This post may contain affiliate links, please see the privacy policy for details.
Fans of pasta, especially chicken alfredo lovers, are going to enjoy this Instant Pot blackened chicken alfredo. It’s an easy Instant Pot dinner which doesn’t take long to prepare or cook. This one pot blackened chicken pasta dinner in an Instant Pot will be a family favorite.
This is such a delicious Instant Pot recipe featuring pasta and chicken along with veggies and seasonings. It’s great for those busy weeknights.
If you love this, you might also want to try BBQ chicken nachos or how about chicken Bolognese? Kielbasa, potatoes and cabbage is good, as is this chopped chicken blue cheese salad is also really tasty.
Blackened Chicken Alfredo Ingredients
You can use chicken tenderloins or else slice up some chicken breasts. In fact, the chicken is diced anyway so just use whichever chicken you have on hand.
Bowtie pasta is nice here or you may prefer a different shape. Penne, macaroni or any other pasta shape would work for this one pot blackened chicken pasta.
Bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, and garlic also go into the dish, along with cilantro for garnish.
How to Blacken the Chicken
Chicken has a neutral flavor but blackening it ensures you pack maximum spice flavor into this pasta dinner in an Instant Pot.
You will use paprika, garlic and onion powders, thyme, cumin, chili, salt, and pepper on the chicken. Mix these spices with butter so you can apply the mixture all over the chicken.
The chicken cooks first and then you can go ahead and add the vegetables for this Instant Pot chicken alfredo. The broth and pasta are added later and then your Instant Pot chicken pasta is ready to serve and enjoy.
Best Alfredo Sauce Tips
The creamy alfredo sauce finishes this dish off so well. A combination of milk, cream and butter, along with garlic, parmesan and black pepper makes a delicious alfredo sauce. I recommend full-fat dairy, fresh garlic and freshly grated parmesan to get the best sauce.
This Instant Pot blackened chicken alfredo combines richly spiced chicken with healthy veggies and a fantastic, creamy alfredo sauce. It makes a great dinner and is a one pot blackened chicken pasta meaning less washing up afterwards!
This is one of the best things about Instant Pots. They’re just so versatile and you can choose from slow cooking, pressure cooking, sautéing and more. Also, one pot dishes like this Instant Pot chicken alfredo mean washing only the Instant Pot itself instead of several saucepans and pots.
Which Pasta to Choose
You can make this Instant Pot blackened chicken alfredo with any shape of pasta. Fettuccini is the typical choice for alfredo sauce. Since this dish also has chicken and vegetables in, you can go with pasta shapes.
Or you can use fettuccini, spaghetti or another ribbon pasta variety. The choice is all yours!
When creating a pasta dinner in an Instant Pot, such as this instant pot chicken pasta, you can try out all kinds of pastas to see which you prefer. The long shape of fettuccine is good for the sauce to stick to, although there are so many options nowadays you can try anything.
History of Alfredo Sauce
The alfredo sauce is one of the yummiest things about this Instant Pot chicken pasta. But how did it get its name? Did a Chef Alfredo invent it?
I used to wonder about this so I researched the alfredo sauce used in this easy Instant Pot dinner and this is what I found.
This fettucine, butter and parmesan dish is named after Alfredo di Lelio. He presented the dish in the early to mid 1900s at his restaurant in Rome. The special thing about this Italian pasta dish was how it was prepared tableside since the cheese melts over the heat emulsifying the liquids to create a smooth sauce. The dish was so popular it spread to the US shortly afterwards.
Alfredo Outside of Italy
In Italy it’s a first course or side. However, in the Americas it’s usually served as a main dish and paired with a protein such as chicken or shrimp.
Interestingly, the first recipe for fettuccine pasta with cheese and butter dates back to a 1400s Italian cookbook. The pasta was boiled in water or broth then butter, cheese and spices were added.
The modern version, Alfredo di Lelio’s version, was rich in butter because he first made it for his wife who’d just given birth and needed her energy.
Although di Lelio claimed to use only pasta, butter and cheese, there has been speculation he cooked the pasta in mild or added oil to the fettuccine dough.
However, tossing cooked pasta with pasta cooking water, butter and cheese seems to create a delicious version so that could just be the stuff of legend.
This Instant Pot chicken alfredo pasta has plenty in common with the original recipe. However, it is tweaked for a main dish. Although di Lelio never served meat with pasta (that is very un-Italian by the way!)
North American recipes tend to combine the two. Fast food versions of alfredo sauce are thickened using starch or eggs instead of solely cheese.
Can I Make this Easy Instant Pot Dinner Gluten Free?
You can make a gluten free version of this one pot blackened chicken pasta by using gluten free pasta or a substitute ingredient.
I’ve found that a lot of quinoa-based pasta alternatives are naturally gluten free. Look at the packaging to make sure. Also I recommend you check that quinoa is the main ingredient in there and not corn, since a higher quinoa ratio means you’ll be getting extra protein and fiber.
Another idea is to spiralize vegetable noodles. If that’s your preference when making this pasta dinner in an Instant Pot, bear in mind they cook faster than pasta. Give them just 1 minute on the pressure cook mode instead of 3.
Whichever pasta or pasta substitute you choose, I just know this Instant Pot blackened chicken alfredo is going to wow your taste buds.
Cajun Chicken Pasta Instant Pot Recipe
Instant Pot Blackened Chicken Alfredo
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 Pound chicken tenderloins
- 1 red onion, medium
- 16 Ounces pasta, bowties or farfalle
- 3 Cups chicken broth
- 1 bell pepper, green
- 1 bell pepper, red
- 3 tomatoes, Roma
- 2 Cloves garlic
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- cilantro, as garnish
Blackened Seasoning
- 2 Tablespoon butter
- 1 Teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 Teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 Teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon black pepper, coarse
- 1/2 Teaspoon salt
- 1/2 Teaspoon thyme
- 1/2 Teaspoon cumin
- 1/8 Teaspoon chili powder
Alfredo Sauce
- 3/4 Cup whole milk
- 1/2 Cup heavy cream
- 1/2 Cup unsalted butter
- 3 Cloves garlic
- 1/2 Cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/2 Teaspoon black pepper, coarse
Instructions
- Small dice the peppers, onions, and tomatoes and mince the garlic cloves.
- Prepare blackened seasoning. Combine melted butter with blackened seasoning ingredients and mix well.
- Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. Add chicken to the bowl with the blackened seasoning and butter and toss to coat.
- Turn the instant pot on sauté mode and add olive oil. Once hot, add the chicken and cook for two minutes. Then stir in the pepper and red onion and cook for five more minutes. Next add in the tomatoes and minced garlic and sauté until the chicken is thoroughly cooked.
- Pour the chicken broth and noodles into the instant pot and deglaze the bottom of the pan. Seal, set to manual high pressure, and cook for 3 minutes. Quick release remaining steam. Add all to a bowl and set aside.
- Pour milk into the instant pot and deglaze the bottom of the pan. Turn onto sauté mode. Once milk starts bubbling, add remaining Alfredo sauce ingredients. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes. Add pasta and chicken back to the instant pot and stir. Cook for 1 more minute.
Nutrition
Another bonus is this Instant Pot chicken alfredo recipe is so quick and easy to make. This instant pot cajun chicken pasta is perfect if you’re going to be out all day and want to come home to a meal that’s all ready to eat.
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
The recipe instructions call for red onion but on the ingredient list, it’s not mentioned that I can see. How much red onion?
Oops, thanks for pointing that out. Recipe amended! I used one red onion for mine. Happy cooking 🙂