This satisfying, timeless and easy baked ziti recipe is made with the simplest ingredients, no frills, and can be prepped ahead of time and heated before serving. Talk about meal prep comfort food at its finest.
What I love about making simple pasta recipes is that it truly is a blank canvas for all other add ins, or keep it classic. Like my baked stuffed shells recipe, my creamy one pot garlic parmesan pasta, or even my cheesy pesto tortellini bake, classic Italian dishes deliver endless, ample flavor.
TL;DR Summary -Easy Baked Ziti
- 👩🏼🍳 Cook Level - Easy/Beginner
- ⏱️ Cook Time - 30-40 minutes
- 📖 Dietary Info - Gluten, dairy
- 😋 Taste - Classic Italian flavors of marinara, mozzarella, ricotta cheese, and dried herbs like basil and parsley.
- 💖 Why You'll Love - What's more classic than a baked ziti? This is a perfect weeknight meal, freezer prep dinner, or a holiday starter.
- 🍽️ Serving Suggestions - You can make this as a meal prep option for the week along with crispy pan fried chicken cutlets or oven roasted chicken thighs. You can also whip up a simple greens salad or a side of freshly sautéed sugar snap peas with garlic.
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Trusted Tips and Key Reminders
- Use more tomato sauce than you think you need as the baked ziti could easily dry out if there is not enough sauce.
- Remember to keep the pasta al dente so that it does not fall apart when it bakes in the oven.
- Salt the water when the pasta cooks to give the pasta more flavor. I always suggest adding 1 tablespoon of salt when the water is boiling.
The Ingredient List
- Pasta - I like using a rigatoni, ziti, or penne. Feel free to swap for gluten free if you need. You'll need one standard sized box, approximately 1lb or 16 ounces.
- Ricotta Cheese - whole milk ricotta is the way to go!
- Marinara Sauce - I prefer Rao's, Primal Kitchen, or a simple tomato sauce from Cento, Delallo, or Tuttorosso
- Mozzarella - I like to use whole milk mozzarella when it comes to baked pasta.
- Italian Seasoning - herbs like dried oregano, dried parsley, and dried basil are great to give more depth of flavor and color.
Be sure to check out the recipe card at the end of this post for more information about quantities, measurements, and specific cooking instructions.
Simple Swaps and Substitutions
- Swap the pasta for your favorite gluten free choice like brown rice, chickpea, or my current hyper-fixation is pasta from 3 Farm Daughters, which boasts a bronze cut, more protein and more fiber.
- You can use a dairy-alternative cheese and ricotta to keep this dairy-free.
- For an even more fun flavor, use a homemade vodka sauce instead of a marinara in a jar. This adds a little different flavor profile than your classic baked ziti.
How to make easy baked ziti
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350º and prep an oven safe casserole dish with some sauce at the bottom. Bring a large stock pot of water to boil, then add salt and stir in your pasta of choice. Cook until al dente, strain, and then pour into the prepared casserole dish.
Step 2: To the pasta, dollop a few scoops of ricotta cheese, then stir to fully combine. Add more marinara and mix in to make sure that when the ziti bakes, it does not dry out.
Step 3: Add in dried spices like basil and oregano, then mix to fully incorporate.
Step 4: Add a few spoonfuls of ricotta cheese, followed by 1-2 cups of the grated mozzarella cheese. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes, then turn the oven to broil for 2-3 minutes to get the cheese bubbly and golden brown.
Mistakes I've Made (to avoid!)
- Do NOT overcook the pasta. As seen in the photo below there's a few noodles that fell apart as I was folding in the ricotta. You want to cook the pasta 1-2 minutes LESS than what the package suggests because when the pasta bakes, it continues to cook. No one wants soggy noods (just saying...)
- Don't forget to add more marinara sauce and combine with the pasta and ricotta cheese. The sauce will keep the pasta flavorful, but also alleviate it from drying out as it bakes.
- If you are broiling to get the cheese browned and bubbly, watch the broiler! It can go from slightly charred to burnt in literally minutes (speaking from unfortunate experience).
Classic Baked Ziti FAQs
Add any remaining baked pasta to an airtight container and place in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. You could also store the entire dish in the casserole dish you baked it in, and reheat when you want to make more of it.
You definitely can! Add the remaining pasta to a freezer friendly airtight container and keep in the freezer for up to two months. When it's time to make the baked ziti, thaw in the fridge and bake at 350º until the cheese gets melty. and bubbly.
It works really well with gluten free pasta, but be sure to cook the pasta al dente, or even a minute or two less so that the pasta does not fall apart when mixing it with the tomato sauce and ricotta cheese mixture.
Try these other incredibly simple pasta recipes:
Did you love this recipe? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you're just as in love with this recipe as I am, please share a comment below and rate it! Better yet, share this recipe with family and friends!! Thank you!
Classic Baked Ziti Recipe
Equipment
- 1 large pot
- 1 strainer
- 1 oven safe baking dish
- 1 wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 1 pint ricotta cheese
- 1 lb short pasta 16 ounces
- 24 oz jar marinara sauce
- 2 cups mozzarella shredded
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350º.
- Bring a large stock pot of water to boil. Once the water boils, add salt and stir in your pasta of choice.
- Cook the pasta 2 minutes less than the directions suggests, drain and set aside.
- Take an oven-safe baking dish and pour a few drops of marinara at the bottom. Pour in the pasta and mix the pasta in with the marinara.
- Add more marinara, spices, salt, pepper, and a few dollops of the ricotta cheese. Stir with a wooden spoon, making sure to coat all of the pasta.
- Pour in a little more sauce and ricotta as desired. Top the pasta with a layer of mozzarella cheese and bake for 20 minutes.
- Once the pasta is finished baking, turn the oven to broil and broil for 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown and the pasta is slightly crispy on the sides.
Angie L. says
We made this last night during the start of the blizzard and WOW, it was amazing! My picky eater of a teenager even went in for seconds. I am impressed!
Morgan Peaceman says
Hi Angie, Thank you so much for this comment! I'm glad my baked ziti can lure even the pickiest of teens 🙂 stay warm in the blizzard!!