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Instant Pot Creamy Sausage and Shells is an easy dinner recipe made with Italian sausage and pasta in a tomato cream sauce. Kid approved!
This creamy, cheesy sausage and shells pasta is a variation on Instant Pot creamy shells and beef — one of the most popular Instant Pot recipes on my blog. If you like easy Instant Pot dinners, you’re going to love this delicious Instant Pot creamy sausage and shells!
We went to the most amazing Italian restaurant when we were in Flagstaff the other night — Fat Olives. If you’re ever up in the High Country, you have to eat there! I had the rigatoni and sausage, which was basically ground Italian sausage and pasta in a creamy tomato sauce. And I loved it so much, that I had to re-create the recipe at home.
Like I said, Instant Pot creamy sausage and shells is very similar to my Instant Pot shells and beef. They’re both made with pasta is a tomato cream sauce, and really the only difference is the meat. I have a lot of Instant Pot pasta recipes on the blog, but honestly, these two are probably my favorites. It’s all about the sauce!
The best thing about this quick and easy Instant Pot dinner — besides the fact that it’s completely delicious, is that it’s very kid friendly. My picky eaters gobbled it up, so you know it’s good!
How to make easy Instant Pot sausage and pasta
Can you cook pasta in the Instant Pot?
Absolutely! I cook pasta in the Instant Pot all the time, and I have a gazillion, or so it seems, recipes for Instant Pot pasta on the blog!
How do you cook Italian Sausage in the Instant Pot?
This recipe uses ground Italian sausage, but I do have a recipe for Italian Sausage and Peppers in the Instant Pot.
You can use hot, sweet or mile Italian sausage for this recipe. Of course, if you’re cooking for kids or spice haters, like the Hubs, use mild or sweet. I’ve even used all natural seasoned breakfast sausage in a pinch!
Brown the sausage in some oil, and crumble it up. If the sausage sticks to the bottom, use some of the water called for in the recipe to deglaze the pot before you start pressure cooking. This way, you won’t get the burn notice.
Next, add your uncooked pasta, the rest of the water (or all if you didn’t need to deglaze the pot) and top it all off with marinara sauce. Don’t stir it now — you don’t want it to burn.
After pressure cooking, give the pasta a good stir, and add the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Stir it all together, and you’re ready to eat! I topped the sausage and shells off with some shredded Mozzarella, but if you don’t want extra cheese, you can skip this step!
But, if you’re a cheese lover, go ahead and add as much as you want. You won’t regret it, and a little bit more cheese just makes this delicious creamy sausage and shells even better!
Looking for more Instant Pot sausage and pasta recipes?
- Instant Pot creamy kielbasa tortellini
- Instant Pot smoked sausage mac and cheese
- Instant Pot creamy sausage tortellini
Recipe for Instant Pot Creamy Sausage and Shells
Instant Pot Creamy Sausage and Shells
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1.5 pounds ground Italian sausage
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 pound uncooked medium shell pasta
- 3 cups water
- 1 24-ounce jar marinara sauce
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Hit SAUTE on the Instant Pot, and when it reads Hot, add the olive oil and sausage
- Add the Italian seasoning and garlic powder, and cook sausage until brown and no longer pink, stirring frequently and breaking up sausage with a spatula or wooden spoon
- Hit CANCEL, and deglaze pot with some of the water (about 1/2 cup) to loosen up browned bits from bottom of pot, if necessary
- Add the uncooked pasta over the sausage, and add remaining water over and around pasta. Top with marinara sauce, and spread over pasta, but Do Not Stir!
- Cover pot with lid, and turn vent to Sealing position. Hit PRESSURE COOK for 5 minutes. Pot will take a few minutes to reach pressure, then begin counting down and cook for 5 minutes
- When pot beeps, turn vent and do a quick release or gradual quick release, to control liquid spraying out of pot
- When pin drops, carefully remove lid, and stir pasta. Stir in the cream, and gradually stir in the Parmesan cheese
- Serve pasta topped with shredded mozzarella cheese, if desired
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
My family is crazy about this easy Instant Pot creamy sausage and shells. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
What if you are only cooking for one or two! Can you 1/2 this recipe and would the cooking time be the same?
You can halve the ingredients, but the cook time remains the same.
Extremely great recipe I changed it up a little bit. Instead of using garlic powder I use fresh garlic minced, and instead of using all water I used 2 cups of chicken broth and my family loves it. It’s a deeper
Awesome, Isabella! Thank you for taking the time to rate the recipe!
Does this freeze well?
Yes, it freezes and reheats very well.
Thank you for this wonderful recipe! My family loves this! I have made it three times within two weeks. Thank you again!
I am so happy you liked the recipe, Marie. Thank you for the wonderful review!
This has become a family favorite! It’s so easy I can stop at the store on the way home from work for the ingredients and still have dinner ready by 6! Thank you for sharing!
I’m so glad you like the recipe — Thanks for the sweet comment!
Great dish!!! Will definitely make it again.
Thank you so much, Bruce! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Such a delicious recipe!! My second recipe I have made in my Instant Pot. Easy to make and delicious. I added more parmesan cheese because well..CHEESE!
I totally agree with you about the cheese! Thank you so much!
Instant family fave!! Even the picky two year old gobbled it up!
Awesome! I’m so glad you all liked it!
After scrolling down past the life story I finally found the recipe. It did not take 28min but much longer but turned out great! Good job😁
Wow! This is hands down the best instant pot meal
I’ve made so far. It’s simple, inexpensive & so delicious. Two of my picky eaters even loved it! Thanks for sharing such a great recipe.
You’ve made my day, Rachel! Thanks so much!
You’re welcome!! Definitely going to have to check out your other recipes!
Great! I hope you enjoy them. 🙂