Easy Baked Ziti

A close up of a spoon in cheesy baked ziti.

An easy and flavorful baked ziti made from scratch! So cheesy, saucy, and a one dish meal that the whole family will love. Takes only 30 minutes to make and is all things delicious and cheesy!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword baked pasta, baked ziti, easy baked ziti

Freezer Friendly Yes

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Total Time 40

Servings

Calories 448kcal

Author A Simple Palate

Ingredients

1 lb ziti or pasta of choice, see notes for pasta shapes we recommend for baked ziti
3 cups marinara
1/2 cup pasta water
1/2 cup fresh parmesan cheese
3/4 cup cheddar cheese, Or swap the cheddar and parmesan for Italian blend cheese
3/4 cup gruyere, Or swap for mozzarella
2 Tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
1 Tablespoon fresh oregano

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F. Cook pasta according to box directions with a generous pinch of salt. Drain pasta and reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water.
Cook the pasta. Bring a pot of well-salted water to a boil (about 1 Tablespoon of salt to season the pasta water). Cook the pasta until it's al dente in texture (use the packaging or box for instructions). When the pasta is finished, reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water then drain the rest. Place the pasta water back in with the pasta.
Add half of the sauce and cheese. In the same pot with the pasta and reserved pasta water, add 1 cup of marinara, 2 Tablespoons fresh basil, 1 Tablespoon fresh oregano, 1/4 cup parmesan, 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, and 1/2 cup gruyere cheese. Mix completely together - the pasta should become cheesy and a little creamy.
Assemble the baked ziti. Transfer the cheesy pasta to a 13x9 baking dish. Layer the top of the pasta with the remaining marinara and cheese.
Cover and bake. Cover the baked ziti loosely with foil and bake for 25 minutes, then remove the foil and broil on high for 1 minute for the cheese to brown. Garnish with additional fresh basil if you want, then serve!

Notes

How to reheat leftovers. Add a splash of water and additional sauce (if desired), cover with foil in a baking dish, and bake at 350F until hot in the center (about 10-15 minutes).

Freezing tips. Assemble the whole dish and skip baking it. Cover it completely with plastic wrap, then foil, and freeze for up to 2 months. When ready to bake, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and bake as instructed.

Keeping leftovers. Baked pasta leftovers should be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Nutrition