What the heck is this?

So you want that cozy, bubbly, cheesy baked ziti goodness but don’t have two hours to babysit the oven? Meet your new best friend: Instant Pot Baked Ziti. This is basically all the comfort food magic of traditional baked ziti, but done in a fraction of the time and with way less cleanup. We’re talking tender pasta, rich meat sauce, and three kinds of cheese all getting cozy together in your pressure cooker.

The genius here is that everything cooks together in one pot — the pasta, the sauce, the meat, everything. Then you top it with cheese and give it a quick broil for that golden, bubbly top that makes baked ziti so addictive. It’s like having a magic wand for weeknight dinners, except the magic wand is your Instant Pot and the spell is “make dinner happen fast.”

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

One pot wonder — everything cooks together, minimal cleanup
Ready in 30 minutes — way faster than traditional baked ziti
Perfectly cooked pasta — no mushy noodles, no undercooked bits
Cheese heaven — three types of cheese because why not?
Feeds a crowd — perfect for families or meal prep
Freezer friendly — make ahead and freeze portions

The Good Stuff You’ll Need

For the Meat Sauce:

1 lb ground Italian sausage (or ground beef)
1 medium onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
1 cup beef broth
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste

For the Pasta:

1 lb ziti pasta (or penne)
2 cups water

For the Cheese Situation:

15 oz ricotta cheese
1 large egg
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 tsp garlic powder

Let’s Do This

Step 1: Sauté the Good Stuff Set your Instant Pot to sauté mode. Add the ground sausage and cook, breaking it up as it browns (about 5-6 minutes). Add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.

Step 2: Build the Sauce Add the marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, beef broth, tomato paste, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Stir everything together and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes.

Step 3: Add the Pasta Add the uncooked ziti pasta and 2 cups of water. Stir gently to make sure the pasta is mostly submerged. Don’t worry if some pieces are sticking up — they’ll cook just fine.

Step 4: Pressure Cook Magic Secure the lid and set the valve to sealing. Pressure cook on HIGH for 5 minutes. When it’s done, let it natural release for 10 minutes, then quick release the remaining pressure.

Step 5: Make the Cheese Mixture While the pasta is cooking, mix the ricotta cheese, egg, 1 cup of mozzarella, Parmesan, parsley, and garlic powder in a bowl. Set aside.

Step 6: Stir and Check Carefully remove the lid and stir the pasta. It should be perfectly tender. If there’s excess liquid, set it to sauté mode and cook for 2-3 minutes to reduce.

Step 7: Add the Cheese Dollop the ricotta mixture all over the pasta and gently fold it in. Don’t overmix — you want pockets of cheesy goodness throughout.

Step 8: Top and Broil Transfer everything to a greased 9×13 baking dish (or you can use an oven-safe Instant Pot insert if you have one). Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese.

Preheat your broiler and broil for 3-5 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbly. Keep an eye on it — broilers are sneaky and can burn things fast.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with a simple green salad and garlic bread
A glass of red wine pairs perfectly with this comfort food
Sprinkle with fresh basil before serving for extra flavor
Side of roasted vegetables to balance out all that cheesy goodness

Switch It Up

Veggie Version: Skip the meat and add diced bell peppers, zucchini, or mushrooms Spicy Kick: Use hot Italian sausage and add more red pepper flakes Different Cheese: Try using fontina or provolone instead of mozzarella Meat Lovers: Add some pepperoni or cooked bacon on top Herb Garden: Fresh basil, oregano, or thyme make everything better

Make-Ahead Tips

The whole dish can be assembled and refrigerated overnight before the final broil
Cooked ziti freezes beautifully for up to 3 months
You can prep the ricotta mixture up to 2 days ahead
Leftovers keep 4-5 days in the fridge and reheat perfectly

Questions People Actually Ask

Q: Can I use a different pasta shape? A: Absolutely! Penne, rigatoni, or rotini all work great. Just keep the cooking time the same.

Q: My pasta seems overcooked. What happened? A: Different pasta brands cook at different rates. Try reducing the pressure cooking time by 1 minute next time.

Q: Can I make this without the Instant Pot? A: Sure! Cook the pasta separately, make the sauce on the stovetop, then combine everything in a baking dish and bake at 375°F for 25-30 minutes.

Q: The sauce seems too thick/thin. How do I fix it? A: Too thick? Add a bit more broth. Too thin? Set it to sauté mode and cook off some liquid, or stir in a tablespoon of tomato paste.

Q: Can I use ground turkey instead? A: Absolutely! It might be a bit leaner, so you might want to add a tablespoon of olive oil when browning.

Q: Do I have to broil it at the end? A: You don’t have to, but that’s what gives you the golden, bubbly top that makes baked ziti so irresistible. It’s worth the extra 5 minutes!

Instant Pot Baked Ziti

Author: Tyla
Total Time: 35 minutes

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