Ornery Teenager Casserole–creamy spaghetti with chicken, vegetables and melted cheese topping made fast in the Instant Pot.
Ornery Teenager Casserole
I have one son…but sometimes I think he is two different people like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. His mood and which kid I’m going to get at that particular moment usually depends on how hungry he is. He is an ornery little dude when he’s hungry and tired! (On the other hand when he’s happy he is the most fun kid ever!). These days he’s all about working out and when he gets home he wants something with protein and carbs in it. This casserole is a perfect food to refuel him and get him feeling happy again. Plus it makes quite a bit of food so he can have it for his second dinner (the 9 pm one) or lunch the next day. Feel free to switch the vegetables up and make this your own!
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Butter
- Onion
- Celery
- Carrot–optional
- Chicken broth–or water and Better than Bouillon
- Thin whole wheat spaghetti–or normal spaghetti
- Cooked and chopped chicken–I used rotisserie chicken
- Frozen vegetables of your choice (optional)–or 8 ounces chopped mushrooms
- Cream cheese–you can also use a can of cream of chicken soup in the place of the cream cheese and sour cream.
- Dry ranch dressing mix–I use Hidden Valley brand
- Sour cream
- Salt and pepper
- Mozzarella cheese
- Cheddar cheese
Steps
Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the butter and let it melt. Add in the onion and celery and saute for 4 minutes.
Add in the carrots and broth. Scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking. Turn off pot.
Break the spaghetti in half and lay it into the pot in a criss cross pattern. Add in the chicken, vegetables (if using), cream cheese and ranch dressing mix. 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 in the sour cream. Add a couple tablespoons or cream or milk to loosen up, if needed. Add in salt and pepper to taste.
Sprinkle the cheeses on top and let it melt (I used an air fryer lid).
Serve and enjoy!
Notes/Tips
- Serve with a green salad and a side of garlic bread.
- The vegetables I used in this casserole can easily be eliminated or swapped out for something different. Use what your family likes best. Next time I’m going to eliminate the carrots and use mushrooms in the place of green beans. I will saute them along with the onions and celery.
- I like to use more chicken than the called for 2 cups if servings hungry boys. My son is always obsessed with “protein” and chicken is an easy (and economical) way to get more protein.
- I used my Duo Crisp 6 quart Instant Pot*. I like this pot because you can easily go from pressure cooking to air frying or baking. It’s perfect for melting the cheese on top. You can also make this in a 3 or 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.
- Other recipes you can make with the other half of your cream cheese brick are Company Beef Casserole and Instant Pot Fancy Potatoes.
More Instant Pot Recipes with Spaghetti…
Instant Pot Monterey Spaghetti
Creamy chicken or turkey spaghetti with lots of flavor from Monterey jack cheese, seasonings and french-fried onions. This recipe is going to instantly be a family favorite!
Instant Pot Cowboy Spaghetti
Easy spaghetti recipe with bacon, ground beef, Rotel, barbecue sauce and cheese. A hearty pasta dish that comes together quickly with the help of your Instant Pot.
Instant Pot Assassin’s Spaghetti
Instant Pot Assassin’s Spaghetti looks like normal spaghetti but it is spaghetti with an attitude! It’s got a flavor kick that you’re going to love. The spaghetti is cooked in a simmering tomato liquid and it absorbs all of the moisture (no colander needed!).
Instant Pot Southwestern Spaghetti
An easy one pot spaghetti dinner with southwestern seasonings, geren bell pepper and cheese. A fun and delicious twist on normal spaghetti.
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.
Ornery Teenager Casserole
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes (plus 5 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
Creamy spaghetti with chicken, vegetables and melted cheese topping made fast in the Instant Pot.
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 1 cup diced onion
- 2 ribs celery, sliced or diced
- 1 carrot, peeled and diced (optional)
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 8 ounces thin whole wheat spaghetti (or normal spaghetti)
- 2 cups cooked and chopped chicken (double for hungry boys)
- 1 (12 ounce) package frozen vegetables of your choice (optional)
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 3 Tbsp dry ranch dressing mix
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- Salt and pepper
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the butter and let it melt. Add in the onion and celery and saute for 4 minutes. Add in the carrots and broth. Scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking. Turn off pot.
- Break the spaghetti in half and lay it into the pot in a criss cross pattern. Add in the chicken, vegetables (if using), cream cheese and ranch dressing mix. 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 in the sour cream. Add a couple tablespoons or cream or milk to loosen up, if needed. Add in salt and pepper to taste.
- Sprinkle the cheeses on top and let it melt (I used an air fryer lid).
- Serve and enjoy!
- 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.
where are all the crockpot recipes, or the directions to make it in your crockpot. the reason I signed up to this sight is because I wanted crockpot recipes. there are none or no directions on how to change to the crockpot.
you can find all recipes that can be cooked in a crockpot here: https://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/recipes/?fwp_method=slow-cooker
Sometimes they are labeled as “instant pot ______” but if you scroll to the recipe card there will be slow cooker directions under the instant pot instructions.
Your post made me laugh. The teenage struggle is real with the moods and then the 2nd dinner is so true. I’m about ready to go to bed and I hear the refrigerator door open!
Yes! It’s so true. I go to bed with a clean kitchen and wake up to a messy one 😉
Can this be made in a crockpot or something else?
Thank you
Here’s how I would make it in the stove/oven.
1. Cook pasta until al dente according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat a large pan or dutch oven over medium high heat. Add in the butter and let it melt. Add in the onion and celery and carrots and saute for 4 minutes.
3. Add in 1/2 cup broth, chicken, vegetables (if using), cream cheese, sour cream and ranch dressing mix. Stir and cook until cream cheese is melted. Salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the spaghetti and coat.
4. Pour into a 9×13 inch pan. Sprinkle the cheeses on top. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
Sounds great and a perfect dinner for teenagers and da family! A great way for the Family and teenagers to eat their mixed vegetables by sneaking them into the mix! Great and easy recipe to follow 😀
★★★★★
yep totally!
I see cream cheese in picture but sour cream in ingredients. Do you just use either or? I bought sour cream but then noticed afterwards!
The cream cheese is used in step 2 and the sour cream is used in step 4.
please email me the crockpot version asap please. I wanna make it.
how can this be made not using an instant pot?
Here’s how I would make it in the stove/oven.
1. Cook pasta until al dente according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat a large pan or dutch oven over medium high heat. Add in the butter and let it melt. Add in the onion and celery and carrots and saute for 4 minutes.
3. Add in 1/2 cup broth, chicken, vegetables (if using), cream cheese, sour cream and ranch dressing mix. Stir and cook until cream cheese is melted. Salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the spaghetti and coat.
4. Pour into a 9×13 inch pan. Sprinkle the cheeses on top. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
The chicken in the instruction picture looks raw but the recipe says to use cooked. Which do you usually do? I am not well versed in instant pot world so I am not sure how long it takes it to cook raw chicken.
cooked shredded chicken..