Everyday Casserole–an easy Instant Pot recipe that is perfect for a busy weekday. It’s got chicken, pasta, vegetables and a creamy sauce all in one dish.
Everyday Casserole
My son said this dinner reminded him of chicken and dumplings! That is a compliment if you ask me because chicken and dumplings are like comfort food in a bowl. This is an easy recipe that you can make any day of the week. It comes together quite quickly and only requires a 3 minute pressure cooking time. This is perfect for a busy school night. My son had 2 huge scoops of this casserole and we all kept sneaking bites until it was gone.
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Butter
- Onion–yellow or white
- Chicken broth–or water and Better than Bouillon
- Penne pasta–or rotini, egg noodles, cavatappi, elbow macaroni
- Chopped, cooked chicken–I used rotisserie chicken
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Poultry seasoning
- Garlic powder
- Frozen mixed vegetables–I used a mix with carrots, corn, peas and green beans. You can also use frozen broccoli.
- Cream cheese–or 1 cup alfredo sauce or 1 can of cream of chicken soup
Steps
Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the butter and let it melt. Add in the diced onion and saute for 4 minutes.
Pour in the broth and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking. Turn off Instant Pot.
Sprinkle in penne pasta. Add in the chicken, salt, pepper, poultry seasoning and garlic powder.
Dump in the frozen mixed vegetables and cream cheese. Don’t stir.
Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 3 minutes. When time is up let pot sit for 5 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
Stir well. Serve and enjoy. Loosen with a bit of milk, if needed.
Notes/Tips
- Serve with a green salad or fresh fruit.
- I used my 6 quart Instant Pot*. You can also make this in a 3 or an 8 quart pot.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- If you use another type of pasta you may need to adjust the pressure cook time. For egg noodles only use a 1 minute pressure cook time. For rotini, macaroni, cavatappi a 3 minute pressure cook time should work nicely. Usually I take the number on the back of the box and divide by 2 and then subtract 1 or 2 minutes.
- I love buying 2 rotisserie chickens each time I go to Costco. I remove the meat and store 1-2 cups of it in each ziplock bag and then freeze it. Then whenever I need some cooked chicken for a recipe I have it on hand. Another idea is to make a big batch of this basic shredded seasoned chicken in the Instant Pot and then store it in the freezer in 1-2 cup increments and then use it for recipes.
- Other recipes you can make with the other half of the brick of cream cheese are It Ain’t Happening Casserole and Don’t Leave Me Dinner.
More Instant Pot Recipes with Chicken and Pasta…
Instant Pot Sandy’s Casserole
Pasta in a creamy sauce with chicken, mushrooms, onions, spinach, garlic and topped with crispy fried onions.
Instant Pot Dad’s Casserole
Layers of egg noodles, cream cheese, chicken, red sauce and cheese. A family favorite!
At the Lake Casserole
A creamy chicken, orzo and broccoli one pot dish. An easy dump-and-go recipe with a 1 minute pressure cook time.
Henny Penny Chicken
Penne pasta and chicken in a creamy white sauce…better than alfredo!
Class Reunion Casserole
Instant Pot broccoli, orzo, bacon, cheese and chicken casserole. A twist on a classic casserole and an easier and faster method of making it.
Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.
Everyday Casserole
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes (plus 5 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 1 cup diced onion
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- 1 1/2 cups chopped cooked chicken
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp poultry seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 (12 oz) bag frozen mixed vegetables (carrots, corn, peas and green beans)
- 4 ounces cream cheese
Instructions
- Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the butter and let it melt. Add in the diced onion and saute for 4 minutes.
- Pour in the broth and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking. Turn off Instant Pot.
- Sprinkle in penne pasta. Add in the chicken, salt, pepper, poultry seasoning and garlic powder. Dump in the frozen mixed vegetables and cream cheese. Don’t stir.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 3 minutes. When time is up let pot sit for 5 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
- Stir well. Serve and enjoy. Loosen with a bit of milk, if needed.
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Instant Pot
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Is there a way to cook chicken tenders in the IP along with all of the other ingredients? That would be much easier than cooking the chicken separately for me.
Yes you can cook chicken tenders at the same time since it has a 3 minute pressure cook time it will work perfectly. Add in about a pound of tenders. Should be perfect.
Just made Everyday Casserole and it was a hit with ALL ages. So glad we gave it a try.
ME TOO!! Thanks for the 5 stars Vicky 🙂
I don’t have an instant pot. are there directions for a Crock-Pot or conventual oven?
Here’s how I would make it on stove/oven:
1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Strain and set aside.
Heat a pan over medium high heat. Add in the butter and let it melt. Add in the diced onion and saute for 4 minutes.
2. Add in penne pasta, chicken, salt, pepper, poultry seasoning and garlic powder. Cook mixed vegetables in microwave. Then dump them in along with the cream cheese. Stir until cream cheese is melted and incorporated. You may need to loosen with a bit of milk.
3. Serve and enjoy.