Dinner’s on the table in 30 minutes with this Instant Pot Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta! This easy pasta casserole is packed with chicken, ham, Swiss cheese, and more.
I love using my pressure cooker to make dinner in minutes. You don’t need to turn on the oven and heat up your house in the summer!
This recipe was originally published in March 2020. The photos and recipe notes were updated in June 2025.
Aimee’s Recipe Notes
Taste & Texture: Creamy pasta loaded with chicken, ham, and swiss cheese.
Prep Tip: Don’t skip the breadcrumb topping. This adds a delicious finish to the dish, both in texture and flavor.
Time Saving Tips: Use a rotisserie chicken for quick cooking. I keep leftover cooked chicken and ham in the freezer for easy dinners.
Tools Needed: I used a 6 quart Instant Pot for this recipe.
You were 100% correct. This is a winner. I will be making this next time I have my friends over. Thanks for the goodness.
– Jolene
Chicken Cordon Bleu Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredient list with measurements.
- Chicken – I use boneless skinless chicken thighs, which stay moist without drying out. If you prefer, you can use chicken breasts.
- Pasta – I love using elbow macaroni, but I’ve also tried cavatappi and rotini noodles.
- Ham – Whenever we have honey baked ham for the holidays, I cut the leftovers into slices and/or cubes and freeze them for dinners. We love the leftover ham cubes in egg bites and omelettes too. You can also buy pre-diced ham at most grocery stores.
- Seasonings – I use a combination of onion powder, garlic salt, kosher salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes.
- Liquids – Start with 3 cups of chicken broth, then at the end add in an additional 1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream.
- Bacon crumbles – Cooked, crumbled bacon adds smoky flavor and crispy texture.
- Cheese – To stay with the classic flavor of Chicken Cordon Bleu, I use shredded Swiss cheese. You can swap out some or all of it for mozzarella if you prefer.
- Breadcrumb topping – Two slices of bread and some butter form a breadcrumb topping that makes this Instant Pot casserole taste like it was baked in the oven. (Like putting cracker crumbs on Mac and Cheese or cornflakes on Hashbrown Casserole!)
How to Make Instant Pot Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta
Assemble:
- Add the ingredients to the Instant Pot in this order: chicken broth, chicken, pasta, ham, and seasonings.
- Secure the lid and make sure the valve on top is set to “SEALING“. Select HIGH PRESSURE (or manual) and a cook time of 9 minutes.
Add the cheese.
- When the cook time ends, allow to naturally release for 10 minutes. After this, move the valve on top to “RELEASE” and allow any remaining pressure inside to release.
- Open the lid and stir in the heavy whipping cream, bacon, and cheese.
Make the Breadcrumb Topping:
- Process the bread slices in a food processor to form crumbs. Melt the butter in a skillet. Toast the breadcrumbs until they’re golden brown. Season with salt and pepper.
- Top Instant Pot Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta with toasted breadcrumbs.
Tips and Tricks
- Make it creamier by adding 4 ounces of cream cheese with the heavy cream.
- Use rotisserie chicken instead of raw chicken and stir it in at the end with the cheese.
- Add frozen broccoli with the pasta before the cook time for a little extra veggies.
- Top the casserole with toasted stuffing mix or pork rinds instead of breadcrumbs.
- I serve this dinner with a big homemade olive garden salad and my kids love dinner rolls too.
- Don’t forget Instant Pot Rice Pudding for dessert!
Instant Pot Recipes
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Instant Pot Chicken Cordon Bleu Recipe
Dinner on the table in minutes with this Instant Pot Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta. Easy pasta casserole packed with chicken, ham, swiss cheese, and more!
Ingredients
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 ½ lb boneless skinless chicken thighs (cut into 1-inch pieces)
- 3 cups dry elbow noodles 12 oz
- 1 ½ cups diced ham
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup cooked and crumbled bacon
- 5 oz shredded swiss cheese
- 2 slices white bread
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
Instructions
- Add ingredients IN THIS ORDER to the Instant Pot. DO NOT STIR. Chicken broth, bite size chicken, elbow pasta, diced ham, onion powder, garlic salt, kosher salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes.
- Secure the lid and make sure the valve on top is set to “SEALING“. Select HIGH PRESSURE and a cook time of 9 minutes (this does not include the time it takes to come to pressure).
- While the chicken cordon bleu is cooking in the pressure cooker, take two slices of white bread and process them into crumbs in a food processor (or blender).
- In a skillet, melt 2 Tbsp of unsalted butter. Add bread crumbs and stir constantly, until crumbs are golden brown (about 5-6 minutes).
- Season breadcrumbs with salt and pepper (if desired) and set aside until the pasta is cooked.
- When the cook time ends, allow to naturally release for 10 minutes (this means don’t touch it). After ten minutes, move the valve on top to “RELEASE” and allow any remaining pressure inside to release.
- Open the lid and stir in the heavy whipping cream, bacon crumbles, and cheese. Stir well until everything is combined and cheese is melted! Serve with toasted breadcrumbs and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Calories: 465kcal, Carbohydrates: 21g, Protein: 39g, Fat: 25g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g, Cholesterol: 172mg, Sodium: 1310mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g
Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!
More Instant Pot Recipes
- Did you know you can make Instant Pot Hot Dogs? Try it out this week!
- Try my yummy Instant Pot Chicken Piccata, so easy that you make it in minutes, and better than restaurants too.
- Instant Pot Sausage Gravy will warm you right up! Put it over your favorite biscuit or roll for a great breakfast meal!
- Make this easy Instant Pot Cheesecake Recipe for a delicious dessert with little cleanup needed!
- Try this delicious Ham Casserole to use up that leftover ham from the holidays.
- Love easy chicken recipes? My Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup is a family favorite. So easy and so hearty, the perfect weeknight dinner.
Did you toast the bread first to make into crumbs, was thinking of just buying panko instead…
If I add cold (refrigerated) rotisserie chicken….when would I add it? Thank you!!
Could you clarify your calculations for the nutrition facts? I don’t understand how you only got 21g of carbs per serving! When I calculated it, I got 31g just for the pasta alone!
I made this tonight with Catelli gluten-free macaroni and it turned out great!
You were 100% correct. This is a winner. I will be making this next time I have my friends over. Thanks for the goodness.
SOOO good!! Our whole family loved this!!
It looks delicious. Like Rachel, I too am wondering if you have a version of the recipe that can be done without an instant pot?
I do not yet! But it’s on my list 🙂
This was awesome! I used bowtie pasta and packaged cubed ham. I absolutely loved it! Thank you!!
So glad you loved it!
Garbage. Pasta just burns to the bottom of the pot.
Sounds like maybe you combined everything before pressure cooking?
Made this and absolutely love it! Used HoneyBaked Ham -yummy! Just hope it can be frozen since unable to share since staying home until the Coronavirus is gone. My friends and family missed a wonderful casserole!
Do you have a recipe to make this without an instant pot?