Easy Baked Ziti Recipe – Cheesy and Comforting

Bubbling tomato sauce and a blanket of melted cheese make this Easy Baked Ziti the kind of comforting dinner that feels right on a busy evening. Tender pasta is mixed with creamy ricotta, mozzarella, and sauce, then finished with Parmesan before baking.

The preparation is simple, uses familiar supermarket ingredients, and produces eight generous servings in one 9×13-inch dish. There’s no meat sauce to prepare or complicated layering to manage. After 30 minutes in the oven and a short rest, the casserole is ready to bring to the table.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Ready in one hour, including the required 15-minute resting period.
• Uses jarred spaghetti sauce to keep preparation manageable.
• Combines ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan for a rich, cheesy texture.
• Makes eight servings in a standard 9×13-inch baking dish.
• Works well as a filling meatless dinner or substantial side dish.

Ingredients

• 1 (16-ounce/454 g) package dried ziti
• 24 ounces (680 g) ricotta cheese
• 1 pound (454 g) shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 large egg, beaten, approximately 50 g without the shell
• 1 (32-ounce/907 g) jar prepared spaghetti sauce, approximately 946 mL if sold by fluid measure
• ¼ cup (approximately 25 g) grated Parmesan cheese
• Nonstick cooking spray or another neutral pan-greasing fat, as needed for a light coating

The ricotta’s milk-fat level isn’t essential to the written method, so check the container carefully and use regular refrigerated ricotta rather than a ricotta-style spread. Choose prepared spaghetti sauce that you already enjoy, since its seasoning and texture will shape the finished casserole.

Pre-shredded mozzarella keeps the preparation convenient. The Parmesan should be grated so it can be distributed evenly over the surface instead of forming a few heavy patches.

How to Make This Recipe

Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Baking Dish

Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Apply a light, even coating of nonstick cooking spray or neutral pan-greasing fat to a 9×13-inch baking dish. Set out a large mixing bowl, colander, mixing spoon, and the measured ingredients so assembly moves smoothly once the pasta is drained.

Pro Tip: Grease the corners and sides as well as the bottom. Pasta and melted cheese can cling firmly to the exposed edges of the dish.

Step 2: Cook the Ziti

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a full boil. Add the dried ziti and cook for 8–10 minutes, stopping when it is al dente. The tubes should be tender enough to bite but still retain some firmness. Drain the pasta in a colander and rinse it as directed.

Avoid cooking the ziti until completely soft. It will continue heating in the oven, and overly soft pasta can lose its shape once mixed with the ricotta and sauce.

Step 3: Mix the Pasta and Cheeses

Place the drained ziti in the large mixing bowl. Add the ricotta, shredded mozzarella, beaten egg, and 1½ cups (approximately 355 mL) of the spaghetti sauce. Fold everything together until the pasta is evenly coated and the cheese mixture is distributed throughout the tubes.

Pro Tip: Use a large bowl even if the mixture initially looks manageable. The extra room lets you fold the ingredients together without crushing the pasta or sending mozzarella over the counter.

Step 4: Assemble and Bake

Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared 9×13-inch dish and spread it into an even layer. Spoon the remaining spaghetti sauce over the surface, making sure exposed pasta receives some coverage. Sprinkle the grated Parmesan evenly over the top, then bake at 375°F (190°C) for 30 minutes.

At the end of baking, the cheese should be fully melted, the sauce should be visibly hot around the edges, and the center should register 165°F (74°C). If the center hasn’t reached that temperature, continue baking until it does.

Step 5: Rest Before Serving

Remove the baking dish carefully and leave the Easy Baked Ziti undisturbed for 15 minutes. This rest allows the hot cheese and sauce to settle, making the casserole easier to portion without turning dry or stiff.

Pro Tip: Don’t skip the rest, even when everyone is ready to eat. Straight-from-the-oven ziti is extremely hot and tends to spread across the plate instead of holding a satisfying serving shape.

Expert Tips for Better Results

• Use a roomy pot so the ziti can move freely as it boils instead of sticking together.
• Watch the pasta closely near the eight-minute mark; different brands may reach al dente at slightly different points within the approved range.
• Drain the rinsed pasta thoroughly so excess water doesn’t dilute the spaghetti sauce or loosen the cheese mixture.
• Spread the remaining sauce over exposed pasta. Uncovered pasta tubes can develop dry, firm edges during baking.
• Check the temperature in the center, not near the hot sides of the dish. The middle is generally the last area to heat completely.
• Let the casserole stand for the full 15 minutes before cutting it into eight portions.

Serving Suggestions

• Pair the ziti with a crisp green salad to balance the rich ricotta and melted mozzarella.
• Serve it alongside roasted broccoli or green beans for color and a contrasting texture.
• Add warm garlic bread at the table for scooping up the tomato sauce left on each plate.
• Offer it as a meatless centerpiece with a simple platter of roasted vegetables.
• Divide the casserole into eight portions after resting so every serving includes pasta, sauce, and melted cheese.

Storage and Reheating

• Room temperature: Refrigerate or freeze leftovers within 2 hours of serving.
• Refrigeration: Transfer leftovers to shallow, covered containers and refrigerate for 3–4 days.
• Freezing: Freeze the cooked and cooled ziti in airtight freezer-safe containers for 2–3 months for best quality.
• Thawing: Thaw frozen portions in the refrigerator. The casserole may also be reheated safely from frozen, although it will take longer.
• Oven reheating: Cover the ziti and reheat in an oven set to at least 325°F (163°C) until the center reaches 165°F (74°C).
• Microwave reheating: Place a portion in a covered microwave-safe container, rotate or stir when practical, and heat evenly to 165°F (74°C).
• Timing: Reheating time depends on the portion size, starting temperature, container, and appliance, so use the internal temperature instead of relying on a fixed number of minutes.

Microwaving may leave the cheese softer than oven reheating, while covering the dish helps prevent exposed pasta from becoming dry.