Instant Pot Chicken Pasta with Ranch, Bacon, and Spinach Recipe
A creamy and flavorful Instant Pot chicken pasta recipe combining tender chicken, cheesy sauce, and fresh spinach for a quick and satisfying meal perfect for busy weeknights.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Flavoring
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1.5 lb boneless skinless chicken, cut into 1 inch chunks
- 1 packet dry Ranch Dressing mix
Pasta and Liquids
- 1 lb rotini pasta (uncooked)
- 4 cups low sodium chicken broth
Cheese and Vegetables
- 1 cup (8 oz) shredded cheddar cheese
- 8 oz block cream cheese
- 5 ounces baby fresh spinach
Toppings
- 8 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
Instructions
- Sauté Chicken: Pour olive oil into the Instant Pot and select the SAUTE function. Heat the oil for about 1 minute, then add the chicken chunks and sauté for approximately 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is no longer pink.
- Add Seasoning: Sprinkle the dry Ranch Dressing mix over the sautéed chicken and stir well to evenly coat the meat with the seasoning.
- Add Pasta and Broth: Spread the uncooked rotini pasta evenly over the top of the seasoned chicken without stirring. Carefully pour the low sodium chicken broth over the pasta, ensuring not to stir the pasta into the broth.
- Seal Instant Pot: Place the Instant Pot lid securely on top and turn the valve to the “SEALING” position to prepare for pressure cooking.
- Pressure Cook: Set the Instant Pot to Manual or High Pressure mode and cook for 4 minutes.
- Release Pressure: When the cooking timer goes off, carefully perform a quick release by turning the pressure valve to release all steam and pressure.
- Add Cheese, Bacon, and Spinach: Open the lid and immediately stir in the cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, and fresh spinach until the cheeses are fully melted and the spinach is slightly wilted.
- Serve: Serve the creamy chicken pasta hot, straight from the pot for a comforting and delicious meal.
Notes
- Do not stir the pasta into the broth before cooking; layering allows even cooking under pressure.
- Use low sodium chicken broth to control the salt content and keep the dish balanced.
- Feel free to substitute rotini with any similar short pasta like penne or fusilli.
- For a spicier kick, add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes with the Ranch seasoning.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheat nicely on the stovetop or microwave.
Keywords: Instant Pot chicken pasta, creamy chicken pasta, pressure cooker pasta, quick chicken dinner, cheesy chicken pasta
