Easy Creamy Bow Tie Pasta Recipe (Farfalle Pasta)

This light and creamy Bow Tie Pasta recipe is easy enough for everyday, elegant enough for company. A restaurant-quality pasta dinner; in a light Italian Cream Sauce, loaded with flavor. Ready in about 20 minutes using your Instant Pot or stovetop this easy pasta recipe is ready in minutes.

Rich in Tuscan flavors with sun-dried tomatoes and mushrooms, bathed in a light Parmesan cream sauce. Whether you call it bow tie pasta, butterfly pasta or farfalle pasta; make this simple and amazing pasta recipe, it’s one of those easy recipes that will become a family favorite. 

Try these other favorite pasta recipes: My this homemade spaghetti sauce (or marinara sauce) and pour over your favorite cooked pasta. Also, try this One Pot Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta Recipe and my personal favorite; Easy Penne alla Vodka with Sausage (30 Minute).

I enjoy giving precise details in my recipe posts to lead my readers through any questions. If you’re just here for the printable recipe, use the Jump to Recipe to head straight there!

Freak Friday Blog Hop

Today is Freaky Friday, where Michaela from An Affair from the Heart secretly assigns everyone another blogger. We make their recipe, photograph it as if it were our own, write a post about it in our own words, then all share our posts on the selected Friday.

Here are a few of my previous Freaky Friday recipes; Cranberry Bourbon Sour, Sweet Molasses Brown Bread, Mint Fudge Brownies, and Oatmeal Rolled Sugar Cookies.

Meet Rebecca of Devour Dinner

It’s an honor to have been assigned Rebecca’s blog, Devour Dinner! It has been so much fun to get to know Rebecca through her beautiful and inspiring blog. We have a lot in common:

• I know we would hit it off, we are moms to boys! Amen sister, I am right there with you taxi driving, cheering, having hordes of stinky boys in the house…read about her!
• She is the Instant Pot queen, I am so impressed with all of her amazing Instant Pot recipes, from beginner recipes to more detailed recipes!
• Her deep passion for cooking combined with design pushed her to create her beautiful food blog in 2017 (we started the same year!)
• Rebecca is inspired by and loves all things Disney — I grew up about an hour from Disneyland, so I thoroughly understand this inspiration! A must try is her Disney “Grey Stuff“! Remember Beauty and the Beast, “try the grey stuff, it’s delicious!”

Since she’s the Instant Pot Queen and I’m the Instant Pot “Scullery Maid”, I knew I had to try an IP recipe. I made her Tuna Noodle Casserole, Grandma’s Mac & Cheese and the Bow Tie Pasta (all beginner recipes!), they were all delicious and EASY — but, the creamy bowtie pasta WON, the whole family “devoured” it! Pun intended!

Simple Ingredients for Bow-Tie Pasta

This bow-tie pasta was inspired by a Disney Cruise Line meal Rebecca had while cruisin’ — the ingredients are quite simple:

BOW-TIE PASTA | Use regular or mini Bow-Tie Pasta, called farfalle or butterfly pasta. Also try penne, rigatoni or other short pasta; linguine would work too!.

MUSHROOMS | I used baby Portabella’s in this recipe, but any mushroom will work.

SUN-DRIED TOMATOES | Use drained, oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes or shelf-stable sun-dried tomatoes, either will work great! If they are whole, julienne (slice in strips) ahead of time.

CHICKEN BROTH | Adds great flavor; if trying to keep this vegetarian, use water or vegetable broth instead.

HEAVY CREAM | You can use Half & Half, it won’t be as creamy, and the sauce won’t thicken as much, but it will work. I would not use anything fat-free for this recipe. 

PROSECCO | An Italian sparkling wine, you can use any dry sparkling wine or dry white wine as a substitute; or substitute with additional broth or water.

SPICES | Use garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt and black pepper.

PARMESAN CHEESE | You can use grated or shredded or shaved; substitute with Romano!

How to Make Easy Bow Tie Pasta Recipes

Step 1 | Prep Ingredients & Saute Mushrooms

I always recommend you measure, prep and chop all ingredients ahead of time; that way once you start, this bow tie pasta recipe comes together quickly and easily. No Instant Pot? Read on for stovetop instructions.

Turn Instant Pot (IP) to the “Saute” mode and allow it to heat until it reads “HOT”!

Add butter or olive oil to IP and allow to melt, then toss in chopped mushrooms and saute until soft, a few minutes.

Pour in broth (or water), scraping the bottom of the pan to release any bits, this is called deglazing the pan. Turn IP OFF. 

Step 2 | Add Spices and Liquids

Add garlic, pepper, onion powder, heavy cream and Prosecco, and stir it all quickly.

Pour in bow tie pasta, pressing down lightly with a wooden spoon until evenly distributed and the butterfly pasta is under the liquid.

Step 3 | Pressure Cook Bow Tie Pasta

Close IP lid, lock and secure (close vent) and set to Manual/Pressure Cook for 4 minutes. It takes about 5 minutes to come to pressure; allow for a 4-5 minute natural release (longer if at altitude), then carefully release the rest of the steam. This will be more al dente pasta.

Stir in sun-dried tomatoes and Parmesan cheese, the sauce will thicken as it cools. If desired, sprinkle with some chopped Italian parsley or fresh basil.

Frequently Asked Questions

Variations & Substitutions

It’s all about options and variations in my kitchen!

Spicy Farfalle Pasta | While sauteing the mushrooms add a shake or 5 (depending on how spicy you like it) of red pepper flakes. 

Add more seasoning | Try adding 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning.

Change the Veggies | Don’t love mushrooms, leave them out (though they add great flavor); add your favorite fresh veggies such as red peppers, zucchini or cherry tomatoes!

Swap out the powdered spices | Replace the garlic powder with 1-2 cloves minced garlic and the onion powder with ½ minced or chopped onion; add to the instant pot while sauteing the mushrooms. 

Mediterranean Farfalle Pasta  | Add additional vegetables; artichoke hearts would pair beautifully in this Tuscan dish. Also try eggplant, spinach (add at the very end) and peas would all be delicious. Saute some fresh garlic plus ½ a thinly sliced red onion, or red bell peppers with the mushrooms. Sliced Green, black or Kalamata olives or capers would also be delicious stirred in!

Add Acid | Adding an acid such as lemon juice, balsamic or red wine vinegar enhances almost every dish, it’s subtle, but brightens the flavors, like in my giblet gravy. 

Add protein | Add cooked chicken (see below), meatballs, Italian sausage or shrimp. If adding shrimp, stir into finished farfalle pasta and return the lid to the instant pot until it turns opaque.

Try Different Cheeses | Go with more of a Greek pasta vibe and replace the parmesan with feta cheese. Maybe even tossing in some kalamata olives. YUM!

Italian Sausage Bow Tie Pasta 

Add cooked mild Italian sausage (crumbled or sausages cut into thirds); you can brown it and drain it in the Instant pot on saute mode if desired. Be sure to remove and drain the excess oil before starting the recipe.

Chicken Farfalle Pasta 

When you are feeding a growing family, you find ways to add protein however possible. I grilled a couple of chicken breasts that I had marinated in a zesty Italian vinaigrette, sliced, and served on top of the pasta with a drizzle of nutty balsamic glaze. Or you may toss in rotisserie or pre-cooked chicken when adding the sun-dried tomatoes and cheese.

Storage Tips

For the fridge | Cool bow pasta completely and store in an airtight container for up to 7 days. 

To reheat bow-tie pasta recipes; place the pasta in a skillet or saucepan over low heat, add a few tablespoons of broth, water or extra cream as you slowly warm the dish. If the sauce starts curdling, try adding a little piece of cream cheese and stirring that into the warming pasta, a tablespoon of butter would also do the trick. But don’t worry, while it might look bad, it’s still fine to eat.

How to microwave leftover creamy pasta

If you prefer to microwave your leftover pasta, place in a microwave safe dish, add a few tablespoons of water or broth, cover it with a paper towel, and reheat for 1 minute at 70% power. Stir and reheat until hot in 30-second bursts, stirring between heatings. 

Can you freeze bow-tie pasta?

You can freeze cooked, cooled, and drained butterfly, bow-tie pasta! However; since this recipe contains cheese and cream, I do not recommend freezing as the ingredients will separate when reheating, causing it to look curdled. It’s still fine to eat, so if your only option is throwing it away or freezing it, then, by all means, freeze your bow-tie pasta in an airtight container for up to 2 months. 

Stovetop Easy Bow Tie Pasta Recipe Instructions

I get it, not everyone has an Instant Pot so how do you cook bow tie pasta on the stovetop?

• Prepare bowtie pasta or farfalle according to package directions, to your taste, I like al dente, reserve a little pasta water.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. 
• Add the mushrooms to the pan; saute mushrooms for 4-6 minutes or until tender and browned.
• Over medium heat, deglaze pan with chicken broth, scraping any browned bits (= flavor!) off the bottom, whisk in Prosecco, garlic, kosher salt, pepper, and onion powder.
• Slowly whisk in the cream and simmer for 4-5 minutes or until just thickened – do not boil.
• Whisk in the Parmesan cheese, stirring continuously, until the cheese has melted. Add sun-dried tomatoes and season the sauce with additional salt and pepper to taste.
• Stir in cooked and drained bowtie pasta, mixing until sauce covers it all. Serve immediately and garnish with chopped Italian parsley and additional fresh shaved parmesan. 

Best Main Dish to Serve with Farfalle Pasta

This creamy pasta is a meal in itself, but if you prefer to serve it as a side dish, I suggest serving with these easy Air Fryer Italian Sausage and Peppers, this Easy 30 minute Chicken Parmesan Recipe or this Chicago-style Deep dish Pizza.

Best dessert to serve with this yummy butterfly pasta

Go all fancy, and whip up this no-bake Italian Tiramisu or this creamy and delicious Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake.

More Instant Pot Recipes you will love:

• Easy Instant Pot Chicken & Sausage Jambalaya
• Healthy Crack Chicken {Instant Pot or Slow Cooker}
• Instant Pot Whole Chicken
• Instant Pot Rustic Mashed Potatoes {Stovetop & Crockpot too}
• Easy Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken (or Slow Cooker)
• Best Instant Pot Turkey Breast Recipe
• Glazed Tarragon Carrots (Instant Pot or Stove Top)

I hope you loved this easy Bow-Tie Pasta recipe — if you did, would you share your creation on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest? And be sure to comment below!

Take a look at all of our 2021 Freaky Friday Spring Edition Recipes:

1. A Dish of Daily Life – Smoky Chicken Street Tacos
2. An Affair from the Heart – Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas with Cilantro Lime Butter
3. An Affair from the Heart – Blueberry Mojitos
4. Aunt Bee’s Recipes – Easy Chile Relleno Casserole
5. The Carefree Kitchen – Glazed Lemon Cookies
6. The Culinary Compass – Easy Candied Pecan Recipe
7. Devour Dinner – Cheese Stuffed Meatloaf
8. The Foodie Affair – Keto Broccoli Salad
9. The Fresh Cooky – Bowtie Pasta Recipe
10. Hostess at Heart – No Bake Chocolate Cheesecake 
11. House of Nash Eats – Roast Beef Sliders
12. Lemon Blossoms – Lemon Blueberry Crumb Bars
13. Lemoine Family Kitchen – Lemon Blueberry Bread
14. Life, Love & Good Food – Sandwich Cubano
15. Off the Eaten Path – Grilled Vegan Guacamole
16. Or Whatever You Do – Blackstone Mexican Style Street Corn
17. The Speckled Palate – Lemon Bars
18. Take Two Tapas – Pepperoni Pizza Pinwheels