• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Tasty Travelers™
  • Ninja Foodi Cookbooks
  • Ninja Creami Cookbooks
  • Recipes
  • Submit Your Recipe
  • Shop
  • About Us
  • Subscribe!
  • Giveaways
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Ninja Foodi Cookbooks
  • Ninja Creami Cookbooks
  • Recipes
  • Submit Your Recipe
  • Giveaways
  • Shop
  • Subscribe!
  • About Us
  • Social

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Instant Pot Recipes

    Instant Pot Crack Chicken Pasta

    Published: Jun 1, 2019 · Modified: Dec 12, 2022 by Lauren Cardona This post may contain affiliate links. Using links to these sites means I may earn a percentage of the purchase at no cost to you. As an Amazon affiliate, I may receive a percentage of qualifying purchases. For more details, please read the full disclaimer.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Instant Pot Crack Chicken Pasta

    Oh....My....Goodness!   Have you tried Instant Pot Crack Chicken Pasta yet?  If not.....what are you waiting for??

    So, I have seen about a million recipes online for this crazy thing called crack chicken!  I read a lot of reviews and about 50% were incredibly positive but the other 50% were quite negative.  It seems like you are either in the YES!  I LOVE CRACK CHICKEN AND CANNOT GET ENOUGH OF IT! or the NO WAY!  CRACK CHICKEN IS NOT FOR ME! camp.  How on Earth can there be so much conversation about this little chicken dish?  I just didn't understand.

    Instant Pot Duo Crisp

    This recipe was made using the Instant Pot Duo Crisp Pressure Cooker 11 in 1, 8 Qt with Air Fryer, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate and More

    Ninja Foodi, instant pot, crack chicken, chicken, pasta, instant pot, Ninja Foodi, ranch, bacon, cheese, lunch, dinner, main,

    So...I thought to myself.....ummmm....give it a try!  The worst case scenario is we have some leftovers that we don't really want to eat....but best case scenario we find a new favorite to add to our rotation.

    Let me tell you, I WAS SO PLEASANTLY SURPRISED by how DELICIOUS it was!  It's creamy, cheesy, rich, delicious goodness that my entire family loved!  Literally, they were fighting over leftovers!


    Tips for making Instant Pot Crack Chicken Pasta:

    What type of ranch should I use for Crack Chicken Pasta?

    Be sure that you use the ranch powder and not ranch dressing.  Ranch dressing will make a mess when you release the pressure and will not coat the chicken like the powder does.

    What kind of pasta can I use when making Crack Chicken Pasta?

    When cooking pasta in the Instant Pot, feel free to modify the pasta from the recipe.  If you like bowties- go for it.  If you like penne- go for it.  The trick is to look at the cooking times on the box.  Whatever the box says- cut it in half and subtract 2 minutes.  So, if the box says to cook for 10 minutes, you will cut that in half (5) and subtract 2.  Altogether you would cook for 3 minutes.

    Can I leave out the bacon when making Crack Chicken Pasta?

    Yes, you can skip the bacon if you would prefer. The bacon adds additional flavor but is not needed for the rest of the recipe to turn out great!

    Help! I added too much liquid and my Crack Chicken Pasta is soup! How do I fix it?

    To reduce the amount of liquid in the Crack Chicken Pasta, turn the Instant Pot on sauté for a few minutes and stir continuously. If there is extra liquid, it should evaporate out during this process.

    What if my pasta is not fully cooked after I have released the pressure?

    After releasing the pressure, just put the lid back on (don't lock it into place, just set it on top). The steam that is still in the pot will continue to cook the pasta. Check it every couple of minutes and stir until the pasta has reached its desired texture.


    Ninja Foodi, instant pot, crack chicken, chicken, pasta, instant pot, Ninja Foodi, ranch, bacon, cheese, lunch, dinner, main,
    Ninja Foodi, instant pot, crack chicken, chicken, pasta, instant pot, Ninja Foodi, ranch, bacon, cheese, lunch, dinner, main,

    Never miss a recipe! Subscribe to have FREE recipes sent straight to your inbox!

    FREE EMAIL Series!

     Ninja Creami Recipe Collection!

    Get a new Ninja Creami Recipe sent to your inbox every week!

    Looking for more recipes? Check out some of my newest recipes!

    • Chocolate Protein Ice Cream Featured Image
      Ninja Creami Chocolate Protein Ice Cream
    • Caramel White Chocolate Mocha Protein Ice Cream featured image
      Ninja Creami Caramel White Chocolate Mocha Protein Ice Cream
    • Caramel Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Ice Cream Featured Image-1
      Ninja Creami Caramel Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Ice Cream
    • Strawberry Banana Protein Ice Cream Featured Image
      Ninja Creami Strawberry Banana Protein Ice Cream
    • Mocha Espresso Protein Ice Cream Featured Image
      Ninja Creami Mocha Espresso Protein Ice Cream
    • Strawberry Cheesecake Protein Ice Cream Featured Image
      Ninja Creami Strawberry Cheesecake Protein Ice Cream


    Ninja Foodi, instant pot, crack chicken, chicken, pasta, instant pot, Ninja Foodi, ranch, bacon, cheese, lunch, dinner, main,

    Ninja Foodi, instant pot, crack chicken, chicken, pasta, instant pot, Ninja Foodi, ranch, bacon, cheese, lunch, dinner, main,

    Ingredient substitutions and tips for making Instant Pot Crack Chicken Pasta:

    Full ingredients list and instructions can be found at the bottom of this post in the recipe card.

    Bacon- I prefer to use thick-cut bacon, but any bacon will work. You can even use turkey bacon or omit this ingredient.

    Chicken Breasts- Boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch cubes work best for this recipe.

    Ranch Seasoning- Make sure you use a seasoning package like the Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning. This recipe will not work with ranch salad dressing. You need to use the dry packet.

    Chicken Broth- Water can be used, but the chicken broth adds extra flavor.

    Pasta-
    Short pasta is recommended. If you would prefer to use a different style of pasta, adjust the pressure cook time using this calculation: Take the recommended cook time that is on the box of pasta and divide that in half and then subtract 2. So, if the recommended cook time is 10 minutes, cut it in half (5 minutes) and then subtract 2 and you will come up with 3 minutes. Pressure cook for 3 minutes. Any pasta will cook al dente using this method.

    Cream Cheese- While I used regular cream cheese, you can also use lite or reduced-fat cream cheese for this recipe.

    Cheddar Cheese-
    I prefer to use pre-shredded thinly shredded cheddar cheese. If you prefer you can shred your own.

    Fresh Parsley-
    The parsley is used as a garnish when serving and can be omitted.

    Ninja Foodi, instant pot, crack chicken, chicken, pasta, instant pot, Ninja Foodi, ranch, bacon, cheese, lunch, dinner, main,

    Subscribe To The Tasty Travelers on YouTube!

    Directions for making Instant Pot Crack Chicken Pasta:

    1.Turn your Instant Pot on Saute.

    2.Slice bacon into ½ inch pieces.

    3.Once Instant Pot is "Hot" add bacon and sauté until fully cooked.

    4.Depending on the fat content of your bacon, you may need to remove some of the bacon fat from the Instant Pot.  Ideally, you want to remove all but about 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat from the Instant Pot.  Remove excess bacon fat from Instant Pot with a ladle.

    5.Cut chicken breasts into 1-inch cubes. Add chicken to Instant Pot and stir together with bacon until chicken is lightly browned.  Do not fully cook the chicken.

    6.Sprinkle ranch seasoning into Instant Pot and coat bacon and chicken with seasoning.

    7.Turn saute function off.

    8.Pour in chicken broth.

    9.Pour in pasta- DO NOT STIR.  Try to cover pasta with chicken broth by pushing pasta down in pot- DO NOT STIR.

    10.Close the Instant Pot with the lid and move the valve to "seal" position.

    11.Cook on manual high for the time associated with the pasta that you are using.  Calculate cook time based on the pasta of your choice.  Look at the box and take the suggested cooking time and cut it in half and subtract 2 minutes.  If the box says 10 minutes, cut it in half (5 minutes) and subtract 2.  So your total cook time will be 3 minutes.

    12.When the timer beeps, quick-release pressure.  If a substantial amount of liquid sprays out of the valve, quickly move the valve back to seal and wait a minute or two and then move the valve back to release.

    13.Remove the lid and add in cream cheese and cheddar cheese.

    14.STIR!!  This is when the cheesy goodness magic happens.  Stir everything together until it is well combined.  Garnish with just a bit of fresh parsley.  IT IS TIME!!!  Time for you to indulge in this creamy cheesy delicious goodness!  Go for it!  You deserve it!


    Pin for later!!


    Instant Pot Crack Chicken Pasta

    Ninja Foodi, instant pot, crack chicken, chicken, pasta, instant pot, Ninja Foodi, ranch, bacon, cheese, lunch, dinner, main,

    Instant Pot Crack Chicken Pasta

    4.62 from 60 votes
    Rate this Recipe Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save to Slickstream Favorites Saved!
    Cook Time: 3 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8 Cups
    Join our Facebook GroupCheck out The Ninja Foodi Community!
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 4 Slices bacon
    • 1 pound of boneless skinless chicken breasts
    • 1 packet of Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning
    • 16 ounces of your favorite pasta- I recommend using bowties (penne or rotini.  If you use long pasta like spaghetti or fettuccini the cook times for the pasta may under cook the chicken.)
    • 32 ounces chicken broth
    • 4 ounces cream cheese
    • 2 cups cheddar cheese- shredded
    • fresh parsley to garnish- it's okay to skip this ingredient if you don't like parsley or don't have any on hand

    Instructions

    • Turn your Instant Pot on Saute.
    • Slice bacon into ½ inch pieces.
    • Once Instant Pot is "Hot" add bacon and saute until fully cooked.
    • Depending on the fat content of your bacon, you may need to remove some of the bacon fat from the Instant Pot.  Ideally, you want to remove all but about 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat from the Instant Pot.  Remove excess bacon fat from Instant Pot with a ladle.
    • Cut chicken breasts into 1 inch cubes.
    • Add chicken to Instant Pot and stir together with bacon until chicken is lightly browned.  Do not fully cook the chicken.
    • Sprinkle ranch seasoning into Instant Pot and coat bacon and chicken with seasoning.
    • Turn saute function off.
    • Pour in chicken broth.
    • Pour in pasta- DO NOT STIR.
    • Try to cover pasta with chicken broth by pushing pasta down in pot- DO NOT STIR.
    • Close the Instant Pot with the lid and move valve to "seal" position.
    • Cook on manual high for time associated with the pasta that you are using.  Calculate cook time based on pasta of your choice.  Look at the box and take the suggested cooking time and cut it in half and subtract 2 minutes.  If the box says 10 minutes, cut it in half (5 minutes) and subtract 2.  So your total cook time will be 3 minutes.
    • When timer beeps, quick release pressure.  If a substantial amount of liquid sprays out of the valve, quickly move valve back to seal and wait a minute or 2 and then move valve back to release.
    • Remove the lid and add in cream cheese and cheddar cheese
    • STIR!!  This is when the cheesy goodness magic happens.  Stir everything together until it is well combined.
    • Garnish with just a bit of fresh parsley.
    • IT IS TIME!!!  Time for you to indulge in this creamy cheesy delicious goodness!  Go for it!  You deserve it!

    Notes

    Tips for making this recipe:
    1. Be sure that you use the ranch powder and not ranch dressing.  Ranch dressing will make a mess when you release the pressure and will not coat the chicken like the powder does.
    2. When cooking pasta in the Instant Pot, feel free to modify the pasta from the recipe.  If you like bowties- go for it.  If you like penne- go for it.  The trick is to look at the cooking times on the box.  Whatever the box says- cut it in half and subtract 2 minutes.  So, if the box says to cook for 10 minutes, you will cut that in half (5) and subtract 2.  All together you would cook for 3 minutes.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g

    Nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only.

    Have you tried this recipe? Let us know how it turned out in a comment below!


    Looking for more recipes? Be sure to check out some of our favorites below!

    Ninja Foodi recipe, Ninja Foodi meatloaf, Ninja Foodi mashed potatoes, Ninja Foodi dinner, dinner, beef, Ninja Foodi one pot meal, Instant Pot Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes, instant pot, meatloaf, instant pot meatloaf, meatloaf recipe, the tasty travelers, the best instant pot meatloaf

    Instant Pot Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes

    See Full Recipe

    Ninja Creami Lemon Peach Ice Cream

    Ninja Creami Lemon Peach Ice Cream- with Peach Whiskey

    See Full Recipe

    cheesecake, dessert, blackberry, berry, sour cream, instant pot, ninja foodi, cake, sour cream

    Vanilla Bean Cheesecake with Sour Cream Topping-Instant Pot Recipe

    See Full Recipe

    Ninja Creami Banana Sweet Cream Ice Cream in a bowl

    Ninja Creami Banana Sweet Cream Ice Cream

    See Full Recipe

    Ninja Creami Cookies and Cream Ice Cream featured image

    Ninja Creami Cookies and Cream Ice Cream

    See Full Recipe

    Smores Cheesecake

    Instant Pot S'mores Cheesecake

    See Full Recipe

    Lauren

    Lauren Cardona

    Tasty Traveler #1

    Hi, I’m Lauren but you can call me Tasty Traveler #1!  
    I have always had a passion for food, cocktails, and travel.  It has become more pronounced over the last several years since I have had the opportunity to do so many of the things that I love. One of my favorite co...
    Read More

    Luis Cardona

    Luis Cardona

    Tasty Traveler #2

    Hi, I’m Luis! (I like to think of myself as Tasty Traveler #1 but Lauren says I’m Tasty Traveler #2!)
    I too have a love for food, travel, and all things in between! Over the past several years I have found more time to be adventurous with things that I eat, the plac...
    Read More

    More Instant Pot Recipes

    • Instant Pot French Onion Soup Featured Image
      Instant Pot French Onion Soup
    • 50 Best Apple Recipes
      50+Best Apple Recipes
    • Velveeta
      Instant Pot Velveeta Chicken and Broccoli Mac and Cheese
    • Baked Potato
      Instant Pot Baked Potatoes

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Courtney

      January 14, 2022 at 2:36 pm

      3 stars
      Meh, it was ok. Just not enough flavor and the ranch packet was too overpowering. Wont make it again. Thank you for sharing though!!

      Reply
    2. Sharon

      December 17, 2021 at 6:05 pm

      5 stars
      Easy, quick and wow good to eat

      Reply
      • TheTastyTravelers

        December 18, 2021 at 6:06 pm

        Hi Sharon! I'm so glad that you liked it. Isn't it great when easy things turn out so well! 🙂

        Reply
    3. Amie

      September 22, 2021 at 4:03 pm

      Can you use a crock pot?

      Reply
      • TheTastyTravelers

        September 22, 2021 at 4:30 pm

        You can use a crock pot but the process and cook times would be drastically different. I have not tried this recipe in a crock pot but I would recommend cooking the pasta separately or adding it in towards the end of the cooking time. You likely would not need as much liquid either since none would be lost during the release of pressure.

        Reply
    4. Rebecca

      April 13, 2021 at 10:20 am

      Hello if I don’t have an instant pot can I just boil the pasta in the broth and get the same result?

      Reply
      • TheTastyTravelers

        April 13, 2021 at 10:29 am

        Hi Rebecca- I haven’t tried making this recipe on the stovetop yet. But, I think you could probably just cook it all in the same pot on the stove instead of the Instant Pot. However, you’ll want to keep an eye on it and stir it while it cooks otherwise it might start to burn in the bottom. The chicken should still be able to cook during the time that it takes to cook the pasta in the broth. Be sure to add the cheese at the very end like in the recipe. Good luck! Let me know how it turns out. 🙂

        Reply
    5. Kimberly

      April 12, 2021 at 6:29 pm

      I did everything the recipe said and it has turned out like soup. Any idea why?

      Reply
      • TheTastyTravelers

        April 12, 2021 at 6:31 pm

        Oh no!...I haven't had that happen before and I've made the recipe a bunch of times. 🙁 It will continue to thicken up as it starts to cool a bit. I would try to turn the saute function on and reduce some of the liquid, that should help. What type of pasta did you use?

        Reply
      • Emily

        January 26, 2022 at 5:51 pm

        did you print the recipe? When you switch to print view the amounts get all messed up.

        Reply
        • TheTastyTravelers

          January 26, 2022 at 6:00 pm

          Hi Emily- did you adjust the number of servings in the recipe card? If so you need to also adjust them on the print recipe screen. I just checked it and everything seems to be matching up on my end.

          Reply
    6. Natalie

      April 11, 2021 at 12:12 am

      What if I need to double the recipe should I really double the liquid? Big family lol

      Reply
      • TheTastyTravelers

        April 11, 2021 at 7:32 am

        Hi Natalie! This recipe makes a lot of food already. But if you do need to double the recipe, double all ingredients except the chicken broth. Use the original 32 ounces of broth and then add in an additional 28 ounces of broth instead of an additional 32 ounces. When I double pasta recipes, I usually double the liquid minus about 1/2 cup of liquid. The additional pasta will need this additional liquid to cook properly.

        Reply
    7. Christine

      July 22, 2020 at 4:11 pm

      I see in recipes for pasta to push it into the liquid, but to not stir. I'm new to IP recipes so I'm wondering what stirring does. Also, how do I modify the recipe if I already have plain cooked pasta that I want to use up? This looks so good, I want to try it. Thanks for your help. 🙂

      Reply
      • TheTastyTravelers

        July 22, 2020 at 5:31 pm

        Hi Christine! If you stir the pasta, it is more likely that it will be touching the bottom of the pot. Sometimes, when the starch touches the bottom of the pot during cooking you will get a burn notice. If you already have plain cooked pasta, do not add it in until after you have pressure cooked everything. You can simply add it into the hot cooked mixture and stir it around. This will heat up the pasta without continuing to cook it further. I hope that helps! Enjoy!

        Reply
      • Karly Kauffman

        April 12, 2021 at 5:20 pm

        Hi! About to make this for tonight’s dinner. Can you use frozen chicken?

        Reply
        • TheTastyTravelers

          April 12, 2021 at 5:59 pm

          Hi Karly- you can use frozen chicken but you need to make sure that it is cut up into small pieces like it is in the recipe. If you don’t cut up the chicken it won’t cook in the same amount of time as the pasta.

          Reply
    8. Ashlynn

      July 22, 2020 at 12:46 pm

      My entire family loved this recipe!!!

      Reply
    9. Dan Jaquez

      May 26, 2020 at 8:12 pm

      5 stars
      WE loved this but the ranch was a little salty for us so we replaced with Italian Dressing. After adding cheeses, we also added a bag or frozen peas and a bottle of sliced mushrooms (Drained). Fantastico!

      Reply
      • TheTastyTravelers

        May 27, 2020 at 7:33 am

        I'm so glad that you liked it! Great idea to add the peas and mushrooms!!!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Lauren

    Lauren Cardona

    Tasty Traveler #1

    Hi I’m Lauren but you can call me Tasty Traveler #1!  I have always had a passion for food, cocktails, and travel. It has become more pronounced over the last several years since I have had the opportunity to do so many of the things that I lo...
    Read More

    Ninja Creami ECookbook

    Frozen Treat Ebook Facebook Size

    FULL COLOR!!!

    Downloadable Ebook

    Printable Ebook


    • Ninja Creami Breeze Review and Unboxing-Video
    • Salted Caramel Butterscotch Chip Protein Ice Cream featured image
      Ninja Creami Salted Caramel Butterscotch Chip Protein Ice Cream
    • Where's the BEST place to buy a Ninja Creami Featured Image
      Where's the best place to buy a Ninja Creami?
    • Banana Cream Pie Protein Ice Cream Featured Image-1
      Ninja Creami Banana Cream Pie Protein Ice Cream
    • Baked Potato
      Ninja Foodi Baked Potatoes
    • pork tenderloin, pork, ninja foodi pork, instant pot pork, carrots, potatoes
      Ninja Foodi Sweet and Savory Pork Tenderloin
    • Hard boiled eggs
      Hard Boiled Eggs- Ninja Foodi Recipe
    • Brussels Sprouts, crispy brussels sprouts, brussel sprout, brussels sprout, brussle sprout, Ninja Foodi brussels sprouts, Ninja Foodi brussel sprout, Ninja Foodi vegetable, Ninja Foodi bacon, vegetable
      Ninja Foodi Brussels Sprouts

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Copyright Notice
    • Recipe Submission Terms
    • Recipe Submission Form

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • Submit your recipe!

    Content

    • Ninja Foodi Recipes
    • Ninja Creami Recipes
    • Ninja Foodi Grill Recipes
    • Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Stovetop Recipes
    • Blackstone Griddle
    • Cocktail Recipes
    • Web Stories
    • Giveaways

    The Tasty Travelers are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Some links may be affiliate links. We may get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these.

    Copyright © 2022 The Tasty Travelers™

    8.5K shares