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Home / Recipes / Meatless Main Dish Recipes

Instant Pot Penne Pasta

Published: Oct 2, 2019 · Modified: Feb 8, 2025 by Sujatha Muralidhar · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

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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.

instant pot penne pasta cooked in marinara sauce is placed in a plate

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.

Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • How To Make Instant Pot Penne Pasta
  • ♨️How To Adjust The Heat Level
  • The Leftovers
  • Pro Tips For Best Results
  • Best To Serve With
  • FAQ
  • More Pasta Recipes To Try
  • 📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Penne pasta plated with marinara sauce and herbs.

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

Sautéing minced garlic in olive oil in the Instant Pot.
  1. Turn on Sauté mode on the Instant Pot. Add olive oil and minced garlic, sautéing for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
Adding penne pasta and broth to the Instant Pot.
  1. Add penne pasta, vegetable broth, and pasta sauce.
adding spices to the Instant Pot before cooking.
  1. Sprinkle in salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir gently to ensure the pasta is evenly covered with liquid.
smixing all the ingredients for this Instant Pot penne pasta
  1. 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.
Delicious Instant Pot penne pasta served with fresh basil garnish

FAQ

Can I use any type of pasta for this recipe?

Yes! You can substitute other pasta types like rotini, elbow macaroni, or any pasta that nicely holds its shape and sauce.

Do I need to pre-cook the pasta?

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.

Can I add vegetables or protein to this dish?

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.

Can I make this dish in advance?

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

  • chicken curry pasta in a pan
    Chicken Curry Pasta
  • Pasta with mushroom sauce placed in black plate
    Cream Of Mushroom Pasta Sauce
  • vegan spinach alfredo pasta in the skillet
    Spinach Pasta With Vegan Alfredo Sauce

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 coated with rich marinara sauce with fresh basil leaves as garnish

Instant Pot Penne Pasta

Easy Instant Pot Penne Pasta in under 20 minutes! A one-pot meal for busy nights with al dente pasta, rich flavors, and a satisfying taste.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 Servings
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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

  1. Turn on Sauté mode on the Instant Pot.
  2. Add olive oil and minced garlic. Sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Add penne pasta, vegetable broth, and marinara sauce.
  4. Sprinkle in salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes.
  5. Stir gently, making sure the pasta is evenly covered with liquid.
  6. Close the lid and set the valve to "Sealing."
  7. Cook on High Pressure for 5 minutes (for al dente pasta).
  8. Once done, quickly release the pressure by turning the valve to "Venting."
  9. Open the lid and stir the pasta well. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley.
  10. 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

Calories: 386kcal | Carbohydrates: 72g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 1349mg | Potassium: 569mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 834IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 2mg

Additional Info

Course Dinner
Cuisine Italian
Author Sujatha Muralidhar
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Comments

    5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Suja Manoj says

    October 03, 2019 at 6:47 am

    Pasta looks super yummy, never tried pasta in instant pot, you have inspired me to try

    Reply
    • Sujatha Muralidhar says

      October 03, 2019 at 10:47 am

      Suja Manoj, thanks and glad you like this Instant pot version.

      Reply
The author image of the food blog pepperbowl.com

Hi, I'm Suja! I'm the person behind PEPPER BOWL, based in Pennsylvania. I focus on easy, simple-to-make recipes inspired by rich flavors with a hint of heat. I enjoy simplifying recipes with minimal ingredients to suit today's busy lifestyle.

More about me →

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