Description
An Italian pasta dish loaded with a creamy Parmesan and cream cheese sauce, with bites of spinach, basil, sun-dried tomatoes, and tender chicken. A single pot meal prepared quickly in the Instant Pot®. Garnish with additional Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken tenders
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ⅓ cup minced onion
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- ¾ cup half-and-half
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 (8 ounce) package reduced fat cream cheese, room temperature, cut into small cubes
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 cups fresh baby spinach
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and chopped
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- Combine paprika
- salt
- and pepper in a bowl and season chicken tenders on both sides.
- Turn on a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®) and select Saute function. Add olive oil. Brown chicken tenders in the hot oil for about 2 minutes. Remove to a plate. Add butter to Instant Pot®. Stir in onion and garlic; cook and stir for 1 to 2 minutes. Pour in chicken broth
- scraping off browned bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon. Mix in penne pasta
- half-and-half
- Italian seasoning
- salt and pepper.
- Return chicken tenders back to the pot; close and lock the lid. Select High pressure according to manufacturer’s instructions; set timer for 5 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.
- Release pressure carefully using the quick-release method according to manufacturer’s instructions
- about 5 minutes.
- Remove chicken to plate and cover with foil. Immediately stir penne to separate them from the sauce. Mix in cream cheese
- stirring until sauce is smooth. Add Parmesan cheese
- spinach
- and sun-dried tomatoes
- stirring well. Chop chicken into bite-sized pieces
- return to the pot
- and stir to combine with the sauce. Toss basil in right before serving.
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Total Time: 45 mins
Servings: 4