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365 Days of Slow Cooking and Pressure Cooking

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June 30, 2020

Instant Pot Olive Garden Chicken Pasta

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Instant Pot Olive Garden Chicken Pasta—with just a handful of ingredients you can make a creamy and zesty pasta and chicken in your Instant Pot. An easy weeknight dump and go recipe!

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Related: SLOW COOKER olive garden chicken pasta recipe

Instant Pot Olive Garden Chicken Pasta

I saw the slow cooker version of this recipe on facebook and knew that I needed to try it in the Instant Pot. I love making pasta in the Instant Pot. No more waiting for the water to boil and then worrying that it will boil over. Just add water/broth and pasta to your Instant Pot, put the lid on and walk away. It gives me warm, fuzzy feelings every time I think about it.

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Have you tried the Olive Garden salad dressing that you can buy at your grocery store? We always have it on hand and eat it on salads most days of the week. Sometimes I use the lower fat option and sometimes the original dressing. Both are good (definitely the original is better though). This recipe uses the Olive Garden salad dressing for lots of zesty flavor.

My version of this Instant Pot olive garden chicken pasta uses way less dressing than the original recipe (I found the original amount to be way too overpowering). Plus I added in some sundried tomatoes and basil for extra color and flavor. They are totally optional though. Another choice would be to throw a can of diced tomatoes in with the pasta and chopped spinach. Those are two things I always have on hand at my house.

The chicken I used was boneless skinless chicken breasts that I cut into bite size pieces. The chicken was partially frozen when I cut it up. I find that cutting halfway frozen meats is so much easier than fresh/thawed meats. Another good option is to use boneless, skinless chicken thighs which always stay moist and tender in the Instant Pot. You can also use fresh chicken tenders with this recipe. Since they are so small and thin they will cook just fine in the 3 minute cooking time. Unfortunately throwing in whole frozen chicken breasts is not an option in this recipe since the pasta only needs about 3 minutes to cook and whole chicken breasts wouldn’t cook in that amount of time.

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More Chicken and Pasta Recipes…

  • Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken Alfredo–Amanda said, “Oh my gosh thank you for this recipe; turned out wonderful even though I had to sub cornstarch for flour and only had green beans. It will still be a hit in my house!”
  • Instant Pot Chicken Florentine Pasta–Hila said, “Made this last night and the family loved it!”
  • Instant Pot Cheesy Chicken Pasta–Joyce said, ” It was delicious! This will definitely go in my rotation.”
  • Instant Pot Garlic Chicken Alfredo Pasta–Devin said, “I’ve already made this 2x! I used linguine noodles instead, and it’s the best chicken Alfredo I’ve ever eaten!”
  • Instant Pot White Chicken Lasagna–Ashley said, “First time Instant Pot user and I made this recipe. I have three boys (four if you count my husband, which I usually do because he is the biggest kid of them all..ha) ages: 1, 3, & 13 and they all loved this. Everyone went back for seconds. I will have to double the batch next time.”

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Instant Pot Olive Garden Chicken Pasta


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 57 reviews

  • Author: 365 Days of Slow and Pressure Cooking
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 3 minutes (plus 5 minute NPR)
  • Total Time: 18 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
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Description

With just a handful of ingredients you can make a creamy and zesty pasta and chicken in your Instant Pot. An easy weeknight dump and go recipe!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 1/2 pounds uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
  • 1 (16 oz) box penne pasta (uncooked)
  • 3/4 cup Olive Garden Signature Italian Salad Dressing
  • 3 1/2 cups chicken broth (or water + better than bouillon)
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese
  • 1 (6.7 oz) jar sundried tomatoes, drained and chopped (optional)
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil (optional)
  • 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
  • 1 Tbsp cornstarch + 2 Tbsp water

Instructions

  1. Add chicken to bottom of Instant Pot in an even layer. Then layer with the pasta, dressing, broth, pepper and cream cheese. Don’t stir. 
  2. Cover the 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 the pot sit for 5 minutes and then move the valve to venting. Remove the lid.
  3. Stir in the tomatoes, basil and parmesan cheese. 
  4. If sauce is too runny then make a cornstarch slurry. Turn your Instant Pot to the saute setting. In a small bowl stir together 1 Tbsp of cornstarch with 1-2 Tbsp of water, until smooth.Then pour the mixture into the Instant Pot. The cornstarch mixture will thicken up contents of pot quickly. Turn off Instant Pot. Scoop into bowls and serve. 
  • Category: Chicken
  • 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.

209 Comments Filed Under: All Recipes, Chicken, Dump and Go, Instant Pot, Pasta

Comments

  1. Amy says

    April 28, 2025 at 6:30 pm

    So easy to follow and so delicious!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      May 14, 2025 at 12:27 pm

      thanks Amy!

      Reply
  2. Karen H Comardelle says

    January 11, 2025 at 4:22 pm

    This sounds so delicious. How would the ingredients need to be adjusted if the pasta is omitted. I’d like to serve it over zucchini noodles so a little sauce would be just fine with us. Ideally needs to be enough to feed 5 adults.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      January 16, 2025 at 6:07 pm

      I would cut broth down to 1/2 cup and I would also cut the dressing in half.

      Reply
  3. Dianne Perkins says

    October 14, 2024 at 4:45 pm

    I had my doubts about this recipe but it was perfect! I accidentally put the cream cheese on the top but everything worked out. I had everything on hand including fresh basil. At the end, I added in red pepper flakes. Thanks for a great recipe.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 17, 2024 at 4:57 pm

      You’re welcome! Thanks for the 5 stars!

      Reply
  4. Mara Gideon says

    July 16, 2024 at 6:29 pm

    I used 4 c chicken broth, half a small jar of sun dried tomato pesto, 1 c Olive Garden Italian dressing, 8 Oz shredded Parmesan. I used more liquid because my Instantpot usually requires more. I cooked for 5 minutes and let it sit for 5 minutes after before releasing pressure. It turned out amazing!!! TY!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      July 22, 2024 at 5:58 pm

      Sounds great Mara!

      Reply
  5. Sharon says

    March 7, 2024 at 1:46 pm

    It was good but I didn’t love it as much as other reviewers did. I used Olive Garden dressing but may try a different brand since it was a bit too vinegary.

    Reply
  6. Sharon says

    March 5, 2024 at 2:39 pm

    I plan to make this tomorrow. If I’m using dried basil in place of fresh, how much would be the right amount? Thank you.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      March 6, 2024 at 8:34 pm

      I would use 1 1/2 tsp of dried basil

      Reply
      • Latoya says

        June 30, 2024 at 4:05 pm

        May I share, that I appreciate this recipe. It turned out creamy and great, did not have to use any cornstarch. However, I had only mozzarella cheese in my house and use a bag of it. Very tasty!

        Reply
  7. Anonymous says

    March 3, 2024 at 1:03 pm

    Reply
  8. Andi says

    June 12, 2023 at 11:20 am

    This is my go to recipe for meal trains. It is so easy and everyone loves it. You can also use cooked chicken breasts and add it at the end. This is a hit no matter who eats it. I never need the slurry at the end. It turns out perfect for me every time.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      June 12, 2023 at 9:55 pm

      That’s a great idea to use this dinner for meal trains! I love that Andi!

      Reply
      • Jenn says

        August 29, 2023 at 1:04 pm

        Can you use frozen chicken? If so what time adjustments? Thanks!

        Reply
        • Karen says

          August 31, 2023 at 11:41 am

          if the frozen chicken is cut into bite size pieces then yes.

          Reply
  9. Rose says

    July 25, 2022 at 9:59 am

    I can literally cut all ingredients in half to make only four servings? I understand that the cooking time stays the same. Thanks for your help.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      July 26, 2022 at 1:40 pm

      yep yep!

      Reply
  10. Jenna says

    July 2, 2022 at 1:17 pm

    We love this recipe. It’s my 7 year olds favourite meal. He asks for this weekly.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      July 5, 2022 at 12:46 pm

      That’s so great! Thanks for sharing Jenna!

      Reply
  11. Christina says

    May 13, 2022 at 9:02 pm

    This was so delicious! This recipe was SO GOOD. Probably one of the best pasta recipes I’ve ever made. It was super easy to just throw in the instant pot, walk the dog, and when I came back dinner was ready. Definitely adding this to my rotation!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      May 14, 2022 at 12:20 pm

      Thanks Christina for the review and the 5 stars!

      Reply
  12. Amber says

    March 24, 2022 at 10:59 am

    I made this for the first time last night. My family liked it but said that the vinegar taste was too strong. I was skeptical of the timing of 3 minutes with release after 5, so I increased my times to 5 minutes cooking and a release after 10 minutes. Is it possible that the extra cooking time made the vinegar taste more concentrated? We have loved every recipe we have tried from your site, so I am wondering if I did something wrong on this one. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      March 24, 2022 at 12:28 pm

      No that wouldn’t have made a difference in taste. Maybe it’s just not the recipe for you. It is dressing based which has vinegar in it so that’s why.

      Reply
  13. Danielle says

    February 22, 2022 at 2:24 pm

    Do you think I could try to make half the recipe? I only cook for two and I don’t want to waste food. Thanks

    Reply
    • Karen says

      February 24, 2022 at 7:15 pm

      I have cut this irecipe in half several times and it is awesome!

      Reply
    • Karen says

      February 28, 2022 at 4:43 pm

      Yes that would be just fine!

      Reply
  14. Robin Eissler says

    January 15, 2022 at 5:32 am

    I am gluten free. Olive Garden Italian dressing says gluten free on the bottle. I used gluten free penne. Cooking time was perfect. Very good

    Reply
    • Karen says

      January 17, 2022 at 1:50 pm

      Good to know! Thanks for sharing your experience.

      Reply
  15. chris says

    January 8, 2022 at 6:01 am

    I would love to try this without the pasta. How would I adjust the ingredients to not use any pasta at all. We use yellow squash and zucchini for out pasta..sometimes cauliflower.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      January 8, 2022 at 9:59 pm

      I don’t think I would use a pressure cooker if I wasn’t using pasta. I would probably just saute the chicken and then add in veggies and cook until softened. If you try to pressure cook tender veg they will get super mushy

      Reply
  16. Val B says

    December 17, 2021 at 7:08 pm

    I made this tonight, it was a big hit with all the family……….Thank you Karen

    Reply
    • Karen says

      December 17, 2021 at 9:15 pm

      you’re welcome! Glad to hear it!

      Reply
  17. Suzanne says

    December 14, 2021 at 5:14 pm

    Holy cow! This was delicious!
    I doubled the recipe and used skinless boneless chicken thighs. I had some yellow squash to use up so I halved the slices and threw those in. I think lots of vegetable variations are possible. I also added about a half cup of Marsala cooking wine, and a little bit less chicken broth since the squash was going to release water. The pasta was perfect.
    My husband loved this, too!
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      December 15, 2021 at 4:21 pm

      Awesome! So glad you liked it. Your version sounds really delicious!

      Reply
  18. Brandy says

    October 20, 2021 at 7:59 pm

    I have done this in the crockpot and loved it! Now, I literally just got my pressure cooker an hour ago on sale (score!) and decided to give it a go in there otherwise I was going to do a stovetop version. OMG! So life changing and easy! I’m still astounded how quick it is and how delicious!

    Beginner friendly too! First meal I’ve ever done in my pressure cooker now.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 22, 2021 at 11:31 am

      Good work Brandy! You will soon be a pressure cooker pro!

      Reply
  19. Kiki says

    October 15, 2021 at 4:27 pm

    What if I forgot to cut it into cubes ? Could I still put the full chicken breast in .

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 18, 2021 at 6:51 pm

      I wouldn’t because it wouldn’t cook through in the time the pasta takes to cook.

      Reply
      • Nora says

        November 4, 2021 at 11:47 am

        I fix this all the time chicken is always done perfectly and the pasta is as well

        Reply
        • Karen says

          November 4, 2021 at 2:31 pm

          Thanks Nora! I’m so glad to hear it.

          Reply
  20. Shannon says

    October 12, 2021 at 5:58 pm

    Love this recipe! Simple and delicious! Any suggestions as to whether the recipe can be altered for already cooked chicken? Wondering if everything would still come out okay if the chicken was just stirred in at the end? Thanks for any suggestions, I’m still new to the instant pot!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 18, 2021 at 7:08 pm

      Yep you could totally do that and it would be fine!

      Reply
  21. Rochelle says

    October 3, 2021 at 9:26 pm

    I wud like to make this, but could I use Rotini noodles instead, same cook time? Thank u!!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 4, 2021 at 12:13 pm

      Yes you could do that.

      Reply
  22. Jen says

    September 3, 2021 at 4:56 pm

    Made this for dinner tonight (didn’t have the tomatoes or basil) and it was a hit! Everyone gobbled it up. Thanks for a quick easy meal.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      September 4, 2021 at 8:48 pm

      You’re welcome! Thanks for the 5 star review!

      Reply
  23. Tiffany says

    July 19, 2021 at 5:50 pm

    Ok I was super skeptical. I was sure that I read three minutes wrong but I follow the directions exactly and I am completely amazed! This is so good!! I doubled the recipe and it turned out amazing everyone loves it it’s a new household favorite and I am thankful because it’s quick it’s easy and it’s delicious!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      July 20, 2021 at 12:43 pm

      So glad it worked well for you!

      Reply
    • Tracey says

      March 6, 2022 at 6:05 pm

      Did you adjust the time with doubling the receipt?

      Reply
  24. Roxanna Switzer says

    July 8, 2021 at 4:11 pm

    I made this as a Meal Train for my brother, his wife is dying from Bone Cancer and I need things that are quick and easy to feed a family of 5 so he could work, get home, take care of the kids and get to the hospital as quick as possible. Thank you so much for such a wonder, quick and lovely meal I can share. I do not like sun dried tomato’s so I used fresh. it was amazing and he said his family that is usually picky eaters all loved it. Thank you so much for a wonderful meal

    Reply
    • Karen says

      July 8, 2021 at 6:46 pm

      Oh, I’m sorry he’s facing this. That is so sad! But I’m glad you could help his family out.

      Reply
  25. Jason says

    June 27, 2021 at 6:04 pm

    The first time I made this I thought it was fire roasted tomato so we bought those and it tasted great! I’ve since reread the ingredients but contuine to use fire roasted. Otherwise I don’t change anything and both my bf and I love it!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      June 28, 2021 at 1:11 pm

      I love fire roasted tomatoes! Good plan!

      Reply
  26. Jessica Richter says

    June 11, 2021 at 3:19 pm

    Absolutely delicious I did substitute the sun dried tomatoes for fresh spinach

    Reply
    • Karen says

      June 12, 2021 at 8:08 pm

      I love that idea!

      Reply
  27. Renee says

    April 20, 2021 at 6:16 pm

    I saw 2 different times – one said cook 3 minutes and let sit in pot for 4 minutes and another said let it sit in the pot for 5 minutes. Which one is correct? Thank you.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      April 22, 2021 at 1:11 pm

      It’s supposed to be 5 minutes.

      Reply
      • Danielle says

        July 17, 2022 at 1:38 pm

        This sounds and looks amazing Cook time when trying recipe in a crockpot?

        Reply
        • Karen says

          July 18, 2022 at 9:29 pm

          I’d try 4 hours on low

          Reply
        • Simpson Penny says

          December 30, 2023 at 10:48 pm

          how much spinach? still use sun dried tomatoes?

          Reply
  28. LDP says

    March 26, 2021 at 10:09 am

    My boyfriend gave this an A+ and said it was delicious. He had no idea how Instant Pots worked so he was really impressed with the 3 min cook time! 😛 Although the sundried toms are optional, I really think they enhance the flavor. When I microwaved leftovers the next day, it was a tad bland, but a light salting picked it right up. I also ate some cold and I think it could be a great summer salad. I’d prob cut the chicken pieces even smaller if I did that, maybe even pulse a bit in the food processor before cooking.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      March 26, 2021 at 7:48 pm

      Good ideas! Glad your boyfriend liked it too!

      Reply
    • Ali says

      May 16, 2021 at 10:34 am

      It looked like the time changed, but it is supposed to cook for 5 minutes, not 3. And yeah cut the chicken into small, cubed pieces. It worked perfectly for me.

      Reply
  29. P says

    March 6, 2021 at 4:10 pm

    First time making this recipe. PFollowed the recipe exactly. We found it not very flavorful. So I worked on it and adjusted it to our taste so we could have it for dinner.

    Reply
    • Virginia says

      March 10, 2021 at 7:17 am

      What did you add, in case I have the same problem? I would’ve thought the tomatoes & basil would give lots of flavor.
      Thanks for your reply.

      Reply
  30. B Jones says

    March 6, 2021 at 11:31 am

    For the rest of the world, what would replace the Olive Garden Signature Italian Salad Dressing?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      March 8, 2021 at 1:31 pm

      You could use any Italian salad dressing.

      Reply
      • Sharon Schiffler says

        July 9, 2021 at 7:57 am

        I would like to know what I could use instead of a creamy Italian dressing. Something healthy & not store bought.

        Reply
    • LDP says

      March 26, 2021 at 10:13 am

      I was going to buy regular Aldi branch italian dressing at my Aldi but they happened to have the Olive Garden brand in their seasonal section, which I was not familiar with. It appears to be a creamy italian so if you’re buying a normal brand, I’d look for the creamy italian to be closer in flavor profile.

      Reply
  31. Erica says

    February 23, 2021 at 4:19 pm

    I found your recipe about a month ago. I’ve cooked it 4 times so far. It is absolutely delicious! I didn’t change a thing!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      February 25, 2021 at 3:39 pm

      Thanks Erica! I’m glad you found it and liked it 😊

      Reply
  32. Sarah says

    February 16, 2021 at 2:51 pm

    I loved this when I made it before and have also used Buffalo Wild Wings Parmesan garlic sauce instead of Olive Garden dressing before too as a twist.

    I got a grocery delivery, and they gave me mini penne instead of penne. Would mini have the same cook time? I’m still getting used to how to adjust cook times with my IP.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      February 17, 2021 at 12:47 pm

      I’d use the same time! should be great!

      Reply
  33. Tammy says

    January 21, 2021 at 2:12 pm

    Simply DELICIOUS!!! It Turned out perfectly! This recipe is going on the meal rotation in my home fore sure. Thank you for the great recipe!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      January 26, 2021 at 2:56 pm

      my pleasure Tammy!

      Reply
    • Brenda says

      February 2, 2021 at 6:00 pm

      This was so delicious I made it with bowties my family said it taste just like Olive Gardens. Soo GOOD and easy to make.

      Reply
      • Karen says

        February 3, 2021 at 10:55 am

        I’m so glad you guys liked it!

        Reply
  34. Nancy McCall says

    January 20, 2021 at 4:44 pm

    Delicious! I added onions, bell pepper and asparagus, I will make this again.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      January 21, 2021 at 12:58 pm

      Love those ideas!

      Reply
  35. VitaZgal says

    January 20, 2021 at 3:42 am

    Hi hi….I can’t wait to make this….I have two Duo Nova Ipots…both are 3 qt size…
    would you help with amounts of pasta, liquid, ckn and anything that should be changed…
    I’m new with using the Ipot so pls don’t assume I know anything…* I will be using
    a paste of tom/basil * I believe I will be making this with diff’t variations often. I am
    super excited & going to look now for your book..that’s actually what I thought I
    was being led to when I followed a link reading about this recipe somewhere..I think on FB
    group.. I’m going to Amazon right this minute ! Thank you soooo much 🙂

    Reply
    • Karen says

      January 20, 2021 at 2:16 pm

      Hi there, what I would do is halve the ingredients and keep the same cooking time. Should work great in the 3 quart pot!

      Reply
  36. Tyler says

    January 17, 2021 at 4:48 pm

    Super easy. It’s tasty but hear me out. We roasted Brussel sprouts with bacon, drizzled with balsamic and served it on the side. Ended up mixing it in and it took it to another level. Next time I’m going to play with adding some veggies. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      January 18, 2021 at 2:09 pm

      I’d eat that!!! sounds fantastic.

      Reply
  37. Melissa says

    January 16, 2021 at 6:12 pm

    This was so good. I added artichokes and used basil paste. After reading some of the reviews I cooked it for 4 instead of 3 min. But next time I think 3 would be fine. The Chicken was a little dry. No slurry needed.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      January 18, 2021 at 2:20 pm

      Love the artichoke idea!!

      Reply
  38. Lisa says

    January 9, 2021 at 6:30 am

    Looks yummy! I would like to try this. Did you cook for three minutes on medium or high pressure?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      January 11, 2021 at 8:16 pm

      Hi Lisa, I always use high pressure 🙂

      Reply
    • Lizz says

      January 14, 2021 at 3:22 pm

      I never have fresh chicken only frozen. Would this work with whole frozen chicken breasts? Or do you have a suggestion for that?

      Reply
      • DebbieT says

        July 8, 2021 at 8:41 pm

        You could just thaw them….

        Reply
  39. Lisa says

    January 6, 2021 at 2:55 pm

    I checked out your recipe after looking at the slow cooker versions. The amount of salad dressing in the slow cooker recipes seemed overwhelming so I was happy to find your version. Your recipe was delicious, faster, and easier than the slow cooker version. We all enjoyed it. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      January 7, 2021 at 1:17 pm

      So glad to hear you liked it!

      Reply
  40. Sandy says

    December 31, 2020 at 2:32 pm

    I’ve made this a few times but I set it for 10 minutes instead of three to make sure the chicken is done. Always confess out great! Three minutes I didnt trust for the chicken. Great recipe!

    Reply
    • Sandy says

      December 31, 2020 at 2:35 pm

      *comes out great, not confess lol

      Reply
    • Karen says

      January 4, 2021 at 12:50 pm

      Glad it worked out for you!

      Reply
      • Sandra E Learst says

        January 25, 2021 at 2:33 pm

        Does anyone else set cook time for a longer time? Just wondering as 3 minutes seems way too short to me.

        Reply
        • Karen says

          January 26, 2021 at 2:05 pm

          It takes a while to come to pressure so that’s why it has a shorter pressure cook time. As it’s reaching pressure it’s cooking.

          Reply
  41. Andrea says

    December 24, 2020 at 6:34 am

    I am going to make this today. I wonder if you can use just a little less chicken broth like one of the comments somebody made this way it doesn’t come out as liquidy and you don’t need the cornstarch slurry

    Reply
    • Karen says

      December 28, 2020 at 9:11 pm

      You could try that. Let me know how it goes!

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        January 1, 2021 at 5:37 pm

        I used 3 cups. I think I would add just a bit more..

        Reply
  42. Ashley Marriott says

    December 19, 2020 at 12:45 am

    Made this for dinner. It would have tasted great if the ingredients list said FRESH CHOPPED BASIL instead of chopped basil. I ruined this pasta because of that specific part of the recipe. 1/2 cup chopped basil seemed like a lot of chopped basil, then after the pasta was done and ready to eat it didn’t look right and all I could smell and see was BASIL LEAVES. Should probably make sure to edit that step and add FRESH chopped basil so someone doesn’t dump 1/2 cup of just chopped basil. Really need to be specific when it comes to that type of ingredient

    Reply
    • Robin says

      December 21, 2020 at 7:38 am

      If you looked at the pictures it shows fresh basil.

      Reply
    • Karen says

      December 21, 2020 at 3:37 pm

      Sorry you were confused. I updated the recipe.

      Reply
    • Lisa says

      January 20, 2021 at 12:15 pm

      I can see where that much dried basil would ruin the dish. When I look at an ingredient list, I assume it’s calling for fresh unless it specifies dried.

      Reply
  43. Theresa Turk says

    December 14, 2020 at 8:08 am

    If I were to make this in a crockpot, what adjustments would you suggest?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      December 14, 2020 at 7:04 pm

      here is where I got the idea for this recipe. It is the slow cooker version. It uses much more dressing so I would personally would cut that in half or it will be too overpowering: https://www.themagicalslowcooker.com/slow-cooker-olive-garden-chicken-pasta/

      Reply
  44. Miriam says

    December 8, 2020 at 6:13 pm

    My whole family loved this!!! And I have three boys who don’t usually love pasta! Made it with gf penne and backed off to 2 and 2/3rd cups of broth. It was delicious and we ate it all! This is definitely going to be a regular meal in our house! I can’t believe how quick and easy it was! Thank you so much.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      December 9, 2020 at 6:46 pm

      Thanks for sharing your experience with gluten free noodles. This will be helpful for others I’m sure!

      Reply
  45. Julianna Zubiate says

    December 3, 2020 at 4:21 pm

    First time here… bought an insignia and am using it for the first time. They have different settings and I’m so confused. They have a chicken setting that cooks 20 mins. Is that what I want ?

    Reply
    • Mia says

      December 3, 2020 at 8:46 pm

      No definitely not!

      Reply
      • Julianna Zubiate says

        December 3, 2020 at 8:57 pm

        Ok thanks… I can set it for chicken and then time set it for whatever time I want. Should I just do 4 mins, or whatever it says in recipe?

        Reply
        • Karen says

          December 5, 2020 at 9:20 pm

          That’s what I would do!

          Reply
    • Holly says

      January 1, 2021 at 5:08 am

      I have an Insignia also. You would just use the manual button and set it for the time you want to cook. You do not have to use the chicken mode.

      Reply
  46. Debbie says

    November 20, 2020 at 3:59 pm

    Discovered your blog during quarantine and this is the first recipe i tried- it was fantastic and everyone LOVED it! Thank you so much for posting all these recipes for everyone to try!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      November 21, 2020 at 7:20 am

      You’re welcome Debbie! Thanks for being here.

      Reply
  47. Heather Giustino says

    November 15, 2020 at 4:25 pm

    Hey! I have frozen bite sized chicken and no time to defrost them. Do you think it would work with frozen chicken? Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      November 16, 2020 at 12:07 pm

      Yes I think that would be great!

      Reply
      • Heather Giustino says

        November 16, 2020 at 12:40 pm

        Awesome, and then being frozen would not affect the cooking time?

        Reply
        • Karen says

          November 16, 2020 at 6:50 pm

          It’ll be fine, since they are small pieces. Same cooking time.

          Reply
          • Heather Giustino says

            November 16, 2020 at 6:51 pm

            Awesome, thank you!!

        • Sandy says

          December 31, 2020 at 2:38 pm

          I use chicken breast tenderloins and set mine to 9 or 10 instead of 3

          Reply
  48. Gregg Monteith says

    November 13, 2020 at 8:43 pm

    Really is a great tasting meal that is easy to make. it is now on our rotation with the IP. Thank you

    Reply
    • Karen says

      November 14, 2020 at 8:21 pm

      So glad you liked it Gregg!

      Reply
  49. Melissa says

    November 10, 2020 at 4:17 pm

    Just made this for first time tonight and me and my whole family love it. So good. And my older kids are picky and loved it

    Reply
    • Karen says

      November 11, 2020 at 1:14 pm

      So glad to hear it Melissa!

      Reply
  50. Cathy says

    October 31, 2020 at 12:06 pm

    I added a jar of artichoke hearts and spinach.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      November 2, 2020 at 5:28 pm

      Sounds delicious!

      Reply
  51. Dev says

    October 30, 2020 at 9:07 am

    This was great. Made it for a few friends and it was a big hit. I was wondering, however, if I wanted to add some mushrooms to this, at what step would you recommend adding them?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 30, 2020 at 1:53 pm

      I’d add them at the beginning with the chicken.

      Reply
  52. Melody Reynolds says

    October 27, 2020 at 5:06 pm

    Glad I waited on the corn starch slurry. The dish thickened right up in the Instant Pot while we were having dinner. It will be perfect for leftovers.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 27, 2020 at 6:08 pm

      Perfect Melody!

      Reply
  53. Sherry says

    October 21, 2020 at 6:49 am

    I have everything to make this except the Italian dressing. Do you think I could use ranch dressing instead?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 21, 2020 at 3:10 pm

      Sure, definitely will taste different. I’d start with half as much so it’s not too overpowering.

      Reply
      • Pixybrat says

        July 9, 2021 at 4:06 am

        I have a copycat Olive Garden dressing recipe. VERY easy to make and it tastes exactly like OG dressing. I don’t use a blender, I just whisk it thoroughly and put it in a salad dressing jar that came with a zesty Italian seasoning pack I bought, or a Mason jar with a lid, and shake well!

        Ingredients

        1/2 cup mayonnaise
        1/3 cup white vinegar
        1 teaspoon vegetable oil
        2 tablespoons light corn syrup
        2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
        2 tablespoons grated Romano cheese
        1/4 teaspoon garlic salt, or 1 garlic clove, minced
        1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
        1/2 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
        1 tablespoon lemon juice
        Sugar (optional)

        Instructions
        Combine all the ingredients in a blender until well mixed. If this is a little too tart for your own personal taste, add a little extra sugar. You can enjoy your Olive Garden salad dressing for up to 10 days if you store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

        Another great use for the Olive Garden salad dressing is as a marinade for vegetables or even meats that you might like to grill. So you can see the Olive Garden salad dressing can be used in more than one way.

        Reply
        • Pixybrat says

          July 9, 2021 at 4:11 am

          Sorry! THIS is the better recipe! That one uses corn syrup and I’m not fond of it. This recipe is fantastic. I didn’t know how to delete/edit former comment.

          Ingredients
          1 packet Good Seasonings Italian Dressing Mix
          ¾ cup oil (vegetable/canola)
          ¼ cup plus 2 Tbsp white vinegar
          ¼ cup water
          ½ tsp sugar
          ½ tsp dried Italian seasoning
          ½ tsp salt
          ¼ tsp pepper
          ¼ tsp garlic powder
          ½ Tbsp mayonnaise (not miracle whip)
          Instructions
          Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Whisk briskly so that there are no clumps of mayo. Keep refrigerated.

          Reply
          • Karen says

            July 10, 2021 at 3:10 pm

            Thanks! Looks great

          • Jan says

            December 15, 2021 at 4:51 pm

            Thanks so much for the dressing recipe! I didn’t have any, so thought, shoot, will have to make this another time. Had all the ingredients, so was able to make this dish. Delicious!!!

  54. Lanna Palumbo says

    October 16, 2020 at 3:32 pm

    We just made this for dinner and it’s a hit with everyone. Will make it again

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 19, 2020 at 7:10 pm

      Glad you liked it Lanna!

      Reply
  55. erin says

    October 11, 2020 at 4:18 pm

    This is disgusting. Waste of time and money

    Reply
    • Mary Ohara says

      November 10, 2020 at 10:15 pm

      I was going to make but was a bit leery of the ingredients 😏

      Reply
    • Pixybrat says

      December 17, 2021 at 10:55 pm

      Wow. Didn’t your mother ever teach you that if you don’t anything nice to say then say nothing at all? Many people obviously enjoyed this recipe… If you didn’t then just move on …Sheesh!

      Reply
  56. Shelle says

    October 10, 2020 at 7:18 am

    I made this for my family last night and it was a huge hit, even with my 2 year old grandson. I did use the fresh basil and sun dried tomatoes along with some minced garlic. I also doubled the parmesan because there’s no such thing as too much cheese! There are so many ways you can prepare this with different spices and dressings, it’s going to be a staple in our house for sure!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 12, 2020 at 8:50 pm

      So glad you liked it Shelle! Love your ideas.

      Reply
  57. Lyndsy G. says

    October 5, 2020 at 11:42 pm

    Amazing simple dish. Perfect consistancy and I used mixed Italian shredded cheese. Fresh tomatoes and basil in a tube…get crazy and modify this recipe!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 6, 2020 at 12:36 pm

      Good idea on the basil in a tube! I love that stuff.

      Reply
  58. Debi says

    October 2, 2020 at 9:17 pm

    This was very good! Sun dried tomato and basil were optional but I added them. Also added spinach because I had some. I think these extras made it better. Did not need to make a cornstarch slurry. Karen, looking forward to trying more of your recipes!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 5, 2020 at 1:16 pm

      Thanks for sharing your experience Debi!

      Reply
  59. Maria says

    September 25, 2020 at 4:23 pm

    Loved it!!! Even my picky husband said it’s a keeper! Super easy! Followed the recipe exactly. Like the other reviews posted, I did not need to use the cornstarch and water slurry to thicken. Thanks for the recipe, I will be sharing it with my friends.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      September 28, 2020 at 11:45 am

      So glad you liked it Maria!!

      Reply
  60. Jennifer Gilbert says

    September 15, 2020 at 6:18 pm

    What happens if you dump it all in I didn’t read the first part?! Will it still turn out ok

    Reply
    • Karen says

      September 15, 2020 at 8:43 pm

      I bet it will still work! Let us know!!!

      Reply
  61. Lisa says

    September 10, 2020 at 5:23 pm

    I don’t comment on many recipes, but this recipe was absolutely amazing! For so few ingredients, it has such a depth of flavor. This recipe is a real time-saver for anyone looking to make a delicious, flavorful meal virtually hands off and in much less than a half hour including the time to with cut up the chicken. I followed the recipe to the letter, and found like other reviewers that the slurry wasn’t needed once it cooled off a bit. Thanks Karen for so many scrumptious recipes we can make in our Instant Pots (and slow cookers).

    Reply
    • Karen says

      September 11, 2020 at 4:40 pm

      How fun to hear this Lisa! so glad you liked it!!

      Reply
  62. Melanie Ivey says

    September 6, 2020 at 2:04 pm

    Can i double the ingredients but just leave the pasta noodles out. I have a 6qt instapot. Would i double the cook time to 7 min for 3 lbs of chicken?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      September 7, 2020 at 11:08 am

      So you don’t want the pasta at all? You can do that but I would reduce the liquid down since it’s there to cook the pasta. You don’t need to change cooking time for doubled recipes. Find more info on that subject here: https://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/how-to-double-instant-pot-recipes/

      Reply
  63. Don C says

    September 1, 2020 at 3:57 pm

    Has anyone ever added broccoli to this? And if so when would you put it in?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      September 3, 2020 at 11:56 am

      Broccoli gets done fast in the pressure cooker so I would add it in after the food has pressure cooked.

      Reply
  64. Bohannon says

    August 26, 2020 at 5:30 pm

    Perfect! A+
    Thank you. Karen!!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 27, 2020 at 2:02 pm

      Glad you liked it!!

      Reply
  65. Corinne says

    August 25, 2020 at 1:59 pm

    I used a 12oz box of Gluten Free penne & reduced broth to 2 2/3 cups. It turned out great. No cornstarch needed. I also added some chopped Swiss chard before the cooking time and used fresh cherry tomatoes (halved) instead of sun dried tomatoes.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 25, 2020 at 7:05 pm

      Thanks for the gluten free instructions I’m sure others will find this very helpful!

      Reply
  66. Andrea L Barber says

    August 19, 2020 at 9:51 am

    I accidently bought sundried tomato PESTO. It was awesome. My family LOVES this. I make it at least twice a month. Left overs heat very well.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 19, 2020 at 12:43 pm

      Pesto is the best!!! That sounds amazing.

      Reply
  67. Melissa says

    August 15, 2020 at 4:06 pm

    I have everything but the cream cheese. Think this would still be good?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 17, 2020 at 4:07 pm

      Do you have sour cream? Maybe use that as a substitute.

      Reply
  68. Kellie says

    August 12, 2020 at 3:50 pm

    I don’t think we have Olive Garden Italian dressing in stores. Can I just use Italian dressing?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 14, 2020 at 12:16 pm

      Yep you can do that!

      Reply
    • Hilary says

      February 16, 2021 at 4:12 pm

      Yes it is! Publix, winn dixie, Costco, Sam’s club and BJs carry it!

      Reply
      • Kellie Lapshinoff says

        February 16, 2021 at 9:17 pm

        Yeah we only have Costco where I live.

        Reply
    • Pixybrat says

      December 17, 2021 at 10:59 pm

      I posted the Olive Garden Italian dressing recipe in a comment above if you’re interested! It’s very good. And, this recipe is fantastic.

      Reply
  69. Stefani says

    July 15, 2020 at 5:55 pm

    Made this tonight for dinner. It was delicious!!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      July 16, 2020 at 3:40 pm

      So glad to hear you enjoyed it Stefani!

      Reply
    • Jason says

      May 15, 2022 at 7:19 pm

      Your blog is always a go to for cooking! Everything I’ve tried is delicious! The first time I made this i thought I saw fire roasted tomatoes. I’ve continued using diced fire roasted since, as they are cheaper than sun dried. I make this for meal prep and find that after sitting over night the pasta sucks up extra liquid making the sauce perfect without the aid of cornstarch.

      Reply
      • Karen says

        May 16, 2022 at 9:39 am

        I love fire roasted tomatoes! I will try this next time! Good call!

        Reply
  70. Al Zav says

    July 14, 2020 at 4:56 pm

    Was tasty but my pasta was a little too well done for our family’s liking.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      July 14, 2020 at 7:32 pm

      Sorry to hear that. Next time reduce cooking time by 1-2 minutes perhaps.

      Reply
  71. Mary Neeley says

    July 13, 2020 at 5:56 pm

    Easy to prepare and delicious!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      July 14, 2020 at 7:46 pm

      Glad you liked it Mary!

      Reply
  72. scott says

    July 12, 2020 at 5:06 pm

    Followed the recipe as close as I could. Turned out excellent. Might switch things up next time, but definitely will be a next time.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      July 13, 2020 at 12:32 pm

      Glad to hear it Scott!

      Reply
  73. Lisa says

    July 11, 2020 at 12:31 pm

    I want to use half of the pasta you call for but all the chicken (more protein less carbs). Would I cut the liquids in half? Thanks

    Reply
    • Karen says

      July 11, 2020 at 9:51 pm

      Yes I would since the liquid is used to cook the pasta.

      Reply
  74. Vicki Pawlitschek says

    July 7, 2020 at 11:33 pm

    This was delicious. I followed the recipe exactly except used some cooked spinach as I didn’t have basil. I had corn starch ready to use, but found I didn’t need it at all. The 3 minute cook time and 5 minute NPR was spot on. Karen, I also appreciated the pictures that went along with the directions. (visual learner here) 😀

    Reply
    • Karen says

      July 11, 2020 at 10:16 pm

      yay Vicki! Glad it went well for you 😊

      Reply
  75. Barb says

    July 7, 2020 at 11:20 am

    Can I double this or would it be to much noodles for the pressure cooker?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      July 7, 2020 at 9:44 pm

      I bet you could in an 8 quart. Probably too much for a 6 quart pot.

      Reply
  76. Sharee Martin says

    July 2, 2020 at 3:40 pm

    Could you do this a dump and go freezer meal?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      July 6, 2020 at 2:34 pm

      You could freeze the chicken, dressing together. Then day of serving add in pasta, broth and cream cheese. That’s how I would do it.

      Reply
  77. Becky says

    July 2, 2020 at 7:04 am

    If I wanted to make this a veggie dish and leave out the chicken what does that do to the cooking time? Thanks

    Reply
    • Karen says

      July 2, 2020 at 2:08 pm

      I would leave the cooking time the same. I would add in an extra 1/2 cup of liquid to replace the amount of water that comes off the chicken.

      Reply
    • Mary Ohara says

      November 10, 2020 at 10:24 pm

      Leaving out the chicken is nuts😭

      Reply
  78. T. Morse says

    July 1, 2020 at 5:35 pm

    Great recipe! We love cheese so I threw a small amount more of parm! I also used sun-dried tomatoes that weren’t packed in oil. I didn’t need to use the cornstarch slurry. The only problem was the chicken was a bit rubbery and got lost in the taste of everything else. Would a longer natural pressure release work? But would that affect the cooking of the noodles? Will definitely make agin

    Reply
    • Karen says

      July 2, 2020 at 2:10 pm

      You could do a longer npr with good results I believe!

      Reply
  79. Judith says

    July 1, 2020 at 12:00 pm

    Hi Karen..love your blog..today I made the Olive Garden copy cat chicken in my IP..turned out perfect..had everything that I needed..I noticed you used the light dressing..mine was regular..I love this dish..quick and delicious..thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      July 1, 2020 at 12:46 pm

      So glad you liked it Judith! I used a bit of each actually lol…I like the full fat better.

      Reply
  80. Luke says

    June 30, 2020 at 7:40 pm

    I hate to look like an idiot here but you don’t specify cooked or uncooked chicken. Does it need to be cooked first?

    Reply
    • PamelaJo says

      July 1, 2020 at 5:55 am

      I was wondering the same thing so I went back to read the full article (skipped over it cuz I’m impatient) and it appears it’s uncooked chicken. HTH

      Reply
      • Karen says

        July 1, 2020 at 8:41 am

        Yep uncooked!

        Reply
    • Karen says

      July 1, 2020 at 8:41 am

      I used uncooked bite size pieces of chicken

      Reply
      • Kathy says

        January 12, 2021 at 6:14 pm

        What if I accidentally cooked the meat?

        Reply
        • Karen says

          January 13, 2021 at 2:23 pm

          It’ll be fine!

          Reply
  81. Bonnie Lippincott says

    June 30, 2020 at 2:20 pm

    This looks like a yummy recipe. In the paragraph explanation of the recipe, you mention, “Another choice would be to throw a can of diced tomatoes in with the pasta and chopped spinach.” That sounds good, but I don’t see spinach on the list of ingredients.

    I love your recipes and recommend them to everyone that has an Instant Pot. They never fail me.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      June 30, 2020 at 5:49 pm

      Hi Bonnie, I meant that in the place of sundried tomatoes and basil you could add spinach and canned diced tomatoes instead. I would add a couple handful of spinach in after the pressure cooking time is up.

      Reply
  82. Judy Klein says

    June 30, 2020 at 1:29 pm

    How about fettuccine noodles instead? Looks wonderful.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      June 30, 2020 at 5:50 pm

      You could try it! Sometimes they stick together. But if you break them in half and then scatter them in a criss cross pattern it will probably work fine.

      Reply
  83. Melissa says

    June 30, 2020 at 1:08 pm

    Would I be able to sub a cup of heavy cream or half and half instead of the cream cheese? I’m never a fan of cream cheese in pasta dishes. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      June 30, 2020 at 1:11 pm

      Heck yes you could do that! 😊 I would not pressure cook it though. Add it in later.

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Karen. I know that dinner time can be less than relaxing. Busy schedules and cranky kids and a hundred other things can lead to weariness when it comes to putting dinner on the table. I can help! I make homemade, family-friendly slow cooker and Instant Pot dinners and share the recipes with you.

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