Instant Pot Creamy Pesto Pasta is a delicious recipe with very less effort. It is creamy, rich and you won’t stop eating it. The recipe is pretty simple to prepare. You can find a small instructional video in the post for clarity.

Easy Instant Pot Creamy Pesto Pasta Recipe

Since this is such an easy recipe, I make it often for my girls and they love it. Actually it is such a comforting meal, it is the family’s favorite Sunday Dinner.

Because this recipe needs only handful ingredients and such less effort, it is perfect for any busy weekday meal too. It is a complete comfort meal with all that cream and nutty pesto.

Now I believe in using some shortcuts, therefore I used store-bought pesto. But if you have any home-made pesto handy then go for it. Nothing beats a good home made sauce.

Have you checked our Pasta Primavera, Creamy Cajun Pasta, Creamy Spinach Pasta, Spaghetti aglio e olio, Mexican Bean & Pasta Salad and more.

Creamy Pesto Pasta Recipe Ingredients

Pasta – Love using hardy pasta like bowtie or rigatoni. I have used Rigatoni here.

Pesto Sauce – I have used store-bought. Please feel free to use home made pesto sauce.

Heavy Cream

Salt & Pepper

Fresh Produce – Garlic, Asparagus, Bell Peppers & Mushrooms. You can use whatever is handy like peas, green beans, spinach etc.

Kitchen Gadgets

Measuring Cups and Spoons

Chopping Board and Knife

Kitchen stirring spoon

Kitchen Colander

6 quart Instant Pot

Instant Pot Liner

Can I make it ahead of time?

One can prep the components of the recipe. You can cook the vegetables and pasta separate and keep aside till ready to put together. When ready to serve, put cream and pesto together in IP. Stir and warm up a bit. Add vegetables and pasta and warm it up. Add some saved up pasta water or vegetable broth if it is too thick. Toss all together.

Is it easy to freeze?

It probably is. I do not freeze the meals that often. But try it. It might work. When ready to use, thaw it on the kitchen counter. Microwave or re-heat on gas top with some liquid.

How to store it?

Once it gets to room temperature, refrigerate it in air tight container.

Can I make it vegan?

Any recipe can be veganized. Use coconut milk instead of heavy cream. For vegan Pesto Sauce, use this recipe. Make sure to use vegan pasta.

Can I make it Gluten-free?

Again the only grain in the recipe is pasta which made of wheat. So make sure that the pasta you pick is gluten-free.

How to make it on Gas-top?

Gas- top recipe is as simple as the instant pot. Prep the vegetables and boil the pasta separately. Drain the pasta and set aside. In the same pan which you used to boil the pasta. Add cream and pesto. Stir and heat it up. Add boiled pasta and vegetables on the top. Stir to combine.

How to make Creamy Pesto Pasta in Instant Pot?

This recipe has 3 steps –

Sauteeing the vegetables in Instant Pot

Put the 6 quart Instant Pot with Instant Pot Liner in, on saute mode high. When the screen displays hot, add chopped garlic and saute for 30-45 seconds. Then add chopped asparagus and saute further for 2 minutes. Finally add bell peppers and mushrooms, Salt & Pepper and give a final stir. Let saute for few more seconds. Later empty the vegetables out in another container and set aside.

Boiling Pasta in Instant Pot

Add few tablespoons of water in the inner pot and deglaze it by scraping the bottom with a Kitchen stirring spoon.

Add Rigatoni Pasta and water and may be some oil. Stir all together. Place the lid and put it on sealing. Pressure cook on high for 5 minutes. And then QPR (quick pressure release). Drain any excess water in Kitchen Colander and may be save some for later if needed. Set aside.

Put it all together with cream and pesto

Now add cream and pesto to the inner pot. Warm it up a bit on saute mode. Now add boiled pasta and Pesto Sauce to it. If it is too thick, then use some of the saved pasta water. Adjust salt and pepper if needed. It’s all done.

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Creamy Pesto Pasta Video

Instant Pot Creamy Pesto Pasta Recipe

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5 from 1 vote

Instant Pot Creamy Pesto Pasta Recipe

This is a quick and easy recipe to put together even on a busy weeknight. It is really comforting to indulge over the weekend too. Creamy & delicious.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword Busy Weeknight Meals, Creamy Pesto Pasta, Easy meals, instant pot recipe, Vegetable Pasta

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Servings

Calories 347kcal

Author simplyvegetarian777

Equipment

Measuring Spoons, Measuring Cups, Stirring Spoon,
Instant Pot 6 quart or Mealthy Multipot
Chopping board and knife
Kitchen Colander
Inner Pot
Stirring Spoon

Ingredients

Fresh Produce

3-4 cloves Garlic chopped into thick pieces
8-10 Thin Asparagus cut the hardy bottom stalk cut off and then chop into 2-3 large pieces
4-5 Mini Colored Bell Peppers cut into thick pieces and seeds removed
4-5 Baby Bella or Button Mushrooms Chopped in thick slices

Other Ingredients

2 tbsp Olive Oil
To Taste Salt
1/2 tsp Ground Black Pepper
1 pound Pasta - Rigatoni or Bow-tie you may use thick spaghetti too
1 cup Heavy cream or light cream. Can use half and half too.
1/3 cup or as desired Pesto Sauce I used store bought. You can use home made sauce too.
5 cups Water

Instructions

Gather all the ingredients and prep the vegetables as recommended. Watch the video. Always read the notes for more options & tips.