A classic Italian dish just got a lot simpler.
Here’s a yummy instant pot pasta recipe you will love!
I’ve had my Instant Pot for over a year now, and I’ve learned it’s good for a lot of things. It can do soups and stews just like a slow cooker, cook a whole chicken in under an hour, and even steam artichokes.
But my very favorite thing about the Instant Pot is the way it can simplify recipes. Dishes that used to involve lots of steps and lots of different pots and pans are now one-step, one-pot meals.
Take baked ziti, for instance. To do this the traditional way, you have to cook the ziti in a pot…then drain it in a colander…then mix it up in a bowl with sauce and cheese…then load it into an oven-safe pan and top it with more cheese…and then bake it for half an hour.
But with the Instant Pot, one pot does it all. You just load in the pasta, sauce, and cheese and cook it on high pressure. Then, after releasing the pressure, stir in the rest of the cheese and let it sit until the cheese melts. A quick stir, a sprinkle of parmesan, and dinner is served.
If you prefer your ziti with meat, no problem; you can just cook that first on the Instant Pot’s sauté setting. It adds one more step, but you still have only one pot to clean.
How To Make Instant Pot Three Cheese Ziti
Printable recipe directions and ingredients at bottom of post.
DIRECTIONS:
- Add dried pasta to pressure cooker.
- Add canned tomatoes and whipped cream cheese along with seasonings.
- Top with pasta sauce and water. Stir to combine.
- Cover and seal pressure cooker according to manufacturer instructions. Set to high pressure for 8 minutes. Allow 5 minute natural pressure release, then perform a quick release.
- Add shredded cheese and stir to combine. Let pasta rest for about 5 minutes before serving and stir one more to allow remaining water to absorb. Top each serving with grated parmesan cheese.
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TOOLS USED TO MAKE THIS INSTANT POT THREE CHEESE ZITI
Instant Pot: This 6qt Instant Pot pressure cooker is always my go to!
Measuring Cups and Spoons: Each cup’s “ml” and cup sizes have
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Instant Pot Three Cheese Ziti
Ingredients
- 16 oz penne ziti pasta
- 14.5 oz can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- 4 oz whipped cream cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning blend
- Pinch red pepper flakes
- 24 oz tomato basil pasta sauce
- 3 cups water
- 1 cup shredded Italian cheese blend
- 1/4 grated parmesan cheese optional
Instructions
- Add dried pasta to pressure cooker
- Add canned tomatoes and whipped cream cheese along with seasonings
- Top with pasta sauce and water. Stir to combine.
- Cover and seal pressure cooker according to manufacturer instructions. Set to high pressure for 8 minutes. Allow 5 minute natural pressure release, then perform a quick release.
- Add shredded cheese and stir to combine. Let pasta rest for about 5 minutes before serving and stir one more to allow remaining water to absorb. Top each serving with grated parmesan cheese.
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Nutrition Information:
Nutrition Disclaimer
Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
LOOKING FOR MORE INSTANT POT FAMILY MEALS?
- Instant Pot Pizza Pasta Recipe – my kids requests this every week!
- Instant Pot Taco Pasta – perfect for Taco Tuesday
- Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage – not just for St. Patricks Day
- Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken – fan and family favorite!
- Instant Pot Goulash – a classic
Post updated December 12, 2019
Emma Warner says
One thing I love about instant pot is that it makes cooking easier. You can cook any recipe in one pot easily. You don’t have to use different pots and different steps to cook food.
Cheryl says
Is there something you can sub for the whipped cream cheese?
Corey says
Is it the cream cheese that is the problem, or that it is whipped?
Lori says
What size instant pot did you use?
Corey says
6qt
Jill says
Perfection!! Thanks so much for posting a geat recipe. Followed exactly and came out as described.
John says
Hi there, This looks delicious, but I’m unsure of what you mean by whipped cream cheese.
Corey says
They sell cream cheese that has been whipped, so it is easier to incorporate into recipes.
Shannon Howe says
Awesome quick filling recipe. Delicious. Went perfectly with garlic bread and salad.