Today, we have a modern twist on our favorite dish: all-new spicy penne pasta with Instant Pot method. It's a quick, easy, and straightforward recipe that never fails. It's made with penne pasta, marinara sauce, dried oregano, and basil.
Al dente Penne spicy penne pasta is drenched in marinara sauce with Italian herbs. A completely hearty Italian dinner is ready within minutes with the Instant Pot. See below for the stove top instructions too.
Why You'll Love This Spicy Penne Pasta Recipe?
- This recipe is easy and quick, with a few ingredients.
- Loaded with rich flavorful and satisfying!
- It's meal prep friendly and highly customizable!
The Ingredients
- Penne pasta. You can choose the type of penne pasta according to your preference: white, whole wheat, multi-grain, and more.
- Marinara sauce. You can use this homemade marinara sauce or store-bought ones.
- Garlic. Fresh garlic is flavorful and brings out the dish very well.
- Oregano and Basil. You can also substitute with Italian seasonings.
- Red chili flakes. I have added ½ teaspoon of red chili flakes, which adds a nice flavor and heat to the pasta. If you like your pasta with more heat, increase the quantity and vice versa.
How To Make Spicy Penne Pasta?
You will be surprised to know how easy it is to make Instant Pot penne pasta.
Start by setting the Instant Pot to 'Saute' mode.
Add olive oil and minced garlic. Let the garlic sizzle in the oil for a few seconds; this releases the garlic's fragrance and makes the pasta taste rich and succulent.
Combine penne pasta, marinara sauce, water, dried basil, oregano, and red chili flakes in the same pan. Test the taste and add salt if needed.
Close the Instant Pot with the lid, and set the cooking timer for 4 minutes.
Next, do the intermittent release. This is nothing but to release the pressure manually until large water droplets are seen. Then, return the vent to the sealing position. Wait for 30 seconds and repeat the process by removing the pressure again until the pressure is released ultimately.
Open the lid and serve hot.
How To Store The Leftovers?
- Refrigerator: Once the spicy penne pasta cools to room temperature, transfer it to an air container and store it for about three days.
- Freezer: Use a freezer-safe container and store the leftover spicy pasta for about three months.
- Defrost: Place it in the refrigerator for about eight hours or quickly defrost using the microwave in 30-second increments, by stirring half way through.
- Reheat over stove: Add a splash of water and reheat over medium heat in a skillet.
- Reheat with microwave: Use a microwave-safe bowl, add a sprinkle little water, and cover it with a kitchen damp cloth for two minutes, stir in between.
- Reheating Oven: Place the dish in an oven-safe dish and cover it with foil, then heat for 15 to 20 minutes in a preheated oven at 350°F.
What 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.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Extra flavors: Add a splash of red wine to the sauce.
- Parmesan cheese: Use plenty of freshly grated cheese for creamy spicy pasta.
- Keep all the ingredients ready: The Instant Pot tends to quickly burn the ingredients while sauteing, so keep all the ingredients ready and keep stirring to avoid the burning.
Frequently Asked Questions
This spicy penne pasta is midlly hot; however, you can adjust the heat by modifying the amount of chili flakes in this recipe.
Yes, you can incorporate vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, spinach, mushrooms, and more, according to your preference.
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.
📖 Recipe
Spicy penne pasta
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 1 cup penne pasta
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup water
- ¼ teaspoon basil
- ¼ teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
- ¼ teaspoon salt or as required
Instructions
- Set the Instant pot to saute mode.
- Combine olive oil and minced garlic.
- Saute until the garlic becomes fragrant.
- Stir in pasta, marinara sauce, water, basil, oregano, red chili flakes, and salt.
- Close the lid.
- Set the cooking timer for 4 minutes.
- And release the pressure by intermittent method.
- Serve hot.
Notes
- Reduce the red chili flakes if you prefer.
- Store the leftover spicy penne pasta in the refrigerator for about three days and in the freezer for about three months.
- You can reheat over the stovetop, microwave, or with the oven.
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.