Use these easy step-by-step instructions to cook perfectly al dente pasta in a 6-quart Instant Pot / pressure cooker.
Pasta has been my Instant Pot nemesis ever since I fell in love with the kitchen gadget of the moment. In the past few years I’ve become pretty confident when cooking in the pressure cooker. It only took a few weeks to get over my fear of releasing the pressure valve. 😉
These days, I use the pressure cooker a couple times a week to make everything from rice, to a big pot of Crispy Pork Carnitas, to 20-minute weeknight meals like Chickpea Curry with Rice. But pasta is tricky.
That is, until I learned the Instant Pot pasta formula. It involves a tiny bit of math, but the payoff is perfectly tender pasta every time. Here’s how it’s done.
Why Cook Pasta in the Instant Pot
There are three reasons to cook pasta in the Instant Pot / pressure cooker.
- It’s a true one pot dish. No need to strain the pasta after it’s done because the pasta will absorb all of the water as it cooks.
- Set it and forget it. There’s no need to keep an eye on the pot to make sure it doesn’t boil over. Just turn the machine on and walk away.
- Keep the starch – Since the pasta isn’t strained, all of the natural starch from the pasta stays in the pot and serves as a natural thickener for any type of sauce you add – whether it’s marinara sauce (as in Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti) or creamy cheesy sauce (as in Instant Pot Mac and Cheese).
The Instant Pot Pasta Formula
To cook any type of pasta perfectly in the Instant Pot (note: you do NOT need to do this math yourself – just wanted to show you how I did it):
- Find the recommended cook time on any box / bag of pasta.
- Take the lowest, even number in the range. (If only one time is given and it’s odd, round down. So 7 minutes becomes 6.)
- Divide in half.
- Subtract two minutes.
- Pressure cook on high.
- Use 5 minute natural release and then release any remaining pressure manually.
But there’s no need to do all that math. Just use the chart below:
**0 is a real setting on the Instant Pot / pressure cooker. For small pasta shapes with a short recommended cook time, set the timer to zero minutes. The pressure cooker will fully pressurize but won’t hold for any amount of time.
How Much Water to Use for Instant Pot Pasta
Use 2 cups water for every 8 oz of pasta. So…
- 8 oz Pasta + 2 cups Water
- 16 oz Pasta + 4 cups Water
- 24 oz Pasta + 6 cups Water
You can disregard this if you’re cooking pasta in a lot of liquid or sauce (like in a soup or ragu), but the cook times still hold true.
How to Cook Pasta in the Instant Pot
- Combine pasta and water (using measurement above) in the bowl of the Instant Pot. Give everything a stir so that the pasta gets a bit wet.
- Seal and lock the lid.
- Pressure cook on high. (Use the chart above to determine the cook time.)
- Leave the pasta on natural release for 5 minutes (do not let this sit any longer or the pasta may overcook) and then manually release any remaining pressure.
- Unplug the machine or check to be sure that all heating / warming functions are off.
- Open the lid and give the pasta a very good stir – about 20 to 30 times. Put some muscle into it so that the pasta gets really well incorporated with the small amount of water that remains. (Note: When you start stirring the pasta, there may still be a few dry spots on the pasta where it was sticking out of the water. Don’t worry – as you stir and let the pasta steam in the next step, it will continue to absorb the small amount of liquid in the pot.)
- Return the lid (no need to lock it just set it on top) and leave the pasta to sit for 5-10 minutes more. (Note: This step is the most important because the pasta will continue to absorb any remaining liquid and continue to cook just a bit in the residual heat of the machine. This is the key to pasta that is cooked, but not over-cooked.)
- Serve!
Cooking Spaghetti, Fettuccini, or Linguini in the Instant Pot
Long, straight pasta like spaghetti, fettuccini, and linguini can be a bit finicky to cook in the Instant Pot. The method for cooking these is slightly different than other shapes, though the cook time remains the same.
- Break the pasta strands in half before adding them to the Instant Pot so that they can easily be submerged in water.
- Pour water into the Instant Pot to completely cover the pasta (note: this is more water than you add for other pasta shapes).
- Do not stir before cooking. Resist the urge to stir the pasta. (Stirring it can cause it to stick.)
- Pressure cook pasta according to the time on the chart.
- Leave pasta on natural release for 5 minutes and then release any remaining pressure.
- After cooking, stir the pasta well to insure the strands are not stuck together.
- Drain well.
Whole Wheat / Alternative Pasta
There is no need to make any adjustment to the formula if using whole wheat or alternative pasta. Because this method of cooking pasta is based on the recommended cook time on the package, any type of pasta can be cooked this way.
We tested this method with several varieties of whole wheat pasta and with several varieties of alternative pasta (lentil, chickpea, and black bean pasta).
Instant Pot Pasta Recipes
- Instant Pot Mac and Cheese – This method of cooking pasta in the Instant Pot works so well with Mac and Cheese. Because the starches in the pasta thicken the cheesy sauce, you get an extra creamy mac without needing a ton of cheese or butter.
- Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti – Classic and comforting, this one pot meal is a family favorite around here. Check out that post (if only for the photos of our baby devouring a giant bowl of this saucy dish).
- Instant Pot Italian Pasta Salad – This pasta salad uses a different method than the one described here. For Instant Pot pasta salad you boil the pasta above the other ingredients using the pot-in-pot method. But it’s such a fun Instant Pot trick, it deserved a mention here. 😉
Favorite Tools
- 6-Quart Instant Pot Duo – This is the Instant Pot / pressure cooker I use to test all meals on this site. It easily makes enough to serve the 5 members of our family (3 are young kids).
How to Cook Pasta in the Instant Pot
Equipment
- Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
- 8 oz Pasta, any type or shape
- 2 cups Water
- 1/2 tsp Salt
Instructions
- First, determine the cook time for the pasta you are using. See the notes below to determine the right time.
- Combine pasta, water, and salt in the bowl of an Instant Pot. Give everything a stir. (See note below if cooking long, straight pasta like spaghetti, fettuccini, or linguini.)
- Close and lock the lid.
- Set the vent to “Sealing”.
- Pressure cook on high for the time determined in Step #1.
- Leave the pasta on natural release for exactly 5 minutes. (Note: Be very careful not to let it sit for any longer or the pasta will overcook.)
- Use manual release to release any remaining pressure.
- Open the lid and give the pasta a good stir, 20 to 30 times. (This will get rid of any dry spots that remained where the pasta was sticking out of the water during cooking. If adding sauce, stir it in at this point.)
- Return the lid to the top of the pressure cooker (no need to lock it just set it on top) and leave the pasta for 5-10 minutes more. (Note: This step is the most important because the pasta will continue to absorb any remaining liquid and continue to cook just a bit in the residual heat of the machine. This is the key to pasta that is cooked, but not overcooked.)
- Serve!
Notes
**0 is a real setting on the pressure cooker / instant pot. For small pasta shapes with a short recommended cook time, set the timer to zero minutes. The pressure cooker will fully pressurize but won’t hold for any amount of time.
Spaghetti, Fettuccini, or Linguini - Long straight pasta shapes like these (and angel hair, bucatini, etc.) need to be treated a bit differently than other pasta shapes.
- Break the pasta strands in half before adding them to the Instant Pot so that they can easily be submerged in water.
- Pour enough water into the Instant Pot to completely cover the pasta (note: there is no set amount, but only add water until every strand of pasta is submerged). Add salt.
- Do not stir before cooking. (This will help prevent the pasta from sticking.)
- Pressure cook pasta according to the time on the chart.
- Leave pasta on natural release for 5 minutes and then release any remaining pressure.
- After cooking, stir the pasta well to loosen any strands that are stuck together.
- Drain well.
Nutrition
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Thank you for this! due to the current covid-19 crisis, I have found myself without any housing options but house-sitting an unfinished residence with electricity (and a finished bath & bedroom). So I have moved in with nothing but my dorm waterheater & the owner’s instapot.
This is the best instapot pasta website I have found. thanks you!
Hi Dia – oh my goodness – it’s no small feat cooking under your circumstances. I’m so glad that you have an Instapot. There really are so many things you can cook with that even if you don’t have other tools. Definitely try my Instapot Mac and Cheese! Take care and best of luck getting through this strange time.
This formula for cook times does not work at high altitudes.
Hi Barbara – thanks for your note. You’re absolutely right. As with most recipes, this one will needs to be adjusted for use at high altitudes.
I just followed the instuctions to the t for 12 oz of bow tie pasta and it worked PERFECTLY!
Yay!! Thanks so much for the note Kari!
Question for you….so is the pasta weight measure, or a measuring cup full?
Hi Karen. Pasta is all measured by weight.
What about fettuccine and linguine noodles – do you stir them before cooking or just stir after cooking like the spaghetti?
Hi Pam. Treat fettuccine and linguine like spaghetti. We’ll add a note for that!
What if I want to add pasta to an instant pot dish that doesn’t have those instructions incorporated? How do I do that? Example: Italian chicken breast recipe that makes a ‘sauce’ that removes chicken and will require sauté function following the chicken cook time. I’d love to cook it all together to infuse the flavor into the noodles but no idea how…thank you so much!!
Hi Jessica! Use the times listed as a guide, and plan to add a bit more liquid than the recipe you’re using calls for. It always takes a bit of experimentation to add pasta to an existing recipe, but with the times as a guide, it should work out.
Followed recipe exactly. My seal was shut. Used correct amounts of pasta to water to cooking time to release and it was not edible😭 I wondered how this was enough liquid and indeed,it was not.
I’m so sorry to hear that, Rosanne! What type of pasta did you use?
Normally when cooking pasta you heavily salt the water. How do you account for the missing salt in this recipe?
Hi James – thanks for your question! Typically you heavily salt the water for pasta because the water is drained off. In this method, the salted water is completely absorbed by the pasta and no water is drained off. You’ll find that 1/2 tsp of salt is to season 8 oz of pasta.
THANK YOU!! I live in California and dread turning the stove on in the summer. I followed the instructions as you directed and WALA, perfectly cooked pasta without turning my home into a sauna. Blessing to you and yours.
That’s wonderful!!! Thanks so much for your note, Eloisa!
Followed directions exactly and sadly it was a mushy mess. I’ll try again and see what happens.
Hi Zoe – I’m so sorry to hear that! The recipe is really dependent on sticking to the exact times as written. Every once in awhile I’ll get distracted and forget to release the pressure right at the 5 minute mark and the pasta will overcook – it happens so fast at high pressure. Maybe that was the issue here? Either way – I do hope you’ll give it another try! Let me know if I can be of any help.
This seems like an awesome idea, but the problem I’m having is that my instant pot will not seal when I cook according to these directions. Does anyone else have this problem? It seems like the instant pot only works with literally soup-consistency dishes, or the float valve won’t work. (I have cleaned the seal and the valve, so it’s not that) Is there something wrong with my instant pot’a valve?
You make it too complex. 1 1/2 cup water for 8oz pasta. Meat bottom then the pasta then a jar of pasta on the top. Don’t stir in. Cook half the time on the box. 5 minutes works. Immediate release stir and eat.
Hi Heidi – this method for pasta made without sauce or meat, but your method for meat + sauce pasta sounds awesome! That’s very similar to how I make my red sauce pasta in the IP.
-Jess-
What a mess! So confused by all the subtraction, addition, and division of things listed in your instructions. I was never great at math, now I feel even worse. Pasta is in instant pot, with some sort of water measurement, and timer set. I can only hope that something comes of it. Please send thoughts and prayers cause Jesus take the wheel!
Hi Nico! No need to do any math – just use the chart to determine the correct cooking time. I just wanted to explain where my math came from in this method. Enjoy!
Used this to cook bow tie pasta and it came out so perfect! Best pasta I’ve had in a while 😊 I have the mesh strainer basket and found with using it I didn’t need steps 8 or 9. I just strained after the pressure release and it was perfect.
Thanks for the formula! We found a recipe a while ago for elbow noodles but it was for a pound with no aid on different portions. We love that pressure cooking the pasta with broth gave it extra flavor & would always make our mac&cheese 16oz at a time. While not always a bad thing, it will be nice being able to make smaller portions & know the cook time for other shapes to impart the same flavor punch. For the long pasta you say “this is more water than you add for other pasta shapes” but there’s no reference for how much water to add other than the same measurements provided for the other shapes. Should you use the same amount or does there need to be more than the typical 2oz per 8oz of pasta? Thanks!
Hi Felicia – so glad this was helpful! Even for my family of 5, a pound of pasta often seems like too much. If using long noodles, just add as much water as needed to completely cover them. There’s no set amount since it will vary depending on how much pasta you use, but just pour the water in until the pasta is covered. I’ll update the wording on that so it’s more clear!
2nd time I cook pasta by this recipe and both time the pasta got REALLY mushy.
a) Do you think I’m converting wrong? I live in Europe and our pasta is in grams, so I counted 100g == 8oz, was that wrong?
b) Even if I did count right… what would you recommend? Less water or less cooking time?
Thanks!
Hi Schantall – I’m so sorry to hear that! 8 oz of pasta by weight is 226 grams, so try adjusting that amount. If you’re getting mushy pasta, it is sometimes because you didn’t release the pressure at exactly 5 minutes (even a minute more when left in the IP with some pressure in the bowl will turn the pasta to mush). You can also definitely try reducing the cook time by 1 minute (don’t reduce the water).
Thanks Jess, I will try it again, let you know how it turns out 🙂
Perfect – please do Schantall!
Hi Jess, I adapted the water and the pasta turned out perfectly. Thank you for this recipe.
I then tried to experiment a little with one pot pasta dishes but they didn’t go very well. Just to learn the pasta cooking I made simple tomato sauce, however, the two times I tried it went rather poorly.
The first time I counted the tomato sauce as ‘water’ and everything burned completely, the second time in addition to the tomato sauce I added the amount of water according to your recipe and the pasta was mush again.
It must be something inbetween… Do you have a tip for me?
Thanks.
Shantall – that’s great! I’m so glad that helped!
Okay – yes about the one pot pasta dishes – you’ve totally identified a key challenge with pasta sauces in the IP. Tomato sauces are really prone to burning on the bottom of the pot. My guess is that you had too much liquid overall when you added both the amount of water listed here and the tomato sauce. You’ll have to play around with it a bit to get the right amount of liquid. I usually water my tomato sauce down by about 1/2 cup (120 mL) water for each 8 oz of pasta. Maybe try it again with a bit less water and you could even reduce the high temp cook time by a minute. Like I mentioned – you do still have some wiggle room by leaving the lid on after the cooking is done, so in my opinion, it’s better to try a lower cook time if you’re experimenting with a new method.
Also – did you see that I have an IP Chicken Spaghetti recipe here on the site? That has the measurements I use to make that spaghetti + sauce (though it cooks a bit differently since I add chicken).
I made ditalini; according to the recipe it would’ve been 3 minutes cooking time but I did 2 minutes since I planned to dump the pasta and any remaining water into my other ingredients already on the stove and cook a little longer. Turned out great! I even had to add a little water to make enough sauce, but wow, it’s thick starchy water and brought the sauce together nicely. (Sautéed shallots, garlic, diced Canadian bacon, fresh peaches, Brie chunks, lemon juice, and a quart of fresh basil)
Thanks so much for the note, Julie. That flavor combination sounds AMAZING!
I use a small IP which may account for my issue that when I manually release the pressure after the 5 minutes I get a fountain of gooey spray that makes a huge mess. But the pasta is GREAT! I added lightly steamed veggies, olive oil, salt & pepper, and some hummus to make a delicious vegan pasta dish served hot or cold. I love this recipe except for the pressure release issue. Does anyone else experience this? Any recommendation to contain the spray?
That pasta combo sounds delicious! I suspect that the small IP was the cause of the extra spray at the end of cooking. Pasta can definitely cause a lot of foam to form, but in the larger IP there’s a bit more space for it to expand. That said, I do sometimes get the spray even in my larger IP, so I’ll often just drape a dish towel over the valve as the pressure releases. The lid still gets messy but at least the rest of the kitchen doesn’t! Others may have tips on this too!
Just a quick note to say that I used the formula with Banza, chickpea macaroni pasta and it did not work. Ended up with a gummy hunk of overcooked pasta. That doesn’t mean I won’t be trying this with semolina pasta. Thanks for this easy guide!!
This was such a lifesaver! It’s August, and our air conditioner has been out for a week. I had no desire to fire up the gas stove to boil some pasta for dinner, and this was great. Not only for not hearing up the house, but it also cold the noodles perfectly. I think it’s even quicker than on the stove because my Instant Pot builds up pressure faster than my stove can get a pot of water boiling. It also uses less water. Super efficient!
Dallas – I’m so glad this was helpful! Thank you for the note!
It worked for me so well. I am not sure the taste for many time I did but this time, it came out so impressively
Thank you for sharing!
I work in a schoolhouse and have to cook for 50 kids. We don’t have a stove/oven and deep fryer. But we do have 3 instant pots! Most of the recipes are pasta based and I never could get the pasta perfect. Today’s lunch was Mac N Cheese and I followed your chart exactly and it turned out perfect!!! Thank you for this! Next week, Spaghetti is on the menu and I will be using this chart again!
I tried this using a brown rice spaghetti (allergic to gluten). It was a bit gummy, but that was not anything different than if I’d cooked it by traditional method. A good rinse in hot water did the trick with enough starch left in the pot to keep the sauce sticking. Having just moved into a new home and waiting for the new stove on backorder, I am VERY grateful for this recipe! Thank you for making dinner so easy in such a stressful time!
Thank you so much for posting this recipe. I refer to it over and over and it’s always been 100% perfect for penne, rotini and other thick, short pasta shapes. I always seem to have a bit of water to drain off, but that is fine with me, I use it ALL the time for throwing together quick pasta dishes. I sometimes just add butter, cream, Parmasen and a few red pepper flakes. I can make penne in the IP using your time chart and instructions, then drain and it the same IP pot add a mixture of Parmesan, ricotta, chopped fresh parsley or basil and some bottled pasta sauce that I’ve doctored and enhanced during the pasta cooking time. I add that pasta mix to a baking dish coated with sauce, top with Parmesan, more sauce and mozzarella and cook in a 350 oven for about 30 mins. It’s so easy and a huge family hit. These are just two of the ways I use your simple and perfect IP pasta cooking instructions.
Lisa – those variations sound amazing! Thanks so much for the recommendations!
Perfect!!! I’ll never cook pasta the old fashioned way ever again!
I love my instant pot! And use it for everything.
So glad this was helpful! I’m with you – love my IP!