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    You are here: Home / Instant Pot Recipes / Creamy Parmesan Instant Pot Pasta

    Creamy Parmesan Instant Pot Pasta

    Last Updated July 26, 2021. Published February 11, 2021 By Lorie 4 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Ingredients in Instant Pot and pasta on plate.

    This irresistibly Creamy Parmesan Instant Pot Pasta recipe is the easiest dinner to whip in well under 30 minutes. Add a few things to the instant pot and walk away. Stir in cream, parmesan and spinach after cooking and dinner is served! Such a quick and easy to get dinner on the table!

    Creamy instant pot pasta on plate with fresh parsley and parmesan.

    The Instant Pot instantly became one of my favorite appliances. And simple dump and go dinners like this Instant Pot Pasta are another reason it just doesn't get any better.

    Aside from Instant Pot mac and cheese, this meal is the top made pasta recipe in our house.

    Why you will love this:

    • Literally dump and walk away. Here is the deal: add the pasta, broth, tomatoes, butter and seasoning. Stir, set, and walk away. Come back to stir in spinach, cheese and cream. Doesn't get any easier!
    • Cheesy and comforting. Comfort food with a perfect Italian twist. We prefer ours with a few pieces of fresh mozzarella melted on top.
    • It's a vegetarian meal but can also be easily paired with a variety of meats. If you choose a vegetarian parmesan, you have a meatless recipe for dinner. But for the meat eaters at home, you can slice up some meatballs or Italian sausage, or even grilled chicken and stir it in.
    • Kid friendly. Since this Instant Pot pasta is a lot like a big bowl of spaghetti, the kids are eager to dive in. They just don't have to know that it was that easy to whip up!

    What you'll need:

    • Originally, I was not going to add the cream to this recipe, but changed my mind after making it a few times. Just a little goes a long way and adds that creamy, saucy texture to this Instant Pot Pasta.
    • I use unsalted tomatoes and unsalted broth in this recipe. If you have salt added to yours, feel free to wait until the end to salt to taste. This should keep you from over salting the pasta.
    • broth: I use chicken or vegetable, depending on what I have around. Adds more flavor than just plain water. Work with whatever you have!
    Spinach, broth, tomatoes, cheese and ingredients labeled on counter.

    How to make this:

    1. Add pasta, butter, garlic, seasoning, salt and pepper.
    2. Add the tomatoes--don't drain them!-- and broth.
    3. Stir it all up and cover Instant Pot setting to pressure cook on high for 5 minutes.
    4. Once the timer is up, do a quick release to let the pressure out.
    5. Add the spinach and allow it to wilt.
    6. Stir in the parmesan and cream, adding more as desired. Your Instant Pot Pasta dinner is served!
    Ingredients in instant pot to make recipe.

    Notes and Tips:

    • To help keep spinach and parmesan from clumping, you can chop the spinach. You can add it in right at the very end if you prefer to keep from any extra stirring as well.
    • You can use any short pasta easily in this recipe: penne, shells, rotini, fusilli, etc. I don't suggest using any long or thin pastas as they may turn to mush.
    • If your sauce seems to thick, add some extra broth to thin it out. Or thicken it up with some extra cream.
    • I have not tested this Instant Pot Pasta recipe with a gluten free pasta to date. This recipe for gluten free pasta suggests setting the timer to "0" on pressure cooker and allow for an 8 minute natural release.
    Plate of instant pot pasta with fresh parmesan.

    Other recipes to try:

    • Instant Pot Creamy Potato Leek Soup
    • Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin
    • Creamy One Pot Pasta
    • One Pot Chicken Alfredo
    • Instant Pot Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken
    • Instant Pot Butter Herb Salmon

    One of my favorite one-stop shop to get ingredients for my recipes is through Thrive Market. Affordable, good food delivered to your door. The best part? They will match a price on a product if you find it cheaper elsewhere! Start saving with Thrive today!

    White plate with pasta and fork.

    Creamy Parmesan Instant Pot Pasta

    This irresistibly Creamy Parmesan Instant Pot Pasta recipe is the easiest dinner to whip in well under 30 minutes. Add a few things to the instant pot and walk away. Stir in cream, parmesan and spinach after cooking and dinner is served! Such a quick and easy to get dinner on the table!
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course, pasta
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 410kcal
    Author: Lorie Yarro

    Ingredients 

    • 1 lb pasta, uncooked
    • 3 T butter
    • 2 cans diced tomatoes (approx. 14.5 oz.)
    • 3.5 c broth
    • 3 garlic cloves, minced
    • 1 ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
    • ½ teaspoon cracked pepper
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt
    • 2-3 large handfuls baby spinach
    • ½ c parmesan cheese
    • ¼ c heavy cream

    Instructions

    • Add the pasta, butter cut in small chunks, broth, tomatoes, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to your Instant Pot. Stir to combine. You may want to make sure the butter is submerged as sometimes butter can splatter when doing a quick release.
    • Close the Instant Pot and make sure pressure valve is set to "sealing." Set to pressure cook on high for 5 minutes. (It will wake 10-15 minutes for pressure to build up depending on your pressure cooker.)
    • When timer is up and cycle is complete, do a quick release. Stir in the spinach to allow to wilt. Stir in the cream and parmesan and allow the cheese to melt. Serve with extra cheese on top.
    • Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

    Notes

    • To help keep spinach and parmesan from clumping, you can chop the spinach. You can add it in right at the very end if you prefer to keep from any extra stirring as well.
    • You can use any short pasta easily in this recipe: penne, shells, rotini, fusilli, etc. I don't suggest using any long or thin pastas as they may turn to mush.
    • If your sauce seems to thick, add some extra broth to thin it out. Or thicken it up with some extra cream.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 410kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 386mg | Potassium: 202mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 427IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 135mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you try this recipe? I would love to see it! Mention @LemonsAndZest or tag #LemonsAndZest!

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    Comments

    1. Erin says

      February 17, 2021 at 7:10 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious, Lorie!

      Reply
      • Lorie says

        February 18, 2021 at 8:39 pm

        Yay!!! So happy to hear you loved it!

        Reply
        • Suzy says

          February 03, 2023 at 5:58 pm

          Reading the instructions, it seems u left out when to add the pasta? I’m assuming u add when u add the broth, before closing the instapot?

          Reply
          • Lorie says

            February 03, 2023 at 6:54 pm

            Hi! It’s the very first thing listed in the instructions. Yes goes right in with the other ingredients. Enjoy!

            Reply

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    Hello! I’m Lorie, welcome to lemons + zest! If you love to eat, and you love delicious, simple recipes, then you are in the right place. When it comes to cooking these days, I firmly believe that if it takes too long, or too much work to make, then it’s not for me. Read More…

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