Best 8 Baked Ziti Plus Recipes

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Baked ziti is a classic Italian-American dish that is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. With its cheesy, gooey filling and crispy, browned top, it's a dish that is both comforting and satisfying. Whether you're cooking for a family dinner, a potluck, or a holiday gathering, baked ziti is sure to be a hit. There are endless variations on the baked ziti recipe, so you can easily customize it to your own taste. From traditional recipes with ricotta and mozzarella cheese to more modern versions with spinach and artichoke or roasted red peppers, there's a baked ziti recipe out there for everyone.

Let's cook with our recipes!

BAKED ZITI



Baked Ziti image

For an Italian classic, try this Baked Ziti recipe from Food Network Kitchen. Tossed in a zesty tomato sauce and oozing with mozzarella, it couldn't be easier.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     main-dish

Time 50m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

Olive oil, for greasing
1 pound ziti
Kosher salt
3 1/2 cups Quick Tomato Sauce, recipe follows
1 pound fresh mozzarella, half cut into 1/2-inch cubes and half thinly sliced
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Pinch crushed red pepper
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound sweet and/or spicy Italian sausages, casing removed and sausage crumbled
1/4 medium onion, diced (about 3 tablespoons)
3 cloves garlic, chopped
One 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes in puree, roughly chopped
Sprig thyme
Sprig basil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt generously and boil the pasta until al dente (tender but still slightly firm). Drain.
  • Toss the cooked pasta with the quick tomato sauce, cubed mozzarella, half the Parmesan, all of the black pepper and crushed red pepper in a large bowl. Transfer the pasta to the prepared baking dish. Cover the top of the pasta with the sliced mozzarella and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan. Bake until lightly browned and hot, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately.
  • Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook the sausage until beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Add the onion and garlic, stirring, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes more. Add the tomatoes and the herb sprigs and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
  • Remove and discard the herb sprigs. Stir in 2 teaspoons salt and season with pepper. Use now or store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months.

BAKED ZITI



Baked Ziti image

Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h35m

Yield 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, diced
1 pound ground beef
1 pound Italian sausage
Two 14.5-ounce cans tomato sauce or marinara sauce
One 28-ounce can whole tomatoes with juice
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound ziti
1 1/2 pounds mozzarella, grated
One 15-ounce tub whole-milk ricotta
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, plus more for sprinkling
2 eggs

Steps:

  • Heat the olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and onions and saute until starting to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the ground beef and sausage and cook until browned. Drain off almost all of the fat, leaving a bit behind for flavor and moisture. Add the tomato sauce, tomatoes, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and some salt and pepper. Stir, bring to a simmer and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove 3 to 4 cups of the cooked sauce to a bowl to cool down.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add some salt. Cook the ziti until not quite al dente.
  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
  • In a bowl, mix 2 cups of the grated mozzarella, the ricotta, Parmesan, parsley, eggs and some salt and pepper. Stir together just a couple of times (do not mix completely).
  • Drain the pasta and rinse under cool water to stop the cooking and cool it down. Pour it into the bowl with the cheese mixture and toss to slightly combine (there should still be large lumps). Add the cooled reserved meat sauce and toss to combine.
  • Add half the coated pasta to a large casserole dish or lasagna dish. Spoon half of the remaining sauce over the top, then top with half the remaining mozzarella. Repeat with another layer of the coated pasta and the remaining sauce and mozzarella.
  • Bake until bubbling, about 20 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before sprinkling with chopped parsley to serve.

THE BEST BAKED ZITI



The Best Baked Ziti image

I am half Italian, was raised eating the finest Italian-American cuisine, and have filmed almost 2000 recipe videos, so when you consider all of those facts, it seems incredible that I have never posted a video for baked ziti. Hopefully I make up for that long wait by posting what I think is the best version of it.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Italian

Time 2h20m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 15

¾ pound hot Italian sausage
¾ pound sweet Italian sausage
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large yellow onion, diced
½ teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon dried thyme
¼ teaspoon dried rosemary
2 (24 ounce) jars prepared marinara sauce
2 cups water
1 (16 ounce) package ziti pasta
1 drizzle olive oil
1 ½ cups whole-milk ricotta cheese
8 ounces mozzarella cheese, cut into small cubes
1 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
1 teaspoon chopped flat-leaf (Italian) parsley, or to taste

Steps:

  • Cut down the length of each sausage with a sharp knife. Remove and discard casings.
  • Heat olive oil in a large saucepan set over high heat. Add sausages and onion. Cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up with a spatula, until the sausage begins to brown, and the onion turns translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add oregano, thyme, and rosemary and cook for 1 minute more. Pour in marinara sauce. Pour 1 cup water into each jar to rinse out remaining sauce; add to the saucepan. Stir together and bring sauce to a simmer.
  • Reduce the heat to medium-low, and let simmer, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour. Taste for seasoning and adjust if needed. Turn off heat and reserve until needed. Before using, skim any excess fat that rises to the surface.
  • While sauce simmers, bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add ziti and cook, stirring occasionally, for 1 or 2 minutes less than the directions on the package call for, about 8 minutes. Drain well and transfer into a large mixing bowl.
  • Carefully add the meat sauce and stir until thoroughly combined. Let rest for 5 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a large 9x15-inch or 9x13-inch casserole dish with a drizzle of olive oil.
  • Use a slotted spoon to transfer half of the pasta and sauce mixture to the prepared dish, then use a spatula to even out into a uniform layer. Top with 1/2 of the ricotta cheese, 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese, and then 1/2 of the grated Pecorino Romano cheese, being sure to distribute evenly. Top with the rest of the pasta and sauce mixture and give the pan a little shake to settle the sauce. Repeat the cheese application.
  • Bake in the center of the preheated oven until the cheese is melted and the casserole is piping hot, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Top with parsley.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 627.1 calories, Carbohydrate 58.1 g, Cholesterol 71.8 mg, Fat 29.5 g, Fiber 5.3 g, Protein 30.8 g, SaturatedFat 11.9 g, Sodium 1380.1 mg, Sugar 14.4 g

BAKED ZITI PLUS



Baked Ziti Plus image

Standard baked ziti with sausage, peppers, and onions added to the sauce. There may be more pasta and sauce that cannot fit into the pans. That's ok, it tastes delicious without baking as well!

Provided by Mike Connors

Categories     100+ Pasta and Noodle Recipes     Pasta by Shape Recipes     Ziti Recipes

Time 4h15m

Yield 16

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, sliced
2 pounds ground beef
2 (28 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
1 (28 ounce) can tomato puree
salt and ground black pepper to taste
3 pounds Italian link sausage
2 green bell peppers, cut into 1/2-inch strips
1 large onion, sliced
2 (16 ounce) packages rigatoni
2 (16 ounce) packages mozzarella cheese
1 (24 ounce) carton ricotta cheese

Steps:

  • Heat olive oil in a stockpot over medium-low heat; cook and stir garlic in the hot oil until lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes; drain and discard grease. Stir ground beef into garlic. Add crushed tomatoes and tomato puree to ground beef mixture; season with salt and pepper. Cover stockpot and simmer mixture, stirring occasionally, until flavors have blended, about 2 hours.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook sausage links in the hot skillet until browned and not longer pink in the center, 10 to 15 minutes; drain and discard grease. Slice sausages into 1/4-inch rounds. Stir sausage, green bell pepper, and onion into the simmering tomato sauce; cook, stirring occasionally until bell pepper and onion are softened, about 1 hour.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook rigatoni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 10 to 11 minutes. Drain and return rigatoni to pot.
  • Dice about 3/4 the mozzarella into 1/8-inch cubes. Mix cubed mozzarella with ricotta cheese in a bowl. Stir cheese mixture into cooked rigatoni until mozzarella cheese begins to melt. Pour rigatoni-cheese mixture into 2 large casserole dishes; add tomato-meat sauce. Toss well.
  • Slice the remaining mozzarella cheese and arrange on top of rigatoni mixtures.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until mozzarella cheese is melted and browned, about 45 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 782.5 calories, Carbohydrate 57 g, Cholesterol 117.8 mg, Fat 40.5 g, Fiber 4.3 g, Protein 48.5 g, SaturatedFat 17.5 g, Sodium 1485 mg, Sugar 8.6 g

BAKED ZITI



Baked Ziti image

Ree's ziti is a hearty, cheese-filled dish also incorporating ground beef, Italian sausage and fresh parsley.

Provided by Ree Drummond

Categories     beef,cheese,eggs and dairy,Italian,Main,pasta,pork,tomatoes

Time 1h40m

Yield 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

2 Tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, diced
1 lb(s) ground beef
1 lb(s) Italian sausage
2 (14.5-oz) cans tomato sauce or marinara sauce
1 (28-oz) can whole tomatoes with juice
2 tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp red pepper flakes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 lb(s) ziti
1 ½ lb(s) mozzarella, grated
1 (15-oz) tub whole-milk ricotta
½ cup grated Parmesan
2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley, plus more for sprinkling
2 eggs

Steps:

  • Heat the olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and onions and saute until starting to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the ground beef and sausage and cook until browned. Drain off almost all of the fat, leaving a bit behind for flavor and moisture. Add the tomato sauce, tomatoes, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and some salt and pepper. Stir, bring to a simmer and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove 3 to 4 cups of the cooked sauce to a bowl to cool down.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add some salt. Cook the ziti until not quite al dente.
  • Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
  • In a bowl, mix 2 cups of the grated mozzarella, the ricotta, Parmesan, parsley, eggs and some salt and pepper. Stir together just a couple of times (do not mix completely).
  • Drain the pasta and rinse under cool water to stop the cooking and cool it down. Pour it into the bowl with the cheese mixture and toss to slightly combine (there should still be large lumps). Add the cooled reserved meat sauce and toss to combine.
  • Add half the coated pasta to a large casserole dish or lasagna dish. Spoon half of the remaining sauce over the top, then top with half the remaining mozzarella. Repeat with another layer of the coated pasta and the remaining sauce and mozzarella.
  • Bake until bubbling, about 20 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before sprinkling with chopped parsley to serve.

BAKED ZITI RECIPE BY TASTY



Baked Ziti Recipe by Tasty image

Supremely saucy and cheesy, baked ziti is a family favorite for a reason! Toss ziti or your favorite tube-shaped pasta with a quick homemade tomato sauce and ricotta-Parmesan mixture, then layer with more ricotta and mozzarella and bake until bubbling and delicious.

Provided by Betsy Carter

Categories     Lunch

Time 1h15m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

½ tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 medium yellow onions, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon dried oregano
¼ cup tomato paste
1 can whole peeled tomato
3 teaspoons kosher salt, divided, plus more for boiling
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, divided
1 package ziti or tubular pasta of choice
2 cups whole milk ricotta cheese, divided
2 cups grated parmesan cheese
1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
fresh basil, thinly sliced, for garnish

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 400˚F (200°C). Grease a 3-quart baking dish with the butter.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Once the oil begins to shimmer, add the onion and cook, stirring often, until softened and translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic, red pepper flakes, and oregano and cook until aromatic, about 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring to coat the aromatics, until the tomato paste is deep brick-red, about 2 minutes.
  • Add the whole tomatoes and their juices, using a potato masher or your hands to crush them into the sauce. Add 2 teaspoons of salt and 1 teaspoon of pepper and stir to combine. Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until thickened, 20 minutes.
  • Add 1 cup of ricotta, the Parmesan, remaining teaspoon of salt, and remaining teaspoon of pepper to a medium bowl and stir to combine.
  • Reserve 2 cups of tomato sauce in a bowl, then add the ricotta-Parmesan mixture to the remaining tomato sauce in the pot and stir to combine.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until 2 minutes shy of al dente. Drain the pasta in a colander.
  • Add the drained pasta tomato-ricotta sauce and stir until well coated.
  • Add half of the pasta to the prepared baking dish. Cover with 1 cup of the reserved tomato sauce, ¾ cup of the mozzarella, and ½ cup of the remaining ricotta. Add the remaining pasta, then repeat with the remaining cup of tomato sauce, ¾ cup of mozzarella, and ½ cup of ricotta.
  • Bake until the mozzarella is golden brown and the tomato sauce is bubbling, 25-30 minutes.
  • Garnish with the basil before serving.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 399 calories, Carbohydrate 17 grams, Fat 25 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 26 grams, Sugar 7 grams

BAKED ZITI



Baked Ziti image

I got this recipe from a friend when we had a group dinner. It's really good but it takes a little while to make so multi-tasking might be a good idea.

Provided by AMK2009

Categories     Penne

Time 40m

Yield 1 9x13 pan

Number Of Ingredients 9

16 ounces ziti pasta or 16 ounces other pastas
6 tablespoons butter or 6 tablespoons margarine
6 tablespoons parmesan cheese, plus
1/4 cup parmesan cheese, separated
1 (8 ounce) can evaporated milk
1 cup mozzarella cheese, plus
3 cups mozzarella cheese, separated (uses all of 1 (16oz?)
30 ounces spaghetti sauce (Ragu, Prego, etc.)
1 lb ground beef (optional)

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 400*F.
  • Boil pasta as directed on box.
  • When cooked, drain, return to pot and cover. In a medium saucepan, melt 6 tablespoons butter.
  • When melted, add 6 tablespoons parmesan cheese, 1 can of evaporated milk, and 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
  • Mix until cheese is melted.
  • Pour mixture onto pasta and stir.
  • Pour the pasta mixture into a greased 9x13 pan.
  • Sprinkle 3 cups mozzarella on top of pasta.
  • Bake for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
  • Remove from oven.
  • Pour 1 (30oz) jar of spaghetti sauce over the pasta.
  • (***Can add 1 lb. browned ground beef to the sauce before pouring over pasta. Sprinkle 1/4 cup parmesan cheese over the sauce.***).
  • Bake for 5-10 minutes, until sauce is warm.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 4853.6, Fat 230.4, SaturatedFat 126.8, Cholesterol 651.3, Sodium 8732.9, Carbohydrate 476.8, Fiber 18.2, Sugar 93.2, Protein 213.7

BAKED ZITI



Baked Ziti image

From Kalamazoo Michigan, Kim Neer makes this comforting Italian dish with a from-scratch spaghetti sauce, ziti pasta and a generous combination of cheeses.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h20m

Yield 2 casseroles (12 servings each).

Number Of Ingredients 18

1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
2 medium onions, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 jar (28 ounces) reduced-sodium meatless spaghetti sauce
1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (12 ounces) tomato paste
3/4 cup water
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons dried basil
1-1/2 teaspoons dried oregano, divided
1 package (16 ounces) ziti or 16 ounces small tube pasta
1 carton (15 ounces) reduced-fat ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1/2 cup egg substitute
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Steps:

  • In a large saucepan, cook beef and onions over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Stir in the spaghetti sauce, tomatoes, tomato paste, water, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, basil and 1 teaspoon oregano. Cover and simmer for 3 hours, stirring occasionally. , Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta, mozzarella, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, egg substitute, salt and pepper., In two greased 13x9-in. baking dishes coated with cooking spray, spread 1 cup of meat sauce. In each dish, layer a fourth of the pasta, 1 cup meat sauce and a fourth of the cheese mixture. Repeat layers of pasta, sauce and cheese mixture. , Top with remaining sauce. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese and oregano. Cover and bake at 350° for 1 hour or until heated through.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 324 calories, Fat 11g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 38mg cholesterol, Sodium 796mg sodium, Carbohydrate 30g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 26g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

Tips:

  • Use high-quality ingredients for the best flavor. This includes using fresh vegetables, a flavorful cheese blend, and a high-quality pasta sauce.
  • Cook the ziti pasta al dente, so that it still has a slight bite to it. This will help it hold its shape and texture in the casserole.
  • Don't be afraid to experiment with different types of cheese. A combination of mozzarella, Parmesan, and ricotta is a classic, but you can also try using other cheeses like provolone, fontina, or Asiago.
  • If you want a crispy topping, sprinkle some bread crumbs or grated Parmesan cheese on top of the casserole before baking.
  • Let the casserole rest for a few minutes before serving. This will help the flavors meld together and the casserole will be easier to cut.

Conclusion:

Baked ziti is a delicious and versatile dish that is perfect for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion. With its creamy cheese filling, flavorful sauce, and crispy topping, it's sure to be a hit with everyone at the table. So next time you're looking for a comforting and satisfying meal, give baked ziti a try. You won't be disappointed!

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