Instant Pot Tortellini Alfredo with Ham – A 15 Minute Meal

Tortellini Alfredo with Ham is the perfect pantry meal to serve your family on busy nights. I’m a huge fan of quick and easy pantry meals. And, I love it when I can make them in my Instant Pot. They make it possible for us to eat at home night after night — especially on nights that I don’t want to cook.

There are weeks I’m just not organized enough to create a meal plan, but I’m completely committed to eating at home each night instead of going out to eat.

In order for this to happen, I’ve got to keep a well-stocked pantry. And, when I say pantry, I’m talking about the refrigerator and freezer as well.

You can keep all kinds of ingredients on your pantry shelves and in your fridge or freezer than will keep you making quick meals at home and save you tons of money on your restaurant budget.

I’m all for eating out occasionally, but we’ve got to do it strategically. I love to eat out for fun, and just because I want to get away from the house. And, believe me, letting someone else do the dishes is a huge bonus.

But, my budget doesn’t like eating out all that much.

More Pantry Meal Articles:

• 43 Easy Pantry Meals for Nights You Don’t Want to Cook
• How to Stock Your Pantry for Quick Meals
• How to Create a Quick Meal Pantry that Works for You

This post contains affiliate links. This supports my family and allows me to keep providing you with great resources.  You can trust that I only promote products I love or would use myself. Read my full disclosure for more details.

Pantry Meals Save us Money on Busy Nights

We are a busy family, with kids in multiple sports plus youth group and after school clubs, too. So, dinner has to be quick and many nights it even needs to be portable.

Why do they schedule games right at dinnertime? Drives me nuts! 

We were able to pack this dish into individual Meal Prep containers (these are so reasonable) and take it along to a volleyball game. It was so nice to eat a meal from home instead of buying hot dogs or pretzels from the concession stands. We packed them into a backpack like this in order to keep them warm.

How to Make Instant Pot Tortellini Alfredo with Ham and Peas

This Instant Pot Tortellini Alfredo with Ham is a very quick meal that I came up with that is made strictly from pantry ingredients that I already had on hand.

And, it’s so simple to make.

Just 5 Ingredients:

• Tortellini
• Alfredo Sauce
• Ham
• Peas
• Oil

Just 3 Steps

(1.) First, Dice the Ham

(2.) Next, put the dry tortellini, ham, oil, and water in the Instant Pot. Close the lid and set for 6 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes. Then use the quick release. If all the water has not absorbed, pour it off.

(3.) Open the lid and stir in the peas and Alfredo sauce. Serve.

Can I Make Substitutions?

Sure. While I haven’t tried substitutions in this particular recipe, you could easily sub out some of the ingredients.

• Instead of Tortellini — try any other dried pasta
• Instead of Alfredo Sauce — pick another completed sauce to stir in after cooking.
• Instead of Ham – use cooked chicken, cooked sausage, or turkey
• The kids don’t like Peas? – replace them with any other cooked vegetable, or leave it out altogether.

What Supplies Are Needed to Make Instant Pot Tortellini Alfredo?

Other than an Instant Pot, this recipe doesn’t require any specialty cooking supplies. You probably already own everything on this list.

• Instant Pot
• Cutting Board
• Chef Knife
• Measuring Cup
• Spoonula/Spatula

Do I have to make Tortellini Alfredo in the Instant Pot?

No, you can make this dish on the stovetop very easily.

How to Make on the Stovetop

(1.) Cook your tortellini according to the package directions. Then drain.

(2.) While the tortellini are cooking, warm the Alfredo Sauce and Ham in a saucepan.

(3.) Stir together the cooked tortellini, warmed Alfredo Sauce, Ham, and peas. Then serve.

Is Tortellini Alfredo Kid Friendly?

At our house, this recipe was a winner! Two of my kids especially loved it and scarfed down any leftovers that we had. We will definitely make it again.

Enjoy this simple Instant Pot dinner the next time you need a quick and easy meal. I’m pretty sure it will become one of your family’s favorites.