Love Santa Fe Pasta? Then you’ve got to try this Instant Pot Chicken Pasta Recipe! It’s one of those delicious chicken dishes that’s bursting with flavor and sure to be a hit with the whole family. Cooking Santa Fe pasta in your pressure cooker has never been easier!
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Why This Recipe Works
- Flavorful Fusion: This Instant Pot Santa Fe Chicken Recipe blends southwestern flavors for a mouthwatering meal.
- Efficiency: With the Instant Pot, you'll have hearty and delicious chicken pasta dish ready in no time.
- Healthy Choice: Packed with protein and veggies, Instant Pot chicken pasta is a nutritious choice that doesn't sacrifice taste.
📋 Ingredients
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: The protein element of the dish, cut into bite-sized chunks for easy eating.
- Choice of Pasta: The base ingredient that pairs deliciously with the chicken and sauce.
- I Can't Believe It's Not Butter or Olive Oil: Used for sautéing the onions, peppers, and garlic, adding richness and flavor to the dish.
- Yellow Onion: Provides a savory and slightly sweet flavor to the Santa Fe Chicken, creating a flavorful base for the sauce.
- Red, Yellow, and Orange Pepper: Adds vibrant colors and a sweet and tangy taste to the dish, enhancing its overall appeal.
- Garlic Powder: Infuses the dish with aromatic flavor, adding depth and complexity.
- Low-Sodium Chicken Broth: Provides moisture and a savory base for cooking the chicken and pasta, enhancing their flavors.
- Queso Cheese Dip: Adds a creamy and cheesy element to the Santa Fe Chicken, contributing rich and indulgent flavors.
- Kosher Salt: Enhances the taste of the dish, bringing out the natural flavors of the ingredients and helping to balance the overall seasoning.
- Smoked Paprika: Adds a smoky and slightly spicy flavor to the dish, enhancing its depth and complexity.
- Black Pepper: Adds a subtle heat and a touch of spice to the Santa Fe Chicken, complementing the other flavors.
- Low-Fat Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese: Provides a creamy and melty texture to the dish, adding a delicious cheesy element to the final result.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
- Penne Pasta: You can switch the pasta twirls for penne pasta if you prefer. The cooking times will be the same.
- Cream Cheese: If you have no queso cheese dip you can substitute with regular cream cheese.
- Chicken Thighs: Use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts. Chicken thighs tend to have more flavor and are a bit juicier than chicken breasts. I'd recommend using boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
- Green Chillies: You can add a can of diced green chilies to the Santa Fe Chicken recipe for added flavor and spice. Simply add the green chilies with the peppers in step 1 before sautéing. Adding a Poblano pepper will really add some heat to this dish and up the spice level. Alternativel,y you can add red pepper flakes to the dish.
- Italian Seasoning: If you wish for a contrast add some Italian seasoning with the paprika.
- Diced Tomatoes: Garnish with diced tomatoes or sun dried tomatoes for extra flavor.
🔪How To Make Instant Pot Chicken Pasta
- Step 1: Press Sauté and add the butter. As soon as the butter begins to foam, add the onions and garlic. Sauté the garlic and onions, stirring often, until the onions are soft, or about 1-2 minutes. Add the diced bell peppers and sauté for a further added 1-2 minutes.
- Step 2: Add the diced chicken breasts and cook until the chicken is golden brown and no longer pink. Add chicken broth, salt, paprika, and black pepper.
- Step 3: Add the pasta and mix everything together, making sure the pasta is submerged. Secure the Instant Pot lid and sealing the valve. Set to manual pressure for 8 minutes.
- Step 4: Once the 8 minutes are up, allow the pressure to release naturally. Then open the vent and release the remaining steam.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Sauté for Depth: Brown diced chicken with garlic, onions, and Italian seasoning in the Instant Pot using the sauté function for extra flavor.
- Layer Properly: Add uncooked pasta on top of the chicken, then pour in broth and diced tomatoes without stirring to prevent sticking or a burn notice.
- Quick Pressure Cook & Finish: Cook on high pressure for 4–6 minutes (depending on pasta type), then quick release. Stir in heavy cream and shredded cheese for a creamy, rich finish.
💭 FAQs
Traditionally Fe Chicken is a Mexican-flavored Chicken dish loaded with goodness. Most people love to eat Santa Fe Chicken on rice or with pasta and the combination of flavors makes it a winning dish.
Our version of Instant Pot Santa Fe Chicken includes peppers, and bite-size pieces of chicken breast for added flavor and texture. The delicious sauce is made from queso cheese dip, paprika, garlic, and other tasty ingredients.
Yes, you can make Santa Fe Chicken in the slow cooker as well. Simply follow all the steps above, but instead of pressure cooking for 8 minutes, cook on low heat for 4-6 hours or on high heat for 2-3 hours.
Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken is a great option for those busy weeknight dinners. Try whatever cooking methods you prefer.
You can cook Santa Fe Chicken Skillet style by following the steps above but cooking in a skillet instead of an Instant Pot.
Cook your chopped chicken breasts on medium-high heat until the chicken and vegetables are cooked through before adding the broth and spices. Cook until the pasta is al dente before stirring in the cheese.
This Santa Fe Chicken Pasta Instant Pot recipe is sure to become a family favorite. The flavors are fantastic, and it’s an easy weeknight meal that can be on the table in under 30 minutes.
Give it a try and let us know what you think in the comments below! Don’t forget the fresh chopped cilantro.
Store leftover chicken pasta in the fridge. Consume within 3-4 days for the best quality. If you need to store Santa Fe chicken for an extended period, consider freezing it. Portion the chicken into an airtight container or freezer bags for up to 2-3 months.
Serving Suggestions
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Chicken Pasta:
- Black Bean Salad: A refreshing mix of black beans, corn, and tomatoes, adding a burst of color and texture.
- Avocado Salsa: Creamy avocado chunks combined with tomatoes and onions for a cool, creamy contrast.
- Jicama Slaw: Crisp jicama strips tossed in a tangy dressing, bringing a crunchy element to the plate.
- Roasted Vegetables: Seasonal veggies roasted to perfection, enhancing the dish with earthy flavors.
- Cheddar Jalapeño Cornbread: A cheesy, spicy cornbread that's the ideal companion for soaking up those delicious Santa Fe Chicken juices.
🍜 Related Recipes
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Instant Pot Santa Fe Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breasts of boneless chicken breastscut into bite sized chunks
- 1 pound pasta of your choice of pasta
- 2 tablespoons Margarine
- 1 onion medium yellow onion finely chopped
- 1 Bell Pepper yellow, and orange pepper, finely diced
- 2 cloves Garlic Paste of diced garlic
- 4 cups chicken broth low sodium chicken broth
- ½ cup cheese dip queso cheese dip
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups Monterey jack cheese low fat shredded Monterey jack cheese
Instructions
- Press "Sauté" and add the I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter. As soon as the butter begins to foam, add the onions and garlic.
- Cook the garlic and onions, stirring often, until the onions are soft, or about 1-2 minutes. Add the peppers and cook an added 1-2 minutes Then add the chicken and cook until no longer pink.
- Add chicken broth, salt, paprika, and black pepper. Add the pasta and mix everything together, making sure the pasta is submerged.
- Secure the instant pot lid and sealing the valve. Set to manual pressure for 8 minutes. Once the 8 minutes are up, allow the pressure to release naturally.
- Open the vent and release the remaining steam. Open the lid and add the shredded cheese and cheese sauce. Allow to stand until sauce thickens, which takes about 10 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
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What can I use in place of the quest? Is there anything a little bit more healthy? Thank you
Hi Jessica,
the queso cheese dip helps make the recipe creamy, you can add lighter options such as a light cream cheese or even two spoons of non fat greek yogurt as a substitute.
Can you substitute real butter?
yes any butter or margarine can be used.
Thanks!
What is it topped with? Is it sliced tomatoes and fresh parsley?
yes that's a garnish to make the recipe look nice..tastes great too!