Instant Pot Butternut Squash Pasta

My daughter Dhwani craves pasta at least two times a week, so when I made this creamy butternut squash pasta, she finished her plate in 5 minutes, saying it’s so yummy, and she could not even figure out there were any hidden veggies there. This vegetarian squash pasta is soo cheesy and creamy, and we can easily skip the marinara (tomato-based) and opt for a healthier nutrient-loaded sauce instead. It is going to be a favorite meal from now on. I have prepared this dish in my electric pressure cooker, Instant Pot DUO60 6 QT, and it can be made in under 15 minutes with your electric pressure cooker.

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How to make Butternut Squash Pasta in Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

I have used Pot-in-Pot (PIP) method to prepare this pasta dish. Turn on the Instant Pot to ‘Saute’ mode. Add the butter, followed by the garlic and onions. Sauté for a few minutes till the onions turn translucent. Next, add the cubed butternut squash and stir it with the rest of the ingredients. Add the vegetable broth or water, salt and mix well. Meanwhile, in an oven-safe bowl or stackable steamer, insert pans add 3 cups of pasta with 3 cups of water, and keep aside. Make sure pasta should be submerged in liquid. Then place the trivet and then the bowl of dried pasta with water. This way, they will both cook together. See pictures below for reference. Close the lid of the Instant Pot. Set the cooking time for 4 minutes (or half the time on the macaroni cooking directions minus 1 minute). Once the IP beeps, do a QUICK RELEASE. Open the lid and, using an immersion blender, puree squash with some milk till smooth and creamy. OR you can also puree the squash in a regular blender or Vitamix. Now add the cooked pasta followed by cheese, seasoning, salt, pepper powder. Stir constantly until cheese is melted and everything is combined. Serve this pressure cooker butternut squash pasta topped with more parmesan cheese and parsley.

Accessories needed for making Pasta Pot-in-Pot Method

Stovetop Pot Method

Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, peel the butternut squash and remove the seeds. Cut into large chunks. Heat the butter in a pan or skillet over medium-low heat. Add some minced garlic and onion and saute till it turns translucent Then add the squash, salt, and water, and cook until completely tender. Place the squash mixture into the blender along with some salt and pepper and pulse until smooth. Pour the sauce over the cooked pasta and add the cheese. Stir until melted. Add more salt and pepper to taste. Serve this creamy butternut squash pasta topped with more Parmesan cheese and parsley.

Tips

Pasta cooking time: The time to cook pasta in an Instant pot is usually half of the suggested time on the pasta box minus 1 minute for al-dente pasta ( if you like your pasta firm and just done). For example, I made this recipe using a dry shell which called for 10 minutes of cooking time. That makes it 4 minutes going by the rule of thumb. Keep pasta submerged: You must ensure that all the pasta is submerged in the liquid before pressure cooking. If it is less, then add some more water or broth. Pressure Release: Quick Release is very important for cooking pasta in the Instant Pot. So don’t forget else it will result in very soft pasta. Seasoning: I have used dried Italian herbs for seasoning, but you could use freshly chopped parsley or sage.

Variations

Adding milk while pureeing butternut squash sauce is completely optional. You can also add steamed broccoli florets to this pasta, in the end, to make it more healthy and delicious. You can also use frozen butternut squash for this recipe. This pasta can also be made using roasted butternut squash. I have used water for this recipe. However, for the best flavor, you can use vegetable broth.

If you like butternut squash, then check out more Butternut Squash Recipes

Butternut Squash Coconut Curry Butternut Squash Dal Roasted Butternut Squash Butternut Squash Soup