We know it’s pretty bold to refer to this dish as the best of its kind. But, wait until you make it.
There are so many things to love about this iconic Italian-American dish. It can be made in advance. It feeds a lot of hungry people. Leftovers are amazing. But, more than anything, it is incredibly delicious. The homemade marinara sauce is what puts it over the top! Serve it with a Caesar salad and cheesy garlic bread for a meal your guests won’t soon forget!
How To Make Baked Ziti
Though the history of baked ziti goes back for generations and generations, this recipe delivers that authentic taste that we all love so much!
We love that so many of the elements of this dish can be made in advance.
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The Ingredients You Will Need
This is one of those dishes that has more than a handful of ingredients, but, none of them are exotic.
Here Is What You’ll Need to Have on Hand
Marinara sauce – This can be made well in advance. It freezes beautifully. It should be repeated, this marinara is key to making a best-ever dish.
Oil – Olive oil or extra-virgin olive oil is recommended.
Mirepoix – Onions, celery, carrots – chopped.
Italian sausage – We love a combination of sweet and hot, but that’s up to you.
Ground beef – 85% lean has lots of flavor. Be sure to discard rendered grease responsibly.
Seasonings – Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper is all you need.
Red wine – Not 100% necessary, but it definitely adds a depth of flavor to the sauce.
Tomato paste – Adds more to the flavor profile and helps to slightly thicken the sauce.
Ricotta – Whole milk, please.
Mozzarella – Shredded is fine, just use a top-notch variety.
Parmesan cheese – Grated.
Dried pasta – Any small tubular pasta will work, but, obviously, ziti is traditional.
Parsley – Freshly chopped, for a pretty garnish.
EXPERT TIP: 99.5% of the alcohol from the wine will evaporate out during the simmering process. If you prefer to not cook with wine, just omit it. You’ll still get a delicious sauce.
Tips for Perfect Baked Ziti
Use High-Quality Ingredients – For the best flavor, use high-quality ingredients, including fresh herbs, San Marzano tomatoes, and good quality ricotta and mozzarella cheese.
Make the Marinara Sauce – Homemade marinara sauce is easy to make and tastes much better than store-bought versions. Use San Marzano tomatoes, garlic, onion, and fresh herbs to create a rich and flavorful sauce.
Cook the Pasta Until It Is al Dente – Overcooked pasta will become mushy and won’t hold up well in the baked ziti. Be sure to cook the pasta until it is just tender, then rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process.
EXPERT TIP: Use a ladle or large spoon to add the layers of meat sauce. Add it in dollops and then use the back of the spoon (or your fingers) to spread the sauce over the cheese and noodles. Be sure to leave plenty of sauce for the top of the ziti.
How To Serve and Store
As mentioned, the ziti can be prepared several days in advance before baking. Simply wrap in plastic wrap or foil and keep refrigerated for no more than 3 days. It can also be frozen (before baking) for up to 2 months. Let thaw completely before baking.
This dish is perfect for serving right from the pan. If passing tableside, be sure to include hot pads, or kitchen towels to grip the warm handles.
Leftover baked ziti is spectacular. You can easily heat it up in the microwave on HIGH for 1 to 2 minutes. Or, cover the pan with foil and cook in a 350°F oven for 30 minutes, or until warm all the way through and bubbling.
For wine, a good solid red is ideal, such as a cabernet or zinfandel.
Other Classic Italian-American Dishes to Try
Some of these dishes are strictly Italian, and some of them are Italian-American. All of them are authentic and truly spectacular. Give them all a try!
Rustic Bolognese Lasagna
Homemade Stuffed Manicotti
Spinach and Cheese Cannelloni
Best-Ever Eggplant Parmesan
Chicken Piccata
Baked Eggplant Rollatini
Classic Spaghetti and Meatballs
Penne alla Vodka
Spaghetti Vongole (Pasta with White Clam Sauce)
Shrimp Marinara
Salmon Puttanesca
These are so classic and through-the-roof delicious! But, in the meantime, isn’t this dish grabbing your attention?
There is truly something magical about this dish.
You can easily cut the recipe in half if not serving a group. But, remember, leftovers are excellent and will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 to 7 days.
Just wait until you lift that first steaming spoonful from the pan. Get ready for big anticipation!
When we serve this, we love to garnish the top of the dish with freshly chopped parsley.
And be sure to have plenty of Parmesan cheese available for guests and family to add more, if they desire.
We pass a block of Parmesan and a cheese grater, for a nice touch.
This dish is truly about as good as it comes when you’re looking for Italian-American comfort food.
Ready to make the best baked pasta dish this side of Little Italy? Go for it!
And when you do, be sure to take a photo of it, post it on Instagram, and tag @HowToFeedaLoon and hashtag #HowToFeedaLoon!
Best-Ever Baked Ziti
Video
Equipment
- Lasagna pan or large casserole dish (9x13, or larger)
Ingredients
Make Ahead
- fresh marinara sauce or quality store-bought
For the Meat Sauce
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 medium onion chopped (about ½ cup)
- 2 stalks celery chopped (about ½ cup)
- 1 medium carrot peeled and chopped (about ½ cup)
- ½ lb sweet Italian sausage casings removed, if links
- ½ lb hot Italian sausage casings removed, if links
- 1 lb ground beef 85% lean
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- ½ cup red wine
- 5 cups fresh marinara sauce click for recipe
- 3 tablespoon tomato paste
For the Baked Ziti
- 16 oz ziti dried, or rigatoni
- 16 oz ricotta cheese whole milk
- 3 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 2 tablespoon Italian parsley chopped, for garnish
Instructions
Do Ahead
- Prepare the marinara sauce (see link to recipe in Ingredients List)fresh marinara sauce
Make the Meat Sauce
- Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, and carrot and cook until soft, about 7 - 10 minutes.¼ cup olive oil, 1 medium onion, 2 stalks celery, 1 medium carrot
- Crumble the sausage with your hands into the pot and then add the beef. Cook until almost no longer pink.½ lb sweet Italian sausage, ½ lb hot Italian sausage, 1 lb ground beef
- Season with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper.Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- At this point, if too much grease has been rendered, tilt the skillet and use a spoon to remove excess fat. Discard safely. Leave a little in the pan for added flavor.
- Add the wine and cook until the liquid is almost all gone, about 3 to 4 minutes.½ cup red wine
- Add the prepared marinara and tomato paste and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes. Set aside.5 cups fresh marinara sauce, 3 tablespoon tomato paste
Assemble and Bake the Dish
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti according to package instructions for al dente. Drain and set aside.16 oz ziti
- In a lasagna pan (or a deep casserole dish), ladle a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of the dish, about 2 cups.
- Add a layer of cooked ziti, a little more than a third of the pasta.
- Top with dollops of half of the ricotta and then 1 cup of the mozzarella.16 oz ricotta cheese, 3 cups mozzarella cheese
- Sprinkle about ¼ cup of Parmesan on top of that.1 cup Parmesan cheese
- Repeat this process again. (You'll want to leave a handful of the cooked pasta and then several cups of the sauce for the topping of the dish).
- Top with a handful of pasta, then another layer of the sauce, 1 cup of mozzarella, and another ¼ cup of Parmesan on top.
- Baked, uncovered, for 45 to 50 minutes, until lightly browned on top and bubbly.
- Garnish with chopped parsley. Let rest for about 5 minutes, and then serve with additional grated Parmesan on the side.2 tablespoon Italian parsley
Notes
Nutrition
POST UPDATE: This recipe was originally published in April 2018, but was updated with improved tweaks to the recipe with new tips and photography and a fabulous new video in July 2023!
Doris de Leeuw says
I live in the Netherlands and Love you recipes. 😉
Kris Longwell says
Hi Doris! That fills our hearts with joy! We visited the Netherlands back in the 90s and it was one of the most lovely and beautiful places we have ever visited Thank you so much for your support! Sending lots of love from Texas, U.S.!!!! xoxo Kris & Wesley
Sandy says
Hi! Looking forward to making this — it sounds delicious! Can you recommend a substitute for the red wine? Thank you.
Kris Longwell says
Hi Sandy! You can just omit it and use beef stock in its place! Hope this helps! Let us know if you make the ziti and how it turns out! (it’s one of our favorites!).
Joanne says
This recipe is
I was pressed for time
So
I cheated
I used high end sauce in jar
I also made it meatless as that’s my family’s preference
It was so amazing
I can’t imagine how good it will be reheated
It’s so good, when I find time, I will make the Marinara Sauce recipe
My family ♥️♥️♥️ this recipe
Kris Longwell says
Hi Joanne!! Woo hoo!!!! Sounds like you prepared it wonderfully. When you have the time, make the homemade marinara, it really does put it over the top! Thank you so so much for sharing and for the awesome review! That truly means the world to us!! xoxo Kris & Wesley
Dawn says
Can I substitute cottage cheese for ricotta?
Kris Longwell says
Absolutely! It will still be delicious!
Nancy Durkin says
Another absolute winner!! I respectfully recommend choosing oregano as one of the herbs in the marinara.
Kris Longwell says
Hi Nancy! Yay!! Sure! Oregano would be a great addition to the marinara!!! Thanks for sharing and for the wonderful review! We always appreciate that so very much! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Pasta Pat says
You added milk? Don’t see that. I didn’t. Everything ready, waiting for pasta to cook. Let you know if the completed project is as wonderful as the marinara and meat sauce. Love that the marinara recipe size is good for second casserole.
Keep thinking about milk.
Pasta Pat says
Oh my! Great flavor. Next time I’m going to check at 40 minutes for my oven. At 45 minutes it’s a delicious chew in the corners. Truly a scrumptious ziti.
Patti Vallaire says
I am anxious to try this recipe, but for me 2 lbs of meat for 6 servings is too much. I will reduce the meat by half. If this sounds like it will be a failure, please say so.
Kris Longwell says
Hi Patti!
Sorry for the delayed response! It’s definitely 6 large servings. You can reduce the meat to 1 lb, no problem. Let us know how it turns out and what you think!
Claire says
I put this together in 2 smaller casseroles and froze one. I had a few noodles and a tiny bit of sauce leftover and thought, “What would Wesley do?” Yep, one by one I scooped some sauce onto a few noodles. That alone was fantastic! As always, this recipe was amazing!!! No recipe ever disappoints!!! Thanks Kris! XOXOXO to both of you and the pups!!!
Kris Longwell says
Claire!! That sounds absolutely perfect! Do as Wesley would do and you’ll usually be just fine (usually…LOL!). We are so happy you loved the baked ziti and thank you so so much for letting us know and for the wonderful review. That honestly means so much to us!!! xoxoxo Kris, Wesley, Ebenezer, and Florence (Eb and Flo).
Chris says
I am thinking about making this to take to a Thanksgiving gathering. Usually I make macaroni and cheese, but was considering doing something different this year. What are the dimensions of the “large baking dish?”
Kris Longwell says
Hi Chris, any dish ranging from 9×13 or a size larger will work. As Joe mentioned, a little extra depth is nice to have. There’s really not a science to this dish, regarding layering. We just layer the pasta, cheese, and sauce until the dish is filled then add another layer of shredded mozzarella on top. Depending on the size of your dish, you may have a little extra pasta or sauce, which is great to have on the side! Hope this helps and Happy Thanksgiving!
Chris says
Thank you. So far, so good. I made the marinara this evening and plan to make the meat sauce tomorrow evening. Then, I will put everything together and probably bake it Thanksgiving morning. Thank you for sharing the recipe! Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
Kris Longwell says
Awesome!! Have a wonderful day!!!
Carol says
I made your recipe tonight for Best-Ever Baked Ziti. It was outstanding!!! Seriously the best I have ever made, I did make my own sauce but made this exactly as your recipe. For sure will be making this many more times. Thank You, Carol
Carol says
I forgot to give it 5 stars 😉
Kris Longwell says
THANK YOU!!!!!
Kris Longwell says
Carol! That’s so awesome to hear! We love baked ziti, it’s so comforting and yummy. And so glad you made the sauce! We think it’s what makes the ziti so special. And thank you so much for letting us know and for the great review! We always appreciate that so very, very much! All the best!!! Kris & Wesley
Joe says
It should be a lasagna pan. 9×13 is large enough, but it needs to be at least 3 inches deep. Most 9×13 pans are only 2 inches deep. The depth is more important than the other dimensions. Since I don’t have a lasagna pan, I use three 9×4 loaf pans. That gives me the depth, and I can freeze some for later.
Renée says
My whole family loved your Best ever Ziti bake recipe. I substitute the ground beef for ground turkey.
P. S. You both are so cute!
krislongwell says
Hi Renée! That is so wonderful to hear!! That’s a big win pleasing the whole family and we are so very happy you all enjoyed the recipe! That is a family favorite in our house, for sure!! (Making a big batch tonight for an extended family getaway this weekend, in fact!). And thank you so much for letting us know. That means so very much to us!! Please stay in touch!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Maureen says
Hi My name is Maureen and Love this recipe!being Italian this recipe is the best way to make baked ziti! Ty for sharing it!!
Pam Lobb says
Was outstanding thanks for sharing. Everyone loved it.
krislongwell says
That is so great to hear, Pam!! And thank you so much for letting us know, we truly appreciate it!! Stay in touch!! Best, Kris & Wesley
Nancy says
I love to cook and combed the Internet for a really good ziti recipe and stumbled onto your site. First of all, your video is hilarious. The ingredient list had my mouth watering and The marinara sauce IS to die for. I made it for Super Bowl Sunday and it truly is the best ever baked ziti and I will never try any other recipe. Can’t wait to make it again and try some of your other dishes. I love it when a recipe does not disappoint! Wish you both continued success in the culinary world!
krislongwell says
Hi Nancy!! Thank you for making our day, weekend…heck, our month!! We are SO thrilled that you had success with the baked ziti! We absolutely love it, too, and it’s always so great to serve to a gathering of loved ones!! And thank you so very much for taking the time to let us know. That means the world to us. Please stay in touch!!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Katie Siegmund says
I’m trying this recipe for the men and women working at our local fire department on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day(including my son-in-law)! So far it smells delicious! I will let you know their response!!
krislongwell says
Hi Katie!! So sorry for the delayed response!! We are so glad you made this ziti. It’s one of our all-time favorite dishes. How did it turn out? Hope you all enjoyed it!! Best, Kris & Wesley
Mandy says
Ha. This recipe is delicious, but it doesn’t say where to add the ricotta, so I forgot. I bet it would be even better with it!
Joan says
#6 in “Assemble and Bake the Ziti” section
John Hacker says
Where’s the GARLIC…..?
Vanessa says
I’m looking forward to trying this recipe! Can you substitute with Ground Turkey and Turkey sausages?
krislongwell says
Absolutely! I’ve done that before, and it’s still really, really good. Let us know how it turns out, Venessa!! Best, Kris & Wesley
Who Let the Mum Out? says
This sounds delicious! I love baked ziti!
Who Let the Mum Out?
krislongwell says
Thanks! It’s pretty tasty!!