Pesto Spaghetti Instant Pot Recipe

This creamy pesto spaghetti instant pot recipe without basil leaves or pine nuts uses spinach leaves to make the pesto sauce from scratch. The spaghetti noodles are cooked in the creamy spinach pesto sauce and it is served in the delicious pesto sauce which is combined with cheese, cream and butter. This spinach spaghetti is vegetarian, simple and easy to make, kid friendly, creamy and has a slightly chewy texture from the cashews that we add and its totally delicious!

Another similar recipe in instant pot is instant pot pesto pasta using bow tie pasta, which is very delicious and easy to prepare as well.

The spaghetti noodles requires a different cooking time and so if you want to make pesto pasta using spaghetti noodles, you can follow this recipe to make delicious spaghetti noodles in creamy pesto sauce using your instant pot.

How To Make Pesto Spaghetti In Instant Pot?

I used 16 oz barilla spaghetti noodles to make this pesto spaghetti in a 6 quart instant pot. I used fresh spinach leaves and cashews to prepare the pesto sauce, to which I later added cheese and cream once the noodles are cooked in the sauce.

You can just use a blender to make the pesto sauce and then cook the noodles in the sauce and then once the noodles are cooked in the sauce, add the cheese and cream to make it even more creamy and delicious.

Pesto Spaghetti Instant Pot Recipe

Ingredients To Make Pesto Spaghetti

• spaghetti noodles
• spinach leaves
• raw cashews
• water
• salt
• garlic powder
• onion powder
• olive oil
• butter
• heavy cream
• milk
• shredded cheese

Steps To Follow (The Process)

• To make the pesto sauce from scratch using spinach leaves, blend the spinach leaves, cashews and two cups of water together . Keep this prepared sauce aside.
• Now break the spaghetti noodles in half (or it won’t fit inside the pot) and transfer the noodles to the instant pot.

• Add the remaining four cups of water also to the pot, and add enough salt, olive oil, garlic powder and onion powder. Let the noodles soak in the water for few minutes, say about  five minutes.

• After five minutes, gently stir the noodles and add the prepared sauce on top of the noodles. Do not stir the contents once you add the sauce.

• Also place the butter (preferably sliced) on top.

• Close the instant pot with lid in sealing position and cook in high pressure for 3 minutes.
• Once the cooking is done, press the ‘keep warm/cancel’ button and wait for a natural pressure release for 12 minutes.
• Then do a gradual manual pressure release. Once the pressure is all released, carefully open the lid and stir the cooked pasta.

• Also add the remaining ingredients – cheese, heavy cream and milk and stir in to mix with the cooked pasta.

You can add more flavors or spices like dried oregano powder, red chili flakes, pepper powder etc if you wish.

More Simple Instant Pot Pasta Recipes:

• instant pot spinach pesto bow tie pasta
• instant pot pasta soup
• instant pot pumpkin mac and cheese
• instant pot buttered egg noodles
• instant pot spaghetti
• instant pot penne pasta
• instant pot peas and egg noodle soup

More Vegetarian Pasta Recipes In This Blog:

• cellentani pasta in creamy tomato sauce
• baked spinach pasta with cellentani noodles
• spaghetti rigati with chickpeas and spinach leaves
• simple bow tie pasta recipe
• baked mushroom pasta recipe
• linguine mint pasta noodles with fresh tomatoes
• easy bell pepper pasta recipe
• garlic parsley pasta with white sauce
• Indian masala pasta recipe
• baked butternut squash mac and cheese recipe
• no boil spaghetti bake recipe
• easy baked mac and cheese without flour
• one pot mac and cheese easy recipe
• lasagna recipe without ricotta cheese

Below you can see the pesto spaghetti recipe in detail which you can prepare using instant pot.

Pesto Spaghetti Instant Pot Recipe

Pesto spaghetti made in the instant pot without basil leaves or pine nuts using barilla spaghetti noodles and homemade pesto sauce from scratch (made using spinach leaves and cashews) makes a simple, quick, easy and delicious, kid friendly vegetarian meal for dinner, all in about half an hour time.

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Italian

Keyword: pesto noodles, pesto pasta without basil leaves and pine nuts, pesto spaghetti, pesto spaghetti instant pot recipe, pesto spaghetti without basil leaves and pine nuts

Prep Time: 7 minutes

Cook Time: 3 minutes

pressure build up and release time for instant pot: 24 minutes

Total Time: 34 minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 555kcal

Author: Recipe Garden

Equipment

• 6 quart instant pot

Ingredients

• 16 oz spaghetti noodles
• 3 cups spinach leaves
• 1 cup cashews
• 6 cups water
• salt as needed
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup milk optional
• 1.5 cups shredded cheese may adjust the amount slightly, I used Mexican blend

Instructions

• Blend the spinach leaves, cashews and 2 cups of water together in a blender until you get a smooth sauce ( a little grainy texture from the cashews are fine, if you want it really smooth you can soak the cashews in water in advance for about 15 minutes). Keep this prepared spinach pesto sauce aside.
• Break the spaghetti noodles in half and add the noodles to the instant pot.
• Add the remaining water (4 cups) and also add enough salt, olive oil, garlic powder and onion powder. Let the noodles soak in the water for about 5 minutes. After five minutes, gently stir the noodles. Make sure the noodles are not stuck at the bottom of the pot, or the noodles can burn when you cook.
• Add the prepared spinach pesto sauce on top of the noodles, now do not stir the contents once you have added the sauce. Also place the butter on top.
• Close the instant pot with lid in sealing position, press manual and cook in high pressure for 3 minutes.
• Once the cooking is done, press the 'keep warm/cancel' button and wait for a natural pressure release for 12 minutes, after which you can do a careful and gradual, controlled manual pressure release.
• Once the pressure is all released, carefully open the lid, stir the contents.
• Add the cheese, heavy cream and milk (if using), stir in to mix with the cooked pasta. Serve hot for the best taste and if you want it saucy! The noodles will absorb most of the sauce as it cools down, but it still will be delicious!

Notes

If you want to add in more flavors or a spicy hint, you may sprinkle a little black pepper powder or red chili flakes and dried oregano powder if you wish!

Also if you want to add in more vegetables, you can add frozen peas or diced carrots while you cook the pasta, just add them on top of the sauce and do not stir.