Instant Pot Baked Ziti
User Reviews
4.8
Instant Pot Baked Ziti
Description
The Instant Pot Baked Ziti recipe highlights Italian sausage browned in the pot as a flavorful base. Sauteed onion and garlic add depth before canned tomatoes, marinara sauce, water, and dried herbs create a savory liquid for the pasta. Cooking the ziti under high pressure for five minutes softens it perfectly as it soaks in the sauce. Stirring in fresh mozzarella and Parmesan finishes with melty cheesiness.
This one-pot approach creates a warm, hearty pasta meal with well-balanced acidity and richness from the tomato and cheeses. The pressure cooker method saves time while infusing the dried pasta with the flavors of the meat and herbs. Serve it straight from the pot for an effortless comfort food dinner.
The recipe includes seasoning tips to adjust salt and pepper after cooking. Using fresh mozzarella cut into cubes preserves pockets of gooey cheese throughout the dish. The instructions also offer a stovetop alternative for those without an Instant Pot, following the usual browning and simmering steps before combining pasta with sauce.
Ingredients
- 1.25 lbs Italian sausage sweet
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 14.5 oz diced tomatoes 1 can
- 25 oz marinara sauce 1 jar
- 2 1/2 cups water
- 1 teaspoon basil dried
- 1 teaspoon oregano dried
- 2 bay leaf
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 1 lb ziti pasta dried
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella drained and cut into cubes
- 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese grated
Instructions
Pressure Cooker Directions
- Brown Italian Sausage in pressure cooker using the Brown/Saute function, breaking apart as it cooks. Drain if needed.
- Add in olive oil, onion, and garlic and saute until mostly tender, about 3 minutes.
- Stir in diced tomatoes, marinara sauce, water, basil, oregano, bay leaves, salt, pepper, and dried pasta. Stir well. Ensure all the pasta is immersed in liquid (you don't want any pasta sticking out of the top so it doesn't cook.)
- Add the lid, lock in place, ensure pressure valve is not releasing pressure and switch cooking functions to 'Beans/Chili', 'high pressure' and cook for 5 minutes.
- Once the timer chimes, release pressure immediately, stir, and taste to ensure seasonings are good. Adjust as needed. Stir in cheeses and serve hot.
Stovetop Directions
- In a large pot, brown sausage, breaking apart as it cooks. Drain if needed. Replace back in the pan.
- Add in olive oil, onion, and garlic and saute until mostly tender, about 3 minutes.
- Stir in diced tomatoes, marinara sauce, 1 cup of water (a reduced amount from the ingredients listed), basil, oregano, bay leaves, salt, pepper. Stir well. Cover and simmer 20-30 minutes.
- Toss sauce with cooked ziti. Stir in cheeses and serve.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4large servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 796 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 796kcal | 40% |
| Carbohydrates | 7g | 2% |
| Protein | 38g | 76% |
| Fat | 68g | 105% |
| Saturated Fat | 27g | 135% |
| Cholesterol | 164mg | 55% |
| Sodium | 1640mg | 68% |
| Potassium | 503mg | 11% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 522IU | 10% |
| Vitamin C | 7mg | 8% |
| Calcium | 479mg | 48% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.8
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