with steamed broccoli and a mixed green salad for a full meal. Roasted vegetables would be delicious with this pasta dish too.
Store leftover Chicken Alfredo in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat and enjoy within 3-5 days.
For a little spice, sprinkle a few crushed red pepper flakes on your alfredo pasta before serving. If you love a super garlicky pasta, feel free to add a clover or two of additional pressed garlic, or a teaspoon of garlic powder.
Easy Instant Pot Alfredo Tips
- This recipe can easily be doubled without changing the cook time.
- You can also choose to skip the chicken altogether and make this vegetarian by using vegetable broth.
- Leftovers are great. Reheat with a splash of milk in the microwave.
- Some people LOVE their fettuccine alfredo thick and creamy. You can add in some cubes of cream cheese if this is you. My husband would freak if I did this, as he is a purist, haha!
- If you’d like your noodles a little more al dente, you can cut back the cook time by 2 minutes. But, I would first saute the chicken for two minutes then, to make sure it’s fully cooked. You can do this by setting your Instant Pot to saute, sear the chicken for two minutes, remove, then follow the directions as written, except cut your cooking time by 2 minutes.
- Love to add garlic to everything? This recipe calls for about 1 tsp of fresh minced, but feel free to add to your liking.
Want more Instant Pot Recipes?
Well, good news. I’ve got some great recipes up my sleeve for the New Year, so stay tuned.
- In the meantime, how about starting with the basics. Like this recipe for Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs. The simple 5-5-5 method for making perfect Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs. You’ll be amazed at how easily they peel, and how creamy and delicious they taste!
- No more all day cooking to make a batch of fresh applesauce. This homemade Instant Pot applesauce recipe is ready for dinner tonight!
- Looking for a delicious, easy weeknight dinner idea? This Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper Casserole recipe is the perfect comfort food, and ready in under 30 minutes! Tastes just like mom’s homemade stuffed peppers, only easier and quicker!
- Tender roasted, Instant Pot French Dip Sandwiches cooked in the Instant Pot. Piled on a crusty french roll with extra cheese, this flavorful dinner is then dipped in au jus!
Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth
- 1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon pressed garlic
- ½ pound fettuccini noodles broken in half
- 1 pound chicken breast
- 1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- First, set your Pressure Cooker on your counter and plug it in. Find a safe spot that when you release the pressure, you have clearance above.
- Next, layer your ingredients in the order specified. This makes a difference. Start by adding your chicken broth, then heavy whipping cream, and fresh pressed garlic.
- Do not stir. Next, break your fettuccine noodles in half. This helps them fit in the pressure cooker. Place them in your milk and broth mixture gently, moving around slightly until they are covered completely.
- Top with 1 pound fresh chicken breast (or frozen actually works with this recipe too). Lay over the top (they don't need to be covered with liquid.
- Secure your lid and make sure your vent is turned to pressure (each version is different so check your manual to make sure you understand how to prep your Instant Pot for cooking).
- Set your Instant Pot for "Manual" for 8 minutes. Allow it to come to pressure, then the timer will count down the 8 minutes.
- Once the 8 minutes are done, allow it to "NATURALLY" release (meaning don't touch it) for an additional 8 minutes. Once that time is up, do a QUICK RELEASE.
- Open carefully (away from your face so the steam doesn't burn you)! Remove the chicken (to shred it, or slice it). Then add the parmesan cheese. I use freshly shredded parmesan (not the green can stuff). Stir your noodles with the cheese, then add back your chicken. Salt and pepper, generously, to taste.
- Allow it to sit for about 1 or 2 minutes to thicken if needed.
Notes
- For best results, pound your chicken breasts to even thickness.
- If using frozen chicken, cook time will remain same, but pot may take longer to come to pressure.
Video
Nutrition
Easy, inexpensive and completely delicious Chicken Alfredo Pasta is even easier when you use your Instant Pot!
I do not have one of these Instant hot pots. How would I cook this?
Could you substitute angel hair pasta for fettuccini noodles? If so how would that adjust any cooking times?
I got an instant pot nova plus for Christmas. Every recipe we have tried so far triggers the “burn“ error on the machine! What can we do? We were thinking that maybe we should just add more liquid to every recipe? The same thing happened with your easy chicken Alfredo recipe.
Oh I’m not familiar with the nova!
When writing recipes such as this one, there are many different instant pots and some have a manual button and some do not. The ones who do not have that button, need to use Pressure Cook. You should consider stating that in your recipes.
Great tip, thank you!
When I did it in my 6quart nova the noodles did not finish cooking. Should I add more liquid? Lengthen cooking time? Any suggestions?
I love that you shared a lightened up version for this awesome dinner!!!
Oh!!! I am thinking dinner tonight!
I am making this again this weekend!
Thank you for sharing! This is what’s for dinner tonight!
I love that there is both regular and skinny recipes for this. Alfredo is my weakness and using the instant Pot makes it so much better.
Such a great recipe, I love that you included a skinny recipe, too!