Made with only a few simple ingredients, this 5 Ingredient Baked Ziti is a delicious vegetarian recipe the whole family will love! All you need is ziti, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, ricotta, and eggs!
There's nothing more comforting or delicious than a simple pasta dish! This delicious meal is put together in about 15-20 minutes and then baked for another 20-30 minutes, it's perfection for busy weeknights or a slow weekend. This 5-ingredient baked ziti has quickly become a family favorite in my house!
If you love this recipe, I think you'll also love Greek feta pasta bake, pizza pasta casserole, and meatless baked ziti.
Why You'll Love This 5 Ingredient Baked Ziti
- It's easy to make! This is the perfect easy weeknight dinner to make. With only 5 ingredients and minimal prep time, it doesn't get easier than this simple pasta bake!
- It's great for meal prep! You can put this recipe together up to 3 days in advance and keep it in the refrigerator. On a busy weeknight, simply place it in the oven and let it heat through. Serve it with a side salad and some crusty rolls.
- It's freezer friendly! That's right! This pasta recipe can be made up to 3 months in advance and frozen in a freezer safe container. When you are ready to enjoy it, defrost it, bake, and serve!
Ingredients To Gather
- Ziti pasta. The classic pasta in baked ziti. The shape of the tubed pasta is perfect to catch all the cheese and sauce.
- Tomato sauce. You can use your favorite spaghetti sauce. If you prefer to make your own you can make your own homemade marinara sauce too! Jarred tomato sauce often has Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper already in it so you don't have to add any extra ingredients.
- Mozzarella cheese. To get that ooey gooey cheesy flavor.
- Ricotta. Ricotta gives this baked pasta dish so creamy. You can use whole milk or skim milk ricotta.
- Eggs. The eggs keep the pasta mixture together.
See printable recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions and Variations
- Change the pasta! You can use a gluten-free pasta, rigatoni pasta, or whatever you favorite pasta shape is. Any pasta will be delicious in this easy baked ziti recipe.
- Add some protein! Just like in my chicken parmesan pasta bake, boneless, skinless chicken breast can be sautéed over medium-high heat with a tablespoon of olive oil and then added to the pasta mixture. Lean ground beef, mild Italian sausage, or ground turkey can all be added to the pasta.
- Change the sauce! This is a classic marinara recipe using premade tomato sauce, but you can use a meat sauce or a Bolognese sauce instead for more protein. Feel free to add more flavoring to the sauce such as red pepper flakes, fresh basil, or more Italian seasonings.
- Add more cheese! We love mozzarella, but you can add some parmesan cheese, Pecorino Romano cheese, an Italian cheese blend that you can find in the local grocery store. Cottage cheese or cream cheese is often added to recipes to make this cheesy baked ziti even more cheesy.
- Add veggies! Fresh spinach, chopped onions, chopped zucchini, chopped eggplant, or your favorite veggies to this cheesy pasta.
How To Make 5-Ingredient Baked Ziti
Tips and Tricks
- Since we are only using a few ingredients, it's important that the ingredients are high quality. Don't skimp on the tomato sauce or the mozzarella, keep them the best quality you can find.
- Serve this pasta bake with sourdough dinner rolls, crusty sourdough discard bread, or whole wheat dinner rolls.
- Some side dishes that would be delicious with this pasta is Italian sauteed eggplant, Italian stuffed mushrooms, or Instant Pot asparagus.
Storage Instructions
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat leftovers, place them in a small baking dish and bake for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
This is a great dinner to make ahead too! You can put the pasta dish together completely, place it in the baking dish, and cover it with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Keep it in the refrigerator and then bake for 35-40 minutes or until heated through.
To freeze this recipe, make the recipe completely and add it to a freezer safe baking dish. Allow it to cool to room temperature and then cover it with aluminum foil. Place it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To defrost the pasta, place it in the refrigerator 24 hours before you want to bake it. When it has defrosted, bake it in a preheated oven for 35-40 minutes or until heated through.
5 Ingredient Baked Ziti FAQ
Sure! It won't have that delicious crispy crust, but you can make it in the slow cooker. Add all the ingredients to the slow cooker and cook for 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low.
Sure! Keep the eggs out of the recipe and use vegan mozzarella and a vegan ricotta substitute.
Yes! You can double this recipe and serve one now and then save one and freeze it. It's a great way to meal prep or share a dinner with family and friends.
Did you make this recipe and love it?
If you did, don't forget to leave a 5-star review and comment below! Show me your creation on Instagram or Facebook. Just mention @Lynn'sWayofLife or use this hashtag #lynnswayoflife.
📖 Recipe
5 Ingredient Baked Ziti
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ziti
- 16 oz Ricotta
- 2 Eggs
- 28 ounce Tomato Sauce Jar
- 4 cups Mozzarella Cheese
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together the ricotta, 2 cups of mozzarella, and eggs. Mix well with a wooden spoon until combined. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium heat. Add the ziti noodles to the large pot of water and cook until al dente according to package directions, about 6-8 minutes.
- In a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish, add the pasta sauce and ricotta mixture. Mix well.
- Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and cheese mixture. Mix well right in the baking dish.
- Add the rest of the shredded mozzarella to the top of the pasta. Bake in a preheated oven for 25- 30 minutes or until heated through.
Notes
- Change the pasta! You can use a gluten-free pasta, rigatoni pasta, or whatever you favorite pasta shape is. Any pasta will be delicious in this easy baked ziti recipe.
- Add some protein! Just like in my chicken parmesan pasta bake, boneless, skinless chicken breast can be sautéed over medium-high heat with a tablespoon of olive oil and then added to the pasta mixture. Lean ground beef, mild Italian sausage, or ground turkey can all be added to the pasta.
- Change the sauce! This is a classic marinara recipe using premade tomato sauce, but you can use a meat sauce or a Bolognese sauce instead for more protein. Feel free to add more flavoring to the sauce such as red pepper flakes, fresh basil, or more Italian seasonings.
- Add more cheese! We love mozzarella, but you can add some parmesan cheese, Pecorino Romano cheese, an Italian cheese blend that you can find in the local grocery store. Cottage cheese or cream cheese is often added to recipes to make this cheesy baked ziti even more cheesy.
- Add veggies! Fresh spinach, chopped onions, chopped zucchini, chopped eggplant, or your favorite veggies to this cheesy pasta.
Randy Ronning says
I made your baked ziti recipe for my family and they loved it!!! With only 5 ingredients that I had in the house, this pasta recipe was quick to throw together and tasted delicious!! Thank you for our family's new favorite dinner meal!
Lynn Polito says
So happy to hear that!
Claudia says
I love recipes like this that taste way more complex than they are. This will definitely become a new go-to budget meal or busy weeknight option!
Lynn Polito says
So happy to hear that! Thanks for making my recipe!
Sage Scott says
This fast and easy ziti recipe was perfect for our busy Tuesday night. I paired it with a salad kit salad, and dinner was on the table in no time!
Jane says
This was delicious, my family loved it.
We had it with a green salad and some garlic bread and everyone finished their plates.
I'll be making it again for sure.
I think I might try Italian sausage in it like you suggest.
Lynn Polito says
Yes! A little Italian sausage is a great addition! Thanks for making my recipe!