Tuscan Chicken Pasta {Instant Pot}

It's well documented here that risotto is my favorite thing to cook in the Instant Pot. But I think pasta dishes would have to be a close second. And I was such a skeptic at first! How on earth does it work to put raw pasta in and it cooks to perfection alongside the other ingredients? This is never going to work, I thought. Sure enough, I was wrong. It works wonderfully!

And in this recipe, it's not only the pasta that gets fully cooked, but RAW CHICKEN. This Instant Pot is da bomb. If you don't have one yet, what are you waiting for??? Yes, this dish could easily be made on the stovetop. (Note: you would have to adjust the amount of broth so don't go trying it as written!) However, I love the convenience of throwing everything in the IP and having a few minutes to set the table, make a salad, etc. Or just to sit. Sometimes a person just needs to sit for a minute.

In any case, this is a delicious dinner that my family happily ate, and asked for the leftovers. I increased the spinach pretty significantly because my kids happily eat spinach in pasta, and the more the better, in my opinion. It wilts down so much that it won't seem overwhelming, I promise. After the main ingredients cook in the IP, you stir in softened cream cheese to get that nice, creamy pasta texture, all the spinach and then parmesan cheese. This dish has complex flavor due to the sundried tomatoes, and it's so easy it can become a weeknight staple. Plus, all the spinach.

Enjoy!

Find more great ideas at Inspire Me, Inspire Me 2, Fabulous, Hearth and Soul.



Tuscan Chicken Pasta

4 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup oil packed sun dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 Tbsp. minced garlic
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
12 oz uncooked campanelle pasta or your favorite shape (rotini, etc)
8 oz fresh baby spinach
1 (8 oz) pkg. light cream cheese, softened, cubed
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese

In an instant pot insert stir together broth, tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and garlic.

Add in chicken and pasta, pushing the pasta pieces down into the broth.

Secure the lid in place, and set the valve to sealing position. Select the "manual" setting or high pressure and set to 5 minutes.

Do a quick release, then stir well. Add in cream cheese and stir until combined, then add in spinach, a handful of a time, until it's all wilted. Finally, stir in the parmesan.

Let rest for about 5 minutes to thicken. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and garnish with fresh or dried basil and additional tomatoes.


Recipe source: Adapted from Betty Crocker