Instant Pot fajita pasta

You know that smoky, caramelized flavor of fajita peppers, onions, and shrimp? What if you could have that in creamy pasta form? For this recipe, you make fresh fajitas in the Instant Pot, cook pasta in the same pot, infusing it with Tex-Mex flavors, and then stir in tangy cheese and cilantro. 

Instant Pot fajita pasta
1 T butter or oil

1 lb raw peeled shrimp (could substitute mushrooms or chicken as per your dietary needs)

1 onion, sliced into strips
3 bell peppers, any color, sliced into strips
1 T minced garlic
2 t Adobo seasoning or salt to taste
2 t chili powder
1/2 t chipotle powder or smoked paprika, depending on whether you like it spicy

1 t worchestershire sauce (optional)
1 15 oz can diced tomatoes with chilies or your favorite salsa
1 lb short pasta like penne or fusilli 
3 1/3 cups water
4 oz cream cheese
8 oz shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese

Garnishes
chopped cilantro

2 t lime juice (optional)

Turn on sauté mode in Instant Pot and cook shrimp in butter, about 3 minutes on each side. Remove and set aside. In remaining butter, sauté onion and bell peppers until caramelized. Remove and set aside with shrimp. Add garlic and seasonings, and sauté for 1 minute to bloom spices. Add tomatoes, pasta, and water, stir, and seal pot. Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes and quick release when time is up. Return shrimp and veggies to the pot and stir in cream cheese and shredded cheese. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. If pasta is too saucy, let stand for a few minutes to thicken. If not saucy enough, add a few tablespoons of water to moisten. Garnish with cilantro and lime juice if desired.