Savory Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti (Print Version)

Tender chicken and spaghetti in rich tomato sauce, made quickly in the Instant Pot for an easy comforting meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.1 lbs), cut into bite-sized pieces

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

02 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
06 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste

→ Pasta

07 - 8 oz uncooked spaghetti, broken in half

→ Liquids

08 - 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth

→ Seasonings

09 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
10 - 1 teaspoon paprika
11 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
12 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Cheeses & Finishing

13 - 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
14 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)

# How to Make It:

01 - Set the Instant Pot to 'Sauté' mode. Add a drizzle of oil, then sauté the onion and bell pepper for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
02 - Add chicken pieces and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until starting to brown (they do not need to be fully cooked through).
03 - Stir in tomato paste, Italian seasoning, paprika, and crushed red pepper flakes (if using). Season with salt and pepper.
04 - Pour in chicken broth and deglaze the pot, scraping any browned bits from the bottom.
05 - Add crushed tomatoes and spread spaghetti evenly over the top, pressing down lightly into the liquid (do not stir).
06 - Secure the lid. Set Instant Pot to 'Manual' or 'Pressure Cook' on high for 7 minutes.
07 - Once cooking is complete, allow a natural pressure release for 5 minutes, then carefully do a quick release.
08 - Gently stir everything together. Add Parmesan cheese and stir until melted and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve garnished with parsley.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pot, which means you're looking at roughly three minutes of actual cleanup instead of the usual mountain of dishes
  • The pasta cooks directly in the sauce, absorbing all those savory flavors instead of boiling away into plain water
  • This is one of those rare weeknight meals that tastes like you spent hours on it but actually comes together in under 40 minutes
02 -
  • Do not stir the pasta into the liquid before pressure cooking—lay it on top or the sauce can scorch on the bottom and trigger the burn indicator
  • The sauce will look quite loose right after pressure cooking but thickens beautifully as it sits and the pasta continues to absorb liquid
  • Breaking spaghetti in half before adding it prevents it from tangling into an impossible knot during cooking and makes serving much easier
03 -
  • Use freshly grated Parmesan instead of the pre-shredded stuff in the tub—it melts into the sauce so much better and tastes noticeably fresher
  • If you prefer thighs over breasts, they work beautifully and add even more richness to the dish

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