Easy Baked Ziti

An easy and flavorful baked ziti made from scratch! This crowd-pleasing pasta is made with an Italian cheese blend, rich tomato sauce, and requires no ricotta cheese. The whole family will love this dish for any occasion!

I grew up with my mom making baked ziti all the time. It’s simple, easy to throw together, AND the whole family loves it. This is a great dinner when you are running short on time and ingredients! All you need is pasta noodles, tomato sauce (or even canned crushed tomatoes), cheese, and dried herbs.

This easy baked ziti is so yummy, freezer friendly, and takes only 20 minutes to bake! It’s a win-win.

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Pasta noodles: I used penne – you can also use rotini, bowtie, or shell pasta. 
• Italian cheese blend: whenever you are trying to attain cheesy pasta I always recommend using pre-made Italian cheese blend that is asiago, provolone, and parmesan.
• Pasta water: always reserve your pasta water for it’s natural flavor and consistency to make this dish perfectly cheesy.
• Tomato sauce: use a high-quality marinara sauce or make my family’s San Marzano Tomato Sauce.
• Herbs: I recommend fresh basil – you can use dried oregano and thyme if you don’t want to use fresh.
• Mozzarella: for melted cheese I always recommend fresh mozzarella either shredded or sliced. 

How to Make Easy Baked Ziti – Step by Step

• (1 -3) Boil pasta according to box directions with generous pinch of salt. When draining reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water. Add back to pot with pasta with 3/4 cup Italian cheese blend. Then stir in fresh herbs and 1 cup of tomato sauce.  

• (5) Transfer penne to a 13×9 baking dish or pan. Cover with remaining tomato sauce. 
• (6) Then add 1 cup of mozzarella and 1/4 cup Italian cheese blend. Bake covered loosely in foil for 20 minutes then brown the cheese by broiling on HIGH for 1 to 2 minutes uncovered. 

Should I Cover Baked Ziti in the Oven?

Yes, you want to make sure your pasta has the right amount of moisture while baking to avoid drying. It’s important to keep the foil loosely sealed on top so it doesn’t stick to the cheese. After baking, remove the foil and put your oven on HIGH broil for 1 to 2 minutes to get that perfect browned cheesy top. 

Add more delicious ingredients!

The great thing about baked ziti is it’s so versatile. Some of my favorite things to add to this recipe is roasted vegetables (zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, broccoli), ricotta cheese for more creaminess and cheese, and cooked sausage or ground beef. 

Reheating Pasta Without Drying It Out

A secret that helps with reheating almost any food to keep from dying up is adding a splash of water. Preheat oven to 350F and add about 3 Tablespoons of water to help moisten pasta and ingredients – you can also add 1/4 cup of sauce as well. Bake covered with foil for 15 minutes. 

Extra Helpful Tips

• Cheesy pasta noodles: Leave 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the pasta water in with the noodles after boiling, stir Italian cheeses in with the noodles and water. This will create the ultimate creamy/cheesy sauce with the pasta noodles. The pasta water combined with the cheese helps the pasta remain moist and prevents it from drying out while baking.  
• For sauce: You can use your favorite homemade sauce, store-bought sauce, or even canned crushed tomatoes. I used my family’s famous San Marzano Tomato Sauce. Easy to make and is the perfect addition to any Italian recipe! 
• Make it healthier: One of my favorite ways to make pasta recipes healthier is using a lentil or chickpea pasta. It’s made completely from lentils or chickpeas and has a ton of plant-based protein and is gluten free. I love using this pasta because it tastes just like regular pasta noodles but with much more nutritional value! 
• Make ziti ahead of time: You can prepare the ziti ahead of time, skip baking, then cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Then bake according to instructions. 

What to Serve it With

I love serving this pasta with a bright salad like our Tuscan artichoke salad, or this Italian Salad. It’s also delicious with some crusty bread on the side!

More Delicious Italian Recipes to Try

• San Marzano Tomato Sauce
• Authentic Italian Chicken Parmesan 
• Cheesy Rotini Pasta with Roasted Vegetables
• Sweet & Spicy Italian Sausage Lasagna
• Baked Eggplant Rollatini
• Easy Zucchini Lasagna