Lots of busy cooks everywhere are relying on their Instant pots to prepare quick and delicious meals. The following Instant Pot Italian Sausage and Chicken is one such meal, and since the sauce is simply bottled spaghetti sauce, it has minimal ingredients. Most Hot Italian sausage has luscious Italian spices, so when it’s added to bottled sauce (generic is fine for this dish), the spices permeate the dish and make it taste homemade.

Make sure you serve this over the pasta of your choice (we like plain spaghetti or angel hair, but some of our friends like penne), a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese, and freshly baked, crusty bread and fresh green salad as accompaniments. The entire dish cooks in the Instant Pot in 15 minutes, so the entire dinner can be done in about 30 minutes – minimal enough time for a weeknight. The chicken breasts come out juicy and moist, and the flavorful sauce makes it a hearty dinner. Rather than use bulk Italian sausage, if you prefer, you can use Hot Italian Sausage links and slice them into 1” chunks; it’s up to you.

8 Servings

Non-stick spray

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast halves, trimmed of all fat, veins, etc., and cut into 8 serving size pieces
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 pound hot Italian Sausages, bulk or links cut into 1" chunks

2 28 oz. jars spaghetti sauce, your favorite flavor
1/2 cup water, to wash the jars out

Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Cooked pasta

1. Turn the Instant Pot to the sauté setting.
2. Spray the pan with non-stick spray and sprinkle the chicken breasts with salt and pepper; brown them quickly and set aside.
3. Add the Italian sausage to the pot and cook through - if using bulk sausage, breaking up the pieces; if using chunks, browning on all sides.
4. Drain any fat from the pan and add the browned chicken breasts back into the pot and stir in the sauce and water.
5. Cover the pot, set the valve to sealing, and set the cycle to manual for 15 minutes.
6. When the cycle is finished, release the pressure, stir, and serve with cooked pasta and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 451 Calories from Fat 214
Percent Total Calories From: Fat 47% Protein 34% Carb. 19%

Nutrient Amount per
Total Fat 24 g
Saturated Fat 7 g
Cholesterol 107 mg
Sodium 1689 mg
Total Carbohydrate 21 g
Dietary Fiber 1 g
Sugars 0 g
Protein 38 g

Vitamin A 40% Vitamin C 44% Calcium 0% Iron 17%