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.
Why This Recipe is Best
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 FAQ
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.
Tips and Tricks
- 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, 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!
Tell me…what Instant Pot recipes would YOU like to see?
More quick and easy Meal ideas
If you’re looking for CHICKEN dinners…this Mandarin Chicken Pasta Spinach Salad recipe is amazing. And the teriyaki vinaigrette is so flavorful and addictive. Try it!
Creamy Tuscan Garlic Blackened Salmon Pasta has a cheesy garlic sauce with cherry tomatoes and fresh spinach! Serve over pasta for a restaurant quality meal in under 30 minutes!
Creamy, Sausage Alfredo Pasta is a quick and versatile dinner recipe that is on the table in under 30 minutes!
Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo
Ready in under 30 minutes, this delicious Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo recipe has become part of our monthly meal rotation! I've even got the "skinny" on how to lighten it up!
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.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 477Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 142mgSodium: 580mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 34g
*Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietitian for special diet advice.
Easy, inexpensive and completely delicious Chicken Alfredo Pasta is even easier when you use your Instant Pot!
Can I add frozen peas to this?
So I’ve made this recipe several times no problem, recently I’ve been substituting with evaporated milk and now it’s burning every time I make it, so should I be using heavy cream or is it possibly something else that’s the issue?
I can’t speak to the substitutions, but if it works as written I would go with that 🙂
I’m new to the instant pot thing, so I’m sure that’s what the problem was. I thought I did everything right!
My noodles weren’t done and stuck together. I used the right kind and let it natural release for the right amount of time.
The chicken (chicken breast) was done but really chewy.
(Then I oversteamed my broccoli in the microwave, so I’m just done with today! lol)
I followed the directions exactly, I thought.
Any ideas?
Same for me! Tried this recipe exactly as written and my noodles were stuck together and not cooked all the way. 0/2 with the instapot at my house.
Same here! And I got the burn notice!
This is going into our regular family rotation! This was so delicious and cooked up just as the recipe. We opted for the more al dente’ noodles so sautéd our chicken for 2-4 minutes and then 6 minutes for the cook time. We slow released for 8 minutes and then quick released after that. Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe! So helpful to have yummy meals we can make quickly for our busy family of 6.
Can I use frozen shrimp instead of chicken using same times.
This recipe is delicious with chicken. I added Asparagus too
Can i use frozen boneless skinless chicken thighs instead?
Absolutely!
Hello Aimee, I hope you are doing well. I was just wanting to know if you think I could make this recipe but use cheese tortellini instead of the pasta noodles??
We love this recipe! I’ve probably made the standard version 10 times. I’d like to try the skinny version now. How much corn starch would you recommend adding, and when? Thank you!
I don’t have heavy cream, can I use half and half?
Can you use Alfredo Sauce in a jar instead of the heavy cream?
Can I use a different kind of noodle than fettucine noodles? I have spaghetti and penne on hand I think. Does the size of the noodle make a difference in how fast they cook?
Super easy and really good!!
It was amazing boys and I loved it. Only question is can I double the recipe but use the same cook time?
Same cook time, however, it will take longer to come to pressure!
if you double the recipe, do you need to double the broth amount?
Yes 🙂
So we double each ingredient and double the time (so 16 mins at pressure and 16 mins natural release)?
And double the time?
Same cook time, but will take longer to come to pressure.
I made this twice this week, once for a quick lunch day meal and then another time for dinner when I needed something quick. The first time I made it without chicken and the second time I threw frozen chicken tenderloins on. Both times it was delicious. I doubled it and without the chicken, it was fine after the natural release, with the chicken in it (doubled) it was too full so it started to spurt milk out so I closed it again and let the pressure release all the way naturally and it was fine. I know I need to get the 8QT but I wanted people to know doubling it should work. So yummy. So much easier than making a roux! Thanks!!
Can I add broccoli to this and not change the cooking time or ingredients? Thank you
Yep!
Does the cook time need to be adjusted for frozen chicken breast?
Nope, it just may take longer to come to pressure.
So I made it and put it up to 12 minutes to cook because I didn’t see your reply lol. Chicken was overdone, but still tasted great with the sauce. I added some garlic pepper along with normal salt and pepper and it was a winner!!!! Husband usually eats the Alfredo at Olive Garden but I think we finally have a winner for a home Alfredo! Thank you!!!!
Hi, this recipe is one that my entire family begs for!!! I also buy a bag of steamed broccoli florets and add those in (after they are nuked) at the same time as the Parmesan cheese. It’s SO GOOD!!
I’d like to make more of it at once – can this recipe be doubled?? If I double the entire recipe how does it change the cook time??? Help, please! Thank you!!
By fresh chicken, do you mean fresh cooked or uncooked chicken??
Uncooked.
Can this recipe be doubled and use the same cook time?
I am wondering this, too!! Help!
I doubled and didn’t have any issue really. Some noodles s little over done and browned but I also have an 8 qt that may be why. The noodles were not mushy tho. Family loved it!
Can I use thin sliced chicken breasts?
This was so very delicious and pleased every one of my picky eaters. I made the skinny version and you would never know that it was “skinny”. I did add 3 min to the cook time bc the noodles weren’t done enough to my liking. Also, I added one cup of parmesan instead of just a 1/2 cup. I like to cut calories when I can but let’s not get crazy!! Let me live!! Definitely going in the weeknight meal rotation. Thank You!!