Baked Ziti is a simple and delicious baked pasta dish that never fails to please. This easy baked ziti recipe is extra creamy and cheesy thanks to our secret ingredient. Everything bakes together into something so tasty, no one will be able to resist. It will be the new family favorite for weeknight dinners!
What’s in Easy Baked Ziti
This baked pasta is so simple. There’s just a few ingredients (pasta, sauce, cheese, check!) and a few steps between you and a creamy, cheesy dinner!
- Ziti Pasta: Cook the ziti al dente before adding it into the casserole. You can use penne or another tube shaped pasta instead if that’s what you have on hand.
- Marinara Sauce: Use your favorite jar of sauce, or make this homemade marinara sauce.
- Cream Cheese: This is my secret ingredient that adds a deliciously cheesy and creamy texture to the ziti. Let it soften before mixing into the sauce.
- Cheese: A mix of mozzarella and Parmesan is perfect. Freshly shredded and grated cheese will melt best.
- Basil: Fresh basil adds the perfect flavor. You could also mix in thyme, oregano, or any herbs you like.
You might have noticed there’s no ricotta cheese in this baked ziti recipe. In my experience, cream cheese makes a better substitute because it is so creamy!
Can I add meat to this baked ziti recipe?
This is a meatless ziti recipe, but it’s really easy to add meat if you prefer. Follow the recipe as is, and mix in Italian sausage, ground beef, or ground chicken (brown the meat before adding it in).
Or you can use your favorite meat sauce in place of the marinara (try this spaghetti sauce). It’s really easy to cook ground beef to mix in with the marinara, and then mix that into the pasta.
Meat or no meat, this is the best baked ziti and everyone will love it!
Email This Recipe
Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you!
Bake it covered for the first 30 minutes, then finish baking uncovered.
Yes! If you prefer, substitute meat sauce in place of the marinara.
Cooking the pasta al dente means just until it starts to soften, but still firm to the bite. You don’t want it to be too soft since it will cook in the casserole.
It will bake for a total of around 45 minutes.
The layering of pasta, sauce, and cheese will keep the pasta from drying out in the oven. Keeping it covered for the first part of baking helps too!
Yes! If you prefer to use a slow cooker instead of the oven, follow the instructions for this Crockpot Baked Ziti recipe.
How to Make Ahead and Store Ziti
To Make it Ahead of Time: Follow the recipe as is through Step 7; assemble everything in the baking dish, but stop before baking. Instead, cover the ziti in the casserole dish and refrigerate up to 2 days or freeze for 2 months.
When ready to bake, let it sit out while the oven preheats (fully thaw if frozen). Then just follow the rest of the baking instructions. Cover and bake 30 minutes at 375°F, then bake uncovered for another 15-20 minutes.
To Store: Store leftovers in an airtight container, and keep in the refrigerator up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave.
How to Freeze Baked Pasta
This pasta makes a great freezer meal! Freeze the unbaked casserole as instructed above if you are making it ahead of time. Or freeze leftovers in a freezer-safe container up to 2 months. Thaw before reheating.
What to Serve with Creamy Baked Ziti
This cheesy pasta dish is a family favorite for weeknight meals. It’s best served with some garlic bread or these Olive Garden style breadsticks. You can also start with a Chicken Caesar Salad, or add zucchini au gratin.
If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy! You can also jump to recipe.
Easy Creamy Baked Ziti Recipe
Email This Recipe
Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you!
Ingredients
- 1 pound uncooked ziti
- 1 32 ounce jar Marinara sauce
- 8 ounces cream cheese 1 package softened
- 16 ounces shredded mozzarella
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375°F and spray an 11×9-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large saucepan, cook the pasta according to package instructions (al dente/no salt), and drain.1 pound uncooked ziti
- In the same large saucepan set over medium heat, cook the marinara sauce and cream cheese together until the cheese melts. Stir often.1 32 ounce jar Marinara sauce, 8 ounces cream cheese
- Add the pasta to the marinara/cheese sauce and mix well.
- Pour half the marinara/cheese/ziti sauce in the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with half the mozzarella and half the Parmesan cheeses.16 ounces shredded mozzarella, ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Sprinkle the cheeses with 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil.¼ cup chopped fresh basil
- Layer the remaining marinara/cheese/ziti sauce over the cheese and top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Cover and bake at 375° for 30 minutes.
- Remove the cover and bake an additional 15-20 minutes or until the baked ziti is bubbly and cheese is golden.
- Garnish with the remaining chopped basil and serve with toasted baguette.
- Enjoy!
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- To add meat: brown ground beef, Italian sausage, or preferred meat, then mix into the marinara.
Nutrition Information
Can you add like ground turkey meat and be ok?
Definitely modify to your liking!
This is an amazing recipe! All the other baked ziti recipes I found had so many ingredients we didn’t have available! My family loved this!
So happy to hear you’ve found a recipe that works for your crew!
Hi, what is your favorite jar of marinara sauce for your pasta recipes? Do you use the same brand for all your recipes or do you switch it up? Thx
I love DeLallo!!
My favorite is Bertolli
Rao’s is very good!
Easy to make and filling as well with all that cheese! I do agree with another poster that it could use more spices, but I wasn’t really sure what to add.
You can always add salt/pepper or some Italian seasoning!
Interesting, I just left a comment, but I now see this one, meaning I must have made it before and forgot to mark it. This time I added Italian seasoning and some hot red pepper flakes, and the flavor was great.
Yummmy!!
Becky,
My family loved this recipe. Crisp around the ended after cooking it. I never have ricotta cheese in the house, but I always have cream cheese. I think that I may try this next time with my homemade sauce. Would that work?
I think that would work just fine!! I’m so happy you all loved this one so much!
Can this be frozen before baked.
Yes, absolutely!
Can this be made with lower fat mozzarella cheese?
Yes, absolutely!!
This was great! My family was wondering why I’ve never made this before. Thank you for the new addition in the line up!
No problem!! I’m always happy to help!
Loved this recipe I never used cream cheese in it before. The only thing I did was add hamburger, fresh spinach and while assembling I added cold cream cheese doll ups so good people came back for seconds
YUM! Those additions sound great!
The BEST ziti I have ever had!!!
That’s great to hear! Thanks for sharing, Kimberly!