Our Instant Pot pasta is not only easy, it is tasty. With a high pressure and quick release, this pasta will be ready before you can even set the table.
Instant Pot pasta is perfect on its own or in our Instant Pot chicken pasta on busy weeknights. When we get home from running around all day, I can quickly throw some dry pasta and water into the Instant Pot and I know I will have a great base for a meal in minutes.
Life is super busy, especially when you have kids. There is carpool, after-school activities, playdates, soccer practice, and everything in between. I do not know about you, but on top of everything else, it is hard to find time to make dinner.
I always struggled with coming up with quick recipes that were also tasty (like our instant pot lasagna, gluten free ramen and tortellini pomodoro) until I found the Instant Pot. I do not mean to be dramatic, but I feel like the Instant Pot changed my life. I know, I know, but try it out and you will see what I mean.
Instant Pot recipes are some of my favorite recipes because of their quick cooking time. This recipe in particular cooks pasta so much faster than the traditional stovetop method. With the stovetop version, you have to wait for the water to boil then add the noodles to cook, whereas with Instant Pot pasta recipes you can throw everything in the pot right away and cook at the same time.
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The general rule of thumb with pressure cooking is to make sure to use the pressure release correctly. You will want to allow the pressure to release the right amount of time to have the perfect pasta. Cooking pasta in the Instant Pot is (in my opinion) the easiest way to cook pasta dishes every single time.
My Instant Pot Spaghetti and instant pot broccoli cheddar soup recipes is a great example to see how to use the pressure release the correct way. I also have a delicious Instant Pot Meatballs recipe that you could use. Once you make one Instant Pot meal and realize how fast you can make food, you will be hooked.
The first time you cook pasta with the Instant Pot can seem tricky, but it is super easy. Of course there is a learning curve, but all you need to do is throw whichever noodles you decided to use and enough liquid into the Instant Pot and BAM, you are good to go. Make sure you do not use too much water because that will make overcooked pasta.
This recipe is very similar to my Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese recipe, as both can use rotini noodles. Pasta is a staple in many recipes as you can add marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, parmesan cheese, creamy tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, meat sauce, or whatever you prefer to create a delicious dish.
After trying out these Instant Pot noodles, you should try more Instant Pot meals. I have tons of recipes that are quick, easy, and perfect for weeknights, so here are some you should try out:
- Instant Pot Hamburger Soup
- Mississippi Chicken Instant Pot Style
- Instant Pot Country Style Ribs
- Instant Pot Chicken Wings
- Instant Pot Artichoke Dip
- Instant Pot Apple Crisp
- Creamy Italian Chicken
- Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
What you need
Pasta is a staple for many meals, so this recipe is going to become a staple in your kitchen and your busy schedule. For this recipe, all you need is try pasta, water, and salt, which you most likely already have in your pantry. So this recipe is perfect for those nights when you feel like you have no food to cook.
Dry pasta
You can use any dry pasta you want when it comes to cooking in an electric pressure cooker. Rotini or penne pasta usually works best, but again, you can use whichever type of pasta you need for your meal.
This recipe works with whole wheat pasta, chickpea pasta, and gluten-free pasta. We like the Jovial gluten-free rotini with this recipe, but you can use any type or brand of pasta you would like.
Salt
Adding salt to your pasta water is an old trick cooks use to make flavorful pasta. A little bit of salt goes a long way when it comes to cooking pasta. When you add salt to the boiling water while cooking the pasta will allow the noodle to be seasoned inside and out.
How to make it
- Add 16 ounces pasta (penne or rotini works best) to the Instant Pot® multi-cooker and cover with 4 cups of water and 1 teaspoons salt then lock the lid and set to pressure cook on high for 4 minutes
- After it has cooked, do a quick release with the pressure valve and wait until the cycle is complete then unlock and remove the lid (if there is excess water drain before eating) and for extra tasty noodles, add some butter or olive oil to the pot and stir once cooked
For the best results, yes, you want the noodles to be completely submerged in the water. If you do not want undercooked pasta, make sure the noodles are submerged. The nice thing about cooking in the Instant Pot is that you will use the minimum amount of water you need to cook the noodles, so you do not need to worry about straining the noodles!
Al dente means to have pasta that is still a bit firm when you eat it. All you need to do for al dente pasta is cook the pasta a little less (so instead of cooking for 4 minutes, maybe do 2 or 3). It takes practice, but it is definitely easy to do.
You may have heard horror stories about cooking in a pressure cooker and how the pressure cooker explodes. The Instant Pot is an extremely safe pressure cooker and has safety measures in place to ensure your pressure cooker will not explode. Just make sure you are following the instructions and you should be good to go.
After you cook pasta, you will want to place it in an airtight container in the fridge. The noodles will last up to two days in the fridge. Top tip: If you have not added a sauce to the noodles, add a tiny bit of olive oil to the noodles so they do not clump together.
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Instant Pot Pasta (in minutes!)
Ingredients
- 16 ounces dry pasta (penne or rotini work best) We love Jovial gluten-free rotini
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 cups water
Instructions
- Add 16 ounces pasta (penne or rotini works best) to the Instant Pot® multi-cooker and cover with 4 cups water and 1 teaspoons salt then lock the lid and set to pressure cook on high for 4 minutes
- After it has cooked, do a quick release and wait until the cycle is complete then unlock and remove the lid (if there is excess water drain before eating) and for extra tasty noodles, add some butter or olive oil to the pot and stir once cooked
Teralee Williams says
My favorite way to make pasta!! Thanks for posting!
Moop Brown says
I love how quick and easy to make this recipe is and also how versatile it is.
Amy says
So easy! I am a fan of al dente pasta so I used your tip of cooking it for less time. The pasta came out perfectly!
Colleen says
I won’t cook pasta any other way now! Thank you for posting this!
Dennis says
Wow, using an instant pot cuts the cooking time down by half, what a great way to cook pasta!
Jacqueline Debono says
I have never thought to cook pasta in the instant pot. Sounds like a great time saving idea! Will definitely give it a try!
Anna says
Is there anything that IP can’t do?!? Wow, this is a fantastic way of preparing pasta and so much quicker and easier in my opinion!
Amy says
Love this! No waiting for the water to boil!
Kate says
Making pasta for my kids is my fall back option when I don’t know what to make for dinner, and now I can have it ready even faster! Not having to wait for a pot of water to boil on the stove is a total game changer, thank you!!
Linda says
Well, I just learned something new! Pasta can be cooked in an Instant Pot! Who knew? What a great idea and it was so much easier than on the stove. I will be using this method from now on. Thanks for the tip!
veenaazmanov says
Thanks for such a quick and easy recipe. Perfect idea for a quick meal. Sounds easy to make and Homemade Pasta sounds so much fun too.
Lina says
This is my saving grace for when I’m not wanting to cook dinner. Having pasta in minutes is the best, especially when I’m starving haha 🙂