Description
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Indulge in the rich and creamy goodness of Fettuccine Alfredo, made effortlessly in your Instant Pot! This recipe delivers perfectly cooked pasta enveloped in a luscious homemade Alfredo sauce, all ready in under 30 minutes. A comforting and satisfying meal for any weeknight.
Ingredients
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8 ounces fettuccine pasta (dried)
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4 cups heavy cream
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4 tablespoons unsalted butter
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4 cloves garlic, minced
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1 ½ cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
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½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
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¼ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
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Optional garnishes: fresh parsley, red pepper flakes
Instructions
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Combine Ingredients in the Instant Pot: Add fettuccine pasta, heavy cream, butter, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper to the Instant Pot. Ensure pasta is mostly submerged; add a splash of water or chicken broth if needed.
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Pressure Cook: Secure the Instant Pot lid, and set the valve to the sealing position. Select the “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” setting and set the cooking time to 4 minutes at high pressure.
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Quick Pressure Release: Once the cooking cycle is complete, perform a quick pressure release. Carefully turn the valve to the venting position to release pressure rapidly.
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Stir in Parmesan Cheese: Once the pressure is fully released and the float valve has dropped, carefully remove the lid. Stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
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Serve Immediately: Serve hot, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese, fresh parsley, and red pepper flakes if desired.
Notes
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Variations:
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Chicken Alfredo: Add 1 pound of cooked chicken (rotisserie, grilled, or sautéed) after pressure cooking and stirring in the Parmesan. For raw chicken, add 1 pound of cubed chicken breast with the other ingredients and increase pressure cooking time to 6 minutes.
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Shrimp Alfredo: Add ½ pound of cooked shrimp after pressure cooking and stirring in the Parmesan. For raw shrimp, add ½ pound of peeled and deveined shrimp in the last minute of pressure cooking or sauté separately and add at the end.
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Vegetable Alfredo: Add 1-2 cups of frozen peas, broccoli florets, or sautéed mushrooms with the pasta and cream before pressure cooking. Spinach can be stirred in at the end.
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Spicy Alfredo: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the Instant Pot before pressure cooking or as a garnish.
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Tips:
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Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best flavor and melting. Pre-grated cheese may not melt as smoothly.
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Do not overcook the pasta. 4 minutes is generally perfect for dried fettuccine in the Instant Pot.
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If the sauce is too thick, thin it with a splash of milk or pasta water after cooking. If too thin, use the “Sauté” function to simmer and reduce slightly after adding Parmesan.
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Taste and adjust seasoning (salt and pepper) after adding Parmesan cheese, as Parmesan is salty.
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Intolerances/Allergies:
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Gluten-Free: Not naturally gluten-free. Use gluten-free fettuccine pasta to make it gluten-free.
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Dairy-Heavy: This recipe is high in dairy. For a dairy-free version, consider using full-fat coconut milk and nutritional yeast in place of heavy cream and Parmesan, though the flavor will be different.
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Taste Preferences:
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Garlic Lovers: Increase the amount of garlic to 5-6 cloves. Roasting the garlic beforehand can mellow the flavor while enhancing sweetness.
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Cheesier Alfredo: Add ½ cup more Parmesan cheese for a stronger cheese flavor. Pecorino Romano can be added for a saltier, sharper cheese note.
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Richer Sauce: Use half heavy cream and half crème fraîche for an even richer and tangier sauce.
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- Prep Time: PT10M
- Cook Time: PT15M
- Category: Main Course, Pasta
- Method: Pressure Cook
- Cuisine: Italian, American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 750 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 60 g
- Saturated Fat: 38 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 200 mg
Keywords: instant pot fettuccine alfredo, fettuccine alfredo, instant pot pasta, pressure cooker pasta, creamy pasta, easy pasta recipe, weeknight dinner, italian pasta, alfredo sauce, parmesan cheese, garlic pasta, quick pasta dinner