Instant Pot Garlic Pasta is a deliciously garlicky cheesy easy dinner recipe! This can be an any night of the week meal and it is literally too easy!
My Instant Pot Pasta with Jar Sauce shows you how easy cooking pasta in your Instant Pot is! My Instant Pot Penne Pasta, Instant Pot Primavera Pasta and Instant Pot Spaghetti Bolognese take stove top recipes into the pressure cooker!
We are going to keep it really simple like we did in our Garlic Spaghetti and White Wine Pasta Sauce.
Instant Pot Garlic Pasta
The best thing about this recipe is that it is flexible!
I use penne pasta (as shown in the photos), however, you can choose your favourite, or use whichever you have at home, do you don't have to head to the shops!
The combination of freshly cooked pasta and sauteed garlic is a match made in heaven!
How to cook Pasta with Garlic in the Pressure Cooker
I have learnt that the best way to cook pasta recipes in the Instant Pot is to cook the pasta 1st, followed by sautéing the rest of the recipe.
It takes 5-10 mins for the Instant Pot to reach the right pressure as it cooks, so doing this 1st means that when we saute, it will be a faster process as the pot is a lot warmer than if we sauteed 1st.
The Instant Pot is perfect to cook pasta as it does it quickly and effortlessly for the home cook!
Who wants to wait for water to boil in a sauce pan when you can press a button and magically it is done!
Ingredients
The ingredients for this recipe are shown in the photo below, you might even find that you have most of these ingredients in the pantry already!
As you can see we need:
- dried pasta (use your favourite, I am using penne)
- garlic
- parmesan cheese
- olive oil
- parsley
- chilli flakes
- salt
If you like cracked pepper on your pasta, like we did in my Garlic Prawn Spaghetti you can use that on top also!
How to pressure cook pasta
To cook the pasta, we refer to the packet instructions. Then we divide that by 2 and subtract 1. So my penne pasta packet indicates the cook time is 12 minutes. Divided that is 6, then subtract is 5. So I indicate 5 on the visual display on the IP.
This process is SO easy! When you 1st get your Instant Pot and start using it, it might be a little scary or intimating as you are learning something new. However, trust me my friends, this is something you want to learn and I encourage you!
I usually quick release the pressure then drain the pasta (and most often reserve some of the pasta water) then continue with the recipe as needed.
Instructions
If you look at the photos below, you will see how I slice my garlic (ie don't mince it, we want chunky pieces)
You will need a knife and chopping board for the 1st step:
- Finely slice each garlic clove, discarding the end bit (Photo 1)
- Add dried pasta to the stainless steel bowl (Photo 2)
- Pour in enough water to cover (Photo 3)
- Add a pinch of salt (Photo 4)
After doing the above steps, you will need to put your lid on, seal it and set the time ie 5 mins if using penne pasta and that is your packet instructions, tweaked for the pressure cooker as mentioned earlier.
Next you will need to press the saute button. As we have just finished pressure cooking, it will be hot still and heat up quickly (woot woot!).
- Add olive oil to the stainless steel pot (photo 5)
- Followed by sliced garlic (photo 6)
- Followed by chilli flakes (photo 7)
- Next add drained cooked pasta (photo 8)
- Add reserved pasta water (Photo 9)
- Stir to combine (photo 10)
Once you have added the pasta water like in the photos above, you can simply stir (I use a wooden spoon so it doesn't scratch) and it will heat very quickly and be done!
Talk about easy, peasy dinner on the table with lightening speed, don't you love it!
Once your garlic pasta is hot, you can plate and get your fork ready!
This is a freezer friendly recipe also! So let it cool, portion it out and freeze.
During the week, simply defrost in the fridge, then heat (saute mode) and you are ready for dinner with no effort whatsoever!
It is amazing how simple basic ingredients can pack such flavour into a dish. The Parmesan cheese and parsley add texture and pops of colour also!
Frequently asked questions
- this recipe works with all types of pasta
- slice the garlic, don't used minced and don't dice
- we use a pinch of salt in the water like we would on the stove
- this is an easy recipe!
- Start by adding the dried pasta, then pour in 2- 4 cups (just to cover the dried bits)
- Cook the pasta for the packet recommended length, divided by 2 minus 1.
- Different types of pasta recommend different times, so double check the packet!
- It will take (approx 5-10 mins) for the Instant Pot to heat before cooking
- The sauté mode is our 'stove top saucepan' method (with the touch of a button!)
- this is a freezer friendly recipe
- also a family friendly recipe (if the kid lets like garlic and chilli!)
Instant Pot Pasta with Garlic Pro tips
These additional tips are so that you can master pasta in your instant pot from the 1st time you cook it:
- Push the pasta into a flat level (ie not heaped in one area)
- The water needs to just cover the pasta
- Quick release the pressure, then use oven mits to remove the inner (hot!) bowl
- Drain the pasta with a colander and have a measuring jug underneath to reserve the pasta water
- Press the saute mode and add oil and garlic straight away as it will be hot and cook quickly!
Can I freeze this recipe
Yes, this is a freezer friendly meal!
To freeze your pasta, simply let it cool, then portion out and place in the freezer.
To reheat this dish, simply defrost and then add to the Instant Pot again (lid off, saute mode) and stir till pasta and sauce is heated through.
😍 More Easy Pasta Recipes
If pasta is one of your favourite ingredients, then here are some recipes you need to get cooking:
- Instant Pot Penne Pasta
- Garlic Bacon Pasta
- Instant Pot Spaghetti Bolognese
- Garlic Spaghetti
- Instant Pot Rigatoni with Jar Sauce
- Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta
- Ground Beef Casserole
- Tomato Mac and Cheese
- Blue Cheese Mac and Cheese
- Tuna Spaghetti
- Smoked Salmon Spaghetti
Or you can have a read through all of the pasta recipes in one handy spot.
Pasta, garlic - you, me, we are all over this x
Adrianne
PIN and save the recipe for later!
Hunger still got you? You can SUBSCRIBE to receive the latest recipes, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram or Facebook.
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Garlic Pasta
Equipment
- Instant Pot
- Wooden spoon
- Chopping board
- Knife
Ingredients
Instant Pot Garlic Pasta
- 500 grams dried pasta Note 1
- 10 cloves garlic thinly sliced
- Parmesan cheese finely chopped
- ½ tbs chilli flakes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup reserved pasta water Note 2
- ⅓ cuocup olive oil
Instructions
Instant Pot Garlic Pasta
- Us a knife and chopping board to finely slice the garlic cloves, discard the end bit
- Add dried pasta to inner Instant Pot bowl, pour in enough water to just cover the pasta and sprinkle salt in
- Set Instant Pot to pressure cook for 6 minutes (Note 3)
- Once the pasta is cooked, quick release the pressure, unseal lid and use oven mits to remove inner pot
- Drain pasta and reserve ¼ cup of pasta water
- Return inner bowl to Instant Pot, press the saute button, add olive oil and sliced garlic, saute for 2-3 mins until garlic is translucent.
- Add chilli flakes and stir to combine with garlic
- Add dried pasta to the garlic, chilli mix, followed by reserved pasta water and stir till pasta is heated through
- Top with Parmesan cheese, parsley and cracked pepper
Video
Notes
- Note 1 You can use your favourite pasta for this recipe! Try penne, rigatoni, fettucince, spaghetti or linguine!
- Note 2 This is from the pasta that you have cooked. So once it is ready, drain it over a colander into a jug and measure ¼ cup from that.
- Note 3 The pasta needs to be cooked according to packet instructions, divided by 2 and minus 1. For example, my Penne Pasta packet indicates a 14 minute cook time. So I divide that by 2 to get 7, then subtract 1 and get 6 minutes total cook time.
Heather Johnson says
this looks delicious - i would love to have a big bowl right now - definitely making this
Adrianne says
Thanks Heather, that is great to hear. I hope you love it. Cheers
Megan says
I have never thought of cooking pasta in the instant pot! I can't wait to try this, it sounds great.
Adrianne says
Cheers Megan! I appreciate your feedback.
Dannii says
I am always looking for new ways to use my instant pot, and this looks great. The more garlic the better I say.