Creamy Cajun Pasta with Sausage in the Pressure Cooker

Serves 6 in about 45 minutes. A pressure cooker recipe built around chicken breast / and heavy cream.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 lb andouille sausage (or smoked kielbasa) sliced in 1/2" rounds
• 1 chicken breast, skinless/boneless, cubed
• 1 small sweet onion, chopped
• ½ cup celery, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
• 1 ½ tbsp cajun seasoning blend* (try my recipe or a store bought blend like tony chachere's)
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 8 med mushrooms, sliced (optional)
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 4 cups chicken broth, low sodium
• 12 to 16 oz penne pasta
• 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ¼ cup fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped

Method

1. Turn on the pot to the Sauté function. When the display reads Hot, add the oil and butter.
2. Stir in the sausage and chicken breast, if using, and cook for 3 or 4 minutes, while stirring now and then.
3. Tip in the onion and celery. Simmer until onion starts to turn translucent.
4. Stir in the garlic, Cajun spice blend, smoked paprika, and mushrooms. Simmer for 1 instant, while stirring often.
5. Stir in the red bell pepper and chicken broth. Stir. Leave it to come to a simmer (the glass lid helps it come to a simmer faster).
6. Stir in the pasta and make sure it is submerged. Then place the lid on the pot and lock into place. Set the steam release knob to the Sealing position.
7. Cancel the Sauté function. Press the Pressure Cook/Manual button (or dial) and use the + or - button (or dial) to choose 5 minutes.
8. When the cooking cycle has ended, turn off the pot (or press Cancel) and do a Quick Release of the pressure/steam. Start slowly to be sure only steam comes out, and then fully release it.
9. When the pin in the lid drops back down, open the lid and stir the pasta.
10. Mix in the parmesan cheese, and let it melt.
11. Mix in the heavy cream and parsley.
12. Leave it to sit uncovered for a couple of minutes to thicken up. This is a saucy dish, so it won't be thick like mac and cheese, but it will thicken some as it cools.

More instant pot ideas are in the instant pot collection.