Instant Pot Chicken Pesto Pasta tossed with spinach in a creamy sauce. This quick, comforting dinner is easy to prepare and ready in under 30 minutes—perfect for busy weeknights.
The silky sauce is built from pesto, milk, cream cheese and grated Parmesan, creating a bright, savory broth that coats the pasta and chicken.
Ingredients in Instant Pot Chicken Pesto Pasta
- 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts, sliced into thin strips
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups rotini pasta (or other short pasta)
- 3 cups chicken broth
- ½ cup pesto (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 cup milk (low-fat or whole)
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups chopped spinach
Tip: If you prefer fresh flavor, you can swap jarred pesto for a quick homemade basil pesto made with basil, olive oil, garlic and Parmesan—ready in about 10 minutes.
How to Make Instant Pot Chicken Pesto Pasta
1. Saute the chicken and garlic. Set the Instant Pot to Sauté and heat the olive oil. Add the minced garlic and the chicken strips, and cook until the chicken is lightly browned on all sides.
2. Remove and deglaze. Cancel Sauté, remove the chicken to a plate, and pour a small amount of broth into the pot. Scrape the bottom to lift any browned bits and prevent a burn notice.
3. Add pasta and layer chicken. Spread the rotini in an even layer on the bottom of the pot, then place the cooked chicken on top of the uncooked pasta.
4. Add broth and pressure cook. Pour the 3 cups of chicken broth over the pasta and chicken. Close the lid and set the Instant Pot to HIGH PRESSURE / Manual for 4 minutes. When the cook time ends, carefully perform a quick pressure release.
5. Make the creamy pesto sauce. Remove the lid, switch the pot back to Sauté, and add the cream cheese, milk, Parmesan and pepper. Stir until the cream cheese melts and the sauce becomes smooth and combined. Stir in the pesto until evenly distributed.
6. Finish with spinach and serve. Fold in the chopped spinach and cook just until wilted. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot with extra Parmesan, if desired.
TIP: A garlic press makes quick work of mincing garlic, but finely chopping works just as well.
Can I Substitute the Rotini Pasta?
Yes. Rotini works great here, but you can also use penne, fusilli, ziti or rigatoni. When pressure-cooking pasta, a handy rule of thumb is to take the package stovetop cook time, divide that time by two, then subtract one minute—use that result as your Instant Pot pressure-cooking time. Always check the pasta for doneness and adjust as needed.
Can I Use Gluten-Free Pasta?
You can use gluten-free pasta in the Instant Pot. Choose a good-quality gluten-free brand that holds its shape under pressure to avoid a mushy texture. Otherwise, follow the same recipe and timing guidance.
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Chicken Pesto Pasta
A creamy, pesto-flavored pasta with tender chicken and spinach made quickly in the Instant Pot. Serves about 6.
Times & Servings
- Prep time: 15 mins
- Cook time (pressure): 4 mins
- Total time: ~30 mins
- Servings: 6
- Calories: about 380 kcal per serving (estimate)
Ingredients
- 1 lb skinless, boneless chicken breasts, thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups rotini pasta
- 3 cups chicken broth
- ½ cup pesto
- 1 tsp ground pepper
- 1 cup milk
- 4 oz cream cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan
- 2 cups chopped spinach
Instructions
- Set the Instant Pot to Sauté and heat the olive oil. Add the garlic and chicken strips, cooking until browned.
- Cancel Sauté, remove the chicken, and deglaze the pot with a splash of broth, scraping up browned bits.
- Add the pasta in an even layer, then place the cooked chicken on top. Pour in 3 cups of chicken broth.
- Close the lid and pressure cook on High for 4 minutes. When finished, perform a careful quick release of pressure.
- Open the lid, return the pot to Sauté, and stir in the cream cheese, milk, Parmesan and pepper until smooth. Mix in the pesto.
- Fold in the chopped spinach and cook until just wilted. Adjust seasoning and serve with extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
The rotini can be swapped for penne, fusilli, ziti or similar short pasta. For gluten-free pasta, choose a sturdy brand to prevent a mushy result. Nutritional values are estimates and will vary by ingredients and portion size.
Equipment
- Electric pressure cooker (Instant Pot or similar)
Nutritional information is an estimate based on typical ingredients and serving sizes. Actual values may vary.
© Recipe content adapted for clarity and readability.