Trader Joe's Chili Onion Crunch Chicken Pasta

Trader Joe's Chili Onion Crunch Chicken Pasta uses the popular sauce to make a spicy, creamy noodle dish in just minutes with an Instant Pot! Great way to use this popular item.

You guys know I love Trader Joe's as much as the next guy. We make a trip to our nearest store only occasionally, so before I go, I like to quickly research the newest popular items in the store.

A few months ago, I picked up a jar of the famous Trader Joe's Chili Onion Crunch - reviews online absolutely raved about this stuff. It was touted as slightly spicy and loaded with rich flavor - perfect for pastas, mixed with chicken/veggies, or even as a topping for toasted bread. I was so excited to find a jar!

I used it in a pasta dish - and it worked beautifully! Trader Joe's Chili Onion Crunch Chicken Pasta is definitely a meal with a kick.

🧡 Why You'll Love This Recipe

• It is super easy to make. Just throw it in the Instant Pot if you've got one (and, even if you don't, it will still work well - you'll just use a couple more pots and pans).
• The Chili Onion Crunch added a serious dose of heat. I balanced it out with a creamy sauce that worked so well to bring the whole thing together.
• It's a great way to use this popular condiment. Don't know what to do with Chili Onion Crunch? This is the perfect way to get its true flavor in savory pasta.

🍗 Ingredients

There are just four simple ingredients in this pasta...

• boneless, skinless chicken breasts - No issue with substituting boneless, skinless chicken thighs in this dish.
• linguine noodles - This is a total "use what you have" dish. Linguine is great because it works well with the big flavor of the sauce, but any pasta works!
• sour cream - This is how we're going to cut some of that heat out of the Chili Onion Crunch. Make a thicker, less spicy sauce by using cream cheese in addition to/instead of the sour cream.
• Chili Onion Crunch - The star of the show! Sorry, no real substitutions for this one.

Recipe Additions & Variations

I wanted to keep the recipe as simple as possible, so I eliminated a lot of the ingredients that would make it more complicated. However, there are lots of ways to add to or change up this pasta dish!

• Add fresh minced garlic.
• Use pasta sauce instead of sour cream for a tomato-based sauce.
• Add roasted red peppers or chopped bell peppers.
• Use white rice instead of pasta (change cooking time to 7 minutes on high pressure).
• Add veggies, like cauliflower, broccoli, or snap peas.

Love a good Instant Pot pasta recipe? 🍝 Check out my easy Instant Pot spaghetti or my Pressure Cooker Marry Me Chicken Penne!

🔥 How to Make Chili Onion Crunch Pasta

First, heat your Instant Pot using the Saute mode. Once the Instant Pot displays "hot," add 1.5lbs chopped boneless, skinless chicken breasts with a couple of tablespoons of the oil from your Chili Onion Crunch. Brown for 5-6 minutes.

Turn off Saute mode. Add 12oz linguine, 3 cups of water, and the rest of the jar of Chili Onion Crunch.

Important: Make sure pasta is mostly submerged in water.

Set the Instant Pot for manual, 4 minutes at high pressure. Once the cook cycle is over, quick release the pressure.

Stir in 1.5 cups of sour cream.

And that's it. Seriously easy and so yummy!

✅ More Helpful Tips & Tricks

• Leftovers: Make sure to keep this one in the fridge in an airtight container. It's best within 3-4 days of cooking it.
• Browned Bits: After cooking the chicken, you might notice some browned bits sticking to the bottom of the pan. As you add the water, make sure to scrape those up with a wooden spoon.
• Side Dishes: I'd recommend something that's going to cut a little bit of the heat to serve with this pasta. A salad or piece of garlic bread would be great.