• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
  • All About Jenny
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
Kitchen Skip
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • About Jenny
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Instant Pot

    Instant Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta

    Published: Apr 28, 2020 · Modified: Mar 17, 2022 by Jenny

    Jump to Recipe
    Instant Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta in a bowl, made from penne pasta, tomato sauce, melted cheese and chicken tenders
    bowl of penne pasta in red sauce with cheese
    a bowl of instant pot chicken-penne pasta with marinara and cheese

    The absolute easiest way to make Instant Pot chicken parmesan pasta. Just dump the ingredients, no prep work! Simple ingredients like chicken tenders, penne pasta and jarred marinara make this an easy one-pot dinner. Plus, lots of irresistible melted cheese and a crunchy breadcrumb topping.

    White bowl filled with Instant Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta made from penne pasta, tomato sauce, chicken tenders and melted cheese topped with crunchy breadcrumbs this recipe

    When I'm craving lasagna or baked pasta but don't feel like putting in that much effort, this Instant Pot chicken parmesan pasta is the perfect dinner.

    Just combine the ingredients in the Instant Pot - no chopping or prep needed - and return to a creamy and cheesy pasta that both kids and adults will happily dig into.

    Honestly, I wish I didn't love the combination of pasta and melted cheese as much as I do. But why fight it, right?

    This chicken pasta has all the elements of traditional chicken parmesan combined into a simple one-pot dinner: tender pieces of chicken, marinara, and melted cheese. Instead of breading the chicken, I top the pasta with crunchy panko breadcrumbs and fresh basil.

    Hungry for more Instant Pot pasta? Try my Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs or Instant Pot bowtie pasta. You might also like Instant pot hamburger helper. Or, for something new, try oven-baked spaghetti squash chicken parm.

    Why This Chicken Parm Pasta is the Best

    • Simple, short list of ingredients
    • No prep work, just dump all the ingredients in the Instant Pot
    • Use whole chicken tenders, no cutting raw chicken
    • Flavorful, with lots of sauce and cheese
    • A crunchy breadcrumb topping, just like real chicken parmesan

    Ingredients

    Instant pot chicken parmesan pasta ingredients

    Chicken: Whole chicken tenders cook quickly and there's no need to cut raw chicken. Win, win!

    Marinara: Use your favorite jarred marinara. Cup of Jo has a helpful round-up of the best tasting jarred marinara. Lately I've been buying Trader Joe's Organic Marinara because it's cheap, convenient and tasty.

    Cheese: For convenience, I use pre-grated/shredded cheese. Mozzarella is fine, but you'll get more flavor with a pizza blend or Italian blend.

    Pasta: Penne cooks quickly and the tube shape holds the sauce well. I have not tested this recipe with other pasta shapes, but if you stick with a short pasta it should work okay.

    Salt and garlic powder: An easy way to give the chicken more flavor. You can also add Italian seasoning if you want.

    Olive oil: A light layer of oil helps prevent the chicken from sticking to the pot

    Panko: A crunchy breadcrumb topping is optional, but easy to add. Just toast panko with olive oil in a saute pan for a few minutes.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    1. Pour a thin layer of olive oil in the Instant Pot. Add chicken tenders. Season with salt and garlic powder.
    raw chicken tenders seasoned with salt and garlic powder in an Instant Pot

    2. Pour marinara sauce on top of the chicken. Add the penne pasta in an even layer.

    marinara sauce poured over pasta in an Instant Pot
    uncooked penne pasta in a pressure cooker

    3. Add water. Press down the pasta so the noodles are covered by water.

    penne pasta, marinara and water in an Instant Pot

    4. Seal the lid. Cook on high pressure for 4 minutes, with a quick release. The pasta will look watery and might not be fully cooked when you remove the lid. Don't worry!

    Stir the pasta well and take out the chicken tenders. When the chicken cools slightly, cut the tenders into bite-sized pieces. Season with salt if needed.

    An Instant Pot filled with penne pasta and marinara next to a plate of cooked chicken tenders

    5. Add cheese to the pasta. Add the cut chicken back to the pasta. Stir well and set the lid back on top of the pot. Let it sit for 5 minutes or so before serving. The pasta will finish cooking and get softer as it absorbs more of the liquid and sauce.

    pieces of cooked chicken tenders in an Instant Pot with marinara sauce and penne pasta
    penne pasta in a pressure cooker pot with marinara and grated cheese

    6. If you'd like a crunchy topping, toast panko in a saute pan with olive oil until lightly browned (about 4 minutes).

    panko toasted in a saute pan

    Top with fresh basil before serving.

    a bowl of instant pot chicken-penne pasta with marinara and cheese

    FAQ About Chicken Parm Pasta

    Can chicken thighs or chicken breasts be used instead of chicken tenders?

    Only if you cut the raw chicken into small pieces first. The cooking time for this pasta is only 4 minutes. Chicken tenders will cook in this amount of time, but large pieces of chicken thighs and chicken breast won't.

    Can frozen chicken be used?

    No. Frozen chicken won't fully cook.

    Can the chicken be left out?

    Yes, you can make this a vegetarian meal by simply leaving out the chicken. Otherwise, follow the same recipe instructions.

    How long to leftovers stay fresh?

    Leftovers will stay fresh for 3 to 4 days. But keep in mind that the texture of pressure cooked pasta gets softer the longer the pasta sits. So any leftovers you save will have a softer texture.

    Cooked pasta doesn't freeze well. The texture gets mushy when defrosted. Luckily, you aren't likely to have a large amount leftover so freezing shouldn't be necessary!

    Can I add less marinara?

    An entire jar of marinara is used in this recipe to add maximum flavor. No one likes bland pasta! But if you prefer less red sauce, you can cut back on the amount of marinara and keep the rest of the recipe the same.

    Does this recipe make you hungry?
    SUBSCRIBE
    to the Kitchen Skip newsletter
    for helpful tips, easy recipes
    & good conversation

    More Instant Pot Pasta Recipes

    • Instant Pot Egg Noodles
    • Instant Pot Tuna Casserole
    • Instant Pot Orzo
    • Instant Pot Artichoke Spinach Dip Pasta
    Print

    Instant Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta

    White bowl filled with Instant Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta made from penne pasta, tomato sauce, chicken tenders and melted cheese topped with crunchy breadcrumbs
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    ★★★★★

    5 from 9 reviews

    The absolute easiest way to make Instant Pot chicken parmesan pasta. Just dump the ingredients, no prep work! Simple ingredients like chicken tenders, penne pasta and  jarred marinara make this an easy one-pot dinner. Plus, lots of irresistible melted cheese and a crunchy breadcrumb topping. 

    Total Instant Pot Cooking Time: 15 minutes to reach pressure + 4 minutes cooking time + Quick Release

    This recipe was updated with more detailed information on January 19, 2022

    • Author: Jenny Meier | Kitchen Skip blog
    • Prep Time: 5
    • Cook Time: 4
    • Total Time: 30 minutes
    • Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1x
    • Category: Pasta
    • Method: Instant Pot
    • Cuisine: Italian American

    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 pound chicken tenders
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 25-ounce jar pasta/marinara sauce
    • 8 ounces penne pasta
    • 2 cups water
    • 2 cups grated cheese (pizza blend, Italian blend, or just mozzarella)
    • Garnish: fresh basil or oregano, crunchy toasted panko breadcrumbs

    Crunchy Panko Breadcrumb Topping

    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs

    Instructions

    1. Pour the olive oil evenly over the bottom of the Instant Pot. Add the chicken tenders, lining the tenders up in one even layer. Season the chicken with salt and garlic powder. 
    2. Pour marinara sauce on top of the chicken.
    3. Add the penne pasta, spreading it out in an even layer. Do NOT stir.
    4. Measure out the two cups of water. Pour the water into the empty marinara jar and shake the jar with a lid to get all of the sauce off the sides of the jar. Gently pour the water into the Instant Pot, over the pasta. Remember, do NOT stir.
    5.  Make sure all of the pasta is covered by water and not poking up out of the liquid. If needed, gently press down on the pasta to make sure each noodle is mostly under the water. 
    6. Lock the lid in place. Make sure the steam valve is in the sealed position. Press the Manual button and program the Instant Pot to cook on high pressure for 4 minutes. 
    7. When the cooking time is done, use a quick release to release the pressure instantly. 
    8. The sauce will seem watery right when you open the lid. Don’t worry! Mix the pasta well. Use tongs to take the chicken tenders out of the pot, shaking off most of the tomato sauce, and lay the chicken tenders on a cutting board. 
    9. Add the grated cheese to the pasta and stir well again.
    10. Cut the chicken tenders into bite-sized pieces. Season with salt if needed. Add the chicken back to the pot. 
    11. Make sure the Instant Pot is turned off, set the lid gently on top and let the pasta sit for 5 to 10 minutes for the sauce to thicken up and the pasta to fully cook.  
    12. Top with fresh basil or oregano and crunchy panko breadcrumbs. 

    Crunchy Breadcrumb Topping

    1. In a wide non-stick skillet, warm olive oil over medium heat.
    2. When the oil is hot, add the panko and mix well. Then spread the panko evenly across the skillet.
    3. Cook for about 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until breadcrumbs are lightly browned. 

    Notes

    This recipe was tested in a 6-quart Instant Pot

    Chicken tenders will cook fully in the Instant Pot in 4 minutes. Don't substitute whole chicken thighs, chicken breasts or frozen chicken because they won't cook fully. 

    Leftovers will stay fresh for 3 to 4 days. 

    To make this recipe vegetarian, simply leave out the chicken

     

    Keywords: Instant Pot chicken parmesan pasta, penne pasta, chicken parmesan pasta, chicken tenders

    Please rate and review this recipe!

    Your reviews help other readers. They also help me provide the best recipes possible. Thanks!

    More Delicious Recipes

    • Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes (no drain)
    • Instant Pot Potatoes and Carrots
    • Instant Pot Pinto Beans (soaked and no soak)
    • Instant Pot White Bean, Cabbage & Tomato Soup

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    1. Kevin

      June 17, 2022 at 2:10 pm

      Sounds good. My question is:. Do you have to remove the chicken and cut it up or can you just leave it in there and cut it up as you eat?

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Jenny

        June 21, 2022 at 7:05 am

        If you want, you can just leave it in the pot and cut it up as you eat. Enjoy!

        Reply
    2. Richard

      April 12, 2022 at 9:15 am

      Can I use spaghetti sauce?

      Reply
      • Jenny

        April 13, 2022 at 6:42 am

        Yes, spaghetti sauce should work fine.

        Reply
    3. Rosa

      March 16, 2022 at 10:38 pm

      Absolutely delicious recipe! It’s a winner with my entire family!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. Michael Lunkwitz

      July 30, 2021 at 11:16 am

      Made it delicious. I substituted water with chicken broth and used 40 Oz of marinara sauce cooked high pressure 8 minutes used the1x to make recipe.two hand fulls
      of parm cheese and some sangorgios Italian blend cheese.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Jenny

        August 01, 2021 at 6:33 am

        So glad you liked it!

        Reply
    5. Carrie Robinson

      June 01, 2021 at 10:40 am

      I just love that you made this in the instant pot! Such a fantastic idea. 🙂

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    6. Heidy Linn

      June 01, 2021 at 10:25 am

      I tested out this Instant Pot chicken parmesan pasta, and it was so easy it was ridiculous! The family loved it, and we will be making this recipe again soon.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Jenny

        June 01, 2021 at 11:31 am

        Glad you liked it!

        Reply
    7. Rika

      June 01, 2021 at 10:06 am

      This is absolutely my favorite way to cook pasta! So quick and less mess!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    8. Jessica Formicola

      June 01, 2021 at 9:08 am

      If I can make it in the Instant Pot, I'm sold! This pasta looks amazing and I can't wait to try it!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    9. Shadi Hasanzadenemati

      June 01, 2021 at 8:31 am

      This was amazing and such a treat! Thank you!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    10. Cece

      March 16, 2021 at 5:47 pm

      Could I use frozen tenderloins? They're not too big

      Reply
      • Jenny

        March 18, 2021 at 6:14 pm

        Hi Cece,
        I"m curious if you tried the frozen chicken tenderloins yet and if it worked? I haven't tried it yet myself, but most recipes I see for frozen chicken tenders call for 6 minutes of cooking time, and I think the pasta would get too mushy.

        Reply
    11. Cindy

      January 11, 2021 at 6:18 pm

      Made this last night, it turnes oit perfectly. Will make again.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Jenny

        January 11, 2021 at 8:43 pm

        Thanks for letting me know! Glad you liked it!

        Reply
    12. Alicia

      November 02, 2020 at 1:49 pm

      Can you use frozen chicken breasts?

      Reply
      • Jenny

        November 03, 2020 at 6:24 am

        Hi Alicia,
        I don't think frozen chicken breasts will work. The cooking time for this pasta is too short, and the chicken breasts won't fully cook.

        Jenny

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Hi, I'm Jenny!
    Mama of two, professional recipe developer, optimist, lover of buttered toast and steaming hot mugs of coffee. I'm here to help you get dinner on the table! Learn More About Me…

    Cozy Beverages

    • Winter Elixir
    • Maple Syrup Coffee
    • Cinnamon Tea (Hot or Iced)
    • Garlic Ginger and Lemon Broth or Tea

    Simple Soups

    • Crockpot Lentil Soup
    • Instant Pot Mushroom Barley Soup
    • Quick & Easy Instant Pot Pho with Ramen Noodles
    • Easy, Flavorful Glass Noodle Soup

    Watch My Web Stories

    Welcome to Kitchen Skip


    Hi, I’m Jenny!
    Recipe developer, writer and Mama of two. I’m here to help answer the never-ending question, what’s for dinner?
    On Kitchen Skip you’ll find easy dinner recipes for busy parents who want to eat well without spending too much time in the kitchen.

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Footer

    Newsletter

    SIGN UP
    for easy dinner recipes

    Let's Get Social!
    Instagram
    Pinterest

    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

    ^ back to top

    Images and text copyright Jenny Meier in 2022. Do not repost images or recipes without requesting permission

    Copyright © 2022 on the Foodie Pro Theme

    We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

    You can find out more about which cookies we are using by reading our privacy policy.

    Kitchen Skip
    Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

    Strictly Necessary Cookies

    Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

    If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.