Savory Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti (Printable)

Tender chicken and spaghetti in flavorful tomato sauce, made effortlessly in the Instant Pot for a quick, 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 Suggestions:

01 -
  • The entire dish cooks in one pot, meaning almost zero cleanup afterward
  • The pasta absorbs all those savory tomato flavors while it pressure cooks, creating depth that usually takes hours of simmering
  • From start to finish, you are looking at 35 minutes max, including prep time
02 -
  • The spaghetti might look slightly saucy immediately after pressure cooking, but it thickens beautifully as it sits for a few minutes
  • Do not stir the pasta into the liquid before pressure cooking—this prevents it from sticking together or burning on the bottom
  • Natural release for those 5 minutes is essential for the pasta to finish cooking without becoming mushy
03 -
  • Breaking spaghetti in half before adding it prevents the frustrating tangle that happens when long noodles cook under pressure
  • Cheese goes in after pressure cooking because high heat can cause dairy to separate or become grainy

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