Sometimes, you just need a big bowl of carb-y, creamy, cheese filled pasta. Tortellini tossed with bacon, bacon grease, and whisked into an indulgently, creamy egg and parmesan sauce, this Instant Pot Tortellini Carbonara is sure to hit the spot.
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Why This Recipe Works
- Creamy and Comforting: The carbonara sauce gives a rich, indulgent touch to the tortellini.
- Effortless Cooking: The Instant Pot does most of the work, making Tortellini Carbonara easy.
- Restaurant-Quality at Home: Enjoy a gourmet Italian dish without leaving your kitchen.
🥘 Ingredients
- Tortellini: Filled pasta that adds a hearty, satisfying bite and absorbs the flavors of the carbonara sauce beautifully.
- Bacon: Provides a savory, smoky crunch that contrasts with the creamy sauce and soft tortellini.
- Eggs: Create the traditional carbonara sauce when mixed with the Parmesan, providing a rich, silky texture.
- Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese: Adds a salty, nutty flavor that elevates the sauce and complements the other ingredients.
- Minced Garlic: Infuses the dish with a robust, aromatic flavor that balances the richness of the other components.
- Salt and Pepper: Simple seasonings that enhance the natural flavors of the dish and provide a touch of heat.
- Garnishes: Add color, texture, and an extra layer of flavor, making the dish visually appealing and even tastier.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
📖 Substitutions & Variations
Add Peas: Add a burst of color and sweetness by stirring in frozen peas along with the bacon fat and garlic, providing a vibrant contrast and extra nutrients to the creamy carbonara sauce.
🔪 How to Make Instant Pot Tortellini Carbonara?
Step One: Add your tortellini to the Instant Pot with enough water to cover the pasta. Put the lid on the Instant Pot, put the pressure valve into the sealing position, push manual or pressure cook, and set the time for 5 minutes.
Step Two: Once your Instant Pot beeps, you want to release the pressure quickly. Remove the tortellini from the pot and set it to the side. Then, remove 1 cup of pasta water and put it in a separate bowl.
Step Three: Next, push your sauté or sear button on your Instant Pot. Once it is hot, add and cook bacon until crispy. Then, add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
Step Four: Hit cancel to turn off the Instant Pot. Then, remove the bacon and garlic from the inner pot, leaving the bacon grease. Set the crispy bacon and garlic to the side.
Step Five: Add the pasta back to the Instant Pot, and stir to mix it with the bacon grease. Then, mix in the bacon and garlic.
Step Six: In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs until you see soft peaks. Then, whisk in the parmesan, and a splash of the pasta water to thin the sauce. Once it is done, slowly pour egg and cheese mixture into the pasta carbonara. Stir gently to keep the egg mixture intact. Top the cheese tortellini carbonara with fresh parsley or basil.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Balance and Harmony: Achieve flavor balance by incorporating a hint of acidity from freshly squeezed lemon juice at the end of cooking, elevating the dish with a touch of brightness and contrast to the creamy richness of the carbonara.
💭 FAQs
If after you've whisked your eggs, parmesan, and a splash of water, you feel the sauce is still too thick, you can easily thin it. Just continue adding more pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
Since the water from the tortellini is hot and you are mixing the sauce with hot pasta, the eggs should be cooked by the time you eat your tortellini carbonara. To ensure the eggs are not raw, you can heat and re-boil the water in the microwave.
Transfer the cooled tortellini carbonara into an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days, ensuring proper sealing to maintain freshness.
🧂Serving Suggestions
Here are some vegetable sides to serve with Instant Pot Tortellini Carbonara:
- Garlic Bread: Crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside –garlic bread is perfect for sopping upa creamy carbonara pasta dish.
- Caprese Salad: Fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil drizzled with balsamic glaze for a light, refreshing side.
- Roasted Vegetables: Seasonal veggies like asparagus, cherry tomatoes, and bell peppers roasted to perfection in olive oil.
- Caesar Salad: Crisp romaine lettuce tossed in Caesar dressing with Parmesan shavings – a classic pairing.
- Sauteed Spinach: Quick and easy, sautéed spinach adds a healthy touch to balance the richness of tortellini carbonara.
- Antipasto Platter: A selection of cured meats, olives, and cheeses for a Mediterranean twist.
- Lemon Garlic Green Beans: Bright and zesty green beans sautéed with garlic and a splash of lemon.
🍽 Related Recipes
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Instant Pot Tortellini Carbonara
Ingredients
- 16 oz Dried Pesto Tortellini or Fresh If Preferred
- 8 Slices Bacon Diced
- 4 Large Eggs
- 1 Cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 4 tablespoon Minced Garlic
- 2 tablespoon Fresh Parsley Chopped Optional Garnish
- 2 Fresh Basil Chopped Optional Garnish
- Salt and Black Pepper to Taste
Instructions
- Add your tortellini to the Instant Pot with enough water to cover the pasta. Put the lid on the Instant Pot, put the pressure valve into the sealing position, push manual or pressure cook, and set the time for 5-minutes.
- Once your Instant Pot beeps, you want to release the pressure quickly. To do this, push the pressure valve to the venting position to release the steam. Remove the tortellini from the pot and set it to the side. Then, remove 1 cup of pasta water and put it in a separate bowl.
- Next, push your sauté or sear button on your Instant Pot. Once it is hot, add and cook bacon until crispy. Then, add the garlic and cook for 1-minute.
- Hit cancel to turn off the Instant Pot. Then, remove the bacon and garlic from the inner pot, leaving the bacon grease. Set the crispy bacon and garlic to the side.
- Add the pasta back to the Instant Pot, and stir to mix it with the bacon grease. Then, mix in the bacon and garlic.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs until you see soft peaks. Then, whisk in the parmesan, and a splash of the pasta water to thin the sauce.
- Once it is done, slowly pour egg and cheese mixture into the pasta carbonara. Stir gently to keep the egg mixture intact.
- Top the cheese tortellini carbonara with fresh parsley or basil. Serve and Enjoy!
