Instant Pot Creamy Chicken and Noodles: Your New Go-To Family Meal
Prepare to delight your family with this incredibly easy and utterly delicious Instant Pot Creamy Chicken and Noodles recipe! Whether you have fresh or frozen chicken on hand, this pressure-cooked wonder transforms simple ingredients into a rich, comforting meal in mere minutes. It’s a budget-friendly, one-pot dish that’s perfect for busy weeknights and can also be made in your Ninja Foodi or other multi-cooker.
Following the immense popularity of our Crockpot creamy chicken dish, we knew we had to create an Instant Pot creamy chicken version to cater to all kitchen appliance preferences. We understand that not everyone owns the same gadgets, so our goal is to provide versatile recipes that fit your lifestyle. This dish, featuring the classic comfort of cream of chicken soup, is destined to become another one of your favorite Instant Pot recipes, earning a permanent spot in your dinner rotation.
Versatility with Multi-Cookers: Ninja Foodi & Crockpot Express
No Instant Pot? No problem! This recipe is incredibly adaptable and works seamlessly with other popular multi-cookers like the Ninja Foodi and Crockpot Express. We believe that delicious meals should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their specific appliance. For Crockpot Express users, you can follow the exact same steps outlined for the Instant Pot. For a Ninja Foodi recipe, simply attach the pressure cooking lid (the non-attached one) and select the pressure cook function.
If you’re using pre-cooked chicken, such as rotisserie chicken or leftover shredded chicken, you can conveniently skip the initial pressure cooking step. In this scenario, you’ll utilize the sauté or brown function on your multi-cooker to gently melt and warm the condensed soup and cream cheese, creating that luscious sauce. The pasta, ideally, would be cooked separately to achieve the perfect al dente texture. Alternatively, you can follow our pressure cooker butter noodles directions, cooking them either before or after preparing the chicken, or even in a separate pot on the stovetop. Cooking the noodles apart from the chicken ensures the sauce remains wonderfully thick and creamy, preventing it from thinning out due to excess liquid from the pasta.
While similar to our popular pressure cooker chicken and rice dish, this creamy chicken and noodles recipe stands out because the noodles are boiled separately. In the chicken and rice recipe, white rice cooks directly with the chicken, absorbing the broth and becoming tender all together. For this dish, we intentionally keep the pasta separate to ensure the chicken and sauce maintain an incredibly thick and rich consistency. If pasta were added directly into the pressure cooker, you’d need to significantly increase the liquid broth, which would inevitably thin out the creamy sauce we all love.
Key Ingredients for Creamy Chicken Perfection
Crafting this delightful creamy chicken and noodles dish requires a few simple yet essential ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need, along with some helpful notes to ensure the best results:
- Chicken Breasts: We recommend 2 lbs of boneless, skinless chicken breasts. You can use them fresh or even as a leftover chicken breast recipe. Chicken thighs also work wonderfully if you prefer dark meat.
- Chicken Broth: Opt for chicken broth over plain water. It significantly enhances the flavor of the dish, adding depth and richness that water simply cannot provide.
- Italian Dressing Mix Packet: This secret ingredient adds a fantastic savory and herbaceous note to the chicken. Look for it near the bottled dressings in your grocery store.
- Butter: Essential for richness and flavor. If you need a dairy-free option, a dairy-free butter alternative will work just as well.
- Cream of Mushroom or Chicken Soup: One can of either condensed cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup forms the creamy base. Both options deliver excellent results, so choose your family’s favorite.
- Cream Cheese: A block of cream cheese, cut into cubes and softened, is crucial for achieving that ultra-creamy, velvety texture. Softening it beforehand helps it melt smoothly into the sauce.
- Egg Noodles: While not cooked in the Instant Pot, egg noodles are the perfect accompaniment, providing a comforting base for the rich chicken.
Flexible Substitutions for Your Creamy Chicken Dish
While the core ingredients create a stellar dish, there’s always room for customization and substitutions to fit your preferences or pantry. For instance, if you’re a fan of homemade ingredients, you might consider making your own homemade cream of mushroom soup. I’ve often made a large batch, using a few scoops for this recipe, enjoying a bowl for lunch, and saving the rest for future meals. Canned condensed soups are undeniably convenient, but preparing them from scratch is often easier than most people imagine, and the fresh flavor is unbeatable.
For those needing dairy-free options, a good quality dairy-free cream cheese and butter substitute can be used. You can also explore different types of condensed soups or even create a homemade creamy base using a roux (butter and flour) and plant-based milk for a truly tailored approach.
Cooking with Frozen Chicken Breasts: A Time-Saving Trick
One of the greatest advantages of the Instant Pot is its ability to cook delicious meals even when starting with frozen ingredients. You can absolutely make this creamy chicken recipe with frozen chicken in the Instant Pot if that’s what you have on hand. With a standard 15-minute cook time, both fresh and frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts will emerge tender enough to easily shred with two forks. For the best results when using frozen chicken breasts, I highly recommend using medium-sized pieces rather than very large ones. Ensure they are separated before cooking to allow for even pressure cooking.
Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Recipe
Justine
Easy Instant Pot creamy chicken recipe using fresh or as a leftover chicken recipe your family will love. Pressure cooked in just minutes.
10 mins
15 mins
5
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Equipment
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1 pressure cooker
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken breasts, fresh or frozen, boneless skinless
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 packet Italian dressing mix
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 can cream of chicken soup, or cream of mushroom soup
- 1 block cream cheese, cut into cubes, softened
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Instructions
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Add chicken and broth to the Instant Pot. Sprinkle the Italian dressing mix on top of the chicken, then add the butter. Set your Instant Pot to the poultry (or manual) high pressure setting for 15 minutes. Once cooking is complete, allow the steam to naturally release for 10 minutes.
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Carefully release any remaining pressure using the pressure valve, then open the pot. Using two forks, shred the cooked chicken directly in the pot. Stir in the cream of chicken (or mushroom) soup and the softened cream cheese until both are completely melted and the sauce is smooth. If necessary, you can set the Instant Pot to sauté mode for a few minutes while stirring to help the cream cheese melt fully and ensure the sauce is piping hot.
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Serve this delectable creamy chicken immediately over a bed of egg noodles that have been cooked separately according to package directions. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Video Tutorial
Watch our step-by-step video for a visual guide on making this creamy chicken recipe!
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Notes
Using Frozen Chicken Breasts
If you’re starting with frozen chicken breasts, ensure they are small to medium in size, boneless, and skinless. It’s crucial that they are separated before placing them in the Instant Pot for even cooking. If they are stuck together, you can run them under cool water briefly to pull them apart, then arrange them in the pot with as little overlap as possible. The cooking time will generally not change unless you’re using exceptionally large frozen pieces; in that case, increase the cook time to 20 minutes to ensure they are thoroughly cooked and tender.
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 2oz | Calories: 329kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 912mg | Potassium: 760mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 342IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation. Values may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.
Additional Info
Entree
American
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Whip Up Dinner with Leftover Chicken
This recipe is also fantastic for utilizing leftover or pre-cooked chicken. While I’ve often prepared a similar dish on the stovetop using leftover cooked meat, the Instant Pot method is ideal for transforming raw chicken into a tender, succulent main course. With pre-cooked chicken, the stovetop simply involves warming everything through and focusing on creating a rich sauce without worrying about cooking the chicken to a safe internal temperature. If you prefer a full one-pot meal with grains included, explore our delightful creamy chicken and rice casserole version. However, if you’re starting with fresh meat, the steps outlined in our recipe card above are the perfect guide to a flawless meal.
Expert Tips for the Perfect Creamy Chicken
Achieving creamy chicken perfection is simple with a few helpful tips:
- Adjusting Sauce Thickness: Just like with our Creamy Crock Pot chicken, if you find the sauce to be too thick for your liking, you can easily thin it out. Simply stir in a tablespoon or two of milk (dairy or non-dairy) until you reach your desired consistency.
- Adding Vegetables: For a more wholesome meal, consider adding diced frozen vegetables. Peas, a mixed blend of green beans and carrots, or even corn would be excellent additions. Add about 3/4 of a cup of frozen vegetables to the Instant Pot before sealing the lid. Be cautious with fresh, softer vegetables, as 15 minutes of pressure cooking can make them overly mushy. Heartier vegetables like sliced carrots or small potato chunks would hold up better.
- Sodium Control: A significant advantage of cooking at home is the ability to control sodium levels, which is especially beneficial for individuals monitoring their blood pressure. Choose low-sodium broth and adjust the seasoning packet or omit it in favor of individual herbs and spices if preferred.
- Dairy-Free Options: If you or your family members have dairy sensitivities, this recipe is easily adaptable. Use dairy-free cream cheese, dairy-free butter, and plant-based milk to thin the sauce if needed. We often tweak recipes in our home to accommodate dietary needs, ensuring everyone can enjoy a delicious meal.
Serving this creamy chicken with a side of garlic bread and a fresh green salad makes for a complete and satisfying meal. The rich sauce pairs wonderfully with crusty bread for dipping, while a crisp salad adds a refreshing contrast.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pressure Cooker Creamy Chicken
Yes, within limits. As long as you pressure cook chicken in an adequate amount of sauce or broth to keep it moist, it will continue to tenderize and eventually fall apart the longer it cooks. For boneless chicken breasts, 12-15 minutes is typically sufficient to achieve perfectly tender, shreddable results. A whole bird might take around an hour. If you accidentally leave it for a few extra minutes, don’t worry – it will likely still be delicious, perhaps even more tender! Allowing a natural release of steam after cooking also significantly contributes to the chicken’s tenderness.
Browning chicken before pressure cooking is optional but can add an extra layer of flavor and a more appealing texture, especially if the chicken has skin on. You can use the sauté function of your Instant Pot or multi-cooker with a bit of oil to sear the chicken for about 2 minutes per side before pressure cooking. However, it’s not strictly necessary for this recipe, and skipping this step will still yield a perfectly successful and flavorful meal, especially since the chicken will be shredded into a creamy sauce.
In our creamy chicken recipe, we rely on cream cheese to achieve its signature thickness and richness, rather than heavy cream. While milk is a thinner liquid and technically could be used, it would not provide the same level of thickness or luxurious texture as cream cheese. Substituting milk for cream cheese would result in a much thinner sauce with a different consistency. For the intended rich and velvety outcome, softened cream cheese is key.
Exploring Different Chicken Cuts for Creamy Chicken
Absolutely! This recipe is incredibly versatile when it comes to chicken cuts. While our recipe specifies 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, you can easily substitute them with boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Chicken thighs often provide a richer flavor and remain even more moist during pressure cooking. We generally recommend staying away from bone-in chicken for this specific recipe, primarily because the bone takes up space and won’t yield as much edible meat, potentially throwing off the ingredient ratios for the sauce. Additionally, boneless cuts are much easier to shred and serve once cooked, making dinner preparation smoother.
Healthier Alternatives for Creamy Chicken
If you’re looking to lighten up this creamy chicken dish, there are several healthy alternatives you can explore. You could opt for low-fat cream cheese instead of the full-fat version. However, be aware that this might slightly alter the taste and richness of the sauce, as low-fat products often have a different mouthfeel and flavor profile. If you prefer to omit cream cheese altogether, you can achieve a thick and creamy sauce by using two cans of condensed soup. In this scenario, I recommend using one can of cream of chicken soup and one can of cream of mushroom soup to build a complex and delicious flavor base without relying on cream cheese for density.
Storing and Reheating Leftover Creamy Chicken
You can certainly freeze leftovers of this creamy chicken, but I highly recommend freezing the chicken and sauce separately from the noodles. Cooked pasta, especially egg noodles, tends to become mushy and develop an undesirable texture when frozen and then thawed. For best results, once the creamy chicken and sauce have cooled completely, transfer them to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to enjoy your leftovers, simply reheat the chicken and sauce in a microwave-safe dish. Heat for about 45 seconds, stir thoroughly, then heat for another 45 seconds or until it’s warmed all the way through to the center. Cook fresh noodles to serve with the reheated chicken for the best taste and texture.
Choosing the Best Chicken Breasts for Pressure Cooking
When it comes to selecting poultry, I’ve developed strong opinions over years of cooking. There’s a noticeable difference in texture between “regular” store-brand chicken and organic, free-range varieties. I personally find that paying the extra cost for organic, free-range chicken is worthwhile. These cuts tend to be leaner, more tender, and lack the slightly gristly texture that can sometimes be found in conventionally raised chicken. While this is purely my personal preference based on extensive cooking experience, I feel it’s a valuable insight to share. Ultimately, choose the type of chicken that best suits your budget and preferences, but consider experimenting with different varieties to discover your favorite!