This Instant Pot baked ziti is a creamy, cheesy dinner made in one pot with no baking required. Layer the pasta, marinara, half-n-half and seasonings, pressure cook, then stir in Parmesan for a cozy weeknight win.

Instant Pot baked ziti in the pressure cooker topped with Parmesan and basil.

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Instant Pot Baked Ziti Recipe

Instant Pot baked ziti is similar to cheesy baked ziti but done in a fraction of the time. This “baked” ziti Instant Pot recipe isn’t actually baked at all but has the same cheesy, saucy, comforting flavors of the amazing Italian-inspired dish.

Along with Instant Pot goulash and Instant Pot spaghetti it’s one of my favorite ways of Instant Pot recipes for pasta. It’s all cooked in one pot with paseta, broth, cream, Italian seasoning, and marinara sauce.

Ingredient Notes

Sauce on top of ziti noodles in the Instant Pot.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Pasta: I prefer ziti noodles for this dish because they hold sauce and cheese really well.
  • Broth: You can use chicken, beef, or vegetable, but the liquid is necessary to help cook the noodles.
  • Half-and-half: This adds a creamy texture to the cooked pasta but you can omit it for extra sauce or use heavy cream but do not use milk.
  • Seasoning: Italian seasoning, ground garlic, salt, and pepper are key to adding a nice flavor.
  • Marinara: Pasta and tomatoes are truly meant to be together, and this sauce is an important addition for flavor and finishing the noodles. Crushed tomatoes are a great substitute.
  • Cheese: To finish the dish, a sprinkling of parmesan or mozzarella goes a long way.
  • Herbs: Fresh basil adds a brightness to the dish and helps enhance the flavor.

How to Make Instant Pot Baked Ziti

Ziti in instant pot.
  1. Layer. In the Instant Pot, add the broth, half-and-half, and seasonings. Add the ziti in an even layer without stirring. Pour the marinara evenly over the top.
  2. Seal and set. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and set the valve to seal. Cook on High pressure for 4 minutes. Once the time is up, let the pressure naturally release.
  3. Stir and serve. Stir in parmesan. Sprinkle with extra cheese and fresh basil to serve.

Avoiding the Burn Notice

To avoid the burn notice do not stir the pasta and add the full amount of liquid called for.

If the pasta gets stirred in too much with the liquid it will start to absorb the liquid faster than needed. If there is not enough liquid in the pot, it can start to burn. As long as the noodles are evenly layered and are submerged in the liquid, you’re golden.

Recipe Tips

  • Other pasta shapes: Easily substitute ziti pasta for any other similar sized pasta shape like penne or rigatoni.
  • To add ground beef, ground turkey, or Italian sausage to this dish, brown it on sauté ahead of time and drain the grease from the pot. Meatballs also work like in ziti with meatballs!
  • If you’d like to add extra vegetables, turn the pressure cooker to sauté mode before adding the liquid. Add 1 Tablespoon olive oil and sauté 1/2 cup diced onion. A 1/2 cup diced bell pepper or mushrooms also work. Add 1-2 cups spinach after ziti is done.
  • Serving: My family loves a simple garlic bread or a chopped salad on the side. Sometimes I like to switch up the salad option for a change!
Serving a spoonful of baked ziti from the Instant Pot.

More Instant Pot recipes include this Instant Pot chicken noodle soup!

More Easy Instant Pot Dinners

Instant Pot Baked ziti in the pressure cooker.

Instant Pot Baked Ziti

5 from 12 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 4 minutes
Pressure time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 34 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Instant Pot baked ziti delivers all the classic baked ziti flavor without turning on the oven. It’s rich, creamy, and loaded with marinara and cheese, plus the cleanup is a breeze.
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Equipment

Ingredients 

  • 2 cups broth
  • 1 ½ cups half-and-half
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt , or 3/4 teaspoon table salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 pound dried ziti pasta , or penne
  • 3 cups marinara sauce , I used Kirkland brand
  • ½ cup grated parmesan cheese

For serving: Parmesan or Mozzarella cheese and Freshly chopped basil

Instructions

  • Pour 2 cups broth and 1 1/2 cups half-and-half into the bottom of the Instant Pot (I used a 6 quart). Stir in 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
  • Add pasta. Evenly add 1 pound uncooked ziti into the liquid (do not stir). Pour 3 cups marinara evenly over the ziti.
  • Place the lid on the Instant Pot and set the valve to seal. Select pressure cook on High pressure. Set the time to 4 minutes. It will take about 20 minutes to build pressure. Once the time is up, let the pressure naturally release, about 5 minutes.
  • Move valve to venting and remove lid. Using hot pads or a towel, turn the valve and remove the lid. Stir in the parmesan.
  • Sprinkle extra cheese and basil on top, if desired. Serve while warm.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Sub the half-and-half for heavy cream but I wouldn’t use milk. If you’d like to cut the half-and-half, add an extra cup of marinara sauce. 
Storage: The leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 4 days. 

Nutrition

Calories: 323kcal, Carbohydrates: 51g, Protein: 12g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 21mg, Sodium: 1102mg, Potassium: 480mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 746IU, Vitamin C: 7mg, Calcium: 137mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.