This Instant Pot Baked Ziti recipe is a quick and easy weeknight meal that the entire family will love. Made with just a few simple ingredients, this dish is hearty and satisfying. And the best part is that it can be made in just one pot – meaning less cleanup for you! So if you’re looking for a delicious and easy weeknight meal, look no further than this Instant Pot Baked Ziti recipe. Your family will thank you for it!
This baked ziti in the Instant Pot is a contemporary adaptation of an age-old classic dish. You’ll have a hearty and simple cheesy ziti on your table in no time if you make it in one pot with consideration for cleanup!
Easy baked ziti Instant Pot style
The baked ziti made in the Instant Pot has all the same great qualities as my cheesy baked ziti but cooks it in a fraction of the time. Although this baked ziti instant pot recipe isn’t truly baked at all—as you presumably already know—it still has all the cheesy, saucy, and comforting tastes of this great Italian-inspired dish.
One of my favorite methods for cooking pasta in an Instant Pot is this one. The number of moving parts is lower than in the original recipe. Along with broth and cream, Italian seasoning, and marinara sauce, the pasta is cooked right there in the pot. It’s a true one-pot dish that competes with any classic baked ziti recipe!
If you enjoy my quick pot spaghetti, you should try my instant pot ziti as soon as possible. To round off this Italian-themed supper, serve with a basket of garlic bread or a chopped salad for a delicious, inexpensive evening at home.
Why make ziti pasta in the Instant Pot?
First of all, welcome if you’re new to the Instant Pot community! The power of this pressure cooker is going to change your life. Knowing how to operate an instant pot can give you access to a wide variety of quick, simple, and one-pot meals.
There will always be a place for warm casseroles, but utilizing a pressure cooker to prepare your unbaked baked ziti is a game-changer when time is of the essence, the kids have activities, work ran late, or you’re just not feeling like heating the kitchen with your oven.
The pressure cooker is configured to take the majority of your actions out of your control. It measures the pot’s contents and detects when the pressure has been reached. It’s absurd! It creates whole meals in a fraction of the time as other ways, and it’s a simple way to get dinner on the table quickly.
Why can’t I stir pasta in the Instant Pot?
This is being done to avoid the burn notification. Pasta will begin to absorb the liquid more quickly than necessary if it is mixed with the liquid too much. It may begin to burn if there is not enough liquid in the pot. You’re good to go as long as the noodles are arranged uniformly and are immersed in the liquid.
How do you keep ziti from drying out?
Divide the mozzarella in half; use half in the pasta and save the other half for garnish. Pasta casseroles are recognized by their golden brown color after baking. You’ll need a generous amount of sauce for the top layer, which will sit beneath the mozzarella. Because of this, the pasta won’t dry out as quickly.
What can I substitute for ricotta cheese in baked ziti?
If you don’t have any ricotta cheese on hand, what other cheeses would work in baked ziti? Substitutes for ricotta cheese include cottage cheese, soft mozzarella, mascarpone, and cream cheese.
Sour cream is a good substitute for ricotta because it has a similar texture and a slightly tangier flavor, making it ideal for use in baked goods and savory dishes like baked potatoes. Use it as a spread on bread or spread it on crackers, veggies, or chips for dipping.
What is the difference between penne and ziti pasta?
Ziti pasta has squared-off corners, giving the appearance of a longer, more perfect tube. In order to give each noodle a unique profile, penne pasta is always cut at an acute angle. Furthermore, most penne has a ridged texture on the outside, though smooth penne can be found in specialty stores.
Some Pointers for Pasta Made in a Single Pot
- Due to the fact that the pasta will be cooked in the sauce, water will also need to be added to the pot.
- It’s important that the pasta is completely submerged in the liquid.
- If you want your pasta al dente, serve it immediately after it’s cooked; otherwise, it will continue to absorb sauce.
- Using the same ingredients, prepare this dish on the stovetop by cooking it over medium-low heat, covered, for 16 to 20 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked, stirring once halfway through. akin to this recipe for Spaghetti and Meat Sauce.
Variations
- Don’t have ziti? Any medium- or short-length pasta will do. Now that we’re stretching the definition of “baked ziti,”
- Used crushed tomatoes rather than marinara sauce.
- Double the dose of veggies using the sauté setting before adding any liquid. Cook up 1/2 cup of diced onion, bell peppers, mushrooms, or a combination of the three, while adding a teaspoon of olive oil.
- Once ziti is done cooking, add 1 or 2 cups of chopped spinach in addition to the cheese. The residual heat will cause the spinach to wilt and will also add some extra greens and a really good flavor.
- Add ground beef, To add ground turkey or Italian sausage to this recipe, brown it in advance on the sauté setting, then drain the pot’s fat. Vegetables can also be cooked at this time.
- You can substitute half and half as they are both rich and thick, like heavy cream. Do not substitute milk because the consistency will not be the same.
- If you want to omit the half and half, Put an additional cup of marinara sauce in its place.
Ways to serve
Simple garlic bread or a side of chopped salad are favorites in my household. I occasionally prefer to choose a different salad selection!
- Quinoa and kale salad
- Sandwich salad
- Sliced salad
- Caesar salad
- Salad with broccoli and bacon
- A salad in the Mediterranean with a creamy balsamic dressing
- A salad of tomatoes, cucumbers
More easy instant pot dinners:
- Chicken with dumplings in the instant-pot
- Teriyaki chicken in an instant-pot
- Potato mash with meatloaf
- Instantaneous meatballs
- Chicken taco bowls in the instant-pot
Instant Pot Baked Ziti
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 2 cups broth
- 1 1/2 cups half and half
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt or 3/4 teaspoon table salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 pound ziti pasta or penne
- 3 cups marinara sauce I used Kirkland brand
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
For serving: mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, and parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Fill the bottom of the pressure cooker with the broth and the half and half (I used a 6qt). Salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning are then combined.
- Ziti noodles should be distributed evenly over the liquid (do not stir). Next, evenly distribute the sauce on top.
- Put the pressure cooker’s cover on and turn the valve to the seal position. then choose high pressure pressure cook. Decide on a 4 minute timer. Pressure building will take roughly 20 minutes. Let the pressure naturally dissipate for about five minutes after the allotted period has passed.
- Remove the lid after turning the valve (when using hot pads). Add the parmesan cheese and stir.
- If desired, add more cheese and basil on top. When warm, serve.
Notes
You can use crushed tomatoes for marinara sauce if you don’t have any. Before adding the liquid, you can switch the pressure cooker to the sauté setting if you want to add more veggies. 1/2 cup sliced onion is sautéed with a tablespoon of olive oil. Add 1/2 cup of diced bell pepper or mushrooms if you like.
You can add 1 to 2 cups of chopped spinach along with the cheese after the ziti has finished cooking. Cook half a pound of beef on the sauté setting if you want to add more, and then drain the oil. After that, add the liquids. Heavy cream can be substituted for the half and half, but I wouldn’t use milk. You might add an additional cup of marinara sauce if you want to reduce the amount of half and half.
