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    Popular » Recipes » Instant Pot

    Instant Pot Pizza Pasta

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: Mar 22, 2022 · Modified: Mar 22, 2022 by Dee

    Instant Pot Pizza Pasta is an easy recipe made with penne pasta, sausage, pepperoni and your favorite pizza toppings. Ready in 30 minutes! Your whole family will love this kid friendly dinner! via @meamel

    Instant Pot Pizza Pasta is an easy recipe made with penne pasta, sausage, pepperoni and your favorite pizza toppings. Ready in 30 minutes! Your whole family will love this kid friendly dinner!

    Jump to Recipe -
    plate of instant pot pizza pasta with penne and pepperoni slices on the table

    Instant Pot pizza pasta is loaded with Italian sausage, sliced pepperoni and lots of mozzarella cheese. I made this the other night for my kids, and it's now one of their favorite Instant Pot recipes. If you're looking for an easy kid friendly dinner, this pizza pasta casserole recipe is for you!

    I used to make this pizza pasta bake in the oven, and I even made a one pan pepperoni pizza pasta on the stove. Both of those are delicious, but of course, I wanted to make pizza pasta in my Instant Pot!

    This is such an easy recipe, and it's budget friendly. You can also change it up to suit your own tastes.

    If you like Italian inspired pasta recipes, you might also like Instant Pot Pasta and Meatballs, Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta, Instant Pot Creamy Shells and Beef and Instant Pot Creamy Sausage and Shells .

    Ingredients

    • Olive oil
    • Italian sausage or ground pork or ground sausage
    • Penne pasta
    • Water or beef broth
    • Marinara sauce , spaghetti sauce or pizza sauce
    • Italian seasoning
    • Sliced pepperoni
    • Shredded mozzarella cheese
    • Shredded Parmesan cheese

    How to make pizza pasta in the Instant Pot

    Start off by browning the Italian sausage on the saute setting. Make sure to check the bottom of the pot to make sure no browned bits are stuck.

    If so, you'll want to take a little bit of the water and deglaze the pot.

    cook italian sausage in instant pot for pizza pasta

    Next, turn of the sauté function, and add your pasta over the sausage. I used mezze penne here, but you can use regular pasta or just about any thick pasta for this recipe.

    Rotini pasta and bow ties work, too!

    cook penne pasta in the instant pot

    Pour the water over and around the pasta, and then add your marinara sauce or pizza sauce on top. You can spread the sauce over the pasta, but don't stir it.

    Next, add the Italian seasoning, and pressure cook it!

    Cook Time

    Cook pasta for 4 minutes on high pressure with quick release or gradual quick release. Gradual quick release helps prevent pasta water from spraying out while releasing.

    Basically, you want to cook pasta in the Instant Pot for about half of the lowest time recommended on the box. I usually cook pasta for 4 to 5 minutes, tops.

    The total cooking time may vary with different pressure cookers and will include time to come to pressure. Still, it's a 30 minute meal!

    layer ingredients for pizza pasta in instant pot

    Stir in about half of the pepperoni and most of the mozzarella. Then, top with remaining mozzarella cheese and pepperoni slices -- just like a pizza! 

    Place the cover back on the Instant Pot for about 5 minutes to help the cheese melt.

    If you have the Instant Pot Duo Crisp or any pressure cooker or multi cooker with a crisp lid, you can broil the cheese until melted!

    instant pot pizza pasta with mozzarella cheese and pepperoni in pot

    You can add some shredded Parmesan cheese if you want. Then, you're ready to dig right in.

    This is one Instant Pot pasta recipe that's perfect for cheese lovers and kids of all ages!

    instant pot pizza pasta with pepperoni slices and stretchy cheese on spoon

    Variations

    The best thing about this easy pasta dish is how customizable it is--feel free to recreate whatever flavors of pizza your family loves!

    Use ground beef instead of sausage. Or, go meatless by skipping the sausage and pepperoni.

    Add your favorite pizza topping veggies: green peppers, black olives, fresh basil, cloves of garlic, and even sliced fresh tomatoes are a great way to incorporate vegetables into pizza night!

    Throw whatever pizza ingredients you want on top of the pasta: mini pepperoni, red pepper flakes, pepperoncini, and of course, all the extra cheese you please!

    How to Store and Reheat

    Store any leftover pizza pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where it'll keep for 3 to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze leftovers in a freezer safe container.

    Reheat individual portions of pasta in the microwave.

    instant pot pizza pasta with pepperoni slices on a plate

    Instant Pot Pizza Pasta

    Published by Dee
    Instant Pot Pizza Pasta is an easy recipe made with penne pasta, sausage, pepperoni and your favorite pizza toppings. Ready in 30 minutes! Your whole family will love this kid friendly dinner!
    5 from 9 votes
    Print Recipe Share by Email
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    pressure time 10 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course Main
    Cuisine American
    Servings 10
    Calories 491 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 pound Italian sausage ground
    • 1 pound penne pasta
    • 3 cups water
    • 24 ounces marinara sauce or pizza sauce
    • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
    • 1 cup pepperoni thinly sliced divided
    • 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
    • .5 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

    Instructions
     

    • Hit SAUTE button on Instant Pot, and when it reads Hot, add olive oil and sausage
    • Cook sausage until brown, breaking it up and stirring frequently
    • Deglaze bottom of pot, if necessary, using a little bit of of the water, so that no sausage is stuck to bottom of pot
    • Hit CANCEL, then pour penne pasta over cooked sausage, and pour water over and around pasta
    • Pour marinara sauce on top of pasta, add Italian Seasoning, and spread out so that most of pasta is covered, but do not stir
    • Place lid on pot, turn valve to Sealing position, and hit PRESSURE COOK for 4 minutes
    • Pot will take a few minutes to reach pressure, then begin counting down and cook. When pot beeps, do a quick release by turning valve to Venting
    • When pin drops, carefully remove lid, and stir pasta. Keep pot on KEEP WARM mode, and stir in half of the pepperoni and 2 cups of mozzarella cheese until well blended
    • Top pasta with remaining cup of mozzarella and remaining pepperoni slices. Place lid on pot for about 5 minutes to allow cheese to melt
    • Top with shredded Parmesan cheese, and serve

    Video

    Notes

    Recipe was made in 6 quart Instant Pot, but can be made in 8 quart without any changes.
    If you have a Duo Crisp or multi cooker, you can broil the dish at the end for a more pizza like flavor.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 491kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 25gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 77mgSodium: 1180mgPotassium: 509mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 570IUVitamin C: 5.7mgCalcium: 263mgIron: 2.3mg
    Keyword instant pot pasta, instant pot pizza pasta, instant pot recipes
    Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate it! Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!

    Recipe first published in 2019 and updated in 2022.

    instant pot pizza pasta with penne, sausage, pepperoni and cheese on a spoon

    I hope you enjoy this easy cheesy Instant Pot pizza pasta recipe as much as we do! Between the cheesy combination of sausage and noodles, and the classic pizza flavor, this is one of my family's favorite Instant Pot recipes for sure!

    For more easy dinners, easy pasta recipes, quick new recipes, and original recipe ideas the entire family will love, subscribe to the newsletter and follow me on social media!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Keisha says

      April 14, 2021 at 4:25 pm

      Does the meat get drained after browning?

      Reply
      • Dee says

        April 14, 2021 at 9:02 pm

        If there is a lot of grease, you can drain it.

    2. Rebecca says

      November 04, 2020 at 2:33 pm

      If I just use a half a box of pasta, 8oz, how much water should I use? Thank you!

      Reply
      • Dee says

        November 04, 2020 at 9:57 pm

        Use 2 cups for 8 ounces of pasta.

    3. Sara says

      May 01, 2020 at 6:21 pm

      Is it high pressure or low? I’m making it now and assuming high....

      Reply
      • Dee says

        May 01, 2020 at 7:59 pm

        High pressure. Hope you liked it! 🙂

    4. Emily Underwood says

      September 17, 2019 at 5:10 pm

      I made this and it it turned out really watery. I think I followed the recipe exactly. Any tips? Thank you!!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        September 17, 2019 at 9:28 pm

        Sounds like the liquid to pasta ratio was off. Did you use the entire 1 pound box of pasta? Did you use a 24-ounce jar of marina with only 3 cups of water? I've never had a problem with it being watery, and we make this a lot. It should look exactly like it does in the video.

    5. Samantha says

      August 15, 2019 at 5:57 pm

      I added black olives and mushrooms. Delicious!

      Reply
      • Dee says

        August 15, 2019 at 7:19 pm

        Those sound like delicious additions!

    6. Jeff says

      July 28, 2019 at 3:35 pm

      This is so easy and delicious!
      Thank you!

      Reply
      • Jeff says

        July 28, 2019 at 3:36 pm

        I forgot to select 5 stars. I don’t see how to edit it.
        If need be, can you delete it and I can do it again?

      • Dee says

        July 29, 2019 at 2:03 pm

        That's fine, Jeff. No worries -- just happy you liked it! 🙂

      • Dee says

        July 29, 2019 at 2:01 pm

        Thank you so much, Jeff! So glad you enjoyed it!

    7. Lori Matthews says

      July 12, 2019 at 7:20 pm

      The recipe is missing a step where you add in the Italian seasoning. I watched the video and saw that it needs to be added on top of the marinara sauce. 🙂

      Reply
      • Dee says

        October 17, 2019 at 12:10 pm

        Thanks, Lori. I've updated the recipe! 🙂

    8. James says

      March 06, 2019 at 6:43 am

      Made this for dinner and everyone loved it. Kids want it again already!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        March 06, 2019 at 8:25 am

        Sounds like my kids! Thanks so much!

    9. Paula says

      March 05, 2019 at 4:31 pm

      BRB going to grab my IP so I can start to make THIS.

      Reply
    10. Erin Dee says

      March 05, 2019 at 2:47 pm

      So quick and easy in the instant pot! This is a perfect dinner for a busy weeknight!5 stars

      Reply
    11. Jacquelyn Hastert says

      March 05, 2019 at 1:47 pm

      You have combined two of my favorites into one amazing dinner. Adding this to my dinner list for next week.5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        March 05, 2019 at 10:37 pm

        Awesome, Jacque! I hope you like it!

    12. Shannon Graham says

      March 05, 2019 at 1:25 pm

      What a delicious recipe idea! My kids would love this for dinner....it has the word pizza in it, ha!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        March 05, 2019 at 10:35 pm

        My kids think the same way, Shannon!

    13. Anna says

      March 05, 2019 at 9:15 am

      Love this idea for IP pasta! My family will love it!5 stars

      Reply
    14. Jade Manning says

      March 05, 2019 at 4:00 am

      Love finding new recipe ideas!5 stars

      Reply
    15. Catalina says

      March 05, 2019 at 12:45 am

      My kid will definitely love this pizza pasta . Pasta is always a favorite in our house!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        March 05, 2019 at 9:02 am

        It's the same at my house! 🙂

    16. Steph says

      March 04, 2019 at 4:24 pm

      My kids are going to die when I make this recipe! It's a combo of their two favorite dinners!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        March 05, 2019 at 9:01 am

        My kids are the same way! 🙂

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    I’m the blogger, chief cook, recipe developer and photographer behind Meatloaf and Melodrama. I absolutely love to create easy, budget-friendly, homemade meals and treats for my family. I also love to think of new ways to repurpose leftovers so that my family will actually eat them!

    More about me →

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