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Instant Pot Skinny Creamy Ziti Recipe

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4.4 from 15 reviews

  • Author: Eliza
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Diet: Low Fat

Description

Instant Pot Skinny Creamy Ziti is a delicious and lighter take on a classic creamy pasta dish. By substituting evaporated milk for heavy cream, this recipe delivers a rich, cheesy, and flavorful meal with significantly reduced calories and fat. Quick to prepare in an Instant Pot, it's perfect for a comforting dinner ready in just 20 minutes.

Ingredients

Basic Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups (592mL) chicken broth
  • 1/2 lb 8 oz dry ziti pasta
  • 1 tsp minced garlic, dried
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Sauce Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup (178mL) red pasta sauce
  • 3/4 cup (178mL) evaporated milk
  • 3/4 cup (80g) shredded parmesan cheese, not the powdered stuff
  • 3/4 cup (80g) mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  1. Prepare Instant Pot: Place the chicken broth, dried garlic, salt, and pepper into the Instant Pot liner. Add the dry ziti pasta, making sure all noodles are submerged in the broth. Do not stir the mixture at this stage.
  2. Pressure Cook: Set the Instant Pot to Manual High Pressure and cook for 6 minutes. Once cooking is complete, allow a Natural Pressure Release (NPR) for 6 minutes before performing a Quick Release (QR) to release any remaining pressure.
  3. Stir Pasta: Open the lid and gently stir the noodles. Some pasta may be slightly stuck together, but this is normal and will resolve as you continue.
  4. Add Sauce: Pour the red pasta sauce into the pot and stir well to combine with the noodles and broth.
  5. Add Evaporated Milk: Stir in the evaporated milk thoroughly to begin creating a creamy texture.
  6. Sauté to Thicken: Turn the Instant Pot to the Sauté function on High and heat until the sauce starts bubbling.
  7. Add Cheese: Turn off the Instant Pot. Gradually stir in the shredded parmesan cheese followed by the mozzarella cheese. Stir continuously until all the cheese has melted and the sauce has thickened. The sauce will thicken further as it cools.
  8. Serve: Enjoy the creamy, cheesy ziti immediately or keep warm until ready to serve.

Notes

  • Do not stir the pasta before pressure cooking to prevent clumping or burning.
  • Using evaporated milk instead of cream greatly reduces calories while maintaining creaminess.
  • Allow the sauce to thicken off heat as residual warmth enhances texture.
  • If desired, add cooked vegetables or protein to customize the dish.
  • Ensure the cheese is shredded, not powdered, for best melting results.
  • Prep Time: 2 minutes
  • Cook Time: 6 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Instant Pot
  • Cuisine: Italian-American

Find it online: https://recipekind.com/instant-pot-skinny-creamy-ziti-recipe/