Baked Ziti

Cultural Context

Baked ziti is a classic Italian-American pasta casserole built for family tables, potlucks, and Sunday dinners. Its appeal is practical as much as nostalgic: sturdy tube pasta, tomato sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan bake into a generous dish that holds well, reheats cleanly, and feeds a crowd. This version follows the common home-cook pattern of a saucy, three-cheese baked pasta, with the pasta undercooked slightly before baking so it finishes tender without drying out.

Ingredients

Main Components

• 454 g (1 lb) dried ziti or penne pasta
• 30 ml (2 tbsp) olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1,360 g (48 oz / about 6 cups) marinara sauce, homemade or good-quality jarred
• 1 1/4 tsp kosher salt, divided, plus more for pasta water
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Cheese Filling and Topping

• 425 g (15 oz) whole-milk ricotta cheese
• 225 g (8 oz / about 2 cups) low-moisture mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
• 85 g (3 oz / about 1 cup finely grated) Parmesan cheese, divided
• 10 g (1/4 cup) chopped fresh basil or parsley, divided

Substitutions:

• Ziti -> penne or rigatoni; choose a ridged shape if possible so the sauce clings well.
• Whole-milk ricotta -> part-skim ricotta; the casserole will be slightly less creamy.
• Marinara -> meat sauce with fully cooked ground beef or Italian sausage; if using ground meat, cook it to 160°F (71°C) before adding it to the sauce.

Equipment

• Large pot
• Colander
• Large skillet or Dutch oven
• Mixing bowl
• 9x13-inch baking dish
• Aluminum foil

Instructions

Preparation (Active time: 15 min)

1. Heat the oven and prep the pan: Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 375°F (190°C). Lightly oil or spray a 9x13-inch baking dish.

2. Start the sauce: Warm the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, red pepper flakes if using, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and several grinds of black pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the onion is soft and translucent, about 8 to 10 minutes.

3. Simmer the marinara: Stir in the marinara sauce and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 5 minutes, then remove from the heat. Taste and adjust with salt and pepper; the sauce should be a little more seasoned than you would serve on plain pasta.

4. Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ziti and cook 2 minutes less than the package's al dente time, usually 7 to 8 minutes. Drain well.

5. Mix the ricotta filling: In a bowl, stir together the ricotta, half of the Parmesan, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and half of the basil or parsley.

Cooking (Active time: 10 min)

6. Sauce the pasta: Return the drained pasta to the empty pot. Add about two-thirds of the marinara and stir until every piece is coated. Fold in the ricotta mixture gently, leaving some visible pockets of ricotta instead of fully blending it smooth.

7. Layer the casserole: Spread half of the pasta mixture in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with half of the mozzarella. Add the remaining pasta, spread the remaining marinara over the top, then finish with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.

8. Bake: Cover loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until the edges bubble and the top is melted with golden spots, 15 to 20 minutes more.

Assembly & Finishing

9. Rest before serving: Let the baked ziti stand for 10 to 15 minutes so the sauce settles and the portions hold together.

10. Garnish and serve: Scatter the remaining basil or parsley over the top. Serve warm in generous squares or spoonfuls.

Food Safety & Storage

• Minimum safe internal temperature: 165°F (74°C) when reheating leftovers or a refrigerated make-ahead casserole.
• Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in shallow airtight containers within 2 hours of baking and keep for up to 4 days.
• Freezing: Freeze baked or unbaked ziti tightly wrapped for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator when practical.
• Reheating: Reheat covered at 350°F (175°C) until steaming hot and 165°F (74°C) in the center. Add a spoonful of marinara if the pasta looks dry.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve with a crisp green salad and garlic bread.
• Pairs well with roasted broccoli, sauteed green beans, or simple antipasto vegetables.
• Traditional serving style: bring the bubbling casserole to the table and let it rest before scooping family-style portions.

Scaling Notes

Half recipe (1/2x): Bake in an 8x8-inch dish. Start checking after 20 minutes covered and 10 minutes uncovered.

Double recipe (2x): Use two 9x13-inch dishes rather than one very deep pan. Rotate the pans halfway through baking for even browning.

Chef's Notes

• Sourcing: Whole-milk ricotta gives the best creamy pockets; avoid watery ricotta when possible. A thicker marinara prevents the casserole from turning soupy.
• Make-ahead: Assemble up to 2 days ahead, cover, and refrigerate. Bake covered for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake 15 to 20 minutes more.
• Variations: Add 2 cups cooked spinach or roasted vegetables. For a meat version, stir in 1 lb cooked Italian sausage or ground beef after it reaches 160°F (71°C).
• Common pitfalls: Do not fully cook the pasta before baking. Keep enough sauce on top so exposed pasta does not dry out.

Nutrition Information (Optional)

Per serving: approximately 570 kcal

• Protein: 25g | Fat: 24g | Carbohydrates: 63g | Fiber: 5g

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Sources

• Allrecipes, "Baked Ziti Recipe": https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/11758/baked-ziti-i/
• The Kitchn, "Easy Baked Ziti Recipe (Our Best-Ever!)": https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-an-all-star-baked-ziti-231963
• Serious Eats, "The Food Lab's No-Boil Baked Ziti Recipe": https://www.seriouseats.com/food-lab-no-boil-baked-ziti-recipe
• Image source, Wikimedia Commons, "Baked Ziti.jpg": https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Baked_Ziti.jpg

Version History:

• v1 (2026-07-18): Initial recipe by @Codex

Credits:

• Recipe development: @Codex, adapted from the listed source consensus
• Testing: @Codex
• Verification: @Coordinator
• Photography: Lili from NY / FeastingMadeEasy via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0, original file downloaded from https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/Baked_Ziti.jpg

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Recipe Location: /Recipes/italian/italian_baked-ziti_v1.md
Images Location: /Images/baked-ziti/