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    Home » Recipes » Instant Pot

    Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Pasta

    Published: Feb 2, 2022 · Modified: Oct 28, 2024 by Karin and Ken · This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment

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    Instant pot buffalo chicken pasta is the perfect easy meal solution that takes only minutes to make, but that tastes amazing. This simple Instant pot pasta meal is ready in less than 30 minutes and takes less than 10 minutes of hands-on time to prepare. The spicy flavor and creamy texture is sure to be a meal the whole family will love!

    Plate of buffalo chicken pasta on a white plate topped with blue cheese crumbles and green onion.

    There's a trick to making pasta in the Instant Pot that I think I've finally got nailed down. Once you know how to do it, it's quite easy to make quick and easy meals without spending hours in the kitchen. Add buffalo chicken pasta to your menu this week and get ready to see big smiling faces when you serve it up!

    Buffalo Chicken Pasta in the Instant Pot

    This was inspired by my other Instant Pot chicken pasta recipe on Kitchen Divas, and pairs well with this amazing cucumber salad recipe.

    If you like using the Instant Pot to make dinner easier to prepare, you might also like this Instant Meatloaf Recipe or this Instant Pot Cheesy Broccoli Rice.

    This pasta is absolute perfection, but for more ideas, check out our Pork Chops and Pasta recipes.

    For more dinner recipes, try our Uses For Shredded Chicken Round-Up which has many delicious chicken dishes to choose from.

    Ingredients

    An easy recipe made with simple ingredients you can gather up during a quick trip to the grocery store.

    • Olive oil
    • Boneless skinless chicken breasts
    • Chicken broth
    • Milk
    • Buffalo sauce
    • Rotini
    • Cream cheese
    • Shredded cheddar cheese
    • Blue cheese crumbles
    • Chopped green onion

    See the recipe card further down on the page for the exact quantities of each ingredient.

    Instructions

    This simple recipe uses both the saute setting and high-pressure cooking settings on the Instant Pot to cook up with less than 10 minutes of hands-on time. Here's a quick overview of how to make the recipe, you will find the full instructions in the recipe card along with step by step photos.

    Step 1: Saute the Chicken


    Add olive oil to the Instant Pot and set the Instant Pot to the saute setting.


    When heated, add the bite-size pieces of chicken and sauté until cooked through. When the chicken is cooked, turn the Instant Pot off.

    Step 2: Pressure Cook the Pasta


    On top of the chicken add the ingredients in this order: chicken broth, milk, buffalo sauce, pasta, and cream cheese.

    Do not stir when the ingredients are added. Place lid on top of the Instant Pot and lock it into place. Check and close the pressure valve. Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes. When the time is done, use the quick release and remove the lid.

    Step 3: Finish the Pasta


    After releasing the pressure, stir the ingredients together. Add shredded cheese and stir until combined and melted.

    Serve up topped with crumbled blue cheese and green onions.

    Fork dipping into the plate of buffalo chicken pasta to take a bite.

    Substitutions

    Don't have the correct ingredients on hand? Or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change how you make Instant Pot buffalo chicken pasta.

    • Rotini pasta - Swap out the rotini for any pasta though short pastas which such as macaroni, penne or bowties work best when making this recipe.
    • Cheddar cheese - Swap out the cheddar cheese with other medium flavored shredded cheeses such as muenster or monterey jack.
    • Vegetarian - Replace the chicken with 1 can of drained chickpeas and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth to make this a vegetarian pasta dish.

    Variations

    Want to personalize this buffalo chicken pasta in the Instant Pot recipe? Here are some of my tried and true tips for changing up this recipe.

    • Extra Spicy - To take the spice of this pasta recipe to the next level, replace the cheddar cheese with shredded pepper jack cheese.
    • Deluxe - Top the finished bowl of pasta with crispy fried onion and bacon bits to make it extra yummy.
    • Kid friendly - If the kids aren't fans of spicy, you can reduce or eliminate the buffalo sauce just make sure to replace the amount you leave out with another liquid such as more broth or milk.

    If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy making Instant Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta or our Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese.

    Storage

    If you have leftovers of this instant pot pasta recipe, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. For best quality, it is not recommended storing leftover buffalo chicken pasta in the freezer.

    To reheat, place the amount you want to eat in a pot and add a bit of liquid, milk, water or chicken broth, to the pot and heat until the pasta is warmed all the way through. As it heats, stir the pasta until the sauce loosens and becomes creamier. Add more liquid as needed.

    What To Serve With Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Pasta

    This is an oh so delicious pasta and deserves to be served with an amazing side dish. Now, although the link will take you to a post about what to serve with chicken cacciatore, fear not...for these sides are just so good that they will make your tastebuds dance!

    Tips

    Making Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Pasta is easy and takes just minutes. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when making this recipe so you get perfect results on the first try.

    • Don't stir the ingredients once they are added to the pot. The layering is the key to cooking buffalo chicken pasta in the Instant Pot.
    • When the five minutes of cook time are finished, it's important to release the pressure and remove the lid right away. If you don't the pasta will continue cooking until the lid is opened leading to mushy pasta.
    • For best flavor add blue cheese crumbles and diced green onions to the top of the pasta when serving.
    Forkful of Instant Pot buffalo chicken pasta held up over the bowl of pasta in the background.

    More Easy Pasta Recipes

    Do you like cooking and eating spicy or savory pasta dishes? Here are some more recipes you may also like to try:

    • Bang Bang Chicken Pasta
    • Cajun Shrimp Pasta
    • Creamy Sundried Tomato Chicken Pasta

    FAQ

    Do you have questions about buffalo chicken pasta in the Instant Pot? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions I receive about this recipe.

    Can I double this recipe in the Instant Pot?

    Yes, in most cases you can cook a double batch of this buffalo chicken pasta using your Instant Pot. You will want to make sure you don't go over the maximum fill line in your pot which in most instances is fine, but may be an issue for smaller sized electric pressure cookers.

    Can I make this recipe in advance?

    For best results and flavor, buffalo chicken pasta is not recommended for cooking in advance and tastes best when eaten freshly cooked. However, you can cook the chicken in advance to save some at time when you're ready to prepare this recipe.

    Can I make Buffalo Chicken Pasta Instant Pot with rotisserie chicken?

    Yes, rotisserie chicken is an easy time saving ingredient you can buy already cooked at the store. Simply remove the chicken from the bone and dice into pieces. Place it in the bottom of the Instant Pot and then layer on the other ingredients.

    Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Pasta

    Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.

    Plate of buffalo chicken pasta on a plate topped with cheese crumbles and green onion.

    Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Pasta

    Karin and Ken
    Cook up a creamy bowl of buffalo chicken pasta using the Instant Pot in a matter of minutes. This easy recipe requires only 10 minutes of hands-on time to prepare making it perfect for busy weeknight dinners.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 5 minutes mins
    Pressurize Instant Pot 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 474 kcal

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot
    • wooden spoon
    • Measuring cups and spoons

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces
    • 1 ½ cups chicken broth
    • 1 cup milk
    • ⅓ cup buffalo sauce
    • 8 ounces rotini
    • 4 ounces cream cheese
    • 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
    • blue cheese crumbles optional
    • chopped green onion optional
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions
     

    • Get out and measure your ingredients.
      Ingredients to make instant pot buffalo chicken pasta on the counter.
    • Add olive oil to the Instant Pot and turn on the pressure cooker to the saute setting.
    • Once the Instant Pot is hot, add the chicken and sauté until chicken is fully cooked.
      Cooking the chicken for buffalo chicken pasta on saute in the Instant Pot.
    • Turn the Instant Pot off.
    • In this order, add the chicken broth
      Adding the chicken broth to Instant Pot.
    • milk,
      Adding the milk to make instant pot pasta.
    • buffalo sauce,
      Adding the buffalo sauce to the pot.
    • pasta,
      Pasta goes on top of the other ingredients to make buffalo chicken pasta instant pot.
    • and cream cheese. Do no stir.
      Cream cheese goes in last on top of the pasta.
    • Place lid on Instant Pot.
    • Close the pressure valve. Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes. When the cook time is use QUICK RELEASE right away.
    • When pressure is released, open lid.
      Buffalo chicken pasta after cooking in the Instant pot.
    • Stir ingredients together.
      Using a wooden spoon to mix the ingredients together.
    • Add shredded cheese and stir until combined.
      Adding shredded cheese to the pot.
    • If you choose, top with crumbled blue cheese and green onions.
      Finished buffalo chicken pasta inside the Instant Pot with a sprinkle of blue cheese and green onions.
    • Serve.
      Fork dipping into the plate of buffalo chicken pasta to take a bite.
    • Enjoy every bite!
      Forkful of Instant Pot buffalo chicken pasta held up over the bowl of pasta in the background.

    Notes

    Need an awesome side dish to serve with this buffalo chicken? Well, you've come to the right place. The list found in that link will take you to some of the best sides on the planet. Sides originally designed for chicken cacciatore but were so good that we had to include them here! Take a peek and I promise that you won't regret it!
    For more ideas, check out our Pork Chops and Pasta recipes. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 474kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 31gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 103mgSodium: 967mgPotassium: 519mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 627IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 283mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword instant pot buffalo chicken pasta, instant pot pasta
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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