This creamy and cheesy Baked Ziti tastes just like it’s from your quaint local Italian restaurant but it’s cooked in the Instant Pot digital pressure cooker.
Make sure the stainless steel insert is in your Instant Pot.
Press "saute" setting. Add oil to insert and heat up. Add garlic and chopped onion and saute until the onion is almost translucent. Add Italian seasoning and dried oregano, stir well.
Place Italian sausage (casings removed) in Instant Pot and cook, breaking it down with a wooden spoon. Cook until no longer pink and there are brown bits on the bottom of the IP insert. Press "cancel/off" button. Add ¼ cup of water to sausage and stir well, scraping the browned bits from the bottom of the insert.
Add ziti and 2 cups of water and stir well.
Pour diced tomatoes (with juices) over pasta, add tomato paste and crushed tomatoes. Do not stir.
Close lid of the Instant Pot, switch the valve to "sealing" position.
Press "manual" setting and adjust timer to 6 minutes. The Instant Pot will beep and start coming to pressure.
When the timer is done, the Instant Pot will beep. Press "off/cancel" button. Switch the valve to “venting” and quickly release the pressure. When the done, carefully open the lid.
Add mozzarella cheese and ricotta cheese and stir well.
Serve ziti garnished with fresh basil and grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use calorie counter you are familiar with.
You can use penne pasta in place of ziti.
Use ground beef or Italian sausage with your preferred level of spiciness.