One-Pot Wonder: The Ultimate Instant Pot Baked Ziti Recipe

Discover the secret to a delicious, hassle-free weeknight meal with this incredible Instant Pot Baked Ziti recipe. Forget the endless pots and pans; this entire dish comes together in your pressure cooker, delivering tender ziti pasta, rich ground beef, savory marinara, and gooey melted mozzarella in a single pot. It’s the ultimate comfort food, simplified for your busy lifestyle!

Why the Instant Pot is Your Weeknight Hero for Baked Ziti

Traditional baked ziti is a beloved classic, but it often involves multiple steps: boiling pasta, browning meat, simmering sauce, layering, and finally baking in the oven. While the result is undeniably delicious, the process can be time-consuming and messy. This is where the Instant Pot revolutionizes the dish. Utilizing the magic of pressure cooking, you can achieve the same deep flavors and satisfying texture in a fraction of the time, all within one convenient appliance.

The Instant Pot excels at melding flavors under pressure, creating a depth that usually requires hours of simmering. For baked ziti, this means that the pasta absorbs the savory marinara and beef juices directly, leading to an incredibly flavorful bite in every forkful. Plus, the minimal cleanup is a game-changer for busy evenings, allowing you to spend less time scrubbing and more time enjoying your meal with family and friends.

Essential Tips for Crafting the Perfect Pressure Cooker Baked Ziti

While this recipe is incredibly straightforward, a few key tips can elevate your Instant Pot Baked Ziti from good to absolutely phenomenal. These suggestions offer flexibility and ways to tailor the dish to your personal taste and dietary preferences.

Cheese Choices: While cottage cheese offers a lighter, creamier texture, feel free to substitute it with rich ricotta cheese for a more traditional baked ziti experience. Both options contribute beautifully to the dish’s cheesy layers.
Meat Alternatives: Ground beef provides a hearty base, but for a bolder flavor, consider using ground Italian sausage. A mix of both can also create a fantastic balance. For a vegetarian option, cooked lentils or finely chopped mushrooms can be excellent substitutes for ground meat.
Elevate the Cheese Factor: If you’re a true cheese enthusiast, don’t hesitate to add an extra ¼ cup of grated Parmesan cheese directly into the cottage or ricotta mixture before stirring it into the pasta. You can also sprinkle more mozzarella on top for an extra-gooey crust.
Spice it Up: For those who enjoy a little kick, a pinch of red pepper flakes added with the Italian seasoning or stirred into the marinara sauce will introduce a pleasant warmth without overpowering the other flavors.
Vegetable Boost: Enhance the nutritional value and texture by stirring in some fresh spinach during the final mixing step, or incorporating finely diced bell peppers or zucchini during the initial sauté.

Gather Your Ingredients: The Heart of the Recipe

The beauty of this Instant Pot Baked Ziti lies in its simplicity and reliance on readily available ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to create this comforting dish:

Ground beef (or Italian sausage)
Olive oil
Diced onions
Garlic, minced
Italian seasoning
Marinara spaghetti sauce (one 23-ounce jar)
Ziti pasta (one 16-ounce box, uncooked)
Water
Small curd cottage cheese (or ricotta cheese)
Shredded mozzarella cheese
Optional: Parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes for customization

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Instant Pot Baked Ziti

Follow these simple instructions to prepare a mouthwatering Instant Pot Baked Ziti that will impress everyone at your dinner table.

Sauté the Aromatics and Meat: Begin by adding olive oil, ground beef, diced onions, and minced garlic to your Instant Pot. Select the “Sauté” mode. Season the mixture generously with Italian seasoning. This initial browning step is crucial for building a rich flavor base for your sauce.

Brown the Beef and Deglaze: Continue to brown and crumble the beef until it’s no longer pink and the onions have softened and become translucent. Carefully drain any excess grease from the pot. Before proceeding, it’s vital to scrape off any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pot. These bits, known as fond, are packed with flavor but can trigger a “Burn” notice during pressure cooking if not removed. Once clean, return the drained beef mixture to the pot. Turn off the Instant Pot’s sauté mode.

Introduce the Marinara: Pour the jar of marinara sauce into the Instant Pot with the beef mixture. Stir everything together until well combined, ensuring the bottom of the pot is completely free of any stuck-on food particles.

Layer the Pasta (No Stirring!): Carefully add the uncooked ziti noodles on top of the sauce mixture. It’s crucial at this stage NOT TO STIR. Layering prevents the pasta from settling at the bottom and potentially causing a “Burn” notice.

Add Water (Still No Stirring!): Gently pour 2 cups of water over the uncooked pasta. Again, resist the urge to stir. The liquids should primarily remain below the pasta to allow for proper pressure buildup and even cooking.

Pressure Cook: Secure the lid on your Instant Pot, ensuring the sealing vent is closed. Set the Instant Pot to “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” mode on HIGH pressure for 7 minutes. The pot will take some time to come to pressure before the 7-minute countdown begins.
Quick Release and Add Creaminess: Once the 7 minutes are up, perform a quick release of the pressure immediately. Turn off the Instant Pot. Carefully open the lid away from your face. Add 1 cup of small curd cottage cheese (or ricotta) into the cooked pasta and tomato sauce mixture. Stir gently until the cheese is incorporated and the sauce is creamy.

Melt the Mozzarella: Evenly spread 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese over the top of the ziti mixture. Once again, DO NOT STIR. This layer will create the classic “baked” cheese topping.

Rest and Serve: Place the lid back on the Instant Pot (you don’t need to seal it). Let the ziti sit for at least 5 minutes. The residual heat will perfectly melt the mozzarella into a glorious, bubbling, cheesy blanket. Serve immediately and enjoy your one-pot masterpiece!

Storing, Freezing, and Reheating Your Baked Ziti

This Instant Pot Baked Ziti is fantastic for meal prep or enjoying as leftovers. Store any remaining ziti in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. When reheating, you can microwave individual portions or warm larger amounts on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of water or broth if it seems too dry. While it’s best fresh, this dish also freezes reasonably well. Transfer cooled ziti to a freezer-safe container and store for up to 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

Frequently Asked Questions About Instant Pot Baked Ziti

What if I get a “Burn” notice on my Instant Pot?

A “Burn” notice usually means there’s something stuck to the bottom of the pot, preventing proper pressure buildup, or that the liquid content is insufficient. In this recipe, it’s often caused by not scraping off all the browned bits after sautéing the beef or by stirring the pasta into the sauce and water before pressure cooking. Always deglaze thoroughly and layer the ingredients as instructed without stirring.

Can I use different types of pasta?

While ziti is traditional, other similar tubular or short pasta shapes like penne, rigatoni, or even elbow macaroni can work. Adjust cooking time slightly based on the pasta’s recommended stove-top cooking time (generally, Instant Pot pasta cooking time is half of the package instructions, plus 1-2 minutes for al dente). Always ensure the pasta is mostly submerged in liquid.

Is this really “baked” ziti if it’s not made in an oven?

The “baked” element in this Instant Pot recipe comes from the final step where the mozzarella melts into a gooey, savory topping under the residual heat, mimicking the texture and appearance of oven-baked cheese. While it doesn’t achieve the same crispy, browned crust as traditional baked ziti, it delivers all the comforting flavors and a beautifully melted cheese layer.

Can I add vegetables to this recipe?

Absolutely! This is a great way to boost nutrition and flavor. You can add finely diced bell peppers, carrots, or celery during the initial sauté with the onions. Fresh spinach or chopped kale can be stirred in during the final step when you add the cottage cheese; the heat from the pasta will quickly wilt them.

Can I make this recipe vegetarian?

Yes, you can easily make it vegetarian. Substitute the ground beef with an equal amount of cooked brown or green lentils, or a plant-based ground meat alternative. Sauté mushrooms and onions for a rich umami base. Ensure to adjust seasonings as needed.

What should I serve with Instant Pot Baked Ziti?

This hearty dish pairs wonderfully with a simple green salad with a light vinaigrette to balance the richness. Garlic bread or crusty Italian bread is also a perfect accompaniment for soaking up any extra sauce. A side of steamed green beans or roasted broccoli would also complement the meal nicely.

Instant Pot Baked Ziti

The Best Instant Pot Baked Ziti is so easy and made all in one pot! Ground beef, ziti pasta, spaghetti sauce and melted mozzarella cheese!

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Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Pressurization Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 33 minutes

Servings: 8

Author: Brandie Skibinski

Ingredients

1 teaspoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef
½ cup diced onions
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
23 ounce jar marinara sauce
16 oz box ziti pasta noodles, uncooked
2 cups water
1 cup small curd cottage cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
parmesan cheese, optional
red pepper flakes, optional

Instructions

Add the olive oil, ground beef, onions and garlic into the Instant Pot and set it on sauté mode. Season mixture with Italian seasoning.
Brown and crumble the beef until it is no longer pink and the onion has softened. Drain any excess grease. Make sure you don’t have any brown bits left in the bottom of the pot – you don’t want them to burn later as the pot is coming to pressure. Place drained beef back into the pot.
Turn the Instant Pot off the sauté mode.
Add the marinara in with the beef mixture and stir to combine.
Add the uncooked ziti noodles onto the top of the sauce mixture, but DO NOT STIR IN.
Pour the 2 cups of water over top of the uncooked pasta. Again, DO NOT stir.
Place the top on the Instant Pot, seal and set manual setting on HIGH pressure for 7 minutes.
When the timer goes off, do a quick release of the pressure immediately and turn the IP off.
Open the top and add 1 cup of cottage cheese and stir into the pasta and tomato sauce mixture.
Cover the top of the ziti with mozzarella cheese as a topping. DO NOT stir again.
Place the lid back on and let it sit for at least 5 minutes to let the cheese melt.
Serve immediately.

Notes

Substitute ricotta cheese for the cottage cheese, if desired.
Ground Italian sausage can be substituted for the ground beef.
Add ¼ cup of parmesan cheese in with the cottage cheese, if desired.
Add more mozzarella cheese if you prefer an even cheesier version.
Add red pepper flakes for a spicier version.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

CRAVING MORE INSTANT POT RECIPES?

If you loved the ease and flavor of this Instant Pot Baked Ziti, you’re in for a treat! The Instant Pot can transform countless classic dishes into quick and convenient meals. Explore these other fantastic pressure cooker recipes to expand your weeknight repertoire:

Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup
Instant Pot Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta
Instant Pot Hungarian Goulash
Instant Pot Italian Stuffed Peppers
Instant Pot Spaghetti & Meatballs
Crock Pot Baked Ziti
Baked Ziti for Two

Happy cooking, and enjoy your delightful, one-pot Instant Pot Baked Ziti!