Is there anything more comforting than a bowl of flavorful pasta? This Instant Pot Penne Pasta is a true comfort dish. Add everything to the Instant Pot, and in under seven minutes, you have a delicious, hassle-free vegan dinner.
While traditional penne pasta requires constant monitoring, in this recipe, you can simply add the ingredients to the Instant Pot and let it do the rest(like in this Instant Pot chicken curry).
Hence, it’s an excellent option for a busy schedule, party planning, or a quick weeknight dinner. This recipe is a true winner!
This marinara pasta is perfect al dente, with garlic and Italian seasoning balancing the rich tomato flavors and a hint of heat, this Instant Pot penne pasta is a standout dish, bringing both satisfaction and comfort(like this chicken curry pasta and shrimp bruschetta pasta).
Do you prefer al dente or softer pasta? No worries! The Instant Pot makes it easy to cook it just as you like.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
⭐️This recipe is easy and quick, with a few ingredients.
⭐️Loaded with rich, flavorful, sauce.
⭐️It's meal prep-friendly and highly customizable!
Ingredients
- Penne Pasta: Penne is ideal for this recipe as it holds the sauce well. You can add the pasta directly to the Instant Pot—no need to pre-cook!
- Vegetable Broth: Since I wanted 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 pasta 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 excellent.
- 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.
How To Make Instant Pot Penne Pasta
- Turn on Sauté mode on the Instant Pot. Add olive oil and minced garlic, sautéing for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add penne pasta, vegetable broth, and pasta sauce.
- Sprinkle in salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir gently to ensure the pasta is evenly covered with liquid.
- Stir gently so the pasta is covered with liquid. Close the lid, set the valve to "Sealing," and cook on manual mode for 5 minutes. Then, quick release the pressure by turning the valve to "Venting." Then open the lid, garnish with fresh basil, and serve hot and enjoy!
♨️How To Adjust The Heat Level
This Instant Pot penne pasta has a very mild heat, mainly from red pepper flakes.
You can skip them or adjust the amount to make the pasta milder.
Add extra red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne pepper for additional heat.
The Leftovers
- You can use leftover pasta to make pasta soup or pasta salad.
- Store the leftovers in the refrigerator for up to three days or in the freezer for up to three months.
- To thaw frozen pasta, place it in the refrigerator overnight or use the microwave for a quick defrost. Reheat using the microwave, stovetop, or Instant Pot. Add a little water to prevent the pasta from drying out.
Pro Tips For Best Results
- Keep all the ingredients ready: The Instant Pot tends to burn the ingredients while sauteing quickly, so keep all the ingredients ready and keep stirring to avoid burning.
- Extra flavors: Add a splash of red wine to the sauce.
- Parmesan cheese: Use plenty of freshly grated cheese for creamy spicy pasta.
Best To Serve With
- Salad: Spicy broccoli salad or this jalapeno tuna salad.
- Roasted vegetables: Spicy roasted butternut squash and spicy roasted vegetables
- Grilled sides: Try this vegan side spicy tofu steak
- Soup: Spicy butternut squash soup.
- Stuffed peppers: Eggplant stuffed peppers or this lentil stuffed peppers.
FAQ
Yes! You can substitute other pasta types like rotini, elbow macaroni, or any pasta that nicely holds its shape and sauce.
No, there’s no need to pre-cook the pasta. The Instant Pot does all the work! Add the dry pasta and sauces, and it will cook perfectly.
Yes! You can enhance the dish by adding bell peppers, zucchini, spinach, or tomatoes. And add chicken, sausage, or shrimp after sautéing the garlic. Lightly cook the protein before adding the other ingredients.
Yes, you can prepare all the ingredients in advance and store them separately in the refrigerator. Just toss them into the Instant Pot before serving.
More Pasta Recipes To Try
If you enjoyed this 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.
Suja Manoj says
Pasta looks super yummy, never tried pasta in instant pot, you have inspired me to try
Sujatha Muralidhar says
Suja Manoj, thanks and glad you like this Instant pot version.