Pasta with Tomato Cream Sauce Instant Pot Recipe

Don’t we all love a bowl of pasta with tomato cream sauce? Everyone needs this incredibly delicious pasta in their dinner rotation. This easy dish is ready in under 20 minutes and is something the whole family will enjoy!

This simple Italian recipe is perfect for those days when you don’t feel like chopping vegetables or washing extra dishes. The dish uses basic pantry ingredients which are dumped into the Instant Pot. Top with some freshly grated parmesan for a restaurant-quality dish that will be ready in no time. 

Tomato cream sauce pasta can be prepared by novice as well as expert cooks. It perfectly fits my goal of enabling everyone to cook! This month I was approached by several mothers requesting cooking lessons for their teenagers. The more I understood how hectic and crazy their college schedules could be, the more I continued to develop simple recipes.

This recipe is created with a purpose, that makes sure that all of us can put together a quick meal that is fast, inexpensive and yet satisfying. I am so proud that this Instant Pot tomato cream sauce pasta has now become so popular not only with teenagers, but with their families as well.

Tips to make perfect Instant Pot pasta:

• Most of the pasta should be submerged under liquids
• Pressure cook time = Half the cook time on the box minus 1 minute
• Layer thicker liquids like tomato sauce on top
• Quick release after pressure cooking cycle is complete
• Always stir in cream, cheese etc after the pressure cooking cycle

How to make pasta with tomato cream sauce using this EASY recipe:

Step 1: Add pasta to the Instant Pot, add broth + water. Layer garlic, red chili pepper, salt and tomato sauce. Make sure to push all the pasta under liquids (photos 1 – 4).

Step 2:  Close the Instant Pot lid and Pressure cook. Quick Release and then stir in the cream, grated parmesan and basil or parsley (photos 5 – 8). 

Try these variations for pasta with tomato cream sauce:

• Saute tablespoon of fresh garlic and half a cup of diced onions in olive oil before adding the pasta
• Stir in a cup of frozen peas after the pressure cooking cycle
• Stir in a handful or two of fresh or frozen chopped spinach or kale after the pressure cooking cycle
• Use milk instead of heavy cream to lighten up the dish
• To make spicy tomato cream sauce add extra red chili flakes or skip them all together for a non-spicy pasta

How to Serve: 

When serving this pasta with tomato cream sauce, I often pair it with steamed broccoli. I also make the Instant Pot fudgy brownies for a fun meal that the entire family will enjoy.

Instant Pot Steamed Broccoli to serve with Pasta:

• Add 1 cup of water to the Instant Pot insert
• Place steamer basket and add 3 inch broccoli florets
• Close the Instant Pot lid with pressure valve to sealing
• Steam for 0 minutes at low pressure
• Quick release and open for perfectly cook broccoli
• Stir fry thinly sliced garlic in olive oil and sauté steamed broccoli in the oil with a sprinkle of salt

Do you enjoy the ease and convenience of making pasta in Instant Pot? Here are some more pasta recipes:

• Pasta Caprese – Pasta tossed with tomatoes, basil, fresh mozzarella and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar
• Penne Alla Vodka – Italian classic pasta dish made in a creamy tomato, garlic, vodka sauce
• Spinach Artichoke Macaroni & Cheese – Lightened-up mac and cheese with the healthy addition of spinach and artichokes
• Spicy Taco Pasta – Spicy taco pasta with ground chicken, onions, jalapeños, cilantro and cheese
• Spinach Mushroom Lasagna – Lasagna layered with spinach, mushrooms, garlic and cheese 

Here are some additional easy Instant Pot recipes:

• Chicken Marsala –  chicken braised in buttery, wine soaked mushrooms and herbs
• Saffron Risotto – rice cooked in aromatic saffron, wine and parmesan cheese
• Chicken Noodle Soup with Kale – chicken noodle soup with kale cooked in under 30 minutes

I’ve even made these easy pasta dishes and served it with my french toast bread pudding when hosting my son’s friends on a Friday night. The kids devoured everything!

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Print

Pasta with Creamy Tomato Sauce

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

Total Time

25 mins

 

Incredibly creamy and delicious pasta  with an EASY dump recipe that is ready in under 20 minutes!

Course: Entree

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: creamy tomato pasta

Servings: 6

Calories: 459 kcal

Author: Archana

Ingredients

• 1 pound uncooked Penne Rigate ( ~ 6 cups)
• 2 cups low sodium broth
• 2 cups water
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 cups tomato sauce plain or marinara
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons grated parmesan
• 1/4 cup basil or parsley chopped

Instructions

1. Add the pasta, broth, garlic powder, red pepper, salt to the Instant Pot insert. Layer tomato sauce on top. Gently push all pasta under liquids. Do not mix.
2. Close the Instant Pot with pressure valve to sealing. Press Manual / Pressure Cook (Hi) and adjust cook time to 4 minutes. Quick Release.
3. Stir in the cream and mix until smooth. Add parmesan cheese and chopped basil or parsley.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Notes: 1. We are using full box of pasta in this recipe. 2. Using penne pasta in this recipe which has stove cook time of 10 minutes. To adjust for Instant Pot cook time – Divide the cook time by half and minus one for al dente pasta. Hence we are pressure cooking for 4 minutes. 3. Always have enough water or broth to cover most of the pasta under water. Depending on the shape of pasta you may need more or less liquids.

Nutrition Facts

Pasta with Creamy Tomato Sauce

Amount Per Serving

Calories 459 Calories from Fat 144

% Daily Value*

Fat 16g25%

Saturated Fat 9g56%

Cholesterol 55mg18%

Sodium 891mg39%

Potassium 542mg15%

Carbohydrates 63g21%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 5g6%

Protein 14g28%

Vitamin A 1055IU21%

Vitamin C 6.1mg7%

Calcium 78mg8%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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