Easy Baked Ziti With Three Cheeses

Written by
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Diana Rattray
Updated 05/16/19
Baked Ziti
The Spruce
  • Total: 73 mins
  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 58 mins
  • Yield: 1 Casserole (6 Servings)
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
547 Calories
19g Fat
61g Carbs
31g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1 Casserole (6 Servings)
Amount per serving
Calories 547
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g 25%
Saturated Fat 10g 51%
Cholesterol 206mg 69%
Sodium 1110mg 48%
Total Carbohydrate 61g 22%
Dietary Fiber 2g 9%
Protein 31g
Calcium 367mg 28%
*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.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This delicious baked ziti recipe is made with plenty of sauce and cheese. Ricotta cheese, mozzarella, and Parmesan make this a hearty, satisfying casserole and, if you use a meat-free sauce, it's a vegetarian dish.

Feel free to make a meat sauce to add to the pasta bake or use a store-bought marinara or traditional spaghetti sauce.

This recipe calls for 2 cups of mozzarella cheese, half for the pasta and half for the melty topping, but you can omit the cheese topping if you'd like. 

1:15

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Ingredients

  • 1 (16-ounce) box pasta (ziti, rigatoni, or penne pasta)
  • 1 (16-ounce) container ricotta cheese
  • 2 teaspoons seasoned salt (or to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 cups spaghetti sauce (homemade or from a can or jar)
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

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  2.  Heat the oven to 350 F (180 C/Gas 4). Butter a 9-by-13-by-2-inch baking pan.

  3. Cook the ziti or similar pasta in boiling salted water following the package instructions. Drain well.

    Baked Ziti recipe
     The Spruce

  4. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, seasoned salt, garlic powder, and half of the mozzarella cheese. Taste and adjust seasoning, as needed. Add the egg and blend well.

    Baked Ziti recipe
     The Spruce

  5. Stir in the drained pasta and transfer to the prepared baking dish. Pour the spaghetti sauce over all.

    Baked Ziti recipe
     The Spruce

  6. Bake in the heated oven for 45 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining cup of mozzarella cheese and the 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, and bake for 5 minutes longer, or until the mozzarella cheese has melted.

    Baked Ziti recipe
     The Spruce

  7. Serve the ziti casserole with a fresh tossed salad and hot baked or grilled garlic bread.

    Baked Ziti recipe
    The Spruce 

  8. Enjoy!

Tip

  • This is a great picnic or potluck dish. It can be made in advance and freezes well. 

Recipe Variations

  • With Meat Sauce: ​In a skillet over medium heat, sautĂ© 1 pound of lean ground beef in a few teaspoons of olive oil until beef is no longer pink. Add the spaghetti sauce to the browned beef and pour over the ziti before baking. If desired, sautĂ© about 1/2 cup of chopped onion with the ground beef.
  • With Onion and Peppers: ​In a large skillet over medium heat, saute 1 cup of chopped onion and 1/2 cup of chopped bell pepper until the onion is translucent and bell pepper is tender. Add the mixture to the ziti with the cheeses.