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

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Baked Ziti

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

  • 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
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Baked Ziti

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

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

  • tomato
  • tomato sauce
  • ground beef
  • butter
  • bell pepper
  • olive oil
  • onion
  • oregano
  • garlic powder
  • black pepper
  • mozzarella cheese
  • salt
  • ziti pasta
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Baked Ziti With Ground Beef and Italian Sausage

  • 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
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Classic Baked Ziti

  • chicken broth
  • parmesan cheese
  • onion
  • ground beef
  • oregano
  • ziti pasta
  • meatless sauce
  • mozzarella cheese
  • garlic
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BA's Best Baked Ziti

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

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

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

  • 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
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Baked Ziti with Ricotta

  • 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
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Baked Ziti

  • parmesan cheese
  • ziti pasta
  • ricotta cheese
  • mozzarella cheese
  • pasta sauce
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Easy Baked Ziti

  • 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
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The Best Baked Ziti (Postpartum Ziti)

  • 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
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One Pan Baked Ziti

  • mozzarella cheese
  • basil
  • olive oil
  • parmesan cheese
  • half
  • italian sausage
  • oregano
  • ziti pasta
  • red pepper flake
  • tomato
  • water
  • garlic
  • tomato sauce
  • black pepper
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Baked Ziti with Spinach and Veal

  • 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
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Best Baked Ziti Ever

  • 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
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Baked Ziti

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

  • mozzarella cheese
  • water
  • parmesan cheese
  • basil
  • ricotta cheese
  • sour cream
  • tomato sauce
  • ziti pasta
  • garlic
  • marinara pasta sauce
  • cream cheese
  • basil
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White Baked Ziti With All the Herbs

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

  • 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
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Baked Ziti

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

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

  • 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
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Chorizo and Pumpkin Baked Ziti

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

  • 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
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Speedy Baked Ziti

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

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

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

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

  • salt
  • wedge ricotta cheese
  • locatelli romano cheese
  • ricotta cheese
  • ziti
  • pepper
  • ball mozzarella
  • onion
  • bell pepper
  • tomato
  • olive
  • garlic
  • egg
  • basil
  • parsley
  • tomato
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Slow-Cooker Baked Ziti

  • parmesan cheese
  • basil
  • ricotta cheese
  • pasta sauce
  • egg
  • red pepper flake
  • basil
  • water
  • mozzarella cheese
  • ziti
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Gluten Free Baked Ziti

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

  • 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
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Pizza Baked Ziti

  • pizza
  • italian sausage
  • olive oil
  • parmesan cheese
  • pasta
  • pasta sauce
  • mozzarella cheese
  • veggy
  • basil
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Baked Ziti with Mushrooms and Meatballs

  • 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
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Chicken Alfredo Baked Ziti

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

Ingredient Breakdown

 
mozzarella cheese
parmesan cheese
salt
garlic
olive oil
onion
basil
ricotta cheese
ziti
pasta sauce
tomato
parsley
egg
black pepper
ziti pasta
red pepper flake
italian sausage
ground beef
tomato sauce
heavy cream
oregano
italian seasoning
butter
water
milk
tomato paste
all purpose flour
pepper
bell pepper
penne pasta
nutmeg
cottage cheese
thyme
red pepper
pecorino romano cheese
garlic powder
bread crumb
cream cheese
mushroom
chicken
sweet
spinach
ziti noodle
sugar
carrot
sage
fontina cheese
bay leaf
chicken stock
cauliflower
tub ricotta
san marzano tomato
crème fraîche
romano
leaf basil
leaf oregano
nonstick spray
chicken broth
meatless sauce
pancetta
oz tomato
rigatoni noodle
ground turkey
blocks mozzarella cheese
paprika
cayenne pepper ortsp chilli flake
fennel seed
onion powder
tomato passata
sweet turkey sausage
rosemary
spaghetti squash
lemon zest
smoked mozzarella cheese
cornstarch
half
white wine
veal
italian fontina
bundles farm spinach
shallot
rounded flour
canola oil
red tomato
sour cream
marinara pasta sauce
sunday sauce
mozzarella log
beef
pork spare rib
garlic glove
chive
dill
green onion
gruyère cheese
panko breadcrumb
dijon mustard
truffle oil
chili flake
chorizo
pumpkin
cinnamon
vegetable oil
romano cheese
sirloin
smoked paprika
sausage
prego sauce
noodle
pepperoni
bacon
red sauce
fennel
sopressata
plum tomato
garlic bread
johnsonville italian sweet sausage link
wedge ricotta cheese
locatelli romano cheese
ball mozzarella
olive
meatball
zucchini
prego® meat pasta sauce
kale
brown lentil
newman own organics marinara
pizza
pasta
veggy
worcestershire sauce
batch alfredo sauce

Insights

Correlated with Lower Ratings

  • parsley
  • water

Staple Ingredients

  • mozzarella cheese 75%
  • parmesan cheese 73%
  • salt 65%
  • garlic 58%

Common Ingredients

  • olive oil 48%
  • onion 48%
  • ricotta cheese 44%
  • ziti 44%
  • basil 37%

Usual Ingredients

  • black pepper 29%
  • pasta sauce 29%
  • egg 27%
  • parsley 27%
  • ziti pasta 27%
  • italian sausage 25%
  • tomato 25%
  • tomato sauce 23%
  • heavy cream 21%
  • red pepper flake 21%
  • ground beef 19%
  • oregano 19%
  • butter 17%
  • italian seasoning 17%
  • water 15% See More

Rarey Ingredients

  • milk 13%
  • all purpose flour 10%
  • tomato paste 10%