This Baked Ziti is an easy, saucy, cheesy pasta casserole with all of the great flavors of Lasagna, but so much easier to prepare. Watch the video tutorial below and see how simple it is to make this pasta bake that captures the essence of Italian-American flavors in every bite.
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We love classic Italian recipes, and I’ve got some simple to make, but oh, so tasty ones to share! From Chicken Parmesan to Meatballs, and Manicotti too, if you are a fan of saucy, cheesy pasta, this Baked Ziti is a must-try!
Easy Baked Ziti Recipe
Baked ziti is an Italian-American casserole of tubular-shaped ziti noodles with Marinara Sauce, ricotta, and loads of gooey, melty cheese. Think of this Baked Ziti as a lazy lasagna- it has all of the familiar flavors of Lasagna, without the fuss of layering the noodles.
The combination of mozzarella and parmesan, a match made in pasta heaven, is our secret to making the BEST Baked Ziti! I love that this pasta casserole is make-ahead friendly, so customizable, and freezer-friendly too. No need to be precise or fancy with this dish. You can’t go wrong with pasta and cheese.
Baked Ziti Video
Watch Natasha make this easy Baked Ziti Pasta casserole. Get ready to dive into the comfort of saucy pasta and melted cheeses. You are going to love this one.
Why this Recipe Works
- Easy – This recipe is nothing fancy – the ingredients are mixed together, and it’s not supposed to look perfect, but it sure tastes perfect.
- Make-Ahead Friendly – This recipe can be prepared up to two days before baking. Not only does it freeze and reheat beautifully, but it also makes a wonderful meal for a potluck or a meal train dinner for a friend in need.
- Picky-eater Approved – Baked Ziti recipes are customizable to your taste or dietary needs. See our suggestions below on how to make this dish your own.
Ingredients
The ingredients here are simple, so use the best quality you can source. If you have 10 minutes, try Homemade Marinara Sauce which is our secret to making the BEST Baked Ziti!
- Ziti Pasta – cooked al dente – keep in mind it finishes cooking in the oven.
- Ground Beef – I like to use 85% lean
- Onion and Garlic – aromatics that add tons of flavor and aroma
- Marinara Sauce – Homemade or store-bought
- Ricotta – One 15-ounce container of fresh ricotta cheese
- Basil Leaves – Ten fresh leaves, cut into thin strips
- Mozzarella Cheese – We use low moisture, part-skim
- Parmesan Cheese – One cup, freshly grated or shredded and divided
Variations
- Meat – Try chicken or ground turkey instead of beef; add Italian sausage or meatballs; or omit the meat altogether to make a vegetarian casserole.
- Vegetables – Adding veggies is a great way to bulk up this recipe and turn this pasta casserole into a meal in itself. Dice and sauteé zucchini, summer squash, mushrooms, and/or carrots and add them to your sauce mixture. Sprinkle chopped spinach or layer sliced and sauteed bell peppers between the layers of pasta. You can use one or all of these to make the best Vegetarian Baked Ziti.
- Pasta – You can use any tubular pasta, ridges or no ridges, it’s up to you. Ziti is an obvious choice, but you can also use penne, rigatoni, cavatappi, or rotini. For a gluten-free pasta casserole, try a GF pasta.
- Cheese – In addition to the ricotta and mozzarella cheeses, you can top your baked pasta dish with fresh grated parmesan, or sliced fresh mozzarella.
How to Make Baked Ziti
This is the easiest pasta casserole and the results are so perfecto. It’s no wonder Baked Ziti is such a popular dish.
- Boil – Set your oven to 350°F. While the oven preheats, boil a large pot of salted water and cook one pound of ziti pasta until al dente, then drain.
- Sauteé – In a large sauté pan or Dutch Oven, sauté ground beef and onion until cooked through. Add minced garlic, salt, and pepper and continue cooking until the garlic is fragrant.
- Combine – Pour Marinara Sauce into the meat and simmer for 5 minutes. Spread 1/2 cup of sauce into a 9×13 inch casserole dish to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom.
- Stir – Spoon the ricotta cheese and basil into the pot of sauce and gently stir until lightly combined. Stir in the cooked pasta, mixing just until the pasta is coated.
- Assemble – Add half the pasta mixture to the casserole dish, top with half of the mozzarella and parmesan cheese, and then repeat with another layer of pasta and finally, more cheese.
- Bake – Bake uncovered at 350°F for 25 minutes and then broil for an additional 2 minutes to brown the top. Garnish with fresh basil and another sprinkle of parmesan cheese for good measure. We love to use this Cheese Grater.
Pro Tip:
Don’t overcook your pasta. You want to cook the pasta al dente (slightly firm) as it will continue to cook in the oven while baking.
Can I use spaghetti instead of ziti?
Baked Ziti is really best with a tube-shaped pasta, to really hold onto that meat sauce. If you are looking for a spaghetti casserole, try our Chicken Tetrazzini recipe, it’s fantastic!
How can I make a healthy baked ziti?
Choose leaner meat (such as ground turkey), add low-fat cheeses (and reduce how much you use), and add extra vegetables to boost nutritional content are all easy ways to make this recipe healthier.
Can I double the recipe?
This is a great dish to feed crowds for a potluck or party. If you need to double the recipe, please use a second casserole dish or a large disposable aluminum pan.
How to Serve Pasta Casseroles
Be sure to let your Baked Ziti sit for 5 minutes after it comes out of the oven. After that, use a spatula to cut it into squares, or simply scoop it out of the dish with a spoon. Serve this classic dish with:
- Garlic Bread – an obvious choice
- Roasted Cauliflower – simple and delicious
- Caesar Salad – light and crisp with the best dressing
- Garden Salad – a go-to since it’s kid-friendly
- Panzanella Salad – adds more Italian flavors to your meal
Make-Ahead
Baked ziti can be assembled ahead or baked ahead and reheated. It’s perfect for meal planning.
- Prep-Ahead: Assemble, cover with foil, and refrigerate for up to two days before baking.
- Storing Leftovers: Store leftover portions in airtight storage containers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Reheating Leftovers: Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before heating. Drizzle with a little water to keep it moist, cover with foil, and put in the oven at 350˚F for 20-30 minutes or until heated through. Timing will vary by the amount of ziti. You can also reheat in the microwave.
- Freezing: Assemble in an aluminum or oven-safe casserole dish without baking. Cool completely and then tightly wrap it in plastic wrap and aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. Freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw frozen ziti in the refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking as directed.
“Mangia, mangia!” (an Italian phrase which means ‘Eat, eat!’)
More Casserole Recipes
We love casseroles for dinner because they can be made ahead and re-heat well so you get to enjoy leftovers for days. These are the top-rated, best-loved casserole recipes on our blog:
- Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
- Chicken Lasagna
- Lasagna Roll-Up
- Eggplant Parmesan
- Chicken and Mushroom Casserole
- Baked Mac and Cheese
Baked Ziti (Easy Pasta Casserole) VIDEO
Ingredients
- 1 lb ziti pasta, or penne pasta or gluten-free pasta
- 1 lb ground beef, 85% lean
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 5 cups marinara sauce
- 15 oz fresh ricotta
- 10 fresh basil leaves
- 12 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted water according to package instructions until just al dente, then drain (do not overcook as the pasta will continue to cook in the oven).
- In a deep pan or Dutch oven, over medium-high heat, cook ground beef and onion, breaking up the beef with a spatula, until beef is fully cooked through and onions are softened (5-7 minutes). Add minced garlic, salt, pepper, and sauteé for another minute. Add 5 cups marinara sauce, bring to a simmer, and continue cooking for 5 minutes then turn off the heat.
- Spread a ladle of meat sauce into the bottom of a 9×13 casserole dish.
- Add chopped basil and spoon in ricotta into the remaining sauce Add cooked pasta and stir just until noodles are coated (you want to keep that ricotta texture)
- Transfer half of the pasta to the casserole dish. Top with 1/2 of the shredded mozzarella and 1/2 of the grated parmesan. Add the remaining pasta and top with the remaining mozzarella and parmesan.
- Clear the edges of the pan so the cheese doesn’t burn onto the dish. Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes. Broil for 1-2 minutes to brown the cheese. Let cool for 5 minutes, then garnish with basil if desired and serve.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
for years ive tried to make baked ziti. i could never get the sauce to cheese to pasta ratio right. then there is the whole to add an egg or not to add an egg opinion. i made this last night and WOW perfect!!! i used my homemade sauce and it was the best baked ziti ive ever made or tasted!!
That’s awesome feedback, Susan. Thank you so much for sharing that with us! Glad you tried this recipe and you found the perfect recipe that you were looking for!
Made this last night and it was amazing, we have about half of it left and was wondering a good way to reheat it, thank you 🙂
I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Tami! Yes, leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated but not for too long.
I reheated in the microwave covered in plastic wrap (one piece at a time) for 2-2.5 minutes, then let it stand covered with the wrap to let it continue to heat though. It was really good!
If we are going to use your homemade marinara sauce, do we still add the addition onion and garlic when browning the ground beef? Also, I’ve loved all the recipes I’ve tried of yours!
Hi Keri, Yes I would still add it to the beef too. Hope you love all the recipes that you will try!
Thank you for a great meal!! Followed recipe exactly and turned out delicious! I just have to add I love to collect recipes but never make them because I’m an inexperienced cook and don’t really enjoy it to be honest. Glad I took a chance on this! The step by step video was so helpful as were all the tips-even the simple ones! Thanks for helping my first homemade meal a success!!!
I’m so glad you took this change too, C! Yay for a successful homemade meal!
👋🏻hi , quick question for us newbies at cooking is there a marinara sauce that I can buy that will taste good or will it kill the whole recipe? Thanks in advance
Hi Bianca, this recipe will work with both bought and homemade marinara sauce.
Real baked Ziti does not have any meat in it. Originally came from Amandos in Brooklyn Heights, where murder incorporated use to meet.
Thanks for the info. This is the version that we actually tried and loved but thank you so much for sharing that with us!
Made two of these yesterday for lunch today: one with half ground beef and half Italian sausage and the other with half ground turkey and half Italian sausage. Both were fantastic! We used chickpea pasta and it worked great. It was so nice to just throw it in the oven before my son’s birthday party today. We made the marinara sauce Thursday so the flavors mixed nicely. Oh and the birthday cake was your red velvet cake with cream cheese icing! So thanks Natasha for catering our whole meal:)
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review, Paige!
I made this for dinner this evening and my husband raved on how much he enjoyed it. His all time favorite ethnic food is Italian. I had a eggplant I needed to cook, so I cubed it, roasted it and layered it with the noodles, sauce and cheese, it was delicious!
Thank you so much for sharing that with me. I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Patty!
Hi Natasha! My sister and I made this recipe for dinner today. We absolutely loved it! Our family and us tore it up. It was so divine! We used penne pasta, instead of ziti. That’s what we had on hand for today. Beefy, saucy, and cheesy. Thanks for the recipe Natasha!
I’m so happy to hear this was a hit! Thank you for sharing your great review, Zoie!
We loved this recipe! Followed the recipe and it come out delicious with lots of leftovers!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Shelly!
Hi Natasha I have a quick question: you refer to your casserole dish as a 9×13 dish and on your amazon link, it lists as a 13×9 so is it the same? I have a 13×9 baking dish (pyrex) and have found it is quite different. Thanks!
Hey Stephanie, 9×13 or 13×9 is the same size. Some pyrex dishes are taller than others, and this one is taller. We used this one HERE that can also be found in our Amazon Affiliate Shop HERE.
Thank you Natasha! I ordered this dish in rustic ivory and I appreciate the feedback!
I noticed the recipe for the Baked Ziti calls for 5 cups marinara sauce. The recipe you suggest for your homemade marinara sauce makes 3 cups. Any suggestions, or do I need to double the marinara sauce recipe?
Hey Jean, you can double it up, that’s what we do 🙂
Has anyone tried this with whole wheat pasta? Making some dietary changes as we age and for my husbands health. I’ll be trying it this week with whole wheat penne and half/half ground beef/turkey. I’ll keep ya posted! Love all your recipes.
Hi Anita, I peeked at the comments, and I’m not seeing anyone mention whole wheat pasta. I bet that would work here though, if you happen to experiment, I’d love to know how you like this recipe!
I made this tonight with your marinara recipe and it was delicious! I have made several of your recipes and all of them are outstanding. I love knowing that if I see a recipe you share, that appeals to me, it’s going to be really great. Thanks!!
Hello Nancy, that is a fantastic review and feedback! Thank you so much for sharing that with us.
Can you add half of pound of italian sausage instead of just using ground beef?
Hi Wendy, I imagine that should work. If you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes.
Hi
Can I use cheddar cheese instead of permassan ?
Thanks
Hi Bruria, we prefer it with parmesan but that may work. If you experiment I would love to know how you like it!
Absolutely amazing!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
This turned out excellent. My tips: I boiled the pasta halfway, like 4 minutes; it came out perfect after baking. Second, I used 2 pounds of meat, Italian sausage only.
Nice, thank you for your tips, John!
MADE YOUR BAKED ZITA. NY GRANDDAUGHTER,AGE 12 SAID “IT WAS BUSTING”
Would like more low carb dishes
Hi Laurie, we have a Keto category although it isn’t all-inclusive since we recently started building out this category on our site.
I thought this baked ziti was the best I’ve ever tasted. Superb!
That is fantastic feedback. Thank you, Pam!