Instant Pot Magic: Cooking Tetrazzini The Easy Way

Chicken Tetrazzini is a creamy, cheesy pasta dish that can be made in an Instant Pot. It is a quick and easy meal that can be prepared in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights. The recipe typically includes chicken, vegetables, and pasta, cooked in a creamy sauce made with butter, garlic, and cheese. The dish is named after the Italian opera star Luisa Tetrazzini and can be made with various types of pasta, including spaghetti, linguine, or angel hair. To enhance the flavour, some recipes suggest adding white wine or broth. The Instant Pot method simplifies the cooking process, allowing you to cook the chicken and pasta together, making it a convenient one-pot meal.

Prepare ingredients: chicken, veggies, pasta, broth, wine, etc

To prepare the ingredients for Chicken Tetrazzini in an instant pot, you'll need to gather your ingredients and prepare the chicken, veggies, pasta, and broth.

For the chicken, you can use cooked rotisserie chicken to save time, or cut raw chicken into bite-sized pieces. If you're using raw chicken, you can brine it by mixing one quart of warm water with 1/4 cup of kosher salt, then soaking the chicken in this solution. You can also butterfly the chicken breasts if they are extra thick.

For the veggies, you'll need mushrooms, celery, onion, and garlic. You can also add frozen peas and carrots for a healthier version. Saute the veggies in butter before adding them to the dish.

For the pasta, you can use linguine, spaghetti, or your favourite type of pasta. It's recommended to cook the pasta for 2 minutes less than the package instructions, as it will continue to cook when baked.

For the broth, you can use chicken broth or add some white wine for extra flavour. You can use Sauvignon Blanc, which has a zesty lime or flowery peach flavour.

Once you have all your ingredients prepared, you can start assembling and cooking your Chicken Tetrazzini in the instant pot!

Sauté onions and celery in butter

To sauté onions and celery in butter, start by cutting the vegetables into small pieces. Cut the ends off the celery stalks and remove the tough strings. Chop the celery into 1-inch pieces, cutting on the diagonal. Finely dice the onion. You can also add garlic to the mix, but as garlic cooks quickly and burns easily, it should be added last.

Next, add butter and oil to a skillet and place it on medium heat on the stovetop. Use equal parts butter and oil, and enough to cover the vegetables. Once the butter is melted and the skillet is hot, add the celery, onion, and garlic. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion starts to soften and turn translucent.

If you want to add extra flavor to the dish, you can caramelize the onions. To do this, cook the onions on very low heat, stirring frequently, until they are a deep brown color. This process can take 6 hours or more, as it involves breaking down the sugar in the onions.

Once the onions and celery are sautéed, you can braise them in stock to make them tender and flavorful. Add chicken stock and Italian herbs to the skillet, place the lid on, and bring the stock to a boil. Then, simmer for 5 minutes before removing the lid and adding chopped parsley. Cook for a couple of minutes more until the remaining stock has evaporated.

This is a great side dish that can be served with almost any meal. It's also a good way to use up leftover celery and onions, and the cooked vegetables can be frozen for later use.

Cook chicken and pasta

First, cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Drizzle olive oil into the Instant Pot and turn it to the saute setting. Add in the chopped onions and cook for 2-3 minutes until tender. Then, add minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook for another 3-4 minutes.

Next, pour in the water, marinara sauce, and add the pasta. Stir all the ingredients. Turn off the saute function and add the lid, ensuring the valve is sealed. Set the pressure to high and cook for 5 minutes.

Once the timer goes off, do a quick release to avoid overcooking the pasta. Open the lid and add the cheeses, stirring gently. You can place the lid back on for a minute to let the cheese melt. Serve hot and enjoy your creamy chicken pasta!

For a more creamy and rich flavor, you can add some heavy cream or milk after adding the cheese. You can also sprinkle some chopped fresh parsley or basil on top for garnish.

Some variations to this recipe include adding mushrooms, spinach, or broccoli for extra nutrition. You can also try using different types of pasta like penne, linguine, or spaghetti. For a more adult flavor, add some white wine to the recipe.

Add dairy and cheese after pressure cooking

When cooking Tetrazzini in an Instant Pot, it is important to remember to add dairy and cheese after pressure cooking. This is because dairy products such as milk, cheese, and sour cream will curdle in an Instant Pot, no matter if you use the pressure cooking setting or the slow cooking setting.

For example, when making Tetrazzini, you would first pressure cook the pasta. The pasta cooks quickly, usually in about 5 minutes. After pressure cooking the pasta, you can then add in the cheese and any other dairy products. Stir well to combine, and serve.

If you would like to add a crunchy topping to your Tetrazzini, you can transfer the contents of the Instant Pot to an oven-safe dish, top with cheese, and bake until melted and crunchy.

You can also add dairy and cheese to your Tetrazzini after pressure cooking by using the sauté function. For example, when making macaroni and cheese, you can first pressure cook the noodles, water, and seasonings. Once the pasta is almost done, you can then add the milk and use the sauté function to simmer until the sauce has thickened and the pasta is tender. Finally, you can stir in the cheese.

By adding dairy and cheese after pressure cooking, you can avoid curdling and ensure that your Tetrazzini has a creamy and smooth texture.

Bake or serve directly from the pot

If you're short on time, you can skip the baking step and serve your chicken tetrazzini directly from the Instant Pot. However, if you want a warm, crunchy topping, it's recommended to top the dish with cheese and bake it.

To serve directly from the pot, simply follow the previous steps outlined above, adding in the dairy, cheese, and any extra stock to achieve your desired consistency. Finally, add the pre-cooked shredded chicken and mix well. You can top the dish with buttered toasted breadcrumbs for some extra crunch.

If you want to bake your chicken tetrazzini, follow these steps:

• After pressure cooking, transfer the spaghetti chicken mixture to a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Sprinkle cheese on top and cover with foil.
• Bake in the oven at 350° F for 20 minutes.
• Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

Frequently asked questions