Instant Pot Cafeteria Noodles

Instant Pot Cafeteria Noodles–buttered egg noodles kicked up a notch! A super fast and easy recipe for classic comfort food.

Pin this recipe for later!

Instant Pot Cafeteria Noodles

Cafeteria noodles are taking TikTok by storm lately! They are a leveled up version of the easy butter noodles that you used to eat in the cafeteria at school. My version is, of course, made in the Instant Pot, which makes them even easier!

These noodles make a perfect side dish to any meal, whether it’s roasted chicken, grilled steak or roasted eggplant. They can also be served as a main course on their own, topped with some Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of parsley. You can also add a can of drained tuna or some rotisserie chicken into the pot.

One of the great things about making buttered egg noodles in the Instant Pot is that it saves time and makes cleanup a breeze. Unlike traditional stovetop cooking methods, there’s no need to boil water separately or dirty additional pots and pans. Simply add the ingredients into the pot, pressure cook for 1 minute and stir! That’s it! The texture of the noodles comes out perfectly making them a crowd-pleaser for everyone at the table.

Ingredients/Substitution Ideas

• Water
• Better than Bouillon Chicken Base–you can also use 4 cups of chicken broth instead of the water and chicken and base.
• Black pepper
• Butter
• Egg noodles–you can also use another type of pasta like rotini
• Campbell’s Cream of Chicken with Herbs Soup–or cream of mushroom soup or cream of celery soup

Steps

Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. Add in the water and let the pot start heating up while you gather the rest of your ingredients. Add in the chicken base and stir a bit to dissolve. Add in the pepper and butter.

Add in the noodles and finally the condensed soup. Don’t stir.

Turn off saute setting. Cover the pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 1 minute. When time is up let pot sit for 5 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid. 

Stir well. If needed, loosen with a bit of milk. Serve and enjoy!

Equipment that I used

• I used my 6 quart Instant Pot*. You can also make this in an 8 quart pot.
• Measuring spoons*
• Measuring cups*
• Serving spoon*

What do I serve with buttered egg noodles?

If you are looking to create a more complete and well-rounded meal, there are several options for what to serve alongside the noodles. Roasted or grilled meat (chicken, beef, pork), vegetables (roasted broccoli, green beans or asparagus), bread or rolls (crusty baguette, garlic bread or dinner rolls).

What if I don’t want to use canned cream of soups?

Make your own cream of soup: You can easily make a cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup at home with just a few ingredients. You would add in your homemade version of the soup after the pressure cooking time is up instead of before.

Use cream cheese: use half of a brick of cream cheese in its place. Place the cream cheese on top of the uncooked noodles and stir it in after the cooking time is up. You may need to add in some extra seasonings and maybe some milk to loosen up the noodles a bit.

Can I freeze leftover cafeteria noodles?

Yes, you can freeze leftover cafeteria buttered egg noodles for later use. Here are some tips for freezing and reheating them:

1. Cool the noodles: Allow the noodles to cool down to room temperature before freezing. This will prevent them from forming ice crystals and becoming soggy.
2. Portion the noodles: Divide the noodles into individual portions that you can easily reheat later. This will prevent you from having to thaw and reheat the entire batch at once.
3. Place in an airtight container: Place the portioned noodles in a freezer-safe, airtight container or freezer bag. Make sure to label the container with the date and contents.
4. Freeze the noodles: Place the container in the freezer and freeze for up to three months.
5. Reheat the noodles: To reheat the frozen buttered egg noodles, simply remove the desired portion from the freezer and place it in a microwave-safe dish. Microwave the noodles for 2-3 minutes or until heated through, stirring occasionally.

Alternatively, you can also reheat the noodles on the stovetop. Place the frozen noodles in a saucepan with a small amount of water or chicken broth. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through.

It’s worth noting that freezing may alter the texture of the noodles slightly, but they should still be flavorful and enjoyable. By following these simple tips, you can freeze leftover buttered egg noodles and enjoy them again at a later time.

Variations of Instant Pot Cafeteria Noodles

These noodles can be customized in many ways to suit your taste preferences. Here are some variations of cafeteria egg noodles:

1. Add fresh herbs: To give your egg noodles a fresh and fragrant flavor, you can add fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, or rosemary. Always add fresh herbs to your dish after the pressure cooking time is up.
2. Lemon noodles: For a tangy twist, add a splash of lemon juice to the pot after pressure cooking time is up. You can also add lemon zest for extra flavor.
3. Garlic noodles: Garlic lovers will enjoy adding minced garlic or garlic powder to the pot after the pressure cooking time is up.
4. Mushroom noodles: Add sautéed mushrooms to the cooked noodles for a rich and earthy flavor.
5. Tomato basil noodles: For a light and fresh twist on the classic dish, add diced tomatoes and fresh basil to the noodles.
6. Meaty noodles: You can also add cooked and diced chicken, meatballs, tuna or cooked ground beef to the noodles for a more substantial meal.

More Instant Pot recipes that use egg noodles

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. 

Pin this recipe for later!

Print

Pin this recipe for later!

*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.