Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo is a one-pot creamy chicken pasta for the whole family. If you want a meal that practically makes itself, add chicken Alfredo in the Instant Pot to your pressure cooker collection!
Calling all busy people and pressure cooker newbies! Get ready to crush dinner with my Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo. Just like my Instant Pot Tuna Noodle Casserole, this toss-and-go Chicken Alfredo practically makes itself into a creamy, delicious dinner in minutes! Many families have told me it rivals my Taco Pasta and Lasagna Soup in convenience, comfort, and flavor. I think they're right!
Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo ingredients
Ingredient amounts available in full printable recipe below.
- fettuccine - You can substitute a thick pasta of equal thickness (like elbow mac or bow tie). Angel hair is not recommended because it will overcook in said cooking time.
- water - or chicken broth or vegetable broth
- heavy cream - also called whipping cream. If using light whipping cream, half and half, or milk, wait to add until after cooking to avoid curdling (see recipe footnotes).
- butter - or olive oil
- fresh garlic - garlic powder is fine, but fresh is the best
- uncooked boneless skinless chicken breast - or boneless chicken thighs. Bone-in chicken is not recommended. If using precooked chicken or turkey, add it after the pressure cook cycle to prevent it drying out.
- salt and pepper - these can be added to taste
- shredded Parmesan cheese - or grated Romano (or even cream cheese)
- parsley - optional garnish
How to make this recipe
Get the full printable recipe card below.
- Break FETTUCCINE noodles in half and scatter in crisscross patterns in the Instant Pot.
2. Add WATER and HEAVY CREAM. Press the pasta under the liquid and don't stir.
Note: If using half and half or milk, wait to add until after cooking to avoid curdling.
3. Scatter BUTTER and GARLIC on the surface. Then lay whole chicken breast(s) seasoned with salt and pepper on top of noodles. The chicken will sit above the liquid. Note: if you double the chicken (and not the pasta), it's possible the pasta can become weighed down and not cook properly.
4. Select "Manual" or "Pressure Cook" 5 minutes on HIGH followed by a 10 minute natural pressure release. Carefully open the pressure valve to release any remaining steam. There might be no steam and that's perfectly fine.
5. Open the lid and test the chicken to confirm 165°F minimum internal temperature in the center. Transfer chicken to a covered dish.
6. Stir the cooked pasta and sauce together. It might seem like too much liquid at first, but it will get absorbed by the pasta. Place the lid back on the Instant Pot with the pressure valve turned to "Venting". Allow chicken and pasta to rest about 5 minutes.
Note: If you're in a hurry, you can hit the "Saute" button and cook the excess liquid down faster, stirring as needed.
7. Shred the chicken breast.
8. Stir Parmesan cheese into the pasta in small amounts. Once the noodles are saucy and creamy, stir in shredded chicken. Serve warm.
Note: You can always add more Parmesan cheese, but I bet you knew that already.
Chicken Alfredo Instant Pot tips
We love reader feedback! Countless people have shared outstanding results for texture, flavor, consistency, and ease of use with this chicken Alfredo recipe. Others have discovered that if you stray from key ingredients and/or instructions, or if there's an issue with your cooker, you'll get bummer results.
That said, here are my tips for success based on reader feedback and my own test kitchen experiences.
Cooking tip #1: For the love of all things food safety, frozen whole chicken breast must be thawed completely because it will not reach the proper internal temperature in said cooking time. Adding cook time is not a good solution because it will overcook the pasta.
Cooking tip #2: Always allow the full 10-minute natural pressure release (NPR) after the cooker is done because the chicken AND the pasta are still cooking.
Cooking tip #3: When you first open the lid after pressure cooking, be sure to confirm 165°F minimum internal temperature of the chicken breast for food safety reasons.
Cooking tip #4: If your chicken breast doesn't reach 165°F (which is uncommon with this recipe), set it back on top of the pasta and run a 1-minute high pressure cook cycle with a 5 minute NPR. Test the temperature again.
Cooking tip #5: After pressure cooking, when first stir everything together, you'll see some excess liquid. This is how it's supposed to look. Keep calm and carry on.
Cooking tip #6: If you want softer pasta after the cook cycle is done, remove the cooked chicken breast and press the "saute" button to continue heating the pasta. Stir as needed and add a splash of liquid to help it stay creamy.
What to serve with Chicken Alfredo
Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo
INGREDIENTS
- 1 pound Uncooked Fettuccine Noodles, or preferred pasta
- 4 cups Water, or broth
- 1 cup Heavy Cream, or heavy whipping cream
- 3 tablespoons Unsalted Butter, cubed
- 3 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 pound Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast, leave whole (don't cut)
- 1 teaspoon Sea Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 cup Parmesan Cheese, shaved, shredded, or fresh grated
- ¼ cup Parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Break FETTUCCINE noodles in half and scatter in crisscross patterns in the Instant Pot.
- Add WATER and HEAVY CREAM to the pot. Push the pasta under the liquid to submerge. *See recipe footnote to substitute heavy cream.
- Scatter BUTTER and GARLIC over the noodles.
- Lay whole CHICKEN BREASTS on top of the noodles. Add SALT and PEPPER.
- Secure the lid. Turn pressure release valve to the "Sealing" position. Select "Manual" or "Pressure cook" on HIGH pressure for 5 minutes.
- When pressure cook cycle completes, let the pot sit undisturbed for a 10-minute natural pressure release (NPR). DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP because the chicken and pasta are still cooking.
- Carefully turn the pressure valve to the "Venting" position to release any remaining steam.
- Press "Cancel" on the Instant Pot and carefully open the lid.
- Use a quick-read thermometer to confirm that chicken has reached a minimum temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Transfer chicken to a covered dish and set aside for 5 minutes. Here, carryover cooking will bring it to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Use clean tongs to stir any excess liquid into the pasta in the cooker.
- Add PARMESAN CHEESE and gently toss to coat the noodles.
- Loosely cover and rest the noodles for 5 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed.
- Shred or slice the chicken and stir it back into the pasta.
- Serve warm. Garnish with PARSLEY (optional).
Storage and reheat instructions
- To store, cool the pasta completely and refrigerate in an airtight container up to five days.
- To reheat, add a splash of liquid or heavy cream to revive the creaminess (you'll need this because the pasta soaks up the excess moisture). If you add too much liquid, stir in more Parmesan to get the thickness you want.
Traci's Recipe Notes
NUTRITION
Nutrition data provided as courtesy estimates using unbranded ingredients from a nutrition database. Please consult preferred resource for precise data.
Res1 says
I tried it with chicken broth and did not like it. I think the four cups was overkill. The pasta tasted like chicken noodle soup and not alfredo.
Traci says
I hear ya. The recipe calls for water – broth is optional because some people like the stronger chicken flavor. I personally always use water since the heavy cream and parmesan have all the flavor. Let me know if you end up going for it again. Cheers!
Maria says
Just made this tonight! Amazing!!! I subbed heavy cream with 2/3 cups lactose free whole milk and 1/3 cup light olive oil. So good! This is going into our meal rotation immediately!
Traci says
Yayy! So glad you went for it! Great to know those subs worked for you. Thanks so much for the feedback and I love it that it's going into your rotation 🙂 Cheers!
Elizabeth says
Have you ever tried adding broccoli to this? Can it be cooked in the IP at the same time? This is our favorite alfredo recipe, but we're missing the broccoli in it now. I tried cooking it separately & adding it in, but the flavor just wasn't the same.
Traci says
Hiya! We love broccoli with Alfredo too but, sadly, it overcooks with this recipe, so we we always cook it separately and mix it in before serving 🙂
Colleen says
I plan on making this tonight! I tested Chicken Alfredo (not in the instant pot) because my picky kids needed to keep things separate...LOL, but after a trial of some alfredo sauce they actually liked it. So now I am going all in....
Do you really ONLY pressure cook the chicken/noodles for 5 minutes and let it rest for 10? I don't know why that makes me so nervous...probably because other instant pot chicken I know I have cooked for longer, but perhaps it rested for a shorter time?
Traci says
Hi Colleen, yes, you read the directions correctly and this recipe has been tested countless times with those exact instructions. Let me know if I can answer any more questions for you. Enjoy!!
Jeff Silversmith says
I made this tonight. Substituted garlic broth for chicken broth and was outstanding and super easy. After trying a different Alfredo recipe from a popular instant pot cook book author a while ago which was way too liquidy I had all but given up on this dish in the instant pot. So glad I found this, enjoyed by all.
Traci says
Hi Jeff, I'm so glad you tried my recipe and that it was enjoyed by everyone. I appreciate you taking the time to let me know. Thank you 🙂
Pat says
OMG.....I made this chicken alfredo the other night. It was sooooo good and even better the next day. Hubby loved it. Very easy recipe.
The Kitchen Girl says
Yayy! So glad to hear it was a hit! Thank you so much for letting me know 🙂
Debbie says
This is the second time I have made this recipe. This time I added peas after cooking. It is so good and so easy. Definitely a keeper.
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome! Yeah, this is definitely one of our favorite Instant Pot dinners. I'm so glad you're enjoying it and thanks so much for the feedback 🙂
Janice Daughtry says
I always bought alfredo sauce in the jar. Never realized it is so easy to make yourself and tastes soooo much better. This recipe turned out great and we loved it. Thanks for sharing.
The Kitchen Girl says
I'm so glad you found your way to this recipe because, you're right, you don't need the jar sauce at all 🙂 Thanks so much for the feedback. I'm happy you're enjoying it!
Lala says
This was so good! I didn't think so few ingredients would turn out like this! I didn't have the heavy cream so I followed the direction for that and used half cream cheese and half milk. This is the first pasta recipe I've made where all the noodles are cooked evenly!
The Kitchen Girl says
Yayy! I'm so glad you're enjoying it and I really appreciate your feedback. Thank you!
Robin says
I was surprised at how good this was since it was so easy! Layering the pasta as directed—all cooked perfectly and separated easily. I got sidetracked and left the natural release for 14 minutes, don't think it had any effect.
We did add a little cayenne pepper to the leftovers (along with a splash of cream as directed) and I think it enriched the flavors without being spicy.
Thanks for the recipe!
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome, Robin! I'm so glad you made it and even better that you loved it! The ease and comfort of this pasta really make it a winner for us too. Thanks for the feedback .. much appreciated 🙂
Meredith says
Yum!!! So good! I used 2 cups chicken broth and 2 cups water! Came out perfect! Even the 3 year old enjoyed it! Thanks for the extremely detail instructions it made it almost foolproof!
The Kitchen Girl says
Awww yayyy Meredith! I'm so glad you enjoyed this and especially love to hear when the kiddos give the thumbs up. That is wonderful and I appreciate you taking the time to let me know. Thank youuuu 🙂
Jeff says
Made this again recently and a huge hit as always. Chicken Alfredo in the Instant Pot, yep I'm sold on one pot dinners!
Amy says
Do you think I could add broccoli for the full time and it wouldn’t be mushy?
The Kitchen Girl says
Hiya, actually it will overcook and be mushy using the full cook time. I would cook it separately and add before serving. Let me know if you have more questions. Enjoy! 🙂
Vicki says
Hi, if I omitted the chicken, would any other changes be needed?
Thanks!!
The Kitchen Girl says
No, you can make it exactly as it is without the chicken 🙂 Thanks and enjoy!!
Karla says
Halved the recipe but as usual didn't have everything as written! After adding the half & half (substituted for heavy cream) and parmesan after pressure cooking I stirred rotisserie chicken (substituted for chicken breast) into the noodles (substituted for linguine). It turned out great and my husband confirmed it's a keeper recipe! I was worried about mushy pasta so cooked for 4 minutes instead of 5, but some of the noodles were a little chewier than I like so will cook for the 5 minutes next time. Pretty easy, too!
The Kitchen Girl says
So glad you both enjoyed ... it's a favorite over here for sure! Yes, 5 minutes is the minimum for the chicken and fettuccine noodles. We've tested it extensively to get the cook time right, but if you make changes, you may have to adapt. Sounds like you did 😉 Thanks for taking the time to leave a review. Cheers!
Elissa says
Hi! I used a substitute for heavy cream (nonfat Greek yogurt and milk) and followed your substitute instructions and it didn’t come out good. Next time I’ll try the recipe as written.
The Kitchen Girl says
Hi Elissa! I love NFGY and use it a lot, but I don't think it would create an ideal texture or flavor for chicken Alfredo. I hope you'll give this recipe another go and please let me know if you have questions about other substitutions in the future. Cheers!
Lauren says
I got the burn notice twice because the noodles stuck to the bottom. 🙁 How could I have avoided this?
The Kitchen Girl says
Hi Lauren, the IP user manual indicates that burn notices usually get sorted out without any action needed. In your case, it sounds like your cooker didn't pressurize properly. The sealing ring not seated properly is THE biggest culprit of this. Make sure to check the ring all the way around the lid before closing it. Hope this helps. Got more questions? I'm here for it 🙂
Mike says
Just made this and awesome is an understatement!
The ease of this dish doesn't match how delicious it is.
Thanks for sharing
The Kitchen Girl says
Yayy!! I'm so glad to inspire your Chicken Alfredo happiness 🙂 Sounds like you love it as much as I do! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave feedback. I super appreciate it!
Amanda says
Have you are anyone you know of tried gluten free noodles with this? Or could I just cook the noodles separately?
The Kitchen Girl says
Hi Amanda, I've had good reports from my readers that say yes, but I haven't tried it myself. Also, there are SO many gf noodles out there. I do recommend going with a thicker GF pasta, one that you know cooks at the same rate as regular pasta 🙂 Also, I recommend cutting the recipe in half when testing. Lmk how it goes!
Lisa says
Could I double the recipe in an 8qt instant pot?
The Kitchen Girl says
I have not, but others have done it with great success. Let me know if you have any other questions 🙂 Enjoy!
Deborah says
Do you need to half the recipe if you have a 3 qt Instant Pot, or can you make the whole recipe in a pot that size?
The Kitchen Girl says
Hiya! I believe this recipe can be made as-is in the 3 qt without going over the max fill line. Also, make sure the noodles are short enough to be under the liquid. Enjoy!!
Jennifer says
Made this for supper tonight per the recipe. I got a thumbs up from the whole clan. It’s a keeper!👍🌟
The Kitchen Girl says
Yayyy! I love it when the family approves and so glad you found a keeper for your Instant Pot collection. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave feedback. I really appreciate it 🙂