Instant Pot Sausage & Peppers Pasta is a quick and delicious one-pot meal that combines savory sausage, sweet bell peppers, and tender pasta in a rich tomato sauce. This hassle-free recipe is perfect for busy weeknights, offering a hearty and flavorful dish that the whole family will love.
The Instant Pot takes the guesswork out of cooking, ensuring perfectly cooked pasta and tender sausage every time. The combination of juicy sausage, vibrant bell peppers, and tangy tomato sauce creates a comforting and satisfying meal that comes together in a fraction of the time it would take using traditional methods.
Helpful Tips
- Use Quality Sausage: The type of sausage you use can greatly impact the flavor of the dish. Choose high-quality Italian sausage, either sweet or spicy, depending on your preference. For a healthier option, you can also use chicken or turkey sausage.
- Sauté for Extra Flavor: Before pressure cooking, use the sauté function on your Instant Pot to brown the sausage and sauté the onions and peppers. This step enhances the flavors and adds a depth of richness to the dish that makes it even more delicious.
- Avoid Overcooking the Pasta: Instant Pot cooking times can vary, so it’s important to follow the recommended time for pasta carefully. Typically, you’ll want to cook pasta for about half the time suggested on the package when using an Instant Pot. This ensures the pasta is al dente and not mushy. Quick-release the pressure as soon as the cooking time is up to prevent overcooking.
Instant Pot Sausage & Pepper Pasta
Note: Made in a 6-qt Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 1 pound (0.45 kg) Italian sausage sliced
- 1 onion diced
- 1 red bell pepper sliced
- 1 green bell pepper sliced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 (28.35 g) 14 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (28.35 g) 14 oz can diced tomatoes
- 2 cups (470 g) chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon (2 g) dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon (1 g) dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) red pepper flakes optional, for heat
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 12 oz (0.34 kg) uncooked penne pasta
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Set the Instant Pot to “Saute” mode and add the Italian sausage. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is browned. Remove the sausage from the Instant Pot and set aside.
- In the same pot, add the diced onion, sliced bell peppers, and minced garlic. Saute for a few minutes until the vegetables are softened.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, dried oregano, dried basil, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper to the Instant Pot, and stir to combine.
- Return the browned Italian sausage to the Instant Pot.
- Add the uncooked penne pasta to the pot, ensuring it is submerged in the liquid.
- Close the Instant Pot lid and set to “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” mode for 5 minutes on high pressure.
- Once the cooking time is complete, perform a quick pressure release.
- Give the pasta a good stir to combine all the ingredients.
Nutrition
Laura is a passionate home cook and the owner of A Pressure Cooker Kitchen. She is dedicated to helping people create delicious Instant Pot meals with ease. Laura is an expert at developing recipes that can be prepared quickly and easily using a pressure cooker.
Delicious!! Easy to cut in half for the two of us. Will use Mini Penne next time for a little more done pasta. Used bulk sausage. Turned out perfect. No salt and pepper needed. Thanks for this one.
So happy to hear that you liked it Betsy!