Easy Instant Pot Baked Ziti: Olive Garden Copycat

Preparation Time: 5 minutesCooking Time: 15 minutes

This Instant Pot baked ziti is just like the pasta dish you get at Olive Garden. Just throw the main ingredients in the pot, pressure cook, and then add the remaining ingredients and you have cheesy, pasta, delicious goodness!

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Instant Pot Baked Ziti

Instant Pot Baked Ziti: Olive Garden Copycat

One of Andy’s favorite meals, when we order out from Olive Garden, is baked ziti. This Instant Pot baked ziti is a dead ringer for Olive Garden’s Five Cheese Ziti. That’s why I call this Instant Pot “baked” ziti an Olive Garden copycat.

This is a one-pot, dump and start Instant Pot recipe that takes no time and tastes restaurant quality without the price. Maybe next I’ll find an Olive Garden breadstick recipe… One can only hope!

I promise you, this Instant Pot creamy ziti is not dairy-free or carb-free. It’s full of creamy pasta goodness, and hardly takes any time to make. 

How to Make Instant Pot Baked Ziti

There are really only a few directions that go into making this easy Instant Pot creamy ziti. It’s pretty much fool-proof and a great beginner Instant Pot recipe. 

You’re going to start out by adding cream, broth, garlic, salt and pepper, and pasta into the Instant Pot. Also, make sure your liquid is covering your pasta. You’re not going to stir. Remember: Do not stir. 

All you have to do next is pressure cook for six minutes and then do a natural pressure release and then a quick release. You’re going to have a very liquidy sauce, which is normal to see. This will change once you turn your Instant Pot on sauté mode and you add your red pasta sauce and then slowly add your cheeses. 

You’ll turn out with a creamy, thick sauce for your Instant Pot creamy ziti. After the sauce is thickened, you’re pretty much done here. Turn off your Instant Pot. Serve with some breadsticks and maybe a side salad. The real star here is the copycat Olive Garden Instant Pot baked ziti if we’re going to be completely honest. 

Baked Ziti in the Instant Pot

This is optional: If you have the Instant Pot Duo Crisp lid to the Instant Pot, top your pasta with your cheeses and broil under the Duo Crisp lid for a few minutes to get the “baked” effect. If you don’t have the lid, then transfer to an oven-safe baking dish, add the cheese on top, and broil for about three minutes for a crispy golden top. 

What if I don’t Have an Instant Pot?


The recipe is pretty similar on the stovetop as it is in the pressure cooker or Instant Pot. You can also make this recipe in your electric pressure cooker, just check your manufacturer’s specifications.  If you’re looking for an Instant Pot pressure cooker, check any of my reviews out to find the best one. Otherwise, I used my Instant Pot Duo for this recipe.

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