This Skinny Instant Pot Fettuccine Alfredo has all of the delicious rich and creamy flavor you love from traditional fettuccine alfredo but it’s lighter and much healthier, with no butter or heavy cream, and a fraction of the calories. If that’s not exciting enough, it’s made in the Instant Pot for a super quick and easy pasta (and even easier cleanup) that your family will LOVE!
I don’t think there are many people who would turn down a cream, cheesy, delicious bowl of fettuccine alfredo, but there’s really something exciting about taking such a high-calorie comfort food and tweaking it to still taste amazing, but be WAY healthier!
One big bowl of this healthier fettuccine alfredo pasta will barely cost you 400 calories. How’s that possible, you ask? It’s made with skim milk, instead of cream, and there’s not butter or cream cheese. The sauce also has chicken broth, few of my favorite spices, and fresh parmesan cheese, of course. It’s really flavorfully, and creamy, thanks to cornstarch as the thickening agent.
I adapted this recipe for the instant pot from my favorite one-pan skinny chicken alfredo recipe. The love how the instant pot takes all of the prep work out of it!
How to make Fettuccine Alfredo in the Instant Pot:
Start by sauteing the garlic in a little oil. Turn the Instant pot off and add the fettuccine noodles, broken in half so they fit into the instant pot.
Pour chicken broth over the noodles, making sure they are covered in liquid before securing the lid.
Cook the pasta on manual, high pressure for 3 minutes, with a 6 minute natural release.
Open the instant pot lid and give the pasta stir, breaking up any pieces that have stuck together.
Stir the cornstarch and milk together until smooth. Add it to the instant pot, along with the dried basil, parsley and onion powder. Stir it well and then and the freshly grated parmesan cheese. Add some salt and pepper and taste the sauce. Add additional seasonings if needed.
Turn the instant pot back to saute and stir the pasta gently until the sauce begins to thicken. Keep in mind that the sauce will thicken significantly as it cools, so allow it to cool for a few minutes before serving. You can always add some additional cheese or a little more cornstarch slurry, if needed, to thicken the sauce.
Want to add chicken to your fettuccine alfredo? No Problem!
Cut 1-2 chicken breasts into thin pieces, or use chicken tenders, so that they will cook through at the same cook time as the pasta. Brown the chicken in a little oil at the beginning, on saute setting, then remove it to a plate. Then add the chicken on top of the pasta before closing the instant pot lid and cooking.
Can I use gluten free pasta?
You can use gluten free pasta in this dish, but be mindful that it cooks a little fast than regular pasta. Cook for 2-3 min high pressure with a few minutes natural release.
Can I double the recipe?
Yes, you can double the recipe, and use the same cooking time.
Don’t own an Instant Pot? No Problem!
If you don’t own an instant pot yet, you can make this same fettuccine alfredo in the stovetop with this recipe.
Don’t miss my other favorite Instant Pot recipes, including:
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Instant Pot Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo
Ingredients
- 8 ounces fettuccine noodles , broken in half
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- salt and pepper
- 2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
- 1 cup milk , skim or 1%
- 3 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Add oil to the IP and turn to saute. Once hot add garlic and stir for 10 seconds. Turn IP off.
- Add pasta and chicken broth, making sure the noodles are covered in the liquid.
- Turn valve to sealed and cook on manual (high pressure) for 3 minutes.
- When the times beeps allow the pressure to naturally release for 6 minutes, before turning the valve to release remaining pressure and open the lid.
- Stir pasta, breaking up any pieces that have stuck together.
- Stir the cornstarch and milk together until smooth. Add to the instant pot, along with the dry spices and parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Turn Instant pot to saute setting and stir gently until the sauce just begins to thicken. Turn Instant Pot off.
- The sauce will thicken significantly as it cools, so allow it to cool for a few minutes before serving. You can add additional cheese, if needed, to thicken the sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
Jeff says
Didn’t really follow the recipe procedure. Did it stove top as we added Aldi’s special Seafood ravioli! Yum! The milk and corn starch really helped make it lo fat! Sauteed onions, mushroom, and small shrimp and added to the Ravioli! Next time, the IP!
Abby says
It is one of the best, easy and quick recipes. My kids love it. Love it that its low fat so I can make it more often:-)
Rachel Flowers says
Would this do well with soy milk? I have a milk sensitivity, so I can do it with cow’s milk if absolutely necessary, But I prefer to avoid the side effects.
Lauren Allen says
I think that would work fine!
Jerry says
Can I double this recipe? is liquid doubled also? (does it mess up heat time for pressure cook?)
Lauren Allen says
Yes, everything will be doubled and the cook time stays the same (the instant pot will just take longer to come to pressure).
Lorie and Anna Hall says
We made this dish and my daughter loves it.
its so easy for her to practice.
THANK YOU!
Tammy Dancik (@cookiebellaskitchen) says
If you are looking for a healthier version of Fettuccini Alfredo, THIS IS IT! I made this recipe last night and it went over really well! I added cut up chicken tenders, ( sauted first in IP and added before pressure cooking just like instructed in the recipe) and it turned out perfectly. The sauce thickened up beautifully. I love the fact that the pasta is cooked in chicken broth, as you can really taste it! After everything was cooked, I added cooked broccoli to the dish and my nine year old son gobbled it up! (I know! I cannot believe it either!) My super-picky husband had two bowls himself! I added and extra 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese and a dash more of each herb to bring out the yummy flavors. This recipe was SO EASY to make and definitely one I will make again and again!
Lauren says
Would using penne pasta change cooking time or affect the recipe?
Lauren Allen says
That would be fine! Check the cook time on the box or penne and set the IP timer for half of the time. Enjoy!