Instant Pot Two Timin’ Pasta–can’t choose between marinara or alfredo? Now you don’t have to! Try this easy dump and go Instant Pot pasta recipe that takes 5 minutes of prep!
Instant Pot Two Timin’ Pasta (+ video)
Haha! I saw a recipe that was called two timin’ pasta and had to see what it was all about. It was a recipe that had both marinara and alfredo sauce for those of you who can’t choose between the two sauces when you go out for Italian food. This pasta is a simple dump and go recipe that everyone will be a fan of. The sauce is creamy with some acidity too from the tomato based sauce. For me, it it the perfect compromise.
- I used my 6 quart Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer*. You can also make this with no changes in an 8 quart pot. For the 3 quart pot, halve all the ingredients and keep the cooking time the same.
- I used a jar of Ragu for the marinara sauce and a jar of Classico roasted garlic alfredo for the white sauce. Use whatever brand of sauce you like best.
- I used a box of penne rigate. You can also use bowties, cavatappi, elbow macaroni, small shells or another short cut pasta.
- If you’d like to add meat to this recipe you can. Try adding in chopped rotisserie chicken. Or you can cut up small bite size cubes of uncooked chicken breasts or thighs and add them in with the pasta. Another option is to brown ground beef or turkey on the sauté setting and then deglazing the pot with step 1 in the recipe card.
- If you like this recipe try Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo Salsa Pasta. It’s a similar recipe except it uses salsa in the place of marinara sauce.
More Instant Pot Pasta Recipes You’ll Love…
Instant Pot Sour Cream Noodle Bake
Instant Pot Firefighter’s Spaghetti
Instant Pot Panda Express Chow Mein
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Instant Pot Two Timin’ Pasta
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes (plus 5 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 8 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
Can’t choose between marinara or alfredo? Now you don’t have to! Try this easy dump and go Instant Pot pasta recipe that takes 5 minutes of prep!
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 1 Tbsp Better than Bouillon chicken or vegetable base
- 1 (16 oz) box penne pasta
- 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
- 1 (15 oz) jar alfredo sauce
- 1 (8 oz) block of mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Pour water into Instant Pot. Stir in the bouillon.
- Sprinkle in the pasta evenly.
- Dump the marinara and alfredo over the pasta. Do not 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 the pot sit for 5 minutes and then move valve to venting to release any remaining pressure.
- Stir well. Stir in the mozzarella cheese. If desired, use the air fryer lid to “bake” the pasta at 350° F for 5 minutes.
- Scoop into bowls and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
- 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.
Karen, if I use Italian sausage, when do I put it in and do I increase cooking time?
I would turn IP to sauté setting. When display says hot add in the sausage and brown for about 5 minutes. Pour in the liquid and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking. Then continue on with the recipe as stated.
Thanks, Karen. I’ve already made it that way and it turned out delicious! my husband loved it.
★★★★★
What if I don’t have an air fryer lid?
I wouldn’t worry about it…you can just stir in the cheese and serve.
Karen, this looks sooooo yummy! I’m gonna saute some Italian sausage first & go from there. My better half is gonna love this. Be back with stars.
I LOVE the idea of Italian sausage. That always brings recipes to a whole new level!
I know, right? And I know this is supposed to be meatless. It’s just that my Hubba Bubba loves his sausage.
I want to send this recipe to my daughter, but she doesn’t have an instant pot. Any suggestions for making it on the stove?
★★★★★
Yes I would cook pasta according to package directions and strain it. Then dump in the sauces and stir it together. Stir in the cheeses and serve.
Thank you. I sent her the link with your modification. I should have figured this out, haha. Thanks.
Excellent recipe! The proportions were all spot on, all I added was some salt and pepper. Was a hit at our gathering. The combination of marinara and alfredo were delightful together, something I’d never tried before; Husband said “we can have this again!”
★★★★★
I love when he says that!
I loved this simple Instant Pot recipe. I used wheat pasta because I’m trying to encourage my husband to move away from so much white carbs. And I figured this recipe would be something he would like so I gave him wheat pasta he would still like it. And he did! Also the Air Fryer Lid made it baked crusty top! More dump and go recipes if possible. Way to go on this one!
★★★★★
That is awesome! Good work!
What can I substitute for the Better then bouillon chicken base?
You can use 4 cups of broth instead of water and bouillon
Just had this for dinner, holy shamoley was this DELICIOUS! Perfect in every way: Quick, easy and scrumptious! So happy for the catchy recipe name, because that is what made me click on it. :o) I look forward to making this again, and even serving it to company! Thank you very much for sharing this wonderful recipe…that has a terrific name – LOL!
★★★★★
I’m so glad you loved it Linda!! Thanks for the 5 stars!
Would there be any difference in cooking time for whole wheat penne?
I’d still use 3 minutes for whole wheat 🙂
This sounds absolutely delicious! I have an event coming up that this would suit well….think I could double this recipe in the 6-quart duo??
★★★★★
You could probably 1.5 times it but doubling it would be too much. I would probably decrease cooking time to 1-2 minutes if you do increase the recipe…it will take a long time to come to pressure and the pasta will be cooking the whole time.
excellent advice…. thank you!