Pressure Cooker Ziti with Italian Chicken Sausage

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Forget baked ziti--when you need a quick and delicious dinner, turn to this pressure cooker ziti! It has a deliciously meaty sauce, and pressure cooks for just 8 minutes.

Ziti with Italian Chicken Sausage and Sweet Peppers
Photo: Andy Lyons
Prep Time:
20 mins
Cook Time:
8 mins
Total Time:
28 mins
Servings:
6
Yield:
8 cups

Ingredients

  • 12 ounce fully cooked Italian-style chicken sausage, halved lengthwise and sliced

  • 2 red and/or yellow sweet peppers, coarsely chopped

  • 1 28 ounce can diced tomatoes (undrained)

  • 1 8 ounce can tomato sauce

  • ½ cup chicken broth

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning, crushed

  • 8 ounce dried ziti or bow-tie pasta

  • ½ cup chopped fresh basil

  • 1 cup shredded provolone or mozzarella cheese (4 oz.)

Directions

  1. In a 6-qt. electric or stove-top pressure cooker combine the first 7 ingredients (through Italian seasoning). For an electric cooker, bring to boiling using saute setting. For a stove-top cooker, cook directly in the pot. Simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes. Stir in pasta. Lock lid in place. Set electric cooker on high pressure for 8 minutes. For stove-top cooker, bring up to pressure over medium-high heat; reduce heat enough to maintain steady (but not excessive) pressure. Cook 8 minutes. Remove from heat. For both models, let stand 15 minutes to release pressure naturally. Release any remaining pressure. Carefully open lid.

  2. Gently stir in basil. Top with cheese. Cover and let stand 5 minutes or until cheese melts.

Slow Cooker Instructions

1. In a 5- to 6-qt. slow cooker combine chicken sausage, sweet peppers, tomatoes, tomato sauce, chicken broth, garlic, and Italian seasoning. Cover and cook on low 6 to 7 hours or high 3 to 3 1/2 hours. If using low, turn to high.

2. Stir in pasta. Cover and cook 25 to 30 minutes more or just until pasta is tender, stirring after 10 minutes. Gently stir in basil. Top with cheese.

3. Cover and let stand 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

350 Calories
11g Fat
42g Carbs
22g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 350
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 11g 14%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 57mg 19%
Sodium 1080mg 47%
Total Carbohydrate 42g 15%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 22g
Vitamin C 87mg 435%
Calcium 213mg 16%
Iron 2.5mg 14%
Potassium 635mg 14%
Folate, total 120.2mcg
Vitamin B-12 0.3mcg
Vitamin B-6 0.3mg

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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