Instant Pot Crack Chicken Pasta can be made in about 15 minutes in your pressure cooker. Filled with cheese, bacon, chicken and a hint of ranch it will become a family favorite.
Crack Chicken Is King
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Why Do We Love Crack Chicken Recipes?
This Crack Chicken Pasta is now a family favorite. With chicken, cheddar cheese, ranch, cream cheese and bacon, what isn’t too love. It is like someone took all my favorite ingredients and combined them into one magical dish. The best part is that you will probably have leftovers and they will taste just as good, if not better, the next day!
Could you make a “healthier” version of crack chicken pasta? Probably. You could put in low-fat Ranch dressing, or sub it for Greek Yogurt. You could also use low-fat cheese or turkey bacon. But we aren’t going to do that here. Healthy eating certainly has it’s place, but sometimes it is ok to treat yourself. This is one of those occasions. Just dive in and spend a little extra time at the gym tomorrow!
Instant Pot Crack Chicken Pasta
Ingredients:
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb chicken breast, cut into chunks
- 1 pkg Original Ranch dressing mix
- 1 (8-oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
- 1 box 1lb dry penne pasta
- 3 Cups chicken broth
- 2 Cups water
- 2 Cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 Cup cooked chopped bacon
Directions
Turn on the “Sauté” setting on the Instant Pot. Once preheated add oil, chicken, and ranch packet, and stir to completely coat the chicken. Cook chicken for 2–3 minutes. Scrape any bits off the bottom of your pot.
Add cream cheese, pasta, broth, and water. Be sure to push your dry pasta down into the liquid.
Close lid and lock the lid, select “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” mode and cook on high pressure for 4 minutes time.
Once your pressure cooker is finished cooking, quick release the pressure. After the steam has gone away stir in cheddar cheese and cooked bacon until combined.
Allow the pasta to sit for a few minutes so that the sauce can thicken before enjoying!
Instant Pot Crack Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb chicken breasts cut into 2 inch chunks
- 1/2 cup cooked chopped bacon
- 1 8-oz pkg cream cheese, softened
- 1 pkg Original Ranch dressing mix
- 1 box 1lb dry penne pasta
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Turn on the “Sauté” setting on the Instant Pot. Once preheated add oil, chicken, and ranch packet, and stir to completely coat the chicken. Cook chicken for 2–3 minutes. Scrape any bits off the bottom of your pot.
- Add cream cheese, pasta, broth, and water. Be sure to push your dry pasta down into the liquid.
- Close lid and lock the lid, select “Manual” or "Pressure Cook" mode and cook on high pressure for 4 minutes time.
- Once your pressure cooker is finished cooking, quick release the pressure. After steam has gone away stir in cheddar cheese and cooked bacon until combined.
- Allow the pasta to sit for a few minutes so that the sauce can thicken before enjoying!
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Sharing of this recipe is encouraged and appreciated. Copying of full recipe to any social media is prohibited.
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Anthony says
If I am going to make a double batch, do I need to adjust the cook time? If so, by how much?
Mom says
Nope, the cook time will be the same. It will take the pressure cooker a little longer to come to pressure though.
Christian says
Do I put in raw chicken or cooked?
Mom says
uncooked chicken
Sandi says
The whole family loved this! I’m making again today without the bacon, hoSandipefully they won’t rebel at the omission!
Nicole Wilson says
Can you make this without the chicken?
Mom says
Absolutely! The same cooking procedures would be in place just skip the chicken.
Jenny says
Oh, so good!
Gonna try it with a little cajun seasoning next time.
Thanks for the recipe!
Mom says
That sounds like a great idea!
Mckey says
Can you make with chicken thighs
Mom says
Yes you can. For the same cooking time make sure they are boneless.
Tom says
This recipe is really for a large instapot not the smaller ones and total of ingriedients goes above the max fill line. If you choose to make it you will need to leave out cream cheese until final steps.
Mom says
I make this in my 6 quart Instant Pot. What size are you using?
Marcia says
Everyone enjoyed the recipe! THANKS for sharing. Going to add a little zing next time, maybe garlic pepper or some Cajun spice.
Mom says
I like that idea! Thank you for the feedback!
Ynettia says
Is the recipe the same measurement for 3 quart Instapot
Mom says
I haven’t tried this recipe in my 3 quart yet, if it doesn’t go above the fill line, go for it!
Janice Redden says
I love Kat’s recipes! My husband gave me an Instant Pot for Christmas. I love it! I enjoy cooking!
Mom says
Aww… thank you so much! I am so happy you enjoy our recipes! I LOVE using my Instant Pot!
Melissa says
This recipe was okay, not great, but a good base. Followed recipe exactly. I thought kinda bland. Like the idea of adding cajun seasoning as others have suggested. Also, I think in the future, would add slightly less pasta & more chicken.
Ian says
Made this again tonight and it was delicious. Mixed in garlic when sauteing the chicken. I think 5 cups of liquid was a bit much so I added frozen broccoli with the cheese and bacon then cooked for another 2 minutes to heat it up again. I think next time I’ll use a 32oz box of chicken broth and no water to get my 4 cups and see how the sauce turns out