This tasty Instant Pot Penne with Sausage in Tomato Cream Sauce is a quick and easy recipe perfect for busy weeknights. The best part about this recipe is that the pasta and sauce are cooked together, from scratch. So there’s no need for jar pasta sauce.
[This post was first published in February 2017 and was one of my first Instant Pot recipes! It was completely updated in February 2019 with new photographs and modified instructions to help you avoid the Burn message.]
Table of Contents
Introduction
Can you cook pasta in a pressure cooker? The answer is a resounding ‘yes.’ And it’s so convenient because everything gets done in one pot. This is one of the first recipes I developed when I first got my Instant Pot.
The really interesting thing about cooking pasta in the Instant Pot is that you don’t drain the pasta water. You pressure cook the pasta, and the cooking water gets absorbed into the dish.
You may be familiar with stovetop pasta recipes where reserved pasta water is added at the end to make the dish creamier. Well, that’s essentially what happens when you pressure cook the pasta, except you use less water and all of it gets incorporated.
I combined two different stovetop recipes – Homemade Pasta Sauce and Penne Pasta with Sausage – to make this recipe.
On a really busy day, you can make a homemade Instant Pot sausage pasta recipe within 30 minutes from scratch (no jar sauce in sight!) and the hands-on time is less than about 10 minutes. This recipe easily feeds four people.
Here are some other Instant Pot Pasta recipes you might like to try out!
– Instant Pot Garlic Shrimp Pasta
– Instant Pot Vegetarian Rigatone Bolognese
– Instant Pot Italian Wedding Soup
– Instant Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
Tips and Substitutions
Flavor
If you like things spicy, add extra crushed red pepper or use spicy Italian sausage. I do both when I make this recipe.
The recipe gives you the option of using broth or water. Using broth makes the penne more flavorful because the broth is absorbed by the penne.
Pasta
To avoid the Burn error message, add the pasta at the end right before pressure cooking and don’t stir it. Just push down on it with a spatula until the pasta is submerged in the liquid.
Penne, farfalle, and ziti would all work for this recipe but you may need to change the cooking time. The rule of thumb for pasta cooking times is to take the cooking time on the box, divide by 2 and add 1. e.g. if the pasta stovetop cooking time is listed as 8 minutes, the Instant Pot cooking time for the pasta would be 5 minutes (8 divided by 2 = 4; 4 + 1 = 5)
Cream
Substitute half-and-half for the heavy cream to make the recipe healthier. Keep in mind that you will sacrifice some flavor!
Substitute cream cheese or mascarpone cheese for the cream to get a creamier consistency and different flavor.
Parmesan
For maximum flavor, try to use good quality, freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Meat
If you want to substitute chicken for the Italian sausage, use boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into bite-size pieces. Or use chicken sausage. Keep the pressure cooking time the same.
You can make the recipe meatier by adding another 1/4 lb of sausage.
Crushed Tomatoes
The recipe calls for a large can of crushed tomatoes. That makes this dish have a pretty strong tomato flavor. The reason for this is that the cream balances out the tomatoes. If you want to reduce the tomato flavor, use 1/2 to 3/4 can e.g. if you’re using less cream.
The tomatoes are also added at the end and not stirred. Again, this is to help avoid getting the Burn error message.
Sweetness
The recipe adds a touch of sugar to balance out the sourness of the tomatoes. You can substitute sugar with some grated carrots, which add sweetness.
Releasing Pressure
Doing a quick release (QR) of pressure when cooking pasta can result in food particles spewing out of the steam release valve. When releasing pressure, do it in bursts.
This means you release steam for 1 second and stop. Repeat multiple times until the steam coming out is less forceful. At that point, you can release the remaining pressure in a steady stream.
If you’re new to the Instant Pot and aren’t familiar with how to use it, you might find it helpful to first read one of the following guides and then come back here to learn how to make this recipe.
- Instant Pot DUO Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot ULTRA Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot DUO EVO PLUS Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot DUO NOVA Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot DUO GOURMET Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot DUO CRISP Beginner’s Manual
Instant Pot Pasta with Sausage – Ingredients
- Penne pasta
- Salt
- Cream
- Bell peppers
- Parsley
- Dried basil and oregano
- Garlic
- Parmesan
- Sugar
- Crushed tomato
- Onion
- Black pepper
- White wine
- Olive oil
- Sausage
How to Make Penne with Sausage in the Instant Pot (Step by Step Instructions)
- Turn on Saute mode
- Saute sausage
- Saute onions and garlic
- Add spices and pasta
- Pressure cook the sausage and pasta
- Quick-release pressure
- Stir cream and parsley
How to Turn on Saute Mode
- Instant Pot DUO: Select the Saute function.
- Instant Pot ULTRA: Select the Saute function and press Start.
Saute Sausage
- Once the inner pot has preheated, add oil to the inner pot and let it heat up.
- Add sausage and cook until browned, about 5 minutes.
- If the sausage browns too quickly, press Cancel until the Instant Pot cools down a bit and select Saute again. Deglaze as needed with a tablespoon of broth.
Saute Onions and Garlic
- Add the onions and saute until translucent.
- Add garlic and saute for 30 seconds.
- Deglaze with white wine, stirring until the liquid has nearly evaporated.
- Press Cancel to turn Instant Pot off.
Add Spices and Pasta
- Add in bell pepper, sugar, basil, oregano, salt, black pepper, and broth or water. Stir to combine.
- Add tomatoes and pasta on top, but don’t stir in.
- Gently push down with a spatula till the pasta is submerged. This helps avoid the Burn message.
Instant Pot Duo Pressure Cook 5 minutes
- Close the lid and make sure steam release handle is in Sealing position
- Press Manual (or Pressure Cook) and + or – until the display reads ‘5′ (5 minutes).
Instant Pot Ultra Pressure Cook 5 minutes
- Close the lid.
- Select Pressure Cook mode and adjust the time to 5 minutes (00:05).
- Press Start.
Pressure Cooking Process (Duo and Ultra)
- Instant Pot display will change to On.
- Once the Instant Pot is pressurized, the float valve will go up.
- The display will count down to 0; it will then switch to Keep Warm mode and display ‘L0:00’ or ’00 00′ and begin to count up the number of minutes since pressure cooking completed.
How to Quick Release Pressure (QR) on the DUO
- Move the steam release handle to Venting. Steam will come out of the steam release handle.
- When your Instant Pot is depressurized, the float valve will be in the down position.
- Press Cancel and open the Instant Pot.
How to Quick Release Pressure (QR) on the ULTRA
- Press down on the Steam Release Button until it locks into place, and steam begins to come out of the Steam Release Valve.
- When your Instant Pot is depressurized, the float valve will be in the down position.
- Press Cancel and open the Instant Pot.
[Find out more about the pressure release methods and how and when to use them. ]
Pro Tip
For some foods such as noodles, I find it helpful to release the steam in small bursts: less than 1-second intervals. Once the steam coming out is less forceful, I release the remaining pressure in a steady stream. Read more about the different pressure release methods.
Stir in Cream and Parsley
- There might seem to be more liquid than you’d like, but don’t worry, the liquid will get absorbed by the pasta as it rests.
- Carefully stir in cream.
- Select Saute and simmer the pasta and sauce for a couple of minutes until heated through.
- Let the Instant Pot pasta rest for a few minutes and it will thicken up.
- Sprinkle each serving with grated parmesan, parsley, and crushed red pepper (if using).
Instant Pot Pasta | Penne with Sausage in Tomato Cream Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 lb Italian sausage casing removed, cut into 1/2 inch chunks
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1 Tbsp garlic minced
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1 cup bell peppers 1 inch cubes
- 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp salt or to taste
- 1/4 tsp black pepper powder
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth or water
- 28 oz. (1 can) crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 lb dry penne pasta
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- parmesan cheese shredded
- Chopped parsley to garnish
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper or to taste, optional
Instructions
- Select 'Saute' and add oil to inner pot of Instant Pot.
- Add sausage, and cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Break up the sausage if the pieces are too large. (If the sausage browns too quickly, press 'Cancel' until the Instant Pot cools down a bit and select 'Saute' again.)
- Add onions and garlic. Stir until onion is translucent.
- Deglaze pot with white wine, stirring until liquid has nearly evaporated.
- Turn off Instant Pot.
- Stir in bell peppers, sugar, dried basil, oregano, salt, black pepper, and broth or water.
- Add in the tomatoes and pasta. Don't stir but just gently push down to submerge in the liquid.
- Close the lid and pressure cook on High Pressure for 5 minutes.
- Do a Quick Release of steam, and open the Instant Pot. [Read More: The Different Pressure Release Methods]
- Select 'Saute'.
- Stir in cream and simmer the pasta for a couple of minutes until heated through.
- Turn off Instant Pot and if desired, let the pasta rest for a few minutes to absorb any remaining liquid.
- Sprinkle each serving with Parmesan and parsley, and crushed red pepper, if using.
Notes
- Prep time does not include steps that are already accounted for in the ingredient list, e.g. chopped onions, minced garlic, diced chicken, etc.
- To lighten the dish, you could substitute half-and-half for the heavy cream.
- The sugar adds a nice balance to the flavor of the tomatoes, but feel free to leave it out or add some grated carrots.
- See the blog post for more detailed recipe tips.
Nutrition
I am not a certified nutritionist. I provide my best estimate of nutritional information merely as a courtesy to my readers. If you depend on nutritional information for dietary or health reasons, I suggest using your favorite online nutrition calculator to confirm the nutritional value of this recipe based on the actual ingredients that you use.
If you loved this recipe, please give it a five ⭐ rating in the comment section below and please share it on social media using the social media share buttons at the top and bottom of this post. Thank you so much!
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Cecile
This is a very tasty pasta dish. Had to use ground Mild Italian Sausage, and substituted half and half creamer, then added the crushed red pepper to the finished pasta and sauce. My hungry husband and son really liked the flavors!! I will definitely make this recipe again!
Paint the Kitchen Red
Cecile, I’m so glad that you were able to enjoy the recipe!
Terri
I added olives & used red wine instead of white, 1/2 hot and 1/2 mild sausage. Lots more seasonings since I’ve found the IP needs more than usual. Even after letting it sit for a bit, & adding Parmesan, it was way too runny, so next time I’ll use less chicken broth. But I liked the flavor and super easy to make.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Terri – I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe. I’m sorry it was too runny even after letting it sit…
Tanya
I love this recipe! I have made it many times and it has become one of my go to recipes. Everyone loves it!!
Paint the Kitchen Red
Hey Tanya, thanks for commenting – I’m so happy to hear this.
Peter
Nice simple, quick and tasty recipe.
I added a bit more pasta and also sautéed the sausage in a frying pan. Mostly because sausages are usually fatty. So I cooked them fully and drained them before adding to the pot.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Peter, thanks for your comment and suggestions – great option to avoid some of the fat.