Looking for a quick and comforting pasta dinner? This Instant Pot Penne Pasta is perfect for busy home cooks and beginners alike. Simply toss the pasta, sauce, and spices into the Instant Pot, and you have a hassle-free vegan dinner in just 20 minutes.
While traditional penne pasta requires constant monitoring and timing, this Instant Pot penne pasta recipe does all the work for you; no boiling or draining the pasta is required.
Hence, it's an excellent option for a busy schedule, party planning, or a light &quick weeknight dinner, especially if you love spicy pasta recipes. This recipe is a true winner!
This Instant Pot penne pasta with jar sauce is perfectly al dente, with garlic, red pepper flakes, and Italian seasoning balancing the rich tomato flavors and a hint of heat.
A Quick Look at the Recipe
- Time & Yield: 20 minutes | Serves 4
- Taste & Texture: Rich, tangy marinara with al dente penne pasta
- Heat Level: 🌶Low(Adjustable to medium to hot)
- Cooking Method: Instant Pot (pressure cooking)
- Difficulty: Beginner-friendly
- Diet: Vegan & vegetarian.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Recipe
⭐️This recipe is easy and quick, one pot dish.
⭐️Loaded with rich, flavorful sauce, with a few pantry-ready ingredients.
⭐️It's meal prep-friendly and highly customizable heat!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Penne Pasta: For this Instant Pot penne pasta recipe, you can add the pasta directly to the Instant Pot(no need to pre-cook)!
- Vegetable Broth: To keep this recipe vegan, I used vegetable broth. However, you can swap it with chicken or beef broth; just use whatever works for you.
- Pasta Sauce: I used my homemade spicy marinara sauce, but store-bought marinara, tomato basil, or any pasta sauce you choose will work just as well.
- Italian Seasoning: I used store-bought Italian seasoning, but you can also mix your own. A combination of oregano, basil, thyme, or rosemary works excellently.
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: Add mild heat to the dish. You can adjust the amount based on your spice preference.
- Garlic: I strongly recommend using fresh garlic for the best flavor.
- Olive Oil: Extra-virgin olive oil enhances the flavor beautifully.
More Substitutions & Dietary Ideas With AI
How To Make Instant Pot Penne Pasta
- Step 1. Turn on Sauté mode on the Instant Pot. Add olive oil and minced garlic, sautéing for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Step 2. Add penne pasta, vegetable broth, and pasta sauce.
Loved this recipe and Want to save it?
Enter your email & I’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get new recipes from me every week!
- Step 3. Sprinkle in salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir gently to ensure the pasta is evenly covered with liquid.
- Step 4. Stir gently so the pasta is evenly coated with the liquid. Close the lid, set the valve to "Sealing," and cook on manual mode for 5 minutes. Then, quickly release the pressure by turning the valve to "Venting." Then open the lid, garnish with fresh basil, and serve hot and enjoy!
Pro Tips For Best Results
- Keep all the ingredients ready: The Instant Pot can burn ingredients when sautéing quickly, so keep them ready and stir frequently to avoid burning.
♨️How To Adjust The Heat Level
This easy Instant Pot penne pasta has a mild heat, mainly from red pepper flakes.
- For savory flavors: Skip adding the crushed red pepper flakes for a smooth, no-heat option.
- For Mild Heat: Follow the recipe card ingredients as is.
- For Medium Heat: Add extra crushed red pepper flakes for a noticeable kick.
- For Extra Heat: Add another teaspoon of red pepper flakes and a pinch of cayenne, or use jarred spicy marinara sauce for bold heat.
Variations
- Extra flavors: Add a splash of red wine to the sauce.
- For a creamy texture, stir in freshly grated Parmesan cheese for a spicy, creamy pasta.
- With ground meat: Sauté ½ lb ground meat in the Instant Pot first until browned, then proceed with the recipe for a protein-packed weeknight dinner.
- With meatballs: Stir in fully cooked or frozen meatballs along with pasta for a family-style pasta meal.
- Veggies: Add sliced bell peppers, zucchini, spinach, or mushrooms.
Instant Pot Penne Pasta Recipe's FAQ
No, there's no need to pre-cook the pasta in this Instant Pot penne pasta recipe. Add just the dry pasta and sauces, and it will cook perfectly.
Refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in the Instant Pot with added water. Use leftovers for pasta soup or salad.
Yes! Cook the full recipe, then divide into individual portions in airtight containers. Add a splash of extra sauce when portioning to keep pasta moist after reheating.
Yes! You can substitute other pasta types, like rotini, elbow macaroni, or any pasta that holds its shape well and absorbs the sauce.
More Pasta Recipes To Try
If you enjoyed this Instant Pot Penne Pasta recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know your thoughts in the 📝 comments section below the recipe.
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Penne Pasta
Ingredients
- 12 oz penne pasta
- 2 cups vegetable broth /chicken broth
- 2 cups pasta sauce marinara /tomato basil or any of your choice
- ½ teaspoon salt adjust to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes /optional
- 2 cloves garlic /minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 fresh basil leaves or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Turn on Sauté mode on the Instant Pot.
- Add olive oil and minced garlic. Sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add penne pasta, vegetable broth, and marinara sauce.
- Sprinkle in salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes.
- Stir gently, making sure the pasta is evenly covered with liquid.
- Close the lid and set the valve to "Sealing."
- Cook on High Pressure for 5 minutes (for al dente pasta).
- Once done, quickly release the pressure by turning the valve to "Venting."
- Open the lid and stir the pasta well. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
- No need to pre-cook the pasta-dump everything in, and the Instant Pot delivers perfectly cooked, saucy penne every time.
- Adjust the spice level by adding or skipping red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne for extra heat.
- Leftovers? Store in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave, stovetop, or Instant Pot with a splash of water to prevent drying.
- Customize it! Add vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, spinach, chicken, sausage, or shrimp for extra protein.
Nutrition
Additional Info
Loved this recipe and Want to save it?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get new recipes from me every week!
Pasta looks super yummy, never tried pasta in instant pot, you have inspired me to try
Suja Manoj, thanks and glad you like this Instant pot version.