DadCooksDinner

  • Home
  • Rotisserie
  • Recipes
  • Tools
  • Books
  • Merch
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Books
  • Tools
  • Merch
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Books
    • Tools
    • Merch
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Pressure cooker

    Instant Pot Fettuccine Alfredo

    Published: May 16, 2023 · Modified: Apr 25, 2024 by Mike Vrobel · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    A plate of fettuccine alfredo, sprinkled with red pepper flakes

    Instant Pot Fettuccine Alfredo (with Chicken). A one-pot meal of Instant Pot chicken fettuccine Alfredo, ready in minutes thanks to pressure cooking

    A plate of fettuccine alfredo, sprinkled with red pepper flakes
    Instant Pot Fettuccine Alfredo

    Would you like to save this recipe?

    We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

    Jump to:
    • A digression about spelling
    • Ingredients
    • How to make Instant Pot Fettuccine Alfredo
    • Top Tip: Fettuccine Egg Noodle Nests
    • Can I use regular Fettuccine noodles in this recipe?
    • Substitutions
    • Equipment
    • Scaling
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Storing Leftovers
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Instant Pot Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    My kids kept asking for Fettuccine Alfredo. I pictured a fancy Italian recipe, but then I looked into homemade alfredo sauce. I realized it's an Italian variation on my mac and cheese recipe, where I cook pasta in my Instant Pot and substitute evaporated milk for the flour-based heavy cream sauce. (It may be a different pasta and cheese, but the basic technique is the same.)

    If you're looking for other Instant Pot pasta recipes, try my Pressure Cooker Penne with Sausage and Peppers, Instant Pot Chickpea Puttanesca with Orecchiette, or Instant Pot Pasta con Ceci (Pasta with Chickpeas).

    A digression about spelling

    The first trick I had to figure out was how to spell fettuccine. It's one of those words that I can't spell correctly. Spell check keeps underlining all my attempts. I can never get the correct number of t's (two), c's (two), or n's (one). I think I have them all fixed, but I apologize for any spelling slip-ups.

    Ingredients

    • Fettuccine Egg Noodle Nests
    • Red pepper flakes
    • Butter
    • Chicken broth
    • Boneless skinless chicken breasts ("Stir Fry" cut or tenders)
    • Evaporated milk
    • Shredded Parmesan cheese
    • Dried Italian seasoning
    • Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
      See the recipe card for quantities.

    How to make Instant Pot Fettuccine Alfredo

    Chicken, broth, and butter over egg noodles in an Instant Pot
    Everything in the pot

     Noodles, Broth, and Chicken in the Pot: Put the fettuccine nests in an Instant Pot. Sprinkle with the red pepper flakes, add the butter, and pour in the chicken broth. Break up the fettuccine nests to help them settle in the water, then set the chicken breast strips on top.

    Instant Pot set to Pressure Cook for 1 minute
    Pressure Cook for 1 Minute

     Pressure Cook for 1 Minute With a 5 Minute Natural Release: Lock the lid on the Instant Pot and pressure cook for 1 minute at high pressure. Let the pressure come down naturally for 5 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.

    Sprinkling cheese into an Instant Pot full of fettuccine alfredo
    Stir in the cheese

    Stir in the Evaporated Milk and Cheese: Open the lid, pour in the evaporated milk, then stir in the cheese, breaking up any clumps of chicken or noodles that are stuck together. Sprinkle with the Italian seasoning, and keep stirring until the cheese melts. Serve.

    Top Tip: Fettuccine Egg Noodle Nests

    Fitting a long pasta, like fettuccine, into my Instant Pot is a trick. I get around this by buying fettuccine nests, egg noodles pre-rolled into neat bundles that are easy to fit in the pot.
    Now, fettuccine egg noodles cook very quickly. I get the best results with 1 minute at high pressure, then a 5 minute rest for the pressure to come down naturally, then a quick release. (Instant Pot fettuccine does not lend itself to al dente pasta, but it's not overcooked either.) That doesn't leave much time for the chicken to cook, so I cheat and buy thin-sliced packs of "stir fry chicken" from my grocery store. The chicken is already cut into roughly ½-inch thick strips for me. (If I have to cut it myself, I do.)

    Can I use regular Fettuccine noodles in this recipe?

    Yes, but it changes things a little bit. You must break the noodles to fit them in the pot and keep them in the liquid while cooking. (Breaking them in half is enough to get them to fit). Also, regular fettuccine noodles are thicker than the egg noodle version, so they take longer. Cook on high pressure for 4 minutes, with a 5 minute natural release. These noodles will also stick together more, so I have to work a bit at pulling them apart before stirring in the cheese.

    Substitutions

    Skip the chicken

    Are you looking for a vegetarian version? Skip the chicken and use vegetable broth; everything else cooks the same.

    Cut the heat

    I like a hint of heat in this recipe, so I add some red pepper flakes, then pass more at the table. If you don't want the heat, go ahead and skip them.

    Fresh Herbs

    If you have fresh basil, rosemary, and/or thyme, mince them up and swap them for the dried Italian seasoning.

    Different pasta

    If you don't want to use fettuccine pasta, you can substitute penne pasta. Increase the cooking time to 4 minutes at high pressure, with the same 5 minute natural release before quick releasing the rest of the pressure.

    Equipment

    A 6-quart pressure cooker

    Scaling

    This recipe doubles easily, but you need an 8-quart pressure cooker for it to fit. Cut all the ingredients in half, and this recipe will fit in a 3-quart pressure cooker. The cooking time does not change; it takes the same time to cook each piece of pasta and chicken, no matter how many pieces you have in the pot.

    Serving Suggestions

    This is a one-pot meal, so it doesn't need much else. I serve Instant Pot Fettuccine Alfredo with a loaf of crusty bread and a salad.

    Storing Leftovers

    Leftovers last for a couple of days in the refrigerator. Or, package the fettuccine alfredo in 2-cup containers and freeze for a few months.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I use store-bought Alfredo sauce for instant pot fettuccine Alfredo?

    Not with this recipe; store-bought sauce doesn't work in this recipe. We're building Alfredo sauce from evaporated milk and parmesan cheese, plus the starchy liquid left over in the pot from cooking the pasta. Store-bought Alfredo sauce is too thin to use in this recipe.

    Can I use low-fat milk or cream in instant pot fettuccine alfredo?

    No, you need thick evaporated milk for this recipe; regular milk and cream won't work. Like the Alfredo sauce question above, milk and cream are too thin to use in this recipe. But, if you are watching your calories, you can use low fat evaporated milk.

    Can I add vegetables to instant pot fettuccine alfredo?

    Most vegetables will overcook if you add them for the pressure cooking, but won't cook long enough if you add them afterwards, while you're stirring in the cheese. So, if you really need broccoli mixed in to make your fettuccine Alfredo complete, cook it on the side and mix it in. My shortcut method is microwave-in-the-bag broccoli, which I stir in after the cheese is mixed in to the noodles.

    Can I use any type of pasta?

    Now, you can't use *any* type of pasta, but you can substitute any short pasta into this recipe; just increase the cooking time to 4 minutes at high pressure with a 5 minute natural release, because short pastas tend to be thicker than fettuccine. Penne is my favorite substitution - if I can't find nests of pasta, it works better than regular fettuccine, and I don't have to break it in half. Other good choices are farfalle (bowtie), rigatoni, and ziti. Think short shapes with tubes to catch the sauce in.

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    A plate of fettuccine alfredo, sprinkled with red pepper flakes

    Instant Pot Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken Recipe


    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 2 reviews

    • Author: Mike Vrobel
    • Total Time: 30 minutes
    • Yield: 6 servings 1x
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    Instant Pot Fettuccine Chicken Alfredo - creamy chicken pasta, a one-pot meal from my pressure cooker.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 2 (8.8-ounce) packages fettuccine nests
    • A shake or two of red pepper flakes
    • 2 tablespoons butter
    • 4 cups low sodium chicken broth (Or 4 cups water + 2 teaspoons table salt)
    • 1¼ pounds boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into ½-inch thick strips (“Stir Fry” cut at my local grocery store)
    • 1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk
    • 12 ounces shredded Parmesan cheese
    • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning (or 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley or basil)

    Instructions

    1. Noodles into the pot: Put the fettuccine nests in the pot, sprinkle with the red pepper flakes, and add the butter. Pour the chicken broth into the pot, breaking up the fettuccine nests to help them settle in the water. (It’s OK if they poke out a bit - they’ll relax into the liquid once the pot starts to steam.) Set the chicken breast strips on top of everything.
    2. Pressure Cook for 1 minute with a 5 minute Natural Release: Lock the lid on the cooker and pressure cook for 1 minute at high pressure. (“Manual” or “Pressure Cook” mode in an Instant Pot.) Let the pressure come down naturally for 5 minutes, then quick-release any remaining pressure.
    3. Stir in the evaporated milk and cheese, and serve: Unlock the lid and open, tilting the lid away from you to avoid the hot steam. Leave the pot in “keep warm” mode and pour in the evaporated milk. Stir in half the cheese, and keep stirring gently until the cheese melts, and break up any stuck-together pieces of chicken you see. Add the remaining cheese and the Italian seasoning, and stir until the cheese melts. Serve, sprinkling each serving with extra parmesan, and red pepper flakes if you like a bit of heat. Enjoy!

    Equipment

    6-Quart Pressure Cooker

    Buy Now →

    Notes

    If you can't find fettuccine nests, you can still make this recipe with 1 pound of regular fettuccine noodles. Break the bundle noodles in half (or more) to make them fit in the pot, and increase the pressure cooking time to 4 minutes at high pressure.

    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 15 minutes
    • Category: Weeknight Dinner
    • Method: Pressure Cooker
    • Cuisine: Italian

    Would you like to save this recipe?

    We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @DadCooksDinner on Instagram and hashtag it #DadCooksDinner

    What do you think?

    Questions? Other ideas? Leave them in the comments section below.

    Related Posts

    Pressure Cooker Macaroni and Cheese
    Pressure Cooker Penne with Sausage and Peppers
    Pressure Cooker Baked Ziti - DadCooksDinner
    Instant Pot Pastalaya (Cajun Jambalaya with Pasta)
    My other Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Recipes

    Enjoyed this post? Want to help out DadCooksDinner? Subscribe to DadCooksDinner via email and share this post with your friends. Want to contribute directly? Donate to my Tip Jar, or buy something from Amazon.com through the links on this site. Thank you.

    Subscribe
    BirdSend Email Marketing Tool

    More Pressure cooker

    • Instant Pot Lasagna on a plate with spices in the background
      Instant Pot Lasagna
    • A bowl of split pea soup
      Instant Pot Split Pea Soup
    • A plate of Instant Pot Jerk Ribs with green onions sprinkled on top
      Instant Pot Jerk Ribs
    • Frito pie in a Fritos bag topped with onions
      Instant Pot Frito Pie

    Sharing is caring!

    Comments

    1. Lisa says

      February 18, 2024 at 9:45 pm

      Quick and easy. This has a delicious sauce. I couldn't find fettuccine nests, so I used regular fettuccine broken in half. This is a keeper!

      Reply
      • Mike Vrobel says

        February 19, 2024 at 5:53 am

        Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    2. Seth says

      November 12, 2019 at 7:10 pm

      I just made this dish for the family tonight and it was a big hit with everyone including my finicky 14 year old son. This was my first Instant Pot recipe and it was an excellent experience.

      Reply
    3. Li says

      May 05, 2019 at 6:32 pm

      My son cannot wait to make this!

      Reply

    Questions? Made the Recipe? Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Welcome to Dad Cooks Dinner!

    I'm Mike Vrobel, a dad who cooks dinner every night. I'm an enthusiastic home cook, and I write about pressure cooking, rotisserie grilling, and other food topics that grab my attention.

    More About Me →

    Popular

    • Three bowls of cooked Pinto Beans on a wood table
      Instant Pot Pinto Beans (No Soaking)
    • Pressure Cooker Beef Shank (Osso Bucco)
    • Pressure Cooker 7 Hour Leg of Lamb (in 90 minutes)
      Pressure Cooker 7 Hour Leg of Lamb (in 90 minutes)
    • Pressure Cooker Brown Jasmine Rice
    • Grilled Tomahawk Steak (Long Bone Ribeye, Reverse Seared)
      Grilled Tomahawk Steak (Long Bone Ribeye, Reverse Seared)
    • A green bowl full of chicken noodle soup
      Instant Pot Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup

    Seasonal

    • A bowl of asparagus risotto
      Instant Pot Asparagus Risotto (Pressure Cooker Recipe)
    • Grilled Butterflied Chicken with Garlic Butter
    • Sous Vide Rack of Lamb with Dijon Bread Crumb Crust
    • A bowl of beef stew with asparagus, carrots, and radishes.
      Instant Pot Spring Vegetable Beef Stew
    • A Rotisserie Chicken (Pollo Asado)on a platter of shredded cabbage
      Rotisserie Chicken Pollo Asado
    • Rotisserie Pork Shoulder Roast with Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce
      Rotisserie Pork Shoulder with South Carolina Mustard Barbecue Sauce

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    Copyright © 2025 Dad Cooks Dinner

    71 shares