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    You are here: Crunchy Creamy Sweet / Instant Pot / Instant Pot Pasta Carbonara Recipe

    Instant Pot Pasta Carbonara Recipe

    Published: Jan 23, 2019 · Modified: Jan 14, 2020 by Anna 57 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Instant Pot Pasta Carbonara Recipe - the easiest pasta dish you can make in your pressure cooker! Spaghetti noodles tossed with bacon, grease and egg and Parmesan mixture to make the sauce, make this pasta dish a huge favorite!

    If you want to serve it with sauce, try my Homemade Alfredo Sauce and serve it all with a simple salad with my Italian Dressing.

    Side shot of spaghetti carbonara with bacon and chopped parsley in large white serving bowl.

    I took the concept of one-pot pasta and made one of my Hubby's favorite pasta dishes, Pasta Carbonara, in my Instant Pot pressure cooker. It's unbelievably easy to make and you will have only the IP insert to clean. Win-win!

    INSTANT POT PASTA CARBONARA

    This Instant Pot Pasta Carbonara is one of the easiest meals you can make in your Instant Pot. It's creamy, flavorful and satisfying. Toss cooked spaghetti noodles in crispy bacon, add the mixture of Parmesan cheese and egg and stir until creamy. Garnish with chopped parsley and devour!

    HOW TO MAKE PASTA CARBONARA IN INSTANT POT?

    • Start by chopping bacon and garlic. Set aside.
    • Place pasta, water and butter in Instant Pot, close lid, set valve to sealing position, press "manual" or "pressure cook" setting and set timer to 7 minutes. The IP will take about 10 to come to pressure. Once the timer is done, wait 1 minute, then switch the valve to venting to release pressure. Carefully open the lid away from your face. Spoon out 1/2 cup of pasta water into a measuring cup. Set aside. Drain pasta and discard rest of the pasta water. Keep spaghetti in the colander.
    • Place IP insert back in the IP and press "saute" setting. Wait 1 minute, then add olive oil. Add chopped bacon and cook until crispy. Add garlic to IP and stir. Add one tablespoon of butter and let melt. Press "cancel/off" button. Add spaghetti back to the Instant Pot. Stir well, coating with bacon and grease.
    • Slowly add egg and cheese mixture, stirring constantly, to prevent the egg from scrambling. It should turn into a creamy sauce with the spaghetti. Add reserved pasta water, a little bit at a time, and stir well.
    • Serve garnished with more shredded Parmesan, chopped parsley. For a little bit of spice, sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes over each serving.
    Overhead shot of spaghetti noodles with bacon in the Instant Pot.

    HOW LONG DO YOU COOK SPAGHETTI IN THE INSTANT POT?

    That's my favorite part of this easy dish! You cook the spaghetti noodles right in your Instant Pot in just 7 minutes! Arraning it in a criss-cross pattern and adding 1 tablespoon of butter on top prevents the noodles from sticking to each other. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water after cooking, drain the rest. When the bacon is nice and crispy, you add the pasta back to the IP and toss with bacon and the grease. Talk about flavor!

    Overhead shot of spaghetti carbonara in the Instant Pot.

    INSTANT POT PASTA CARBONARA VARIATIONS:

    • add more meat: add cubed chicken, ham or Italian sausage and cook with bacon, before tossing in the pasta.
    • add veggies: spinach, sweet peas, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, even broccoli and cauliflower.
    • use different noodles: angel hair, fettuccine, linguine or even bow tie pasta can be used to make this dish. The rule is to cook it for half the time mentioned in instructions on the box.
    Side shot of two bowls with pasta carbonara and Instant Pot next to them.

    WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS INSTANT POT PASTA CARBONARA:

    Instant Pot pressure cooker (I have the DUO60 6qt and Ultra 6qt <<--- affiliate links)

    wooden spoon

    cutting board and knife

    colander

    measuring cup

    Side shot close up of pasta carbonara in white bowl.

    MORE INSTANT POT PASTA RECIPES:

    Instant Pot Spaghetti

    Instant Pot Baked Ziti

    Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

    Instant Pot Tuscan Chicken Pasta

    For more IP recipe, feel free to browse our Instant Pot category.

    If you like this recipe and make it, snap a photo and share it on INSTAGRAM! Tag me @crunchycreamysweet so I can check it out and leave a comment! 😀

    INSTANT POT PASTA CARBONARA RECIPE

    Instant Pot Pasta Carbonara Recipe

    Author: Anna
    The easiest pasta dish you can make in your pressure cooker! Spaghetti noodles tossed with bacon, grease and egg and Parmesan mixture to make the sauce, make this pasta dish a huge favorite!More pasta recipes: www.crunchycreamysweet.com 
    5 from 20 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 520 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 8 oz. spaghetti noodles
    • 4.5 cups water
    • 2 tablespoons butter divided
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 6 slices of bacon
    • 2 garlic cloves
    • 3/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
    • 1 large egg
    • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Grab a handful of spaghetti noodles at a time, break in half and arrange in a criss-cross pattern. Add water. Do not stir. Place one tablespoon of butter on top of pasta. Close the lid. Set valve to "sealing" position. Make sure the IP is set to cooking on HIGH pressure. Press "manual" setting and set timer to 7 minutes. The IP will take up to 10 minutes to come to pressure.
    • Once the timer is done, press "cancel/off" button. Wait 1 minute, then switch the valve to "venting" position to release pressure. Once the pin drops and pressure is released, open the lid carefully away from your face. Spoon out 1/2 cup of pasta water into measuring cup and set aside. Drain pasta over colander, discard remaining pasta water. Keep spaghetti in colander.
    • Place the insert back in the Instant Pot. Press "saute" setting. Wait 1 minutes. Add olive oil to insert. Add bacon and cook until crispy. Add garlic and saute with bacon for 1 minute. Add one tablespoon of butter and let melt. Press "cancel/off" button. Add pasta back to the IP. Toss well with bacon, garlic and grease.
    • In a small bowl, beat egg and Parmesan together. Slowly add the egg and Parmesan mixture, stirring constantly to make sure the egg does not scramble. It should turn into creamy sauce. Add reserved pasta water, a little bit at a time, stir well. The pasta should be creamy.
    • Season with black pepper. Serve garnished with chopped parsley and more grated Parmesan.

    Notes

    Cooking time includes cooking pasta as well as cooking bacon. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 520kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 602mg | Potassium: 224mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 380IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 251mg | Iron: 1.2mg
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment with rating below!

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Sam says

      April 20, 2022 at 1:48 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious. I add more cheese though 😛

      Reply
    2. Tze Hui says

      April 03, 2022 at 3:33 am

      Fantastic recipe & the portion was just right for 4 people. So easy to cook and prep. I love that it doesn't require cream so its healthier. Added sliced white button mushrooms which added more texture & flavor. Have cooked this a few times and love it. So much easier than stove top.

      Reply
      • Tze Hui says

        April 03, 2022 at 3:33 am

        5 stars
        Fantastic recipe & the portion was just right for 4 people. So easy to cook and prep. I love that it doesn’t require cream so its healthier. Added sliced white button mushrooms which added more texture & flavor. Have cooked this a few times and love it. So much easier than stove top!

        Reply
    3. Nina Garner says

      September 29, 2021 at 8:48 pm

      5 stars
      This pasta is very flavorful and super easy to make, definitely a winner in my book, the family enjoyed it as well...Thank you 😁

      Reply
      • Anna says

        September 30, 2021 at 12:47 pm

        I am so glad the pasta was a hit! Thank you for making my recipe, Nina!

        Reply
    4. Ann Moore says

      February 08, 2021 at 4:30 pm

      Can this be made ahead and frozen? Are there any tips or modifications that are needed if freezing?

      Thank you
      AMC

      Reply
    5. Katie C says

      January 31, 2021 at 8:30 pm

      5 stars
      I made this tonight, and it is DEFINITELY a keeper. So easy, and delicious!

      Reply
      • Anna says

        February 05, 2021 at 10:34 pm

        Awesome! Thank you, Katie!

        Reply
    6. Jamie says

      January 28, 2021 at 7:48 pm

      5 stars
      I made this tonight using spaghetti squash instead of pasta and it turned out great!! I cooked squash in IP then did the rest on a pan. I used heavy whipping cream since I didn’t have any leftover pasta water and it was deliciously creamy!! I also added some Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes for pizzaz. Yum and easy!

      Reply
      • Anna says

        February 05, 2021 at 10:39 pm

        Hi Jamie! That sounds amazing! I love spaghetti squash so I definitely want to try it too!

        Reply
    7. Sage says

      December 17, 2020 at 8:30 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for this! Our stove broke this week and all stores have them on back order so we won’t have one anytime soon.
      I was craving pasta and googled instant pot pasta and here I am-enjoying a bowl of carbonara thanks to you.

      Reply
    8. Rose says

      July 15, 2020 at 10:30 pm

      Hi Anna,
      If I want to use 16 oz linguine, do I double all the ingredients, including water and the IP time (or the cook time stays the same)? Thank you! This is my daughter's bday dish request so I want to make it right. Thank you!

      Reply
    9. Chrissy says

      July 11, 2020 at 2:02 pm

      Hi do I use grated Parmesan or shredded? I have grated parm or shredded mozzarella, excited to try!

      Reply
      • Anna says

        July 12, 2020 at 12:03 am

        Hi Chrissy! Freshly grated Parmesan is the best. The pre-shredded is often coated in starch to prevent clumping. Grated Parm (in a green bottle) is okay but you may want to check the ingredients list.

        Reply
    10. Tanya says

      May 02, 2020 at 6:59 am

      5 stars
      Made this tonight with fettuccine and added a dash of cream as it was going waste (though not traditional). Was a great quick tasty meal. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Anna says

        May 04, 2020 at 10:36 pm

        Thank you so much, Tanya!

        Reply
    11. Louise says

      February 07, 2020 at 3:30 am

      5 stars
      I made this tonight with a pulse style gluten free pasta and without bacon because I didn't have any and it was delicious. I look forward to trying it with bacon.

      Reply
    12. Natalie says

      October 24, 2019 at 5:01 pm

      This sounds so good! Have you or anyone ever tried an eggless versión in the IP maybe using cream? My daughter is allergic to egg but this is my favorite pasta of all time!

      Reply
      • Anna says

        October 25, 2019 at 11:34 pm

        Hi Natalie! You can skip the egg no problem. Adding cream will help to get the creamy texture. Let me know if you make it!

        Reply
    13. Joy says

      July 21, 2019 at 6:44 pm

      5 stars
      I NEVER comment or rate recipes I find on Pinterest, but THIS...oh my goodness, too darn good not to give it a rating. So creamy and delicious. My husband and I scarfed it down!

      Reply
      • Anna says

        July 22, 2019 at 12:40 pm

        Hi Joy! Yay! That's wonderful! I am so glad you both love the carbonara! Thank you so much for the sweet comment!

        Reply
    14. Elizabeth Ann Birt says

      April 20, 2019 at 10:16 am

      I plan to triple this recipe for 16--do I then quadruple the amount of water to cook the spaghetti?

      Reply
      • Anna says

        April 22, 2019 at 6:13 pm

        Hi Elizabeth! As long as it fits in your Instant Pot, it should be fine. Definitely let me know how it goes!

        Reply
        • Jennifer says

          May 08, 2019 at 10:30 am

          Hi Anna! Did you hear back from Elizabeth on how tripling the recipe worked? I've found most recipes call for 12 oz of pasta but I'm always needing 16oz or more. The pasta, for the most part, comes out well, except there are always clumps of pasta here and there. Have you had this problem when making more than a pound of pasta? There still seems to be plenty of liquid as I have never had a burn issue. I've also read not to stir the pasta after adding the liquid. Thanks for your help!

          Reply
          • Anna says

            May 11, 2019 at 2:02 pm

            Hi Jennifer! I cook 12oz of pasta all the time. I think 16oz of pasta will be just fine. The coming to pressure time may be a little bit longer but they should cook just fine. Tripling can be more tricky. I would have to test it to say for sure how it would turn out.

            Reply
    15. Abby says

      April 05, 2019 at 10:50 am

      Hello! I would like to try this with gluten free spaghetti ... how would the cooking time differ? GF pasta tends to stick unless you add quite a bit of salt too ... hmm

      Reply
    16. Jennifer says

      March 31, 2019 at 1:46 am

      Hi, I would like to add chicken, peas, and mushrooms. For the chicken I read to cube it and add it to the bacon before tossing in the pasta. At what point should the other ingredients, specifically peas and mushrooms be added? And guess that depends on whether canned or frozen should be used? Thank you for any help!

      Reply
      • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

        March 31, 2019 at 12:12 pm

        Hi Jennifer! Adding chicken, peas and mushrooms is a great idea! You can cook the chicken first, remove onto a plate, then add bacon and cook until almost done. Add mushrooms and cook until soft. Add peas as the last ingredient as they only need to be warmed up with everything. I hope this helps! Let me know how you like it!

        Reply
    17. Anna says

      February 01, 2019 at 11:07 am

      I have finally jumped on the instant pot wagon and I'm super excited to try this! I haven't used it yet so I just want to confirm the cook time because I'm a little confused - the pasta in total will take 17 minutes in the IP (10 minutes to come to pressure and an additional 7 to cook with the timer set)? Thanks!

      Reply
    18. Monica says

      January 26, 2019 at 4:00 pm

      5 stars
      Just finished cooking it in my IP. I have to say I love the idea of cooking the pasta and then everything else on saute mode. Thank you!

      Reply
    19. Erin says

      January 26, 2019 at 9:22 am

      I'm going to have to try this.

      Reply
      • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

        January 26, 2019 at 12:50 pm

        Thanks, Erin!

        Reply
    20. Krista says

      January 25, 2019 at 10:51 am

      5 stars
      This is going to be a hit at my house! I love it!

      Reply
      • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

        January 25, 2019 at 6:09 pm

        Thanks, Krista!

        Reply
    21. Paula says

      January 24, 2019 at 1:42 pm

      Spaghetti alla Carbonara is my favorite ALL TIME pasta dish!

      Reply
      • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

        January 25, 2019 at 6:08 pm

        Awesome!

        Reply
    22. Taylor says

      January 24, 2019 at 1:13 pm

      5 stars
      A family favorite! Love using the instant pot, too!

      Reply
      • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

        January 25, 2019 at 6:08 pm

        Thank you, Taylor!

        Reply
    23. Michelle Goth says

      January 23, 2019 at 10:02 pm

      5 stars
      I love carbonara! So cool that you can make it in the instant pot!

      Reply
      • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

        January 25, 2019 at 6:08 pm

        Thanks, Michelle!

        Reply
    24. Sue says

      January 23, 2019 at 9:30 pm

      Step 1 of the instructions says to set valve to the "venting" position.....shouldn't that be the "sealing" position?

      Reply
      • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

        January 23, 2019 at 9:43 pm

        Oh my gosh, yes! Thank you for catching that, Sue! All fixed!

        Reply
    25. Sabrina says

      January 23, 2019 at 7:57 pm

      5 stars
      Pasta Carbonara is such a favorite in this house. Love how easy it looks using the instant pot!

      Reply
      • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

        January 25, 2019 at 6:07 pm

        Same here! Huge hit every time!

        Reply
    26. Sommer says

      January 23, 2019 at 7:23 pm

      5 stars
      The best last minute meal! Love this Instant Pot recipe!

      Reply
      • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

        January 25, 2019 at 6:07 pm

        Thank you, Sommer!

        Reply
    27. Pam says

      January 23, 2019 at 5:26 pm

      5 stars
      I am new to the Instant Pot and this recipe was so easy and good! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

        January 25, 2019 at 6:07 pm

        That's fantastic! Thank you, Pam!

        Reply
    28. Allyson Zea says

      January 23, 2019 at 5:16 pm

      5 stars
      YUM YUM YUM! This is one of my favorite meals in the IP!

      Reply
      • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

        January 25, 2019 at 6:07 pm

        Yay! Perfect! Thank you, Allyson!

        Reply
    29. Julie Blanner says

      January 23, 2019 at 4:52 pm

      5 stars
      This looks great! Can't wait to make it!

      Reply
      • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

        January 25, 2019 at 6:07 pm

        Thanks, Julie!

        Reply
    30. Courtney O'Dell says

      January 23, 2019 at 4:11 pm

      5 stars
      This carbonara was so quick and easy - going into my rotation!

      Reply
      • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

        January 25, 2019 at 6:06 pm

        Awesome! Thanks, Courtney!

        Reply
    31. Julia says

      January 23, 2019 at 1:36 pm

      We love Carbonara! I cannot wait to make it in my Instant Pot! Thank you, Anna!

      Reply
      • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

        January 25, 2019 at 6:06 pm

        You are very welcome, Julia! Let me know how you like it!

        Reply
        • Julia says

          January 26, 2019 at 1:16 pm

          5 stars
          Oh my! This carbonara is delicious! My Hubby and two boys loved it! Thank you so much for the recipe!

          Reply

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