Classic Baked Ziti
This classic baked ziti dish is a winner, winner pasta dinner! It is perfectly cheesy, perfectly saucy, and it is packed with flavor.
I’ve tried many, many baked ziti recipes after posting this one back in 2009 and I always come back to it.
It’s amazing and is definitely among my favorite baked pasta dishes of all time (which is saying a lot because I love me some pasta). Enjoy!
FAQs for Classic Baked Ziti
Just every day canned tomato sauce!
You can use shredded mozzerella as well!
Ricotta might be a bit dry, so maybe add a little extra milk or liquid if needed. If you don’t like cottage cheese, try blending it up first.
Yes- here’s a tip: prepare the recipe right up until the baking step and then cover with a double layer of aluminum foil that’s been lightly greased with cooking spray. Freeze. Thaw in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. To bake, increase the time by another 20 minutes or so. If baking from frozen, bake covered for 1 hour and 30 minutes, uncover and bake 30 minutes longer.
Classic Baked Ziti
Ingredients
- 1 pound 1% cottage cheese, about 2 cups
- 2 large eggs
- 2 ounces about 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 pound ziti or other similar pasta, like rigatoni or penne
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 5 medium garlic cloves, finely minced (about 5 teaspoons)
- 1 (28-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- Black pepper
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 cup milk, 1% or above
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9X13-inch baking pan and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the cottage cheese, eggs and 3/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese.
- Cook the pasta in a pot of salted, boiling water until it begins to soften but isn’t cooked all the way (cook it about three minutes short of the package directions) – it will finish cooking in the oven.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat oil and garlic in a large skillet over medium heat until the garlic is fragrant but not browned, about 2 minutes. Stir in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, sugar, basil and oregano; simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes. Take off the heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Drain the pasta and leave it in the colander. Return the pot (no need to wash) to the stovetop. Whisk together the cornstarch and milk and pour it into the pot set over medium heat. Bring the milk to a simmer and cook until thickened, whisking constantly, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Remove the pot from the heat and add the cottage cheese mixture, 1 cup or so of the simmered tomato sauce, and half of the mozzarella cubes. Stir to combine. Add the cooked pasta and stir to coat well with the saucy mixture.
- Transfer the pasta to the prepared pan and spread the remaining tomato sauce evenly over pasta. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cubes and remaining Parmesan cheese over the top.
- Cover the baking dish with foil that has been lightly sprayed with cooking spray and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove the foil and continue to cook until the cheese is bubbling and beginning to brown, about 30 minutes longer. Cool for 10 minutes. Serve.
Notes
Recommended Products
Recipe Source: adapted from Cook’s Illustrated
Anonymous – thanks for your review of this recipe! I’m especially glad your picky eaters liked it, too. Thanks!
Just wanted to add my two cents. This was wonderful! I made it last night and my very picky eaters gobbled it right up. I was impressed. Thanks for all the wonderful recipes! I love your blog and visit it daily 🙂
Sharon Griffin – thanks for letting me know you liked this ziti dish. I really hope you like the baked pasta as it is one of my favorites. Thank you so much for checking in!
Made this last week also along with the Tuscan Mac & Cheese. Utterly delicious!!!!
Going to make some more of your recipes this week:
Baked Pasta with Chicken Pasta and Chicken Tortellini Bake
Thanks for sharing all of the great recipes.
Megan – the temperature is kind of hidden in the first paragraph but it is baked at 350 degrees. It can be baked at the same temperature if frozen, but it needs more time in the oven (the directions are in italics below the recipe). Good luck!
I love your site and have it on my bookmarks to check regularly! I am very interested in this baked ziti! I like that you can freeze it. I may just be blind but I didn’t see what temp you cook it at? And is the temp the same for if it’s frozen or not frozen? Thanks so much!
Lizzy – this definitely makes enough to feed a crowd. I’m glad you liked it! Thanks for letting me know.
Tai – thanks for your comment! It was so nice and I’m so glad that this turned out great for you. The addition of italian sausage sounds wonderful!
i love baked pasta dishes like this–as good as lasagna but with less than half the work. i used to order baked ziti all the time at a little chain called fazoli’s (even though the righteous breadsticks were the main draw…). 🙂
I made this tonight. It was simple and the recipe was easy to follow. It was so yummy! We have enough for lunch and dinner tomorrow! Thanks!
Amanda – that’s not a stupid question at all. Thanks for calling my attention to the typo. You add the sugar with the oregano. I edited the recipe. Thanks!
Also – I am really glad you like the french bread rolls. They are some of my favorite, too!
Hi Jennie – I’m glad this meal was a hit at your house. About the tomato sauce, the recipe really does call for 28 ounces (I used 3 1/2 of the 8 oz. cans) because the pasta soaks up a lot of the sauce while baking (at least, that is the idea). I’m surprised your was saucy enough with just the 8 oz. can but I’m sure glad it was! Thanks for checking in and letting me know.
Sounds so good! I love pasta. What a great website, I look forward to your posts. Dinner at our house is always the same too, too many kids and not enough hands (or legs) to help everyone. I try to make as much of dinner as I can in the morning when I make breakfast. That way I can just pop it in the oven when it’s time. The kitchen is already clean when it’s time to eat and the only dishes are what we ate with.
This is exactly the one that I make. Wonderful, isn’t it? It’s a good one to make for people too… like when someone has a baby, sick friend, etc.
I have become a big fan of your blog. I’ve tried many of your recipes and have loved them all. Can’t wait to try the ziti. I love that it’s meatless.
Thanks!
Baked pasta always hits the spot!
I can’t wait to give this a try. It is exactly what I’ve been looking for. It looks fantastic Mel!
KT – I’m not sure what are typical ingredients for ziti, either, but the cottage cheese in this definitely adds creaminess. It is delicious!
I think it’s delicious but my problem is, too many ingredients to have with. I don’t think I can buy all that ingredients but anyway it’s nice to recognize some foods. thanks!
Yum!!! Can’t wait to try this!
Molly – thanks for letting me know you liked this! Your comment was sweet and much appreciated.
I have had the same dilemma. I just haven’t found the right recipe for baked ziti. I’m gonna have to try this one! Thanks.
I made this and I love it. It’s going to be my new recipe when I have to take someone dinner.
That looks amazing! MMM my mouth is watering!
Great website!
Oh man, NO you are not alone with the dinner time craze!!! I’m excited to try this recipe.
This looks amazing. My family loves pasta, so this will be a hit!
I completely agree with you. I just had my second child, so with a BUSY 2 year old and a 2 month old, I do as much prep for dinner earlier in the day when they’re either a) both happier than they are around dinner time or b) at least one of them is asleep. Makes for a lot less stress at dinner time.
This recipe looks great, I’ll be trying it soon!
You are not alone in trying to fix dinner with kids. I will have to try this because it happens every day! Love this blog, thanks~
Melanie – glad you liked this. Too bad I won’t be in your corner of the world when you have your new baby and I’d make it for you!
This is one delicious comfort food. It looks fabulous!!
Natalie – thanks for posting and letting me know you liked this!
We made this for dinner tonight – I was on the hunt for dinner and I just happened to have almost everything needed for this! We love it, easy easy and the kids gobbled it up!
Thanks for another great recipe – I love your blog!
Mmm, I love any meal that I can freeze! then I have an excuse to ‘make’ DH cook dinner for me 🙂
I love your site! Your recipes always turn out wonderfully and this one was no different! Baked Ziti is a family favorite and I am always up for trying a new recipe. This one was so yummy! The only thing I added was mild italian sausage to the tomato sauce. Thanks for another keeper!!
This sounds wonderful and you can’t go wrong with Cook’s Illustrated. I’m putting this on my next menu. Thanks Melanie!
Can’t wait to try this one, Mel!
I LOVE baked ziti, it has to be one of my many favorites! Looks delicious!
This baked ziti looks FANTASTIC! I am so impressed. I love a good baked ziti and am always looking for a stellar recipe to make. Thanks for giving me one! Love your blog and can’t wait to keep reading more of your yummy posts!
P.S Is it just me or now that you have had that Perfect Lemon Cake do you crave it all the time too? I’m just waiting for another excuse to make one!
I think we’re going to try this next week. I have a stupid question, though. The recipe calls for sugar, but the instructions don’t. My guess is that it goes in the tomato sauce with the other spices?
BTW, I used to always make the Lion House Rolls because my DH loves them. However, now he can’t decide between those and the french bread rolls.
Beautiful! I’m a sucker for anything pasta…I have tried freezing pasta, but it tends to be a little soggy. Perhaps parboiling part of the pasta will help?
Cheryl – Thanks for the comment! It was much appreciated. I love the connections made through blogging. By the way, I am seriously impressed that your 11-year old knows her way around the kitchen so well! Way to go!
I posted this today. My little family loved it! Thanks Melanie!
Okay Melanie- I have no idea who you are, but I feel like we’re friends! I have four little one’s too and and I rarely blog! I have had a very busy year and your recipes have been such a blessing. My teenage girls love it too! My 11 year old makes your cheesecake all of the time. I have made several of your recipes and everyone was delicious. I make my weekly shopping list off of your site! Your efforts are truly appreciated!
Cheryl
That looks SO good! I’ve never made baked ziti before so I don’t know the “normal” ingredients – is cottage cheese typical? Interesting! I will have to try this out, thanks for sharing 🙂
Hi Melanie,
made this for dinner last night – it was a hit! my 2 1/2 yr old had thirds, which is very rare for her!
I have one question and one comment: did you really mean 28 oz of tomato sauce, or just the more common 8 oz can? I did the 8 oz and it was plenty saucy. Also, I used my wand blender to puree the cottage cheese (to disguise it from my picky daughter) and it was great like that. More the texture of ricotta, which I think would be awesome to substitute if you didn’t have cottage cheese.
that’s all! thanks for another great recipe!
I always find that wine works great in my sauces (and for getting my babies to sleep). Do you ever simmer your sauces with cooking wine, or vodka?
An easy way to make ziti sauce is make it just like how you make your spighetti sauce,add a small jar of the same sauce flavor you are using,add a medium container of ricotta cheese to your sauce,mix together till the sauce gets hot again,mix in cooked ziti noodles mix together and put a 2 cup package of mozzarella cheese on top cook for 35 to 40 mins then broil till the cheese starts to turn brown you have to watch this no more than 2 to 4 mins on this then serve,It’s great for breakfast!
When I came across this recipe, my first thought was, just another pasta dish, no thank you! My experience with pasta dishes haven’t been great at all, I usually buy a jar of sauce, mix it with cooked pasta and throw cheese on top and dinner is served. When I finally decided to make my own sauce, I was super excited because the recipe was from the food network, thinking it had to be great, right? Well, the sauce was terrible! It was so bitter and hence forth I decided that all homemade pasta sauces were bitter. But, this recipe kept calling my name, lol, it really did, so I decided to make it this weekend, and I’m so happy to say that this was the best pasta dish I ever made!! My husband went crazy over this dish. We were in pasta heaven! Thank You, thank you!!!
Gina – that is such a bummer when you get turned off to a certain style of food just because you’ve had bad luck with lame recipes. I’m glad this ziti helped convince you that pasta is actually ok! Glad you liked it.