Description
This Instant Pot Baked Ziti recipe is an easy, creamy, and cheesy pasta dish perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. Ground Italian sausage, tomato paste, and a blend of seasonings come together with ziti pasta, chicken broth, and heavy cream, all pressure cooked to perfection in just 28 minutes. Finished with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil, this hearty comfort food is satisfyingly rich and flavorful with minimal hands-on time.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Aromatics
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 16 ounces ground Italian sausage
- 1 cup finely diced yellow onion
Seasonings and Paste
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon fennel seed
- 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Liquids
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 1/4 cups water
- 2 cups heavy cream
Pasta and Cheese
- 16 ounces uncooked ziti pasta
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Optional Garnish
- Fresh basil (for serving)
Instructions
- Cook Sausage: Set your 6-quart Instant Pot to “sauté” mode. Add olive oil, then the ground Italian sausage. Sear for about 1 minute on each side, breaking the sausage into smaller pieces. Add the diced onion and cook until the sausage is fully browned and the onion is softened.
- Add Tomato Paste and Seasonings: Stir in the entire can of tomato paste along with Italian seasoning, fennel seed, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes. Sauté for 1–3 minutes until fragrant, then turn off the Instant Pot.
- Add Liquids and Pasta: Pour in the chicken broth, water, and heavy cream, stirring to combine. Gently add the uncooked ziti pasta by pressing it down below the liquid without stirring; this prevents sticking.
- Pressure Cook: Secure the Instant Pot lid and set the valve to “seal.” Select the “manual” or “pressure cook” setting and set the timer to 4 minutes. Allow the Instant Pot to come to pressure and cook. After cooking, let the pressure release naturally for 4 minutes, then carefully do a quick release of the remaining pressure and remove the lid immediately.
- Add Cheese: Remove the metal insert and set it on a trivet. Gently stir the pasta with a wooden spoon. Gradually add the grated Parmesan cheese in 1/4 cup increments, stirring after each addition until fully melted and incorporated. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding up to another 1/4 teaspoon salt if needed.
- Serve: If desired, stir in finely chopped fresh basil. Serve the ziti hot and enjoy this rich, creamy, and comforting meal!
Notes
- You can substitute ground Italian sausage with ground beef or turkey if preferred.
- The tomato paste adds rich depth to the sauce, but you can use canned crushed tomatoes for a chunkier texture.
- This recipe makes 6 hearty servings; leftovers store well for up to 3 days refrigerated.
- Do not stir the pasta after adding it to the liquids before cooking to prevent clumping.
- Fresh basil adds a nice herbal brightness but can be omitted or substituted with dried Italian herbs.
