Easy Baked Ziti Recipe With Ricotta
Im not usually a bit fan of baked pasta but this Vegetarian Baked Ziti completely changed my outlook on baked pasta. Ive always loved and sauciness of pasta cooked in a pot, and find baked pasta can often be a bit dry.
But not this baked ziti!
This baked ziti recipe is creamy, saucy, cheesy and has the perfect texture.
What is baked ziti called in Italian?
Baked Ziti is known as pasta al forno or is sometimes called Ziti al forno in Italian. Al forno translates to baked.
Baked ziti is often made with ground beef or Italian sausage, but this Vegetarian Baked Ziti is made with ricotta cheese for baked ziti with no meat.
How To Make Baked Ziti With Ricotta
I was introduced to baked ziti casserole rather late in life. Im not sure how that was possible. After all, I have been catering events and parties most of my hospitality career, yet all that time, an easy baked ziti recipe had somehow eluded me. Winter or summer, baked ziti with ricotta is always a favorite dish in our family!
It was several years ago that I met Jimmy the Caterer. When I discovered his ultimate baked ziti casserole my life in catering would never be the same.
Jimmys specialty in catering was fire hall dances and tented family picnics. He would tow a big pit behind his catering truck and set up shop in the back of the catering hall. While the pit was heating up, he worked on his infamous side dish, baked ziti. He explained that everyone loved his pit beef and burgers, but they always wanted seconds of his great baked ziti. I have the unauthorized recipe, best as I can make it.
How To Make Vegetarian Baked Ziti
This meal requires 30 minutes of prep time as well as 30 minutes of baking time. In just an hour, you have a warm, bubbling tray of delicious vegetable filled baked ziti!
Step 1: Cook the pastaFirst, bring a large pot of water to a boil, and then add a generous spoonful of salt . Add the pasta and cook according to the instructions on the package, until al dente it should still have some bite to it. When finished, drain and set aside.
Step 2: Prep the veggiesNext, prep all of the veggies, finely dicing them so theyre about the same size. Add oil to a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the zucchini, eggplant, pepper, onion, and garlic. Cook until theyre slightly softened, about 5 to 7 minutes.
Step 3: Prepare the sauceAdd marinara and oregano to the veggies, cover, and let gently simmer for 15 minutes. Stir in the basil, and add salt to suit your taste . Stir 3 cups of the vegetable sauce into the pot of pasta, leaving the remaining sauce in the pan.
Step 4: Create the ricotta mixTo create the ricotta mix, stir the ricotta, thawed spinach, and parmesan together. Fold the ricotta mixture into the pasta, leaving large clumps of ricotta.
Step 5: Mix the cheeseNext, create what will be the cheese layers by stirring together the mozzarella and parmesan.
Step 6: Assemble the zitiFinally, its time to assemble the ziti! Preheat the oven to 350°F . Spread half of the sauce onto the bottom of a 9×13 inch casserole dish. Then, layer in the following order:
You May Like: Honey Baked Ham Overland Park
Baked Ziti With Ground Beef
Brown ground beef or a combination of beef and pork. Add this to the tomato sauce while it simmers to let all the flavors develop. I do suggest that after browning the meat that you drain the fat before adding it into the sauce. We like to make this with ground turkey as well for a healthier version of baked ziti with meat.
Tips To Know If Ziti Is Perfectly Baked
Do you love ziti pasta but are never quite sure if youve baked it long enough? Here are a few simple tips to ensure a perfectly cooked ziti every time:
Don’t Miss: No Bake Peanut Butter Truffles
Why Make This Recipe
This easy baked ziti recipe is meat-free and features homemade tofu ricotta, making it completely plant-based and dairy-free! Its also super easy to make in just a few simple steps.
Baked ziti is a bit like lasagna but less labour intensive. Its all the goodness of layered baked pasta with minimal effort!
Whether youre entertaining or making dinner for the family, this dish is always a great choice. It feels a little fancy but its really so simple and the result is rich, cheesy, hearty and comforting.
Youll love this satisfying and delicious baked vegan pasta for a quick meal you can pop in the oven any night of the week. Serve it with your favourite garlic bread for the best comfort food meal!
Easy Vegetarian Baked Ziti
Easy to make vegetarian baked ziti with ricotta cheese, zucchini and marinara sauce. Meatless baked ziti will be your favorite dinner idea.
No meat, vegetarian baked penne pasta with ricotta cheese, sautéed onions and marinara sauce is very easy to prepare. This is the dinner that you will be making often, it is quick and so delicious.
Read Also: How Long To Bake Mac And Cheese At 400
How To Make Baked Ziti
This baked ziti recipe is easy to make! Heres how it goes:
First, cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, and cook the pasta until al dente. Be careful not to overcook it! It will soften more while it bakes.
While the pasta cooks, make the ricotta cheese mixture. Stir together the ricotta, garlic, lemon zest, oregano, and red pepper flakes, and season with salt and pepper.
Next, sauté the spinach. Drain the pasta, and heat a glug of olive oil in the same pot. Sauté the spinach until its just wilted. Tip: Work in batches here! I do 1/2 pound at a time so that the spinach cooks evenly. I like all of it to be tender and vibrant green, not slimy or soggy. When I work in batches, Im able to hit that sweet spot every time.
Gently squeeze some of the excess moisture out of the sautéed spinach and roughly chop it.
Then, mix everything together. Return most of the spinach and all of the pasta to the pot, along with all but 1/2 cup of the tomato sauce. Stir until everything is well combined.
Finally, layer it up. Spread the remaining sauce on the bottom of a large casserole dish, and spread half of the pasta mixture over it. Dollop in the ricotta and the reserved spinach, and scoop the rest of the pasta on top. Top with the grated smoked mozzarella and pecorino cheeses, and drizzle with olive oil. Bake until the cheese is golden brown and bubbling. Enjoy!
What Is The Best Cheese For This Recipe
Many types of cheese can be used in a ziti recipe, but ricotta cheese is the best option. Ricotta is creamy and flavorful and pairs well with tomato sauce and pasta.
It is also a relatively mild cheese, so it wont overpower the other flavors in the dish. In addition, ricotta cheese is relatively easy to find and relatively inexpensive.
For these reasons, ricotta cheese is the best cheese for this ziti recipe.
You May Like: Best Butter To Bake With
Frequently Asked Questions For Vegan Baked Ziti:
Can I add in other ingredients to the vegan baked ziti?
Yes! Other ingredients that are traditionally added could be vegan ground meat or sausage, mushrooms, peppers and onions. We recommend cooking all of these prior to adding to the dish. Mix in with the spaghetti sauce first. Try making with our homemade walnut meat swap the taco seasoning for an Italian seasoning.
Can I make this Top 9 Free?
Use a gluten free pasta and vegan cheese brands that are safe for your allergens. Ricotta can be make from nuts or tofu so you can use a store brand that is safe or make your own DIY version. Aldi brand vegan mozzarella is free from allergens and you can use our homemade vegan parmesan with sunflower seeds .
How long is vegan baked ziti good for?
We recommend eating this dish within 3-5 days. When reheating you may want to add more sauce.
Can you freeze vegan baked ziti?
Yes! Let cool completely and freeze in an freezer sauce container with a lid. You can do this either after its cooked or before it goes into the oven. Let thaw completely when ready to make.
Can I use another type of noodle?
Yes! Any noodles will work here but tubular shapes are best like penne or macaroni noodles!
Best Vegetarian Baked Ziti
This post may contain affiliate links.
This recipe is all you need to make an all-star vegetarian baked ziti with ricotta, marinara sauce, and a layer of bright veggies! This is the pasta casserole you can make any night of the week, or prepare ahead and store for later. Add a side salad and call it dinner! For a more Mediterranean diet-friendly option, use whole wheat or whole grain pasta.
Be sure to check out my tips and step-by-step tutorial for how to make this baked ziti and what to serve along!
Love lasagna but don’t like the work? I’m with ya!
But if you’re after that great combination of pasta, tomato sauce, and bubbly cheese, in a baked pasta casserole, this easy baked ziti is your ticket!
I think of baked ziti like lasagna’s chill cousin. Not as fussy , but still tasty. There is a little bit of layering involved, because we are still talking pasta casserole, but it’s quite easy to throw together any night of the week.
Almost everyone who makes baked ziti have their own version of it. Some vary the cheeses–are you into ricotta or cottage cheese? Some use loads of ground beef or sausage. And some go for a meatless version.
Now, I have nothing against a meaty pasta casserole–have you tried my Greek Pastitsio? It’s one I make for special occasions.
But for a quick weeknight dinner, I wanted to change things up and make a bit of a lightened up baked ziti with a bunch of beautiful veggies nestled in the middle. And everyone LOVED it!
Also Check: Baked Potato In Toaster Oven
Baked Ziti Recipe No Meat
While we always enjoy a classic baked ziti with Italian sausage, this vegetarian baked ziti is equally well-loved in our house. Its approved by the kids, in spite of the abundance of fresh veggies! Perhaps its the flavorful tomato sauce, or maybe its the five different types of cheese that makes it so delicious. Personally, I just love the fact that its a one-pan meal that takes very little effort and results in fewer dishes to wash at the end!
How To Make Baked Ziti With Vegetables Step
1.Cook pasta to al dante according to package. Important tip here, do not overcook the pasta. Cook it for the shortest time offered on the package it should have some bite to it. And remember, it will cook some more in the oven.
Once the pasta is cooked, drain but keep a bit of the pasta water to use later
2. Cook the vegetables. Grab a large skillet and heat a bit of extra virgin olive oil. Begin by cooking the onions, then add in the rest of the veggies and garlic. Season with kosher salt, oregano, and a bit of paprika.
3. Mix in the Ricotta filling . Tip: a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil really helps mix things up.
4. Coat the cooked pasta with some of the marinara sauce and the ricotta mixture. I used store-bought marinara sauce here.
4. Assemble the pasta casserole. First, a little marinara sauce on the bottom of the dish, then half the pasta, then cooked vegetables and a bit of basil. A sprinkle of mozzarella, then…
4. b) Continue by layering the remaining pasta, remaining marinara sauce. Finish with mozzarella and Paremsan cheese for the very top layer.
5. Bake in 375 degrees F heated-oven until top layer begins to bubble and gain some beautiful color Remove from the oven and let sit for 10 to 15 minutes before cutting into squares.
Read Also: Honey Baked Ham Cumming Ga
Cook The Ziti & Mix Sauce
Cook the pasta according to package instructions, 1-2 minutes under al dente since it will finish cooking in the oven.
Quick Note: Some baked ziti recipes call for a layering of ingredients but I didnt find it necessary since it all gets mixed up anyways.
If youd like to try it layered, keep the sauce and cooked pasta separate so you can layer it in the baking dish.
Vegan Baked Ziti Ingredients:
Below are notes about the ingredients before we get into the full recipe located lower in this post on how to make these vegan baked ziti:
- ziti noodles you cant make baked ziti without ziti noodles. These are tubular shaped pasta noodles that are available at every major grocery chain
- vegan cheese ziti uses a blend of mozzarella, ricotta, and parmesan for the ultimate combination of cheeses that are perfect for this dish
- spaghetti sauce we highly recommend our vegan homemade spaghetti sauce that is absolutely phenomenal.
Recommended Reading: Baked Macoroni And Cheese Recipe
A Few Tips Before You Get Started
Use half-sheet pans. If only everyone owned these basic half-sheet pans . They offer a lot of surface area, so your vegetables have some breathing room while they roast.
Be sure to use a big baker. Youll need a three quart baker for this one. Heres mine. To err on the side of caution against overflow, Ive instructed you to place the baker on a clean rimmed baking sheet when its in the oven.
Dont overcook your pasta. In fact, you want it a little bit undercooked, so cook it for the shortest amount of time offered on the package. It should still have a little bite to it when you drain it, since it will continue to cook while its in the oven.
Please let me know how this baked ziti recipe turns out for you in the comments! I hope you love it as much as I do.
Craving more Italian comfort food? Dont miss these recipes on Cookie and Kate:
- Total Time:1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield:8 servings 1x
Vegan Baked Pasta With Tofu Ricotta
Published: by Jeni · This post may contain affiliate links ·
This Vegan Baked Pasta with Tofu Ricotta is perfect if you are looking for an easy, budget-friendly meal that is also delicious!
Back when I was going to college in Chicago, I was on a strict budget.
Between living in Chicago and going to private art school, I didn’t have lot of extra money to spend on groceries.
One of my favorite recipes to make was this Vegan Baked Pasta with Tofu Ricotta.
This baked pasta recipe doesn’t require any expensive ingredients to make it.
When I first started making this recipe years ago, the vegan cheese options are the market weren’t the greatest. Plus, a little on the expensive side if you have a limited budget.
I think that this baked pasta doesn’t need the extra vegan cheese on top.
If you love vegan shredded cheese and have some on hand, you can always add some halfway through the cooking time.
Don’t Miss: The Beauty And The Baker Season 2
Is Ziti The Same As Penne
Ziti and Penne are similar types of pasta with a few distinct differences.
Ziti is a straight tube pasta with a smooth texture on the exterior. Penne is also a tube pasta, but with the ends cut on a diagonal and ridges on the exterior.
Both are delicious and work well in baked ziti. I personally love to use either Penne or Rigatoni and love that the exterior ridges hold onto the sauce and cheese.
What I Love About Baked Ziti With Ricotta Recipe
I love that this baked ziti with ricotta is so simple to make even though it tastes like a million bucks! With an easy 20-minute prep time, you can still get it in the oven for a family meal even on a busy schedule. The recipe is also flexible, so its easy to suit personal tastes and dietary restrictions.
It tastes just like grandma used to make in less than half the time! Here are some other reasons to fall in love with this recipe.
- Hearty and filling
- Robust meat sauce with garlic
- Easy 20-minute prep
- On the table in under an hour
Recommended Reading: Bush’s Baked Beans Chili Recipe
How Do I Make This Baked Ziti Recipe Without Meat