This meatless baked ziti recipe is jam-packed with flavor. It has layers of tender ziti, pasta sauce, and a super creamy ricotta cheese filling, all topped with melty mozzarella. This is a dish the whole family is sure to love!
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The Best Meatless Baked Ziti
If you love lasagna but aren't a fan of the long process that goes into making it, you're going to fall in love with this baked ziti recipe. It's so much quicker and easier to make than lasagna, and it has all the same flavors.
This is hands down one of my favorite recipes to whip up on a busy weeknight since it's virtually effortless but tastes so rich and decadent. Everyone always loves this meatless baked ziti recipe too!
From the creamy ricotta cheese mixture to the simple pasta sauce and crisp yet tender noodles, what's not to love?
To make the meal even better, you can serve it with these Olive Garden breadsticks, and La Scala chopped salad or house salad.
Why This Recipe Works
Simple to make. You basically just cook the pasta, make the ricotta mixture, and layer everything in a casserole dish. It'll take about 10 minutes to prepare, then the oven takes care of the rest.
The flavor. This meatless baked ziti is so good that it doesn't even need the meat. It's warm, filling, flavor, and is the ultimate comfort food meal.
5 ingredients. That's all you need to make this recipe, and the ingredients are super basic ones too.
Ingredients
I just mentioned the ingredients for this meatless baked ziti are beyond simple, and those ingredients are:
- 8 oz. ziti pasta, cooked according to package instructions
- 12oz. pasta or marinara sauce
- 8oz. ricotta cheese or cream cheese
- 2 small eggs
- 1 ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
If you like meatless pasta recipes, you have to make this vegetable lasagna with white sauce next. You can use any leftover ricotta and mozzarella cheese that you have to make it!
How To Make Meatless Baked Ziti
1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 350°F and cook the pasta if you haven't done so already.
2. Make the cheese mixture: Beat the ricotta cheese or cream cheese and eggs in a large bowl until combined. Add half the mozzarella cheese and stir to mix everything.
3. Assemble the ziti: Spread a few tablespoons of pasta sauce on the bottom of a 9-inch baking dish. Add half the cooked ziti pasta on top, then half the ricotta cheese mozzarella mix on top of that. Pour half of the remaining pasta sauce on top. Layer the second part of the ziti pasta on the sauce, cover it with the remaining cheese sauce and pasta sauce, and add mozzarella cheese on top.
4. Bake: Put the pasta dish in the oven and bake for about 45 minutes. Cool the ziti briefly before serving, and enjoy.
Tips To Make The Best Recipe
- Use gluten free ziti noodles for a gluten free baked ziti.
- Mix the spaghetti sauce with garlic powder or Italian seasoning for more flavor.
- Cook the pasta the day before to save time preparing the dish.
- Make sure to use a rectangular-shaped baking dish for the perfect squares of baked ziti.
- Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese on top of the baked ziti before serving.
How To Store Baked Ziti With No Meat
In the fridge: Put a lid on the dish you baked the ziti in or transfer the leftovers to an airtight container and store for about 4 days.
In the freezer: Freeze the ziti in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag for up to 6 months.
Reheating: Transfer the leftovers back to a baking dish and warm in the oven set to 350°F for 10 minutes or until it reaches your desired temperature. Add more time for frozen ziti or let it thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
FAQS About This Meatless Baked Ziti Recipe
Should you cover ziti when cooking?
You do not have to cover baked ziti. If you want to keep the cheese from browning and crisping, you can cover it with foil for the first half of baking and then finish it uncovered.
What can I use instead of ricotta in baked ziti?
You can use either cottage cheese or cream cheese in baked ziti instead of ricotta cheese.
Does ziti usually have meat?
Yes, ziti is usually made with meat sauce with ground beef for an added flavor. With that said, meatless baked ziti is just as delicious!
More Recipes
- Gigi Hadid pasta
- Manicotti crepes
- Carbone spicy rigatoni
- Four cheese pasta
- Lasagna fritta
- Spinach pasta
- Tortellini bake
Meatless Baked Ziti
This meatless baked ziti recipe is jam-packed with flavor. It has layers of tender ziti, pasta sauce, and a super creamy ricotta cheese filling, all topped with melty mozzarella. This is a dish the whole family is sure to love!
Ingredients
- 8 oz. ziti pasta, cooked according to package instructions
- 12oz. pasta or marinara sauce
- 8oz. ricotta cheese or cream cheese
- 2 small eggs
- 1 ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Beat the cream cheese and eggs in a bowl. Add half the mozzarella cheese and stir until well combined.
- In a 9-inch baking dish, add a few tablespoons of pasta sauce.
- Add half the ziti pasta and add half the cheese sauce on top. Pour over half the remaining pasta sauce on that.
- Layer the second part of the ziti pasta, cover it with the remaining cheese sauce and pasta sauce, and add mozzarella cheese on top.
- Bake the pasta for 45 minutes.
- Cool the ziti briefly before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1 servingAmount Per Serving: Calories: 289Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 22g
Mike
This was the absolute BEST meatless baked ziti my wife and I have ever made.
Jimmy
This baked ziti recipe is the tits.