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Instant Pot Creamy Garlic Parmesan Pasta Made Easy

Instant Pot Creamy Garlic Parmesan Pasta Made Easy

Tender penne cooks directly in the Instant Pot before being finished with heavy cream and freshly grated Parmesan. The result is a creamy, garlicky dinner with minimal prep and cleanup.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon Olive oil
  • 4 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 4 cups Chicken broth
  • 1 pound Penne pasta, uncooked
Seasonings
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Black pepper
Finishing Ingredients
  • 1 cup Heavy cream
  • 1 1/2 cups Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Set the Instant Pot to Sauté. Add the olive oil and cook the minced garlic for 30–60 seconds, just until fragrant, taking care not to brown it.
  2. Pour in the chicken broth and scrape the bottom of the pot thoroughly to loosen any garlic residue.
  3. Add the uncooked penne, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Press the pasta down so it is mostly submerged, but do not vigorously stir it into the bottom.
  4. Secure the lid, move the valve to Sealing, and cook on High Pressure for 6 minutes.
  5. When the cooking time ends, perform a quick pressure release. Open the lid carefully once the pressure has fully released.
  6. Stir in the heavy cream, followed by the Parmesan, until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Let the pasta stand for 1–2 minutes so the sauce can thicken before serving.

Notes

Use freshly grated Parmesan for the smoothest melting. Low-sodium chicken broth is preferred because Parmesan and added salt already bring plenty of seasoning. For a vegetarian version, use vegetable broth. Half-and-half may be used instead of heavy cream for a lighter sauce.