| |

Instant Pot King Chicken Casserole

Pin This Recipe!

Instant Pot King Chicken Casserole has creamy goodness, bold Tex-Mex flavors, and tender chicken, all brought together in one glorious dish. With the convenience of the Instant Pot, this iconic casserole is easier and faster to make than ever before, making it perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or simply craving a cozy dinner, this Instant Pot King Ranch Casserole is sure to satisfy your cravings and become a new family favorite.

instant-pot-king-casserole

 

King Chicken Ranch Casserole Ingredients

  • 3 cups water or broth
  • 1 pound chicken breast, cubed
  • 1 packet ranch seasoning (or homemade ranch)
  • 4 ounces diced green chilies
  • 28 ounces diced tomatoes
  • 8 ounces Velveeta cheese, cubed
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 16 ounces pasta

Instant Pot King Chicken Casserole Recipe

  • Begin by turning on the saute function of your pot.
  • Add a drizzle of olive oil to the pot, then add the cubed chicken. Cook the chicken pieces until they are nicely browned.
  • Sprinkle the ranch seasoning over the chicken, stirring to coat evenly.
  • Add the pasta to the pot, followed by the water, diced tomatoes, and diced chili peppers, in that order.
  • Secure the lid and set the pot to manual high pressure for 5 minutes.
  • Once the cooking time is complete, perform a quick release of pressure.
  • Stir in the milk and add the cubed Velveeta cheese to the pot, stirring until the cheese is melted and the sauce is creamy.
  • Serve the delicious chicken ranch pasta hot and enjoy your meal!

Tips & Tricks

  • Prep Ingredients Ahead of Time: Chop all your vegetables, cube the chicken, and measure out your seasonings before you start cooking. This will make the cooking process smoother and more efficient.
  • Brown the Chicken: Browning the chicken before pressure cooking adds flavor and helps to seal in the juices. Use the sauté function on your Instant Pot to brown the chicken until it’s golden brown on all sides.
  • Use Low-Sodium Ingredients: To control the salt content of your dish, opt for low-sodium chicken broth, diced tomatoes, and ranch seasoning. You can always add more salt later if needed.
  • Adjust Seasonings to Taste: Taste the sauce before adding the pasta and adjust the seasonings as needed. You can add more ranch seasoning for a stronger flavor or adjust the spice level by adding more diced chili peppers.
  • Don’t Stir the Pasta: When adding the pasta to the Instant Pot, make sure it’s submerged in the liquid but avoid stirring it. Stirring may cause the pasta to clump together or stick to the bottom of the pot.
  • Quick Release Carefully: When releasing the pressure from the Instant Pot, use caution to avoid burns from the steam. Stand back and use a long-handled spoon or oven mitt to turn the release valve.
  • Add Cheese Gradually: When stirring in the milk and Velveeta cheese, add the cheese gradually and stir constantly until it’s fully melted and incorporated into the sauce. This will help prevent clumping and ensure a smooth, creamy texture.
  • Garnish Before Serving: Garnish the chicken ranch pasta with fresh chopped parsley, grated Parmesan cheese, or additional diced chili peppers for added flavor and visual appeal.
  • Reheating Leftovers: If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To reheat, add a splash of milk or chicken broth to prevent the pasta from drying out, then reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave until heated through.
  • Customize Your Pasta: Feel free to customize the recipe to suit your preferences. Add extra vegetables like bell peppers or spinach, swap out the protein for cooked ground beef or turkey, or use a different type of pasta such as penne or rotini. Have fun experimenting with different flavor combinations!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Can I use a different type of pasta?
Yes, you can customize this recipe by using your favorite type of pasta. Penne, rotini, or bowtie pasta are great alternatives to traditional elbow macaroni.

2. Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breast?
Absolutely! Chicken thighs can be used instead of chicken breast for a richer and more flavorful dish. Simply adjust the cooking time as needed to ensure the chicken is cooked through.

3. Can I make this recipe vegetarian?
Yes, you can make a vegetarian version of this dish by omitting the chicken and using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. You can also add extra vegetables like bell peppers, mushrooms, or spinach for added flavor and nutrition.

4. Can I use homemade ranch seasoning instead of a packet?
Yes, you can use homemade ranch seasoning if you prefer. Simply combine dried herbs like parsley, dill, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt to create your own seasoning blend.

5. Can I freeze leftovers?
Yes, you can freeze leftover chicken ranch pasta in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave.

6. Can I use shredded cheese instead of Velveeta?
While Velveeta cheese adds creaminess to the dish, you can use shredded cheese if you prefer. Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a blend of Mexican cheeses would work well in this recipe.

7. How can I make this dish spicier?
If you prefer a spicier dish, you can add extra diced chili peppers or a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce. You can also use a spicier variety of diced tomatoes with green chilies.

8. Can I double the recipe?
Yes, you can double the ingredients to make a larger batch of chicken ranch pasta. Just make sure not to exceed the maximum fill line of your Instant Pot and adjust the cooking time accordingly.

9. Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
Yes, you can assemble the ingredients ahead of time and refrigerate them until you’re ready to cook. Simply follow the recipe instructions when you’re ready to prepare the dish.

10. Can I add extra vegetables to this dish?
Absolutely! Feel free to add extra vegetables like bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, or spinach to boost the nutritional value of the dish and add extra flavor and texture. Just make sure to adjust the cooking time as needed for the vegetables to cook through.

instant-pot-king-casserole

Instant Pot King Chicken Casserole

Yield: 1
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 7 minutes

Instant Pot King Chicken Casserole is the ultimate chicken recipe in the Instant Pot. No canned soups, and just tasty and easy ingredients you might already have on hand. 

Ingredients

  • 3 cups water
  • 1 pound chicken breast, cubed
  • 1 packet ranch seasoning
  • 4 ounces diced green chilies
  • 28 ounces diced tomatoes
  • 8 ounces Velveeta cheese, cubed
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 16 ounces pasta

Instructions

  1. Begin by turning on the saute function of your pot.
  2. Add a drizzle of olive oil to the pot, then add the cubed chicken. Cook the chicken pieces until they are nicely browned.
  3. Sprinkle the ranch seasoning over the chicken, stirring to coat evenly.
  4. Add the pasta to the pot, followed by the water, diced tomatoes, and diced chili peppers, in that order.
  5. Secure the lid and set the pot to manual high pressure for 5 minutes.
  6. Once the cooking time is complete, perform a quick release of pressure.
  7. Stir in the milk and add the cubed Velveeta cheese to the pot, stirring until the cheese is melted and the sauce is creamy.
  8. Serve the delicious chicken ranch pasta hot and enjoy your meal!

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 409Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 96mgSodium: 1155mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 4gSugar: 10gProtein: 37g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

Pin This Recipe!

Similar Posts

25 Comments

  1. So, the first time that I made this recipe, I stuck to the exact ingredients/measurements and it was fantastic.
    Well, I just wanted to tell you that I tweaked your recipe a little, and holy moly, it was FABULOUS. Instead of chili peppers, I used frozen broccoli. I subbed milk for 3 oz of heavy cream. I also added some garlic powder.

  2. I am making this right now!! Are you supposed to actually sauté the chicken and ranch seasonings or do you do that just to warm the IP up? Also the water didn’t come up over the noodles is that normal?

  3. My daughter and husband loved this recipe. Thank you for helping me find one more thing the picky eater enjoy s.

  4. My two teenage boys went back for thirds! I did partially cook my chicken by sautéing in the pot first, so I cut the time back to 4 minutes, and I’m glad I did bc the mini penne were very done! I didn’t have Velveeta so I used cheddar and evaporated milk in place of milk. I also added some chopped baby spinach when adding the cheese to make it more of a complete one pot meal for us bc I literally had nothing else to go with 😉 Oh, and some crumbled bacon at the end, too! Lol

    Perfect & easy pre- baseball game meal!

    1. Used two cans of rotell instead of the tomatoes and chili’s. It was sooo good. I was a little nervous putting the chicken in raw but it came out amazing

  5. I am new to the instant pot and don’t understand the instructions. Am I supposed to sauté for 30 min (like it defaults on the pot) or just do this til it reaches the “Hot”, then move into the next steps?

    1. I don’t have a “instapot” I have another brand so it’s kinda harder to follow the directions for “instapot” recipes.
      I cooked my 3 raw refrigerated bonelessskinless chicken for 3 minutes in the 3 cups of water. Opened it up, added a splash more water (just to replace what was used in the 3 minutes). Then added the rest of the ingredients and followed the instructions from there. Turned out tender and well cooked. Next time, I will add some spinach or kale for more flavor, bacon sounds good too. I also used rotel. Hope this helps.

  6. Could we get more detailed instructions? How long does the chicken need to be cooked on sautée, before everything else is added?

    1. Yes I’m a complete amateur so when the recipe states… “Turn Pot on saute. Add chicken and ranch seasons. Add pasta, water, Tomatoes, and Chili peppers, in that order. Place on manual high pressure for 5 minutes. Do a quick Release. Stir in milk and cheese until melted Serve.” you need to be more specific on how long to Sautee and do you saute in the ranch seasoning?? Are you assuming that saute is a general term and that everyone knows how long you’re supposed to saute? Plus everytime I’ve sauted in the instapot I end up getting the burn message eventually so I’d think you’d want to saute in another pan first then add the ingredients to pressure cook together. Hopefully this makes sense cause like I said I’m a amateur cook at best! Thanks

  7. I would love to make this, but as others have mentioned a few clarifications to the instructions would be spectacular! 🙂 I’d rather get it right than experiment and potentially waste food in the process.

    1. @Leah, Saute until the meat is no longer pink all around, usually a minute or 2. THEN, (important!) take a small amount, perhaps 1/2c of broth or liquid and add it and scrape the bottom of the pot! Ensure that no burned bits are stuck to the bottom! Don’t remove them, though, bc they add flavor! But scrape them from the bottom of the pot diligently. Otherwise you will be plagued w/the dreaded “burn” notice. Then, proceed as instructed.

  8. Your recipe calls for 28oz of diced tomatoes and 4oz of chile peppers. Ro-tel tomatoes are diced tomatoes w/green and red chile peppers. Can this be substituted for these? Ro-tel comes in a 28oz can. Seems that would work well. What say you?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *