This Instant Pot Crack Chicken Pasta is, well, addictive! Pasta and chicken breasts are cooked in a cheesy ranch-seasoned sauce, then finished with crispy bacon.
Mix the pepper, salt and paprika together in a small bowl then sprinkle it onto the chicken breasts evenly on both sides.
Set the instant pot to sauté mode on medium then add two of the tablespoons of oil and cook the chicken for 4 minutes on each side or until completely cooked through.
Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside until cool enough to handle.
Add the remaining olive oil to the pot and cook the onion until it becomes translucent, about 3 minutes.
Turn the Instant Pot off then stir in the garlic and ranch seasoning and let the residual heat from the Instant Pot cook the garlic then pour in the chicken broth.
Shred the chicken then add it to the instant pot and spread it out evenly.
Add the pasta on top and gently push it down so that all of it is submerged in broth but do not stir it into the chicken.
Seal the Instant Pot and pressure valve then set it to manual for 4 minutes (it will take about 10 minutes to heat up before the timer starts).
Carefully release the pressure valve on top to let the steam escape before removing the lid from the pot and stirring the pasta.
Add the cream cheese, cheddar and Colby Jack cheese and stir until completely melted, about 3 minutes.
Stir in the bacon then serve with freshly chopped chives for garnish if desired.