5 Ingredient Meatless Baked Ziti (Kraft Copycat Recipe) Recipe
This 5 Ingredient Meatless Baked Ziti is a comforting, cheesy Italian-American classic made with ziti pasta, creamy ricotta, savory pasta sauce, and melted mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. Ready in just 40 minutes, this easy baked ziti casserole is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a cozy family meal. The pasta is cooked al dente, combined with a simple sauce mixture, layered with lots of cheese, baked until bubbly, and then broiled to golden perfection on top.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 16 oz Ziti pasta
- 15 oz Ricotta cheese
- 24 oz Pasta sauce (marinara or your favorite tomato-based sauce)
- 2 cups Shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup Grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook pasta: Boil the ziti pasta in salted water until al dente, which is about 2 minutes less than the package instructions, then drain well.
- Prepare sauce mixture: In a pot over medium-low heat, gently stir together the pasta sauce and ricotta cheese for about 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to warm through.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the pot with the ricotta and tomato sauce mixture, stirring well to coat all the pasta evenly.
- Layer first half: Pour half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle evenly with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Add remaining layers: Spoon the remaining pasta mixture on top, then sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese and the 1 cup grated parmesan cheese to create a cheesy crust.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly throughout.
- Broil for golden top: Switch the oven setting to broil and broil the baked ziti for a few minutes, watching carefully, until the top is golden brown and slightly crisp.
- Rest before serving: Remove the dish from the oven and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes to allow the casserole to set before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Be careful not to overcook the pasta; it should be slightly underdone to avoid becoming mushy after baking.
- You can use any good-quality pasta sauce—homemade or store-bought works well.
- For extra flavor, consider adding Italian herbs such as basil or oregano to the sauce mixture.
- This baked ziti can be assembled in advance and refrigerated before baking; just add a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
- If you prefer a crispier top, you can broil a little longer but watch closely to prevent burning.
