Instant Pot Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta–all the delicious flavors you love from chicken cordon bleu in a quick and easy pasta dish made in your electric pressure cooker. We scraped the pot clean…no leftovers on this recipe!
Instant Pot Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta
Because I had some ham leftovers to use up I decided I wanted to make something chicken cordon bleu inspired. Surprise surprise, I went with pasta. I’ve nailed down how to get pasta exactly right in the Instant Pot and I love it! I love not having to watch the stove so the water doesn’t boil over. I love throwing everything in the pot and walking away.
This particular recipe is packed with flavor from the ham and bacon and chicken. It’s like a meat lovers pasta. Although there’s not a ton of meat in it (poundage-wise), the flavors from the meat are amazing. Everyone wished I had made more.
A few notes about the ingredients:
- Pasta–I used my favorite twisty cavatappi pasta that I find at Smith’s (Kroger). You can also use cellentani pasta or penne.
- Cheese–to make it more like chicken cordon bleu you can use shredded Swiss cheese. I ended up using mozzarella cheese because that’s what I had on hand. I also think a combo of mozzarella and parmesan would be tasty.
- Bacon–I had a big bag of bacon crumbles in my fridge (I buy it from Costco) so I added bacon to the pasta dish to really push it over the edge. If you want to leave the bacon out you totally can. It just adds more flavor.
- Bread crumbs–to get the chicken cordon bleu flare I wanted to toast bread crumbs and add them to the top of the pasta. This would simulate the breaded chicken breast. This is another ingredient that is not necessary.
More Instant Pot Pasta Recipes I love…
Instant Pot Broccoli Chicken Mac and Cheese
Instant Pot Cheeseburger Pasta
Instant Pot Creamy Basil Chicken and Tortellini
What Pressure Cooker Did You Use?
To make Instant Pot Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta I used my 6 quart Instant Pot Duo 60 7 in 1*. I love this Instant Pot because it has the yogurt making function which I use almost weekly. It has two pressure settings (high and low), and there are also little slots in the handles so that you can rest the lid there instead of putting it down on your counter-top.
PrintInstant Pot Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes (plus 5 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 18 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
All the delicious flavors you love from chicken cordon bleu in a quick and easy pasta dish made in your electric pressure cooker. We scraped the pot clean…no leftovers on this recipe!
Ingredients
- 3 cups water
- 3 tsp better than bouillon chicken base
- 1 pound chicken breasts, cut into bite size pieces (this can be cooked or uncooked chicken)
- 12 ounces dry cavatappi or cellentani noodles
- 1 1/2 cups cubed ham
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 cup crumbled bacon
- 1 cup grated swiss cheese or mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup half and half, heavy cream or evaporated milk
- Optional: toasted bread-crumb topping (recipe below in notes)
Instructions
- Pour water into the Instant Pot. Add in the chicken base and the chicken. Add in the pasta noodles evenly. Try to have the water cover them as much as possible. Sprinkle in the ham, onion powder, garlic salt and pepper.
- Cover the Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 3 minutes. When the time is up let the pot sit there for 5 minutes and then move the valve to venting. Remove the lid and stir in the cheese, bacon and half and half. It might be a little runny at first but the liquid will soak into the pasta in a few minutes.
- Scoop pasta into dishes and serve. Top with toasted breadcrumbs, if desired.
Notes
I used my 6 quart Instant Pot Duo 60 7 in 1*.
Pasta–I used my favorite twisty cavatappi pasta that I find at Smith’s (Kroger). You can also use cellentani pasta or penne.
Cheese–to make it more like chicken cordon bleu you can use shredded Swiss cheese. I ended up using mozzarella cheese because that’s what I had on hand. I also think a combo of mozzarella and parmesan would be tasty.
Bacon–I had a big bag of bacon crumbles in my fridge (I buy it from Costco) so I added bacon to the pasta dish to really push it over the edge. If you want to leave the bacon out you totally can. It just adds more flavor.
Toasted Bread-Crumb Topping: process 2 slices of white sandwich bread in the food processor to coarse crumbs, melt 2 Tbsp butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add bread crumbs and toast, stirring often, until golden brown, 5-7 minutes. Transfer bread crumbs to bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Instant Pot
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 397
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 858 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Protein: 24 g
Send Me Free Recipes
Like this recipe for Instant Pot Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta? Get all my new recipes delivered to your email inbox by signing up below.
*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.
Michelle says
Adding it to this week’s plan. I think I will add a couple tablespoons of Dijon, otherwise it looks perfect!! So glad I found your website.
Karen says
I love dijon!
Chris says
This was delicious. Thank you for the recipe! I didn’t have chicken or bacon but had about 3-4 cups of leftover ham. Perfect!
Karen says
I’m so glad you liked it Chris!
Rhonda B. says
What do I need to change in the recipe to make just 1/2 batch? Although we LOVE this recipe, it’s a bit too much, unless I can freeze the leftovers?
Thanks so much for all the awesome recipes!!! I tell everyone about your site!!
Karen says
Halve the recipe ingredients and keep the cooking time the same 😊
Amanda says
If I used whole milk instead of heavy cream (as I don’t have cream) will that still work?
Karen says
Yes that should be fine 🙂
Jeanne says
What if you used chicken thighs?
Karen says
It’d be great!
Margaret Harwood says
Made for supper tonight with a few changes because of what l had on hand, used ground chicken,panchetta, bacon bits and rotini pasta,also added cooked peas at the end for colour,also put on saute as l thought it was a little thin but should have just let it sit for a while to let it thicken on it’s own.l did not rate it because of the changes l made but we thought it was very good and will make again.Thanks
Christy says
Will this work in a 5 Quart? Trying it tonight 🙂
Karen says
Yes it should work great!
Robyn says
I made this last night with uncooked chicken, and when the lid came off, the chicken was still kinda pink-ish. I ended up putting the lid back on and cooking it for a couple extra minutes. It did taste pretty good; I can’t believe how creamy it ended up!if I make this again, I will probably cook the chicken first just to be on the safe side
Shannon says
I’ll admit, I didn’t trust the 3 min with raw chicken so I used the poultry button. DON’T DO IT! Trust the expert. My chicken was very dry and overcooked. Overall, it was still super delicious. I will be saving this recipe for the future.
Marnie says
Made this last night as written (but skipped the optional bread crumbs) and everyone loved it! This recipe is a keeper!! Can’t wait for leftovers at lunch today!
Karen says
Nice! Glad you liked it 🙂
Dagmar says
It was delicious!
Karen says
Glad you liked it!
Brenda Bates says
Made this Saturday evening – delicious! The only change I made was omitted the bread crumbs. I served it with a salad and hubby loved it. Definitely will make this one again. Thanks for the great recipes!
Karen says
So glad you tried it! We loved it too!
Donna Clarke says
I used chicken broth in lieu of water, other than that the first time I tried this recipe, every raved about how great it was. The second time I made this recipe I added chopped almonds, chives, and doubled the cheese. Then put crushed potato chips with melted butter on top. Good both times. Bringing the second batch to our church’s food table on Sunday. Great recipe. Loved it as first put out, and loved it the second time I made it with the additions.
Karen says
Wow Donna! Your changes sound great 🙂
Andrea McNamee says
I opened my lid and found liquid still in my pot. What should I do?
Karen says
Just stir and turn it to the saute setting. The liquid will absorb in just a few minutes.
shirley says
how would this work in a crockpot
Karen says
I’m not exactly sure. Most of the time when I make pasta in the crockpot it doesn’t work out well. The texture becomes weird. I would make this on the stovetop if I didn’t have an Instant Pot!
Joyce says
Could I use plain ole elbow macaroni?
It sounds so good!
Karen says
yes! I think that would work just great.
Catherine says
what if you have only chicken broth vs the better than bouillon?
Karen says
Just use chicken broth in the place of water and the bouillon. It should work just great.
Courtney Howell says
So if the chicken is uncooked do you cook it any longer than the 3 minutes & minutes you are suggesting? can you do it with uncooked bacon as well?
Karen says
No keep the cooking time the same. Since the chicken is cup up into bite size pieces instead of a big hunk of meat it cooks in the 3 minutes. I haven’t tried uncooked bacon and I don’t know that I would like that since it wouldn’t get crispy.
Marlene Miller says
Wondering how to make this low carb?
Karen says
Beats me!!! I guess you could just have the ham, chicken and bacon with the creamy sauce.
Brittany Johnson says
Maybe toss with zoodles
Michelle Perrin says
Cauliflower florets instead of pasta! That’s how I am going to try it. This sounds amazing!
Karen says
Interesting!