Baked ziti

Baked Ziti recipes have been around for centuries. The dish is thought to have originated in Italy, where it is still a popular dish. There are many variations of the dish, but the basic ingredients are always the same: pasta, sauce, and cheese.

Baked ziti recipes usually call for a tomato-based sauce, but there are many variations. Some recipes include meat, while others are vegetarian. The dish can also be made with different types of cheese, such as mozzarella, Parmesan, or ricotta.

Baked ziti is typically served as a main course, but it can also be a side dish. It is often served with a salad or bread.

Advice

Baked ziti is a comforting and delicious Italian-American dish. To make the perfect baked ziti, it's important to prepare the pasta and sauce properly. Start by boiling the ziti according to package instructions and then drain it and set aside. For the sauce, sauté onion, garlic, and any other desired vegetables in olive oil until cooked. Then add your desired tomato sauce and season with salt, pepper, and Italian-style herbs. Once the sauce is prepared, combine the cooked ziti with the sauce and layer it in a baking dish. To finish, top with a layer of cheese and bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly. This is a simple yet delicious way to enjoy this classic Italian-American dish.

Questions

Is baked ziti just lasagna?

No, baked ziti and lasagna are two different dishes. Lasagna typically consists of layers of flat pasta, cheese, and a meat or tomato sauce. Baked ziti is made with a tube-shaped pasta, such as ziti or penne, ricotta cheese, and a tomato sauce.

Do you cover ziti when baking?

It depends on the recipe. Some recipes call for the ziti to be covered while baking, while others do not. Be sure to follow the specific instructions for the recipe you are using.

How long does it take to cook baked ziti?

Baked ziti usually takes around 45 minutes to cook.

How do you make baked ziti not dry?

The key to making baked ziti not dry is to make sure that it is cooked with enough sauce. Make sure to use enough sauce when layering the ziti with the other ingredients, and when baking the dish, add a layer of sauce on top to keep the pasta moist.

What meat goes with baked ziti?

Many types of meat pair well with baked ziti, including Italian sausage, ground beef, chicken, or pork.

What to serve with baked ziti?

Some traditional Italian sides to serve with baked ziti include a green salad, garlic bread, roasted vegetables, and a side of spaghetti.

Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights

Recipes

 

Baked Ziti

4/5 - 5109 votes

• salt
• mozzarella cheese
• ziti
• tomato
• tomato
• onion
• parmesan cheese
• heavy cream
• olive oil
• ricotta cheese
• tomato paste
• red pepper flake
• garlic

 

Baked Ziti

4.8/5 - 517 votes

• salt
• ground beef
• italian sausage
• ziti
• onion
• mozzarella cheese
• parmesan cheese
• red pepper flake
• tomato sauce
• tub ricotta
• parsley
• olive oil
• italian seasoning
• egg
• tomato
• garlic

 

Baked Ziti

4.6/5 - 233 votes

• salt
• salt
• olive oil
• basil
• thyme
• mozzarella cheese
• sweet
• ziti
• black pepper
• onion
• red pepper
• olive oil
• tomato
• garlic
• tomato sauce
• parmesan cheese

 

Baked Ziti With Sausage Meatballs and Spinach

4/5 - 1386 votes

• salt
• pecorino romano cheese
• italian sausage
• ziti
• oregano
• red pepper flake
• ricotta cheese
• onion
• olive oil
• san marzano tomato
• garlic
• mozzarella cheese
• spinach
• crème fraîche

 

Easy Baked Ziti With Three Cheeses

4/5 - 360 votes

• ricotta cheese
• egg
• garlic powder
• parmesan cheese
• mozzarella cheese
• salt
• pasta sauce

 

Baked Ziti with Meatballs

4.2/5 - 171 votes

• salt
• all purpose flour
• ground beef
• ziti
• parmesan cheese
• parsley
• olive oil
• bread crumb
• mozzarella cheese
• milk
• egg
• ricotta cheese
• romano
• tomato sauce
• butter

 

Cheesy Baked Ziti With Beef

4.5/5 - 187 votes

• tomato
• tomato sauce
• ground beef
• butter
• bell pepper
• olive oil
• onion
• oregano
• garlic powder
• black pepper
• mozzarella cheese
• salt
• ziti pasta

 

Baked Ziti With Ground Beef and Italian Sausage

4.5/5 - 172 votes

• tomato
• mozzarella cheese
• ricotta cheese
• egg
• onion
• ground beef
• leaf basil
• sweet
• leaf oregano
• parmesan cheese
• red pepper
• parsley
• garlic
• mozzarella cheese
• olive oil
• tomato paste
• ziti pasta
• black pepper
• salt
• nonstick spray

 

Classic Baked Ziti

5/5 - 341 votes

• chicken broth
• parmesan cheese
• onion
• ground beef
• oregano
• ziti pasta
• meatless sauce
• mozzarella cheese
• garlic

 

BA's Best Baked Ziti

3.3/5 - 446 votes

• salt
• pancetta
• mozzarella cheese
• ziti
• oz tomato
• onion
• red pepper flake
• basil
• olive oil
• all purpose flour
• tomato paste
• butter
• parmesan cheese
• milk
• garlic

 

Easy Baked Ziti

4.95/5 - 213 votes

• italian sausage
• egg
• onion
• water
• tomato
• parmesan cheese
• ricotta cheese
• ziti
• mozzarella cheese
• parsley
• italian seasoning
• pasta sauce

 

Baked Ziti

4.5/5 - 81 votes

• onion
• butter
• rigatoni noodle
• oregano
• parsley
• pepper
• salt
• ground turkey
• pasta sauce
• blocks mozzarella cheese

 

Baked Ziti

4.96/5 - 121 votes

• mozzarella cheese
• parmesan cheese
• ricotta cheese
• olive oil
• paprika
• basil
• salt
• onion
• water
• cayenne pepper ortsp chilli flake
• fennel seed
• onion powder
• garlic
• penne pasta
• ground beef
• tomato passata
• parsley

 

Baked Ziti with Ricotta

5/5 - 31 votes

• mozzarella cheese
• onion
• parmesan cheese
• garlic
• black pepper
• italian seasoning
• salt
• ziti pasta
• nutmeg
• mozzarella cheese
• ground beef
• olive oil
• pasta sauce
• egg
• ricotta cheese

 

Baked Ziti

5/5 - 162 votes

• parmesan cheese
• ziti pasta
• ricotta cheese
• mozzarella cheese
• pasta sauce

 

Baked Ziti with Sweet Turkey Sausage

4.2/5 - 71 votes

• sweet turkey sausage
• ziti noodle
• garlic powder
• ricotta cheese
• parmesan cheese
• rosemary
• thyme
• tomato
• mozzarella cheese

 

Deliciously Cheesy Baked Ziti

5/5 - 158 votes

• italian sausage
• ziti pasta
• ricotta cheese
• pasta sauce
• egg
• parmesan cheese
• mozzarella cheese
• parsley

 

Spaghetti Squash That Fancies Itself Baked Ziti

4.7/5 - 69 votes

• sugar
• black pepper
• tomato
• basil
• spaghetti squash
• parmesan cheese
• olive oil
• red pepper flake
• salt
• garlic
• mozzarella cheese

 

Easy Baked Ziti

4.93/5 - 80 votes

• spinach
• ziti pasta
• lemon zest
• oregano
• smoked mozzarella cheese
• pecorino romano cheese
• red pepper flake
• ricotta cheese
• garlic
• salt
• pasta sauce
• parsley
• olive oil
• black pepper

 

The Best Baked Ziti (Postpartum Ziti)

4.83/5 - 52 votes

• heavy cream
• mozzarella cheese
• cottage cheese
• italian sausage
• ziti
• cornstarch
• basil
• salt
• sugar
• tomato
• tomato sauce
• basil
• parmesan cheese
• black pepper
• oregano
• egg
• garlic
• basil
• olive oil

 

One Pan Baked Ziti

4.81/5 - 89 votes

• mozzarella cheese
• basil
• olive oil
• parmesan cheese
• half
• italian sausage
• oregano
• ziti pasta
• red pepper flake
• tomato
• water
• garlic
• tomato sauce
• black pepper

 

Baked Ziti with Spinach and Veal

4.7/5 - 29 votes

• nutmeg
• black pepper
• white wine
• veal
• ziti
• carrot
• italian fontina
• olive oil
• sage
• bundles farm spinach
• shallot
• milk
• rounded flour
• garlic
• parmesan cheese
• butter
• salt

 

Best Baked Ziti Ever

4.92/5 - 35 votes

• parmesan cheese
• ground beef
• ziti pasta
• basil
• oregano
• onion
• salt
• black pepper
• tomato sauce
• olive oil
• tomato
• garlic
• tomato paste
• cream cheese
• ricotta cheese
• mushroom

 

Baked Ziti

4.6/5 - 27 votes

• mozzarella cheese
• parmesan cheese
• ziti pasta
• canola oil
• italian seasoning
• onion
• red tomato
• basil
• parsley
• garlic
• salt

 

Baked Ziti With Two Mozzarellas and Parmesan Cream Sauce Recipe

5/5 - 11 votes

• salt
• basil
• ziti pasta
• mozzarella cheese
• mozzarella cheese
• heavy cream
• parmesan cheese
• tomato sauce

 

Crock Pot Baked Ziti

4.75/5 - 44 votes

• mozzarella cheese
• water
• parmesan cheese
• basil
• ricotta cheese
• sour cream
• tomato sauce
• ziti pasta
• garlic
• marinara pasta sauce
• cream cheese
• basil

 

Cheesy Baked Ziti With Big-Batch Sauce

4.5/5 - 8 votes

• Sunday Sauce
• pepper
• salt
• italian seasoning
• beef
• pork spare rib
• onion
• garlic glove
• olive oil
• Baked Ziti
• sunday sauce
• mozzarella log
• ziti
• ricotta cheese

 

White Baked Ziti With All the Herbs

3.3/5 - 8 votes

• parmesan cheese
• heavy cream
• ziti
• oregano
• butter
• red pepper flake
• black pepper
• mozzarella cheese
• ricotta cheese
• chive
• dill
• salt
• garlic
• green onion
• basil

 

Truffled Mushroom White Baked Ziti

5/5 - 18 votes

• parmesan cheese
• heavy cream
• ziti
• mushroom
• egg
• fontina cheese
• gruyère cheese
• panko breadcrumb
• dijon mustard
• all purpose flour
• ricotta cheese
• milk
• garlic
• butter
• parsley
• nutmeg
• salt
• truffle oil

 

Baked Ziti

5/5 - 5 votes

• onion
• italian sausage
• ziti pasta
• italian seasoning
• salt
• heavy cream
• tomato sauce
• parmesan cheese
• chili flake
• mozzarella cheese
• basil
• pasta sauce
• garlic
• mozzarella cheese

 

Baked Ziti With Meat

5/5 - 4 votes

• parmesan cheese
• ground beef
• salt
• ricotta cheese
• egg
• onion
• heavy cream
• water
• italian sausage
• pepper
• ziti
• nutmeg
• mozzarella cheese
• italian seasoning
• garlic
• pasta sauce

 

Baked Ziti With Sausage

5/5 - 4 votes

• heavy cream
• parmesan cheese
• garlic
• salt
• tomato sauce
• tomato
• tomato paste
• onion
• italian sausage
• water
• black pepper
• carrot
• ziti
• parsley
• bay leaf
• mozzarella cheese
• italian seasoning
• olive oil

 

Chorizo and Pumpkin Baked Ziti

5/5 - 14 votes

• chicken stock
• ziti
• chorizo
• salt
• pumpkin
• ricotta cheese
• egg
• onion
• parmesan cheese
• heavy cream
• sage
• fontina cheese
• garlic
• cinnamon

 

Easy Skillet Baked Ziti With Sausage and Ricotta Recipe

4.7/5 - 3 votes

• salt
• heavy cream
• chicken stock
• ziti
• mozzarella cheese
• italian sausage
• oregano
• red pepper flake
• tomato
• onion
• ricotta cheese
• parsley
• olive oil
• butter
• parmesan cheese
• garlic

 

Baked Ziti

5/5 - 2 votes

• ziti
• ground beef
• basil
• parmesan cheese
• black pepper
• parsley
• bread crumb
• vegetable oil
• mozzarella cheese
• milk
• egg
• ricotta cheese
• romano cheese
• salt
• pasta sauce
• butter
• all purpose flour

 

Speedy Baked Ziti

4/5 - 2 votes

• sirloin
• ziti
• olive oil
• onion
• ricotta cheese
• mozzarella cheese
• smoked paprika
• parmesan cheese
• red pepper
• pasta sauce
• garlic
• salt

 

Cheesy Baked Ziti

5/5 - 1 votes

• sausage
• garlic
• onion
• bell pepper
• prego sauce
• noodle
• mozzarella cheese
• pepperoni

 

Easy Baked Ziti

5/5 - 1 votes

• parmesan cheese
• italian sausage
• ziti pasta
• onion
• italian seasoning
• mozzarella cheese
• garlic
• thyme
• tomato sauce
• bay leaf
• bacon
• olive oil
• salt

 

The Food Lab's No-Boil Baked Ziti Recipe

4/5 - 1 votes

• salt
• heavy cream
• mozzarella cheese
• ziti
• milk
• egg
• parmesan cheese
• basil
• parsley
• red sauce

 

Baked Ziti with Italian Sausage

No Rating - 0 votes

• basil
• garlic
• pasta sauce
• garlic bread
• johnsonville italian sweet sausage link
• parmesan cheese
• olive oil
• pepper
• tomato
• mozzarella cheese
• water
• penne pasta
• basil

 

Baked Ziti

No Rating - 0 votes

• salt
• wedge ricotta cheese
• locatelli romano cheese
• ricotta cheese
• ziti
• pepper
• ball mozzarella
• onion
• bell pepper
• tomato
• olive
• garlic
• egg
• basil
• parsley
• tomato

 

Cheesy Fennel and Sopressata Baked Ziti with Pecorino

No Rating - 0 votes

• salt
• ricotta cheese
• pecorino romano cheese
• ziti
• fennel
• sopressata
• plum tomato
• red pepper flake
• mozzarella cheese
• olive oil
• garlic
• basil

  Moms Dish

The BEST Baked Ziti Recipe

No Rating - 0 votes

• meatball
• zucchini
• cauliflower
• ziti noodle
• cottage cheese
• mozzarella cheese
• olive oil
• prego® meat pasta sauce

 

Chicken Alfredo Baked Ziti

No Rating - 0 votes

• chicken
• milk
• olive oil
• batch alfredo sauce
• mozzarella cheese
• salt
• ziti
• black pepper
• chicken
• all purpose flour
• parmesan cheese
• garlic
• parmesan cheese

 

Lentil Baked Ziti

No Rating - 0 votes

• cottage cheese
• olive oil
• onion
• brown lentil
• penne pasta
• salt
• red pepper flake
• garlic
• newman own organics marinara
• water
• mozzarella cheese
• black pepper
• basil
• salt

 

Gluten Free Baked Ziti

No Rating - 0 votes

• ground beef
• parmesan cheese
• onion
• ziti
• ricotta cheese
• pasta sauce
• mozzarella cheese
• parsley
• salt

 

Slow-Cooker Baked Ziti

No Rating - 0 votes

• parmesan cheese
• basil
• ricotta cheese
• pasta sauce
• egg
• red pepper flake
• basil
• water
• mozzarella cheese
• ziti

 

Baked Ziti with Roasted Vegetables

No Rating - 0 votes

• cauliflower
• onion
• bell pepper
• basil
• salt
• cottage cheese
• olive oil
• pasta sauce
• mozzarella cheese
• penne pasta

 

5-Ingredient Italian Sausage and Kale Baked Ziti

No Rating - 0 votes

• italian sausage
• ziti
• mozzarella cheese
• kale
• garlic
• parmesan cheese

 

Pizza Baked Ziti

No Rating - 0 votes

• pizza
• italian sausage
• olive oil
• parmesan cheese
• pasta
• pasta sauce
• mozzarella cheese
• veggy
• basil

 

Chicken Parmesan Baked Ziti

No Rating - 0 votes

• chicken
• pasta sauce
• basil
• ziti
• mozzarella cheese
• parmesan cheese
• parmesan cheese

 

Baked Ziti with Mushrooms and Meatballs

No Rating - 0 votes

• parmesan cheese
• ground beef
• mushroom
• ziti pasta
• red pepper flake
• salt
• onion
• bread crumb
• milk
• olive oil
• worcestershire sauce
• basil
• oregano
• pasta sauce
• cream cheese
• ricotta cheese

Ingredient Breakdown