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Creamy Parmesan Chicken Pasta

March 26, 2021 by Brooke Leave a Comment

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pasta with creamy parmesan cheese sauce topped with fresh parsley in a white bowl with gray towel in background
pasta with creamy parmesan cheese sauce topped with fresh parsley in a white bowl with gray towel in background

A creamy parmesan chicken pasta made in the Instant Pot. This creamy dish is made healthier with whole wheat pasta, no butter and less cheese. Try this recipe for a lighter take on a decadent favorite that is still big on flavor.

pasta with creamy parmesan cheese sauce topped with fresh parsley in a white bowl with gray towel in background

Here is an easy Instant Pot recipe for creamy parmesan chicken pasta that is packed with flavor and perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.

I’ve taken a hearty dish that is typically loaded with butter and cheese and lightened it up a bit by using less cheese and omitting the butter. I’ve also added whole wheat pasta for a filling dish that is loaded with whole grain goodness.

pasta with creamy parmesan cheese sauce topped with fresh parsley in a white bowl with gray towel in background

How to Make Creamy Parmesan Chicken Pasta

  • Dice and season the chicken
  • Sauté chicken and onions together in the Instant Pot
  • Add whole wheat pasta, and chicken broth – set for 4 minutes.
  • Stir in cheese and cream
  • Serve

This is a great one-pot meal that is perfect for quick meal prep. Even better, it goes well with so many types of veggies that it’s so easy to add in your favorites for a complete and balanced meal.

Make this creamy parmesan chicken pasta a meal with veggies!

  • Serve with a side salad
  • Stir in frozen peas once the pasta has cooked to steam the peas, then add in cream and cheese, stir and serve
  • Wilt handfuls of spinach into the pasta by stirring in fresh spinach after the cheese has melted into the cream
  • Stir in sundried tomatoes
  • Serve with a side of steamed or roasted broccoli

pasta with creamy parmesan cheese sauce topped with fresh parsley in a white bowl with gray towel in background

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pasta with creamy parmesan cheese sauce topped with fresh parsley in a white bowl with gray towel in background

Creamy Parmesan Chicken Pasta

  • Author: Brooke
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
  • Category: dinner
  • Method: instant pot
  • Cuisine: pasta
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Description

A creamy parmesan chicken pasta made in the Instant Pot. This creamy dish is made healthier with whole wheat pasta, no butter and less cheese. Try this recipe for a lighter take on a decadent favorite that is still big on flavor.


Ingredients

Scale

1 lb chicken breast, diced

1/2 tsp salt

3 tsp Italian seasoning

2 tsp paprika (sweet or regular)

1 tsp garlic powder

Fresh ground pepper

2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

16 oz whole wheat pasta

3 cups low sodium chicken broth

1 cup heavy cream

1/3 cup parmesan cheese, shaved or grated

Optional: parsley to garnish


Instructions

  1. Cut chicken into approx 1 inch pieces
  2. Mix salt, italian seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, pepper together. Sprinkle seasoning on diced chicken.
  3. Heat olive oil in the instant pot using saute setting. Once heated, add chicken and diced onion. Saute until chicken begins to slightly brown and onions turn translucent, about 1-3 minutes.
  4. Turn the instant pot off then add a small amount of chicken stock or water and gently deglaze the bottom of the pot by scraping any browned chicken and onion to unstick it from the pan. 
  5. Add the pasta, then pour 3 cups of chicken stock over the pasta. Press the pasta down gently with a spoon to submerge as much of the pasta as possible. 
  6. Cover with the instant pot lid, lock, and seal the valve. Press the manual cooking button and set for 4 minutes. 
  7. When finished cooking, cover the sealing valve with a towel and carefully do a quick release of the pressure. Once pressure is released (the hissing has stopped), open the lid and stir. 
  8. Stir in cream and cheese, and continue stirring gently until cheese has melted.  

Notes

Make this a meal by adding your choice of vegetable to the side or as a mix-in!

  • Serve with a side salad
  • Stir in frozen peas once the pasta has cooked to steam the peas, then add in cream and cheese, stir and serve
  • Wilt handfuls of spinach into the pasta by stirring in fresh spinach after the cheese has melted into the cream
  • Stir in sundried tomatoes
  • Serve with a side of steamed or roasted broccoli

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: about 1 cup
  • Calories: 386
  • Sugar: 2.6 g
  • Sodium: 263 mg
  • Fat: 13.7 g
  • Saturated Fat: 5.3 g
  • Carbohydrates: 45.2 g
  • Fiber: 6 g
  • Protein: 24.4 g
  • Cholesterol: 60.7 mg

Keywords: pasta, chicken pasta, creamy chicken pasta, creamy parmesan chicken pasta, instant pot, instant pot dinner, weeknight dinner, easy dinner, 30 minutes or less, quick meals, quick and easy meals, family dinner, kid friendly recipes, easy recipes

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Filed Under: 30 Minutes or Less, Dinner, Hearty Bowls, Instant Pot, Recipe, Whole Grain Tagged With: 30 minutes or less, chicken pasta, creamy chicken pasta, creamy parmesan chicken pasta, easy dinner, easy recipes, family dinner, instant pot, instant pot dinner, kid friendly recipes, pasta, quick and easy meals, quick meals, weeknight dinner, whole grain, whole wheat, whole wheat pasta

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Hi! I’m Brooke. Welcome to Never Any Thyme! Here you will find simple recipes for healthy living along with tips to take the stress out of planning healthy meals for you and your family. I’m a busy wife, mom, Registered Dietitian, and chocoholic!

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