There’s just something so wonderfully comforting about a bubbling pan of baked pasta, right? Even on the busiest weeknights, I always want to bring a hug of deliciousness to the table. That’s where this Easy Baked Ziti comes in clutch! It’s my absolute go-to because it’s ridiculously simple to throw together, but tastes like you spent hours slaving away. It’s proof that we can keep those cherished, comforting meals alive, even when life gets hectic or we need to whip up something special for a gluten-free guest, like I learned when my youngest son was diagnosed with celiac. The aroma that fills the kitchen as it bakes is just pure magic – an invitation for everyone to gather ’round. You can learn more about my culinary journey on my ‘about’ page!
Why You'll Love This Dish
This recipe is a weeknight lifesaver that doesn’t skimp on flavor. Seriously, you’re going to want to make this again and again.
- Super Easy to Make: Minimal prep means more time with your loved ones.
- Packed with Flavor: Rich marinara, creamy ricotta, and savory spinach make every bite amazing.
- Ultimate Comfort Food: It’s warm, cheesy, and just plain satisfying – perfect for any occasion.
- Family-Approved: Even the pickiest eaters will devour this crowd-pleaser.
- Adaptable: Easy to make gluten-free by swapping out the pasta, just like I do for my son!
Gather Your Ingredients for Easy Baked Ziti
Alright, let’s get our mise en place ready for this amazing Easy Baked Ziti! Having everything prepped makes the actual cooking go by in a flash. Trust me on this one. Here’s what you’ll need:
For the Ziti
- 1 pound ziti pasta (or your favorite pasta shape!)
- 1 tablespoon sea salt, for the pasta water
For the Filling and Sauce
- 4 cups marinara sauce (that’s about a 32-ounce jar)
- 2 cups ricotta cheese (16 ounces of pure creaminess)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced nice and fine
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest – it adds a little brightness you won’t expect!
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (just a pinch for a little warmth)
- 3/4 teaspoon sea salt (we’ll use a bit more here)
- Freshly ground black pepper, to your taste
- Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- 1 pound fresh spinach
For the Topping
- 1 1/2 cups grated smoked mozzarella cheese (yum!)
- 1/4 cup grated pecorino or Parmesan cheese
For Garnish
- Chopped fresh parsley and/or torn basil leaves – makes it look extra special!
Essential Equipment for Making Easy Baked Ziti
You don’t need a ton of fancy gadgets for this recipe, just a few kitchen staples. Make sure you have:
- A 9×13-inch baking dish – this is key for getting that perfect layered bake!
- A medium bowl for mixing the ricotta filling.
- A large pot for cooking the pasta.
Step-by-Step Guide to Your Easy Baked Ziti
Okay, let’s get this deliciousness in the oven! Following these steps will make your Easy Baked Ziti absolutely perfect, every single time. It’s really straightforward, I promise!
Preparing the Baking Dish and Sauce
First things first, crank up that oven to 425°F (that’s 220°C). Grab your 9×13-inch baking dish and spread about half a cup of that lovely marinara sauce all over the bottom. This stops the pasta from sticking and gives it a great base.
Creating the Creamy Ricotta Filling
In a medium bowl, let’s whip up the creamy heart of our ziti. Just toss in the ricotta cheese, that minced garlic, the bright lemon zest (don’t skip this, it’s a secret weapon!), oregano, red pepper flakes for a tiny kick, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and a good grind of black pepper. Give it all a good stir until it’s nicely combined.
Cooking the Ziti Pasta Perfectly
Now, get a big pot of water boiling with that tablespoon of salt. We want it nice and salty, like the sea! Drop in your ziti pasta and cook it until it’s *al dente*. That means it still has a little bite to it – we don’t want mushy pasta here! Drain it well when it’s ready.
Wilted Spinach Preparation
This step is kind of cool. Put that same pot back on the stove over low heat. Add just a tiny drizzle of olive oil to the bottom – enough to keep things from sticking. Toss in your fresh spinach and let it wilt down for just about 1 to 2 minutes until it’s soft. You might need to do this in a couple of batches if your pot is full. Once it’s wilted, turn off the heat, take the spinach out, and gently squeeze out as much water as you can. Then, give it a good chop!
Combining Pasta, Sauce, and Spinach
Toss the drained pasta right back into that pot (no need to wash it!). Add the rest of your marinara sauce, most of that chopped spinach (save a little for layering if you like!), the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and another grind of fresh pepper. Stir it all together until every piece of pasta is coated. It will look delicious already!
Layering Your Easy Baked Ziti
Time to build this amazing dish! Spread about half of your pasta mixture into that prepared baking dish. Next, dollop spoonfuls of that creamy ricotta mixture all over the pasta. Then, spread the remaining chopped spinach over the ricotta. Finally, scoop the rest of the pasta mixture on top, creating that perfect layered look for your Easy Baked Ziti.
Baking and Achieving Golden-Brown Perfection
Now for the grand finale! Sprinkle that lovely smoked mozzarella and the pecorino or Parmesan cheese all over the top. Drizzle a little extra-virgin olive oil over the cheese – it makes it wonderfully crispy and golden. Pop the dish into the hot oven and bake for about 16 to 22 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when the cheese is all melted, bubbly, and looks beautifully browned.
Garnishing and Serving Your Masterpiece
Once it’s out of the oven, let it rest for just a few minutes, maybe 5–10. This helps it set up so it’s not too messy when you cut into it. Then, sprinkle on some fresh parsley or torn basil leaves. Serve it hot, and get ready for the compliments!
Tips for the Best Easy Baked Ziti
Alright, let’s talk about making your Easy Baked Ziti extra special! A few little tricks can make a big difference. First, always use good quality marinara sauce – it’s the backbone of the flavor here. And for the pasta, remember al dente is our friend! We don’t want it falling apart in the oven. Squeezing out that spinach is also key so your ziti doesn’t get watery. Trust me, these little steps make it taste like it came right out of a nonna’s kitchen!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Easy Baked Ziti
Sometimes we don’t have exactly what’s called for, and that’s totally okay! This Easy Baked Ziti is pretty forgiving. If you don’t have ricotta, a good quality cottage cheese works in a pinch – just drain it really well. Pushed for time? A good store-bought marinara is perfectly fine, just make sure it’s one you love the taste of. For the cheese topping, smoked mozzarella gives such a lovely depth of flavor, but regular mozzarella or even provolone will be delicious too. And of course, remember that gluten-free ziti is an easy swap for those avoiding gluten, just like I do for my son!
Frequently Asked Questions about Easy Baked Ziti
Got questions? I’ve got answers! Here are some common things people ask about this delicious pasta dish.
Can I make this baked ziti ahead of time?
Oh, absolutely! This is one of my favorite dinner ideas for meal prep. You can assemble the entire baked ziti (but don’t bake it yet!), cover it tightly with plastic wrap and then foil, and keep it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. When you’re ready to bake, just pop it into the oven, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time since it’s going in cold.
What kind of pasta is best for baked ziti?
Traditionally, tube-shaped pasta like ziti is the best because the sauce and cheese can get trapped inside, which is super yummy! However, penne, rigatoni, or even rotini work wonderfully too. The key is just to make sure you cook it to al dente – you don’t want it to get mushy in the oven. Any of these shapes will make a fantastic pasta recipe!
How do I make this a vegetarian meal?
Good news! This Easy Baked Ziti is already vegetarian, provided you use a vegetarian marinara sauce and Parmesan cheese (some traditional Italian Parmesan uses animal rennet, but most store-bought ones are fine). The spinach and ricotta give it plenty of body, so you don’t miss the meat at all. It’s a true comfort food classic that everyone can enjoy!
Is this recipe good for meal prep?
Definitely! As I mentioned, you can assemble it ahead and bake it later, which is a huge time-saver for busy weeks. Leftovers also reheat beautifully, making it perfect for lunches throughout the week. Just store covered in the fridge and reheat in the oven or microwave until warmed through. It’s a lifesaver when you need quick easy meals!
Serving Suggestions for Easy Baked Ziti
This Easy Baked Ziti is a meal all on its own, but serving it with a few simple sides really makes it special! A crisp green salad with a light vinaigrette is always a winner – it cuts through the richness perfectly. If you’re feeling a bit more indulgent, some warm, garlicky breadsticks or even a simple side of roasted broccoli or green beans are fantastic. It’s all about balancing that hearty pasta goodness!
Storage and Reheating Your Easy Baked Ziti
Got leftovers? Lucky you! This Easy Baked Ziti is even better the next day. Just let it cool down completely, then cover it tightly with plastic wrap or pop it into an airtight container. It’ll stay good in the fridge for about 3-4 days.
To reheat, I love popping a serving in the oven at around 350°F (175°C) until it’s warmed through – it brings back that lovely bubbly texture. If you’re in a real rush, the microwave works too, just heat it in short bursts until it’s nice and hot.
Estimated Nutritional Information
Just a heads-up, the nutritional info for this amazing dish is an estimate, okay? Because brands and exact ingredient amounts can vary, keep this as a guideline. On average, one serving of this easy meal packs around 550-650 calories, 25-35g of fat, 30-40g of protein, and 40-50g of carbohydrates. It’s hearty stuff!
Share Your Easy Baked Ziti Experience!
I hope you absolutely adore making and eating this Easy Baked Ziti as much as my family does! If you try it, please let me know what you think. Drop a comment below, give it a star rating, or even share your photos on social media – I’d love to see your creations! You can also reach out through my contact page!
Easy Baked Ziti
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 425°F. Spread ½ cup marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, minced garlic, lemon zest, oregano, red pepper flakes, ½ teaspoon salt, and several grinds of fresh pepper.
- In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the ziti pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta.
- Return the pot to the stove over low heat. Drizzle the bottom of the pot with a little olive oil and add the spinach. Toss and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes until just wilted. You may need to do this in batches. Turn off the heat, remove the spinach from the pot, and gently squeeze out excess water. Coarsely chop the spinach.
- Add the drained pasta back to the pot along with the remaining marinara sauce, most of the chopped spinach, ¼ teaspoon sea salt, and more fresh pepper. Toss until everything is combined.
- Spread half the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Dollop the ricotta mixture over the pasta, then spread the remaining chopped spinach on top. Scoop the remaining pasta mixture over the spinach.
- Top the ziti with the grated smoked mozzarella and pecorino or Parmesan cheese. Drizzle with olive oil. Bake for 16 to 22 minutes, or until the cheese is browned and bubbly.
- Garnish with fresh parsley or basil leaves and serve hot.
Notes
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Gluten-Free Culinary Storyteller & Recipe Heritage Specialist
Getting diagnosed with non-celiac gluten sensitivity in my late twenties felt like losing my Italian identity. Growing up in nonna’s Brooklyn kitchen, learning traditional techniques that suddenly became off-limits—I decided to fight for those family food traditions instead of giving up.
With my food journalism background and European baking training, I became obsessed with recreating authentic flavors in gluten-free formats. I’ve adapted 400+ traditional recipes from various cultures, with my gnocchi recipe winning “Recipe of the Year” from the National Gluten-Free Living Awards in 2022.
I collaborate with the Italian-American Cultural Center to document traditional family recipes and volunteer with the Westchester Celiac Support Group, teaching monthly pasta-making classes.
Food is the heart of family storytelling. No one should sacrifice their cultural heritage due to dietary restrictions.