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Instant Pot Garlic Parmesan Noodles, made in less than 20 minutes, is the ultimate one-pot side dish. It’s cheesy, garlicky with just the right amount of butter and seasoning for a family-friendly recipe that’s perfect for busy weeknight meals or when you’re feeding a crowd.
This is one of those recipes that is such a “no-brainer” that I really didn’t think about posting it. I’ve been making buttered noodles for years for the boys. You know, when you’ve got little kids, you need to have a go-to side dish that you know they’ll like. Funny though, I’d shoved this recipe to the back of my mind until I got an Instant Pot last year. After just one try of cooking noodles in the pressure cooker, I was a fan! They turned out so good that I upped my games and added garlic and cheese to make the BEST noodles ever.
What makes these noodles so good is that by cooking them in the Instant Pot, they soak up all the yummy flavors of the chicken stock and garlic. Once they’re done, all that’s needed is some butter, a heaping amount of Parmesan cheese, lots of fresh cracked black pepper, a bit of salt and fresh parsley and you’re done.
You’ve just created a one-pot wonder worthy of being served in any fancy restaurant. Instant Pot Garlic Parmesan Noodles is a great dish to serve when you need to get supper on the table during a busy weeknight. It’s great to serve if you’ve got picky eaters because, really, who doesn’t love cheesy buttered noodles! This dish is also great for entertaining or for when you’re serving a crowd.
The bottom line is this, these noodles are just about the best side ever. Whether you’re serving them with grilled meat, meatballs, fish, or with some veggies pilled on top, they are “instant” comfort food that everyone will love.
What To Serve With Instant Pot Garlic Parmesan Noodles
- Air Fryer Whole Chicken
- Crock-Pot Sweet and Sour Pork Loin With Pineapple
- Irish Pot Roast In The Slow Cooker
- Braised Chicken Thighs
Tips For Cooking Noodles In The Instant Pot
Cooking pasta in the Instant Pot is super easy. The noodles turn out al dente and not soggy or overcooked. Here’s a couple of tips to make sure they turn out great every time –
- If you are using spaghetti or fettuccini, break the pasta in half before placing it into the Instant Pot. I know breaking pasta is a “no-no” but it’s a must in this instance
- Use a wooden spoon to push the pasta down into the chicken stock so that all of the noodles are covered. This will make sure that all of the pasta cooks without burning.
- Add the liquid, garlic and seasoning to the pot and stir to mix before adding the pasta.
- This recipe works with all types of pasta so have fun and experiment!
More Great Instant Pot Recipes
- Instant Pot Garlic and Herb Rice
- Instant Pot Rustic Mashed Potatoes
- Instant Pot Bacon and Egg Cheese Bites
- Instant Pot Ultimate Pulled Pork Nachos
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
- 4 cloves garlic – minced
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 pound spaghetti
- ¾ cup Parmesan cheese – grated
- 2 tablespoon parsley – chopped
Instructions
- Add stock, 1 tablespoon of butter, garlic, and salt to Instant Pot. Stir. Break spaghetti noodles in half and place in the pot. Using a wooden spoon, push noodles into the stock making sure all are covered.
- Secure lid on Instant Pot with pressure valve closed. Select PRESSURE COOK, and set the timer for 1 minute. Once the timer goes off, let the steam release naturally for 12 minutes, then quick release the remaining steam.
- Carefully remove the lid from the pot. Add in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, Parmesan cheese, and pepper. Stir to combine all ingredients. Taste to adjust salt. Sprinkle on fresh parsley and serve.
- **If there is additional liquid in the pot once noodles are cooked, set Instant Pot to saute and cook until absorbed.
Want To Know More About Using The Instant Pot?
If you are new to cooking with an Instant Pot or just don’t know where to start, I’ve got something to help. I’ve put together a helpful guide with tips and recipes to get you using the Instant Pot like a pro!
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So easy and SO delicious!!!
My husband adored this dish—thank you! I can’t eat butter, so after making it twice just as you wrote the recipe, next time I’ll try it with olive oil, though a little less as the conversion charts show. Just a remind to those new to Instant Pots, if you sauté, don’t put the lid the Instant Pot came with back on.
Hey there Beth!
Wow! I am so happy to hear that you and your husband have been enjoying this recipe, the instant pot makes cooking so simple! If you’re unable to eat butter, then using oil instead is a terrific idea. Thank you so much for sharing your experience with this recipe and for your phenomenal rating, I really appreciate your kind words of support! Let me know if you ever have any questions about a recipe, I’m always happy to help!
~Donya
Few minor alterations:
1. Beef bone broth instead of chicken.
2. Angel Hair pasta.
3. Initially cooked with butter in the instant pot, but I use olive oil to toss it afterwards. (Breaks up the clumps easier.)
4. When you’re tossing the cheese in, add about as much bacon pieces as cheese.
And now you have Carbonara!
Since the initial recipe is so simple, it also gives a lot of room for experimenting with seasonings. Try a little pepper, dehydrated onion, or such.
Hey there Kathryn!
Thank you so much for your interest in this recipe and for sharing your experience with it! It sounds like you made an absolutely delicious meal, adding bacon was a terrific idea and I totally agree with you that this dish is super fun to experiment with and tweak to your own personal tastes. I really appreciate your support, if you ever have any questions about a recipe please don’t hesitate to ask!
~Donya
I used elbow macaroni, I used about 8 Oz of noodles and just over 2 c water since it was just a guess how much pasta I poured in. I also used a bit of oil to help prevent sticking (they stull stuck together but came apart nicely whilst stirring up). I cooked for 2 mins on high and let the natural release go for about 5 or 6 mins, then did a quick release. The noodles were a bit more al dente than I like so next time I’ll use a touch more water and maybe 3 mins. I didn’t have any parmesean on hand so once I get that and make this again, I will update for the recipe as a whole. I just wanted to come comment in case others were wanting to use elbows as well.
Hey there Becky!
Thank you so much for your interest in this recipe, I am so happy to hear that you gave it a try! Using elbow macaroni is a great idea, I appreciate you sharing your experience with it. If you enjoyed this instant pot recipe, you should check out my Instant Pot Mac and Cheese, it also uses elbow macaroni, it’s super simple to make and incredibly delicious! Let me know if you ever have any questions, I’d be more than happy to help!
~Donya
Can this recipe be used with elbow macaroni pasta?
Hey there Sheena!
Thank you so much for your interest in this recipe, that’s a great question! I’ve never tried this recipe with elbow macaroni, but if you’re going to give it a try, I would recommend setting it to PRESSURE COOK for 4 minutes and then doing a quick release instead of letting the noodles steam since the pasta shapes are different. Let me know how everything turns out, I really hope you enjoy the recipe!
~Donya
Hi Donya!
This is my first time seeing your recipes! I am really excited about this one! Could I replace some of the broth with a dry white wine? I’m alone, so I would be halving the recipe anyway, but this is right up my alley!
Hey there Jane!
I am so glad to hear that you’re interested in this recipe, I think you’re really going to love it! I’ve never personally tried adding wine to these instant pot noodles, but I think using a dry white would be delicious. Thank you so much for your kind words and for your terrific rating, let me know how everything turns out, I really hope you enjoy!
~Donya
If you use a thinner pasta (like Angel hair) does it change the cook time? I’ve made this before with spaghetti and it was a hit with my husband and kids! No easy feat!!
Hey there Lisa!
That’s a great question, thank you for your interest in this recipe! There isn’t a huge difference between the angel hair pasta and spaghetti, I’ve tried both in this recipe without changing the liquid measurement or the cook time, and it has turned out well. My advice would be to simply keep the recipe as is. Thank you so much for your kind words of support, I am so happy to hear that your family enjoyed this recipe!
~Donya
Can you fix this in slow cooker or stove top?
Hey there Phyllis!
You can absolutely prepare this stove top! Cook your noodles according to the instructions on the box, reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside. Place your pot on the stove over a medium heat and melt 3 tablespoons of butter. Add 4 cloves of minced garlic, 1 teaspoon of salt, and your reserved pasta water to your pot. Once it begins to simmer, add 3/4 cup of grated Parmesan Cheese, stir until completely melted, and your mixture begins to turn into a sauce. Add your pasta back into the pot along with 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley then serve. I hope you enjoy, let me know how it turns out! Thank you for your support!
~Donya
This came out perfect. I followed the recipe exactly. I made butter/garlic shrimp separately and added on top. Sooo good!!! This will easily be a favorite in my house. Thank you!
Hey Rebecca!
Thank you so much for your fantastic rating and your kind comment! I am thrilled you liked this recipe, there’s nothing better than comforting Parmesan Noodles. I appreciate your support, hope you have a great day!
~Donya
I wanted something noodly with a little bit of cheese that wasn’t mac and cheese. I halved the recipe, used 4 small cloves of garlic and just enough cheese for flavor. A delicious side dish and TONS of leftovers.
Thank you, Jill! Not only for your kind words but also the great rating. You’ve made my day. I’m thrilled you like the recipes.
Have a great weekend,
~Donya
I’m confused why only pressure cook for only 1min? Wouldn’t it be uncooked? Other similar recipes calls for 7min pressure cook?
Follow the instructions and the noodles will turn out great. You are letting the pressure release naturally for 12 minutes so your pasta will be cooked perfectly. I have made this recipe over 30 times without fail. You can certainly cook using another recipe if you are skeptical about this one.
Have a great day,
~Donya
Can I use garlic salt instead?
Hey Sharon!
Absolutely! This recipe is meant to be effortless comfort food for YOU, so whatever spices and flavors you want to include are great! I love garlic salt so I’m interested to see how it turns out, let me know. I hope you enjoy!
~Donya
Sounds good! I will try it, but I will add shrimp after the noodles are done, let them sit for about 5 minutes, and see how that turns out.
Thanks for the great recipe. I tried it last night with egg noodles It was great. I cut the recipe in half and I will have plenty for my husband and me to have it again! Plus I put some in the freezer to see how it will come out.
I’ve never heard that breaking pasta is a “no-no” I do it all the time, it just fits in the pot better. What is the reason?
I enjoy your website, I’ve gotten a lot of ideas from you
Hello! How much pepper did you use? It’s mentioned in the directions, but I don’t see it listed in the ingredients. Thanks!
I just add to taste. Like however much you like. Some folks are not fans so I just add what we like.
Hope this helps!
Have a great week,
~Donya
Thank you!
This looks delicious! I have a question about cook time: you mentioned it comes out al dente, but if I want it cooked JUST a bit more, should I set it for 2 minutes or what would you advise?
Hey there!
That’s a great question! If you want your noodles to be a little bit softer than al dente then yes 2-5 minutes longer is perfect depending on preference. I’d check your noodles about every minute at this point so they come out exactly to your taste. I hope you enjoy this recipe, let me know how it turns out!
~Donya