featured 10657

Instant Pot Creamy Shrimp Alfredo Pasta Recipe

Shrimp Alfredo Pasta made in the Instant Pot in under 5 minutes. This quick, comforting dish is creamy, cheesy, and rich — perfect for busy weeknights or an easy weekend dinner. The Instant Pot cooks the penne to a perfect al dente texture while producing a velvety sauce that coats each piece of pasta and plump shrimp.

The recipe uses penne, jumbo shrimp, heavy cream, chicken stock, cream cheese, and parmesan. With a short pressure cook time and a simple finish, you’ll have a restaurant-style Alfredo on the table fast.

Shrimp and pasta covered in sauce with parsley and a wooden spoon up close.

Cooking penne pasta for 3 minutes in the Instant Pot followed by a quick release delivers perfectly cooked pasta every time. The creamy sauce comes together quickly by stirring in cream cheese and parmesan while the pot is on sauté to thicken.

Ingredients You’ll Need For This Recipe

  • 1 lb penne pasta
  • 1 lb jumbo raw shrimp, peeled and deveined (frozen is fine)
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 3 cups chicken stock
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan (or a quattro formaggio blend)
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp parsley (optional)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Top Tips

  1. Do a quick pressure release and remove the shrimp as soon as you open the lid. Leaving shrimp in the hot pot will overcook them.
  2. Always consult your Instant Pot manual before using pressure functions.

Frozen shrimp, penne pasta, and heavy cream in the instant pot.

What Other Ingredients Can I Add?

Vegetables like broccoli florets, sliced mushrooms, or peas make great additions. Add broccoli or mushrooms before pressure cooking so they cook through; peas can be stirred in at the end.

What To Serve With This

This dish is satisfying on its own, but it pairs beautifully with crusty garlic bread or a simple tomato and avocado salad for a lighter side.

Shrimp alfredo penne pasta with a wooden spoon in the instant pot.

Other Shrimp Pasta Ideas

  • Creamy Lemon Shrimp Pasta — bright lemon with garlic and parmesan.
  • Shrimp Scampi — garlic butter shrimp that’s great with pasta or crusty bread.
  • Creamy Spicy Shrimp Spaghetti — rich, spicy, and full of flavor.

Instant Pot Shrimp Alfredo Pasta

A hearty, comforting meal ready in under 5 minutes of cook time. Serves 6.

Equipment

  • Instant Pot

Ingredients

  • 1 lb penne pasta
  • 1 lb jumbo shrimp, frozen or raw
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 3 cups chicken stock
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp parsley (optional)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Set the Instant Pot to Sauté. Add olive oil and minced garlic and cook 20–30 seconds until fragrant.
  2. Press Cancel. Pour in heavy cream and chicken stock, then add penne pasta and frozen shrimp. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Secure the lid and set the Instant Pot to Pressure Cook for 3 minutes. When the cook time finishes, press Cancel and perform a quick release. Open the lid, remove the shrimp, and set them aside to avoid overcooking.
  4. Turn the Instant Pot back to Sauté. Add the cream cheese and parmesan, stirring until smooth. Let the sauce thicken for 1–2 minutes.
  5. Return the shrimp to the pot and stir for about 10 seconds to warm through. Serve immediately and enjoy.

Notes

  1. Remove shrimp right after opening the pot to prevent overcooking.
  2. Consult your Instant Pot manual before use for safety and best results.

Nutrition (approx.)

Calories: 741 | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 38g (values are estimates).

Like the recipe? Leave a comment below to share how it turned out.