Meatless Baked Ziti in Instant Pot

The Italian American classic made easy for an effortless weeknight pasta dinner!!! Creamy, cheesy and comforting meatless Baked Ziti in Instant Pot is made with jarred sauce and comes together in less than 30 minutes from start to finish.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword instant pot baked ziti, meatless baked ziti, vegetarian baked ziti

Prep Time 8

Cook Time 17

Total Time 25

Servings Servings

Calories 664kcal

Author Maria Doss

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
½ cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced

Group-1

8 ounces ziti pasta
1 and ½ cups tomato sauce ( I used Prego - tomato, basil & garlic)
1 cup chicken stock (I used 33% less sodium)
½ + ⅛ teaspoon salt, refer notes
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper

Group-2

¼ cup ricotta cheese
¼ cup heavy cream
½ cup shredded mozzarella

Group-3

½ cup shredded mozzarella
2 tablespoons grated paremsan
fresh basil, chopped

Instructions

Heat Instant Pot to saute mode.
When hot, add olive oil, chopped onion and garlic. Saute for about 2 minutes, until it begins to get translucent.
Press cancel. Add all group-1 ingredients, stir very well to combine. Close Instant pot and lock lid (making sure that valve is set to sealing). Cook 6 minutes on manual.
In the meantime, stir together ricotta and heavy cream (from group-2) in a small bowl, until thoroughly combined. Mix in the ½ cup mozzarella and keep aside. (Why not stir all three ingredients separately into the cooked pasta? This helps in making a more creamier baked ziti since the ricotta melts along with the cream without giving a gritty feel)
Release pressure as soon as the cooking time is done.
Open lid, stir in the cheese-cream mixture, until thoroughly combined.
Sprinkle group-3 ingredients on top. Close lid for about 1 minute, to melt cheeses.
Serve instant pot baked ziti hot with steamed or roasted veggies on the side.

Video

Notes

Tomato sauce - I used Prego (tomato, basil and garlic)

Chicken stock - I used 33% less sodium chicken stock. If using regular or no sodium stock, then please adjust salt accordingly.

Salt - Salt depends on the type of tomato sauce and chicken stock used.

Nutrition