Indulge in the quintessential Italian-American comfort food! This Baked Ziti Recipe is a masterpiece of flavors and textures, featuring perfectly cooked pasta nestled in a robust, savory beef and tomato sauce, generously layered with a trio of delectable cheeses. It’s the kind of hearty, satisfying dish that brings warmth to any table and guarantees smiles all around.
Author’s Note
The Baked Ziti Recipe That Truly Exceeds Expectations!
My love affair with baked ziti began during my unforgettable first trip to Italy. Each restaurant seemed to offer its unique take on this beloved dish, and it quickly became apparent that not all baked ziti is created equal. Some versions were exquisitely rich, saucy, and deeply satisfying, leaving a lasting impression. Others, however, fell short, proving dry and utterly disappointing.
Upon returning home, I was determined to recreate those incredible Italian flavors and develop a homemade baked ziti recipe that would not only live up to the hype but surpass it. This wasn’t a quick process. I meticulously experimented with various pasta-to-sauce ratios – a detail often overlooked but crucial for preventing dryness – and explored countless combinations of cheeses. After extensive testing, I finally perfected this version.
The result is a dream: luxuriously creamy, brimming with savory sauce, incredibly cheesy, and bursting with flavor in every single bite. It’s the kind of dinner where everyone eagerly goes back for seconds, and much to my delight, the leftovers are just as divine, if not better. This recipe became such a favorite in my household that I even developed a quicker Instant Pot Baked Ziti version for those busy weeknights when time is of the essence.
This Best Baked Ziti isn’t just a meal; it’s an experience. It’s designed to bring people together, offering a taste of authentic Italian-inspired comfort that feels both gourmet and homey. Prepare to elevate your dinner game with this truly irresistible pasta bake!
Key Ingredients for the Perfect Baked Ziti
Crafting the ultimate Baked Ziti Recipe begins with selecting the right ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in creating the rich, creamy, and meaty symphony of flavors that defines this beloved comfort food. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why these choices make all the difference, along with some helpful swaps for customization.
| Ingredient | Why It Works / Recommended Swaps |
|---|---|
| Ziti pasta | The traditional choice for its tubular shape that perfectly holds the sauce. If ziti isn’t available, feel free to use penne, rigatoni, or even rotini. The key is to undercook the pasta by 2 minutes before baking, ensuring it finishes al dente in the oven. |
| Ground beef | Provides a hearty, savory foundation for the meat sauce. For an extra layer of spice and traditional Italian flavor, swap with Italian sausage (mild or hot). For a lighter alternative, ground turkey or chicken can be used. |
| Tomatoes | Fire-roasted canned tomatoes are my secret weapon for adding a smoky, rich depth that elevates the entire sauce. My go-to brands for quality are Muir Glen or Cento. These provide a robust, complex tomato base that canned regular crushed tomatoes might miss. |
| Mascarpone cheese | This is the secret ingredient for unparalleled creaminess and richness. Mascarpone, a rich Italian cream cheese, melts beautifully into the sauce, creating a luscious texture that prevents any dryness. While ricotta can be used as a substitute, mascarpone truly makes this ziti irresistible. |
| Mozzarella, Parmesan & Mascarpone | This powerful trio of cheeses makes this Cheesy Baked Ziti truly irresistible. Mozzarella delivers that classic gooey, stretchy melt; Parmesan provides a sharp, salty bite that complements the rich sauce; and mascarpone, as mentioned, ensures a smooth, creamy texture throughout the layers. |
Beyond these core components, you’ll also need olive oil, fresh garlic and onion for aromatic depth, and a blend of classic Italian seasonings like paprika, fennel seed, onion powder, salt, pepper, dried basil, and dried oregano. A touch of granulated sugar balances the acidity of the tomatoes, while beef bouillon powder enhances the savory notes of the ground beef. Red pepper flakes add a subtle kick, which can be adjusted to your preference. Tomato paste and Worcestershire sauce further deepen the umami profile of the sauce. Finally, a sprinkle of fresh flat-leaf parsley or basil for garnish adds a vibrant finish.
Featured Comment
“Once again you have perfected the balance of flavors — creamy, spicy, meaty, cheesy & savory, all combined for the perfect comfort food. We loved it!”
– Pam
How to Make the Best Baked Ziti: Step-by-Step Guide
Creating this delicious Homemade Baked Ziti Recipe is a straightforward process that yields incredibly flavorful results. Follow these steps for a perfect pasta bake every time:
- Prepare Your Pasta: Begin by boiling the ziti pasta according to package directions, but make sure to cook it for 2 minutes less than the recommended al dente time. This crucial step prevents the pasta from becoming mushy during baking, allowing it to absorb the delicious sauce in the oven. Remember to generously salt your pasta water for maximum flavor. Drain the pasta and set it aside in its pot.
- Brown the Meat & Sauté Aromatics: In a large nonstick pan, heat olive oil over high heat. Add the finely diced yellow onion and sauté until softened and fragrant, about 5-6 minutes. Introduce the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds, being careful not to burn it. Push the aromatics to the sides of the pan, add the lean ground beef to the center, and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until it’s fully browned. Season the beef generously with paprika, crushed fennel seed (if using), onion powder, salt, pepper, dried basil, dried oregano, granulated sugar, beef bouillon powder, and red pepper flakes. Stir well and cook for another minute to allow the spices to bloom.
- Simmer the Rich Tomato Sauce: Stir in the tomato paste, canned tomato sauce, fire-roasted crushed tomatoes, and Worcestershire sauce into the meat mixture. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer and let it cook for 10-15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly. Finish by stirring in the garlic powder. This creates a deeply flavorful foundation for your ziti.
- Incorporate the Creamy Cheese: Once the sauce has simmered, remove it from the heat. Gently stir the mascarpone cheese into the hot meat sauce until it’s fully melted and creates a smooth, creamy texture. This step is key to the lusciousness of this Creamy Baked Ziti.
- Assemble Your Layers: Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). In the pot with your cooked ziti, add about 2½ cups of the prepared meat sauce and toss gently to coat the pasta evenly. Begin layering by spreading half of the sauced pasta into the baking dish. Dollop spoonfuls of the mascarpone mixture over this layer, spreading it as best you can (don’t worry if it’s not perfectly smooth). Sprinkle with ½ cup of shredded mozzarella and ½ cup of grated Parmesan. Add 2 more cups of meat sauce, then top with the remaining sauced ziti. Finish with another ½ cup of mozzarella, ½ cup of Parmesan, and the remaining meat sauce.
- Bake to Golden Perfection: Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 10 minutes. This helps the dish heat through evenly and prevents the top from drying out. After 10 minutes, remove the foil and sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of mozzarella cheese over the top. Continue to bake uncovered for another 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is beautifully melted, bubbly, and golden brown at the edges.
- Rest and Serve: Once baked, remove the Cheesy Baked Ziti from the oven and let it rest at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before serving. This crucial resting period allows the sauce to settle and thicken, ensuring that when you cut into it, the layers remain intact and the juices don’t pool at the bottom. Garnish with additional grated Parmesan, fresh basil or parsley, and a crack of black pepper if desired, then serve hot and enjoy this incredible comfort food!
Quick Tip for Serving
Always let your Baked Ziti rest for 5–10 minutes after taking it out of the oven. This brief pause allows the sauce to thicken, the cheese to set, and the flavors to fully meld into the pasta. Cutting into it too soon will result in a messier dish with sauce pooling at the bottom, rather than clinging perfectly to the ziti.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips for Your Baked Ziti
- Make Ahead: This Baked Ziti Recipe is fantastic for meal prep! Assemble the entire dish up to 24 hours in advance. Simply ensure the pasta and sauce have cooled completely to room temperature before layering. Cover the assembled dish tightly with foil and refrigerate. When ready to bake, add an extra 10–15 minutes to the covered baking time (keeping it covered with foil initially).
- Freeze for Later: To freeze, prepare the dish as instructed, allowing the pasta and sauce to cool completely before assembly. Crucially, the entire assembled dish must be completely cooled before freezing to prevent ice crystal formation. Cover the freezer-safe casserole dish with a double layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw the dish in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (or ideally overnight). Bake covered with foil for approximately 1 hour at 400°F, then uncover and bake for another 10–15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Leftovers: Any leftover Italian Baked Ziti can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, place a serving in a microwave-safe dish or a small oven-safe dish. Add a splash of water or broth to keep it saucy, then reheat until warmed through and bubbly.
More Irresistible Comfort Food Recipes:
Dinner
Hearty Ground Beef Shepherd’s Pie
Dinner
Classic Crockpot Roast Recipe
Soups And Stews
Wholesome Creamy Vegetable Soup
Beef
Quick Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff
Baked Ziti
Chelsea Lords
45 minutes
20 minutes
1 hour
5 minutes
8
servings
Equipment
- 9 x 13-inch baking pan
- Medium pot
- Large nonstick pan
- Aluminum foil
Ingredients
-
Cooking spray
- 4 cups uncooked ziti pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 heaping tablespoon finely minced garlic (about 4 cloves)
- 1 cup finely diced yellow onion (1 medium onion)
- 1 pound lean ground beef (93/7g recommended)
- 1 tablespoon paprika
-
2 teaspoons
fennel seed
(crushed; optional, but recommended for flavor) - 2 teaspoons onion powder
-
1 teaspoon
salt
-
1 teaspoon
black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon beef bouillon powder
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 (15-ounce) cans tomato sauce
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can fire-roasted crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
-
1 (8-ounce) container
mascarpone cheese
(or ricotta cheese, see note 1) - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1-1/2 cups freshly shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (divided)
- finely chopped flat-leaf parsley or basil (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- Cook ziti according to package instructions, reducing the cooking time by 2 minutes to ensure it’s slightly under al dente. Season the pasta water with 2 teaspoons of salt. Drain the pasta and return it to the pot, then set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large nonstick pan over high heat. Once hot, sauté the diced onion for 5–6 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds. Push the onion and garlic to the sides of the pan, add the ground beef to the middle, and cook, breaking it apart, until it is fully browned. Drain any excess fat. Stir in all the seasonings: paprika, crushed fennel seed (if using), onion powder, salt, pepper, basil, oregano, sugar, beef bouillon powder, and red pepper flakes (omit the red pepper flakes if you prefer less heat). Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add the tomato paste, tomato sauce, fire-roasted crushed tomatoes, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10–15 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened slightly. Stir in the garlic powder.
- Prepare the cheeses: freshly shred the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses using the large holes of a cheese grater. Open the mascarpone cheese container.
- Add about 2½ cups of the hot meat sauce into the pot with the cooked ziti. Stir gently to ensure the pasta is evenly coated.
- Assemble the dish: Layer half of the sauced pasta into the prepared baking dish. Dollop spoonfuls of mascarpone cheese over this layer and gently spread it out (it’s okay if it doesn’t spread perfectly smooth). Sprinkle with ½ cup of shredded mozzarella and ½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese. Next, add 2 cups of the meat sauce, followed by the remaining sauced ziti. Finally, top with another ½ cup of mozzarella, ½ cup of Parmesan, and the remaining meat sauce.
- Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the foil and top with the final ½ cup of mozzarella cheese. Continue to bake uncovered for another 10–15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and the edges are golden brown. Let the baked ziti stand at room temperature for 5–10 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with additional grated Parmesan cheese, fresh basil or parsley, and/or freshly cracked black pepper, then serve hot and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Storage & Make-Ahead: This recipe is perfect for preparing in advance! If you plan to make it ahead of time, follow all recipe directions, but allow both the pasta and the meat sauce to cool completely to room temperature before assembling the layers in the baking dish. Once assembled, cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap or a double layer of aluminum foil. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When baking from the fridge, add an additional 10–15 minutes to the initial covered baking time. To freeze, assemble the dish after the components have cooled to room temperature. Ensure the entire dish is completely cool before placing it in the freezer to prevent ice formation. Cover the freezer-safe casserole dish with a double layer of heavy-duty foil. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. To cook from frozen, thaw in the refrigerator overnight, or bake covered for approximately 1 hour at 400°F (200°C), then uncover and bake for an additional 10–15 minutes until bubbly and heated through.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.
- Serving: 1 serving
- Calories: 445 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 29g
- Protein: 31g
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Cholesterol: 74mg
- Sodium: 702mg
- Potassium: 426mg
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 3g
- Vitamin A: 883 IU
- Vitamin C: 4mg
- Calcium: 490mg
- Iron: 3mg
Enjoyed this recipe? Share your thoughts below!
Baked Ziti Recipe FAQs
While both are delicious Italian-American baked pasta dishes featuring meat, sauce, and cheese, the primary difference lies in the pasta used and the assembly. Lasagna uses wide, flat pasta sheets layered with ricotta, mozzarella, and meat sauce. Baked ziti, on the other hand, utilizes tubular pasta like ziti, penne, or rigatoni, which are mixed with the sauce and cheese before baking. They share similar flavor profiles, but baked ziti is generally considered easier and quicker to assemble than traditional lasagna, making it a fantastic weeknight option.
Not exactly, though they are often used interchangeably in pasta bakes. Ziti pasta is characterized by its smooth, straight-cut ends and tubular shape. Penne, by contrast, typically features angled cuts at the ends and often has ridges (penne rigate) that help trap more sauce. Both types of pasta work wonderfully in this Baked Ziti Recipe, so feel free to use whichever you prefer or have on hand.
Yes, it’s highly recommended to cover your baked ziti for the initial part of baking. Covering the dish with aluminum foil for the first 10 minutes helps to trap moisture, ensuring the pasta cooks evenly and doesn’t dry out. It also allows the internal temperatures to rise without over-browning the top. After this initial period, remove the foil to allow the cheese to melt into a glorious, bubbly, and golden-brown crust. This two-stage baking process guarantees a perfectly cooked and visually appealing dish.
Absolutely! This Baked Ziti Recipe can easily be adapted for a vegetarian diet. Simply omit the ground beef (and beef bouillon powder) and increase the vegetables. You could sauté finely diced mushrooms, bell peppers, or zucchini with the onion and garlic, or use a plant-based ground meat substitute. Ensure your vegetable base has plenty of seasoning to maintain the rich flavor profile.
For best results, reheat individual portions in the microwave or a conventional oven. If using the microwave, add a tablespoon of water or broth to the dish, cover loosely, and heat until warmed through. For oven reheating, place the ziti in an oven-safe dish, add a splash of water, cover with foil, and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
What to Serve With Your Delicious Baked Ziti Recipe
This hearty Baked Ziti is a meal in itself, but pairing it with complementary sides can elevate your dining experience even further. Here are some perfect accompaniments that round out this ultimate comfort food:
- Garlic Bread or French Bread: A classic pairing! Crusty bread, especially brushed with garlic butter, is absolutely essential for soaking up every last bit of that rich, savory meat sauce. Try making your own homemade French bread for an extra special touch.
- Fresh Italian Salad: A crisp, vibrant salad provides a refreshing counterpoint to the richness of the ziti. A simple Italian salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and a zippy vinaigrette dressing is ideal.
- Bruschetta: As a delightful starter, bruschetta offers fresh tomato and basil flavors on toasted bread, perfectly whetting the appetite without being too heavy.
- Roasted Vegetables: Lightly roasted vegetables add nutrition and a lovely texture contrast. Consider serving easy roasted vegetables like crisp Parmesan asparagus, tender zucchini, or flavorful roasted broccoli.
- Caprese Salad: For something fresh, bright, and truly Italian, a Caprese salad with juicy tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil leaves, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze is an exquisite choice.
*This recipe for Baked Ziti was originally shared on October 24, 2020. This post was updated on September 23, 2025, to improve readability, enhance SEO, and add further helpful tips, without altering the core recipe.