Easy Instant Pot baked ziti recipe! This Instant Pot pasta recipe turns Italian sausage and a couple of jars of spaghetti sauce in a yummy one-pot dinner in less than 30 minutes total.
Looking for simple weeknight dinner recipe? And, really, who isn’t right now!? Well, you found it with this easy Instant Pot baked ziti recipe!
This Instant Pot pasta recipe turns ground Italian sausage, pasta, and a couple jars of spaghetti sauce into a yummy one-pot dinner in less than 30 minutes total. It’s a quick and easy ziti recipe that makes a great weeknight dinner.
Since it’s all made in the inner pot, it’s also quick and easy to clean up. And, best of all, you end up with a delicious, comforting dinner with practically no work!
How to make ziti in the Instant Pot
Step 1: Press sauté.
Step 2: When the Instant Pot reads “hot”, add Italian sausage and cook until browned. Drain grease, if necessary, and return Italian sausage to the inner pot.
Step 3: Stir in onion and cook until softened, about 2-3 minutes.
Step 4: Add garlic and stir in.
Step 5: Deglaze the inner pot with the red wine and scrape up as many of the browned bits as possible. This will help to avoid a burn message.
Step 6: Press cancel.
Step 7: Add the ziti, water, spaghetti sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Do not stir.
Step 8: Close and lock the lid. Turn the pressure release valve to sealing. Press manual high pressure and adjust the time to 4 minutes.
Step 9: When the cooking time is finished, carefully turn the pressure release valve to venting to quickly release the pressure.
Step 10: Give the pasta a good stir.
Step 11: For the filling, add the cottage cheese, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses.
Step 12: Stir in to combine.
Tips
- Italian Sausage: You can use mild or hot Italian sausage in this recipe. Turkey Italian sausage will also work.
- Red Wine: If you don’t want to use red wine, simply substitute an equal amount of beef or chicken broth.
- Filling: The filling is optional.
- Cottage Cheese: I don’t recommend fat-free cottage cheese, but low-fat or full-fat work well. If you don’t like cottage cheese, you can use an equal amount of ricotta cheese instead.
- Cooking Time: Different brands of noodles can have slight cooking time differences. If you find that the noodles are still too firm after cooking, just cover the pot and let the pasta sit for a few minutes.
What to serve with baked ziti
I like to serve this ziti with a simple green salad for a quick weeknight meal. If I have more time, I make my 30 minute garlic knots to go alongside this pasta.
Storage
Store any leftover ziti in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The pasta will keep for up to 4 days when properly stored in the fridge.
Instant Pot Baked Ziti
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup diced white or yellow onion
- 1/4 cup red wine
- 16 ounces uncooked ziti
- 2- 24 ounce jars spaghetti sauce
- 2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Optional filling
- 3/4 cup cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Press sauté.
- When the Instant Pot reads “hot”, add Italian sausage and cook until browned.
- Drain grease, if necessary, and return Italian sausage to the inner pot.
- Stir in onion and cook until softened, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add garlic and stir in.
- Deglaze the inner pot with the red wine and scrape up as many of the browned bits as possible. This will help to avoid a burn message.
- Press cancel.
- Add the ziti, water, spaghetti sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Do not stir.
- Close and lock the lid.
- Turn the pressure release valve to sealing.
- Press manual high pressure and adjust the time to 4 minutes.
- When the cooking time is finished, carefully turn the pressure release valve to venting to quickly release the pressure.
- Give the pasta a good stir.
- For the filling, add the cottage cheese, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses.
- Stir in to combine.
Notes
- Italian Sausage: You can use mild or hot Italian sausage in this recipe. Turkey Italian sausage will also work.
- Red Wine: If you don’t want to use red wine, simply substitute an equal amount of beef or chicken broth.
- Spaghetti sauce: Choose a good-quality spaghetti sauce that has plenty of flavor.
- Filling: The filling is optional, but it is included in the nutritional values.
- Cottage Cheese: I don’t recommend fat-free cottage cheese, but low-fat or full-fat work well. If you don’t like cottage cheese, you can use an equal amount of ricotta cheese instead.
- Cooking Time: Different brands of noodles can have slight cooking time differences. If you find that the noodles are still too firm after cooking, just cover the pot and let the pasta sit for a few minutes.
- Nutrition values are estimates.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Nutritional values were calculated using a third-party tool and are provided as an estimation only.
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Did You Make This?
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We loved this ziti. I used hot Italian sausage and it was delicious!
Thank you!