Skip to Content

Pressure Cooker Chicken Alfredo with Jar Sauce

Pressure Cooker Chicken Alfredo with Jar Sauce is FAST, EASY and ready in minutes. Follow these step by step instructions and you’ll have the best weeknight dinner ready in no time with your family licking the plate and demanding more!

pan of pressure cooker chicken alfredo with jar sauce

Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo with Jar Sauce

You’ll be so surprised by how quickly and easily this recipe comes together. Secondly, you’ll be amazed at how delicious it tastes too!

What could be easier than cooking up the chicken in the pressure cooker and adding in the sauce ingredients and the pasta, giving it a big stir and then YUM!!!

Plus, follow my simple instructions and you’ll never have to worry about uncooked, stuck pasta in the pressure cooker again!

You might want to try this recipe with shrimp too!

Want to check out some Pressure Cooker Boiled Peanuts?

Here’s What You’ll Need

ingredients on table
  • 2 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs – best flavor, most juicy, most forgiving.
  • 22 oz jar Alfredo Sauce – Prego has a good taste in this recipe.
  • 2 Tbs butter – butter substitute works well, but you need the fat to help keep the pasta from foaming up.
  • 4 oz cream cheese – oodles of flavor and creaminess.
  • 1 cup milk – creaminess plus liquid that helps the noodles to cook.
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
  • 12 oz of bite size pasta of your choice (Penne or Bowtie works best)
chicken alfredo and a fork

Here’s How Pressure Cooker Chicken Alfredo with Jar Sauce is Done

  1. Brown the Chicken
  2. Add all the ingredients
  3. Pressure cook for 6 minutes then natural release for 5 then manual release.
pressure cooker on a stove

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

What Kind of Noodles Should I Use?

For this recipe, even though it isn’t the classic recipe, you’ll want to use a shorter noodles such as a macaroni, penne or bowtie pasta. If you watch the video, you’ll see that I am using penne.

What Kind Of Jar Sauce?

All of the jar sauces have a similar flavor. We usually use Classico or Prego. Really it’s up to you. Just make sure to use 22oz per the recipe.

Can I Add Vegetables?

Yes! Certainly you can! I recommend adding some fresh broccoli when you add the pasta OR you can use frozen peas, carrots or broccoli at the end after the pressure releases as long as the carrots and broccoli are cut very small. If they aren’t cut small, heat them in the microwave or on the stove top in a little water, drain and then add after the pressure release.

What Kind of Chicken Do I Use?

You can actually use any boneless skinless chicken, but thighs work best because they retain their moisture better than breast pieces.

Can I Freeze Pressure Cooker Chicken Alfredo with Jar Sauce?

No, when thawed, it has a yucky consistency that isn’t appetizing.

How Long Does This Last?

Covered in the fridge, this dish will last about 5 days.

alfredo and parsley

Tips and Tricks

  • This recipe works the best with boneless skinless chicken thighs but any cut of chicken will work, see notes in recipe section.
  • For this recipe, since you are making it in the pressure cooker, it will work best with a short pasta instead of the typical fettuccini noodles.
  • If using a stove top pressure cooker, carefully manage the pressure stage and do not heat the eye of the stove so hot that you have a bunch of excessive steam from the escape valve.
  • Pressure cookers larger than 5 quarts may need more liquid added before cooking. If the noodles aren’t completely covered with liquid, add milk or water until they are.
  • You can add veggies to this recipe at the end if you want an all in one dish. Add 1 Cup of frozen peas, small diced carrots or precooked broccoli for a yummy all in one dish.
  • Want to know more about the history of chicken alfredo?

PRO TIP: Instead of using water in this recipe, use chicken broth for a TON more flavor!

If You Enjoyed This Recipe, You Might Also Enjoy…

How to Pressure Cook Chicken

Pressure Cooker Chicken Curry

Watch Me Make This

Can You Give Me a Hand?

Please leave a 5 STAR comment in the comment section below. This helps others to find the recipes at Loaves and Dishes

Pressure Cooker Chicken Alfredo with Jar Sauce

Easy, Fast, Delicious and Perfect Every Single Time. No more burnt or uncooked noodles in your pressure cooker. This Pressure Cooker Chicken Alfredo with jar sauce is creamy smooth and a little dangerous to your waistline if I'm honest.
3.67 from 3 votes
Print Pin Save Rate
Course: main
Cuisine: American
Keyword: pressure cooker chicken alfredo with jar sauce
Prep Time: 7 minutes
Cook Time: 6 minutes
Release Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 18 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 925kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs skinless boneless chicken thighs cut into bite sized (about 1") pieces. See Notes section
  • 2 Tbs vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp ground pepper
  • 22 oz jarred alfredo sauce I used Prego in this recipe
  • 3/4 Cup broth (can substitute water if you don't have broth)
  • 1 Cup whole milk (can substitute other milks and milk substitute, but flavor may be different in the end).
  • 2 Tbs Butter (can substitute imitation butter)
  • 4 oz cream cheese (can substitute neufchatel or lower fat cream cheese but whole fat cream cheese works best).
  • 1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese
  • 1 lb penne pasta
  • 1 Cup frozen green peas optional – I didn't use in the video or photos. Other frozen small cut veggies work too)
  • 1/2 Cup Parmesan optional – fresh grated, sprinkled over the top after cooking

Instructions

  • Cut the chicken into bite sized pieces. Heat the oil in the bottom of the pressure cooker (on the stove top if you use a stove top pressure cooker or via the brown option in your instant pot). Once the pot is hot, add the chicken pieces to the oil and cook for 3 minutes.
  • Add all of the other ingredients except the peas and the optional garnishing fresh parmesan. Stir well. If you have a large instant pot, add more water or milk to make sure that all of the pasta is covered by the liquid. Give everything a big stir to ensure it's all coated.
  • Pressure cook on high for 6 minutes. Allow to naturally release for 5 minutes and then release the pressure manually. Remove the lid and mix well.
  • If you want to add veggies, do so now and stir well. Garnish with fresh grated parmesan cheese and serve hot.

Notes

  • This recipe works the best with boneless skinless chicken thighs but any cut of chicken will work as long as it is boneless and skinless and cut into bite size pieces.
  • For this recipe, since you are making it in the pressure cooker, it will work best with a short pasta instead of the typical fettuccini noodles.
  • If using a stove top pressure cooker, carefully manage the pressure stage and do not heat the eye of the stove so hot that you have a bunch of excessive steam from the escape valve.
  • Pressure cookers larger than 5 quarts may need more liquid added before cooking. If the noodles aren’t completely covered with liquid, add milk or water until they are.
  • You can add veggies to this recipe at the end if you want an all in one dish. Add 1 Cup of frozen peas, small diced carrots or precooked broccoli for a yummy all in one dish.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Pressure Cooker Chicken Alfredo with Jar Sauce
Amount Per Serving
Calories 925 Calories from Fat 594
% Daily Value*
Fat 66g102%
Saturated Fat 35g175%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 10g
Monounsaturated Fat 17g
Cholesterol 387mg129%
Sodium 1996mg83%
Potassium 788mg23%
Carbohydrates 16g5%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 9g10%
Protein 63g126%
Vitamin A 1275IU26%
Vitamin C 15mg18%
Calcium 424mg42%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @loavesanddishes or tag #loavesanddishes!

A Verse To Share

Fear has been on my mind a lot lately. Much of what I see on social media is fear based. Jesus tells us (and the Bible throughout) not to worry.

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid

Wendi is the writer, CEO and dishwasher at Loaves and Dishes! When not in the kitchen or behind the computer, you can find Wendi serving on International Food Conference Boards, Speaking at various conferences, Leading and Cooking for the local Arts Council's "Taste of Stokes" events or donating home cooked goodies to various local non profits such as the Danbury Songwriters and Stokes Partnership for Children. Wendi is also a Registered Nurse with a Master's Degree and serves on her town's board of councilmen.

Recipe Rating




emily

Saturday 15th of October 2022

very good! Fast and easy..no more separate pot for boiling pasta.

Wendi Spraker

Friday 21st of October 2022

Glad you liked it!

Carolann

Monday 4th of April 2022

Got a burn notice from all the dairy, would not suggest to us a pressure cooker.

Wendi Spraker

Wednesday 13th of April 2022

Perhaps your pressure cooker is larger and needs an extra jar of sauce.

Tammy

Tuesday 1st of March 2022

Am I missing the amount of pasta? I have looked multiple times. Thanks!

Wendi Spraker

Monday 7th of March 2022

It's 1 lb of penne pasta ( or other short pasta). I've updated the recipe card so it should appear now. Thank you for catching this!

Wendi J Spraker

Wednesday 15th of September 2021

Aggregate ratings test

15585

Want My 9 Secrets to Immediate Kitchen Confidence?