Baked Ziti To Go
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Baked Ziti To Go is a comforting pasta dish that makes everything a little better. It feeds a large group, and creates a delicious meal.
Why This Recipe is Special
When one of my friends is hurting, the first thing I want to do is take them a home-cooked meal. It’s my way of saying “I love you” and I hope you “feel better soon.”
I’ve played with this delicious pasta recipe over the years, but I think I’ve finally found the perfect combination of cheese, sauce and noodles. You know what I’m talking ’bout. It’s what I call the TRIFECTA of GOODNESS.
It’s cheesy comfort food at its best. One bite and you’ll be a believer! It’s a hearty vegetarian dish without meat, but you can certainly add ground beef or sliced pepperoni if you wish.
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Ingredients
See recipe card for quantities.
- ziti pasta
- ricotta cheese
- parmesan cheese
- dried oregano
- fresh basil
- garlic
- eggs
- spaghetti sauce (try canning your own tomato sauce for a real treat!)
- mozzarella cheese
How to Make Baked Ziti
Baked Ziti is really simple to make!
1 – Just boil ziti noodles, drain, and start layering with spaghetti sauce, ricotta, parmesan and mozzarella. The combination of three different types of cheese sets it apart from all the others.
2 – Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Boil and drain ziti pasta. Mix ricotta, parmesan, oregano, basil and garlic in a large bowl with 2 beaten eggs to create cheese mixture.
3 – In a large casserole dish or to-go pan, spread a thin layer of spaghetti sauce on the bottom to avoid sticking.
4 – Alternate layers of noodles, sauce, mozzarella and cheese mixture until you reach the top of the pan.
5 – Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until cheese melts and forms a golden crust.
Serving and Freezing
Serve Baked Ziti To Go with crusty bread and my Rainbow Salad. It’s also easy to prepare and freeze to use at a later time. When ready to serve, let thaw for 30 minutes out of the freezer, then bake at 350 degrees for one hour.
Do you have a friend who needs a little pick-me-up? Delivering a pan of Baked Ziti speaks volumes when words are hard to find.
Recipe FAQS
Yes! If you like experimenting with different types of pasta, try unusual shapes like cavatappi, farfalle, fusilli, or penne.
Absolutely! You can leave out the eggs altogether if you wish. Just mix the cheeses with the herbs and leave out the eggs.
You need at least a 13 x 9 inch casserole dish, or a larger pan if you have it. I like to make this pasta dish in a large aluminum pan when I’m sharing it with friends.
More Pasta Recipes to Love
You’ll love my other pasta recipes too…
- Mango Chicken Pasta
- Cheesy Skillet Spaghetti
- Antipasti Penne
- Lemon Chicken Spaghetti
- Sun Dried Tomato Pasta
Try these pasta meals with Cheese Stuffed Garlic Bread! It’s a match made in heaven!
Recipe Card
Baked Ziti To Go
*See notes in blog post for detailed tips, photos and instructions.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ziti pasta boiled and drained
- 32 oz. whole milk ricotta cheese
- 16 oz. shredded parmesan cheese
- 2 tsp. dried oregano
- ¼ cup fresh basil chopped
- 1 tsp. garlic minced
- 2 eggs beaten
- 45 oz. jar of spaghetti sauce
- 16 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Boil and drain ziti pasta.
- Mix ricotta, parmesan, oregano, basil and garlic in a large bowl with 2 beaten eggs to create cheese mixture.
- In a casserole dish (13 x 9 inch) or large to-go aluminum pan, spread a thin layer of spaghetti sauce on the bottom to avoid sticking.
- Alternate layers of noodles, sauce, mozzarella and cheese mixture until you reach the top of the pan.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until cheese melts and forms a golden crust.
Notes
- Serve with a loaf of crusty garlic bread and a mixed green salad.
- Baked Ziti freezes well if it needs to be served at a later date. Freeze before baking. When ready to serve, let thaw in refrigerator overnight. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is an auto generated estimate.
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Hey Debi I remember you making this recipe years ago. Might have been when we worked in kindergarten together! It was delicious then, can’t imagine it any better but going to try it soon!!!
Thanks Penny! Yep, I’ve been making it a long time. It’s definitely a keeper! 🙂
How would you freeze and bake? bake first, then freeze? freeze, then bake? How long?
Hi Pam! I have done it both ways. Freezing first, then baking afterwards works best. 350 degrees for 1 hour. Hope that helps! 🙂
This looks so delish! Thanks for sharing the recipes. Going to make this soon.
Thanks Julie! Let me know how it turns out! 🙂
Delicious! Prepared for Christmas dinner ahead of time and placed in the freezer. Baking time was longer than expected because I didn’t remove the cover (plastics wrap and foil) from the dish while thawing. The dish was very moist and full of flavor. I used the Bertolli Olive Oil and Garlic Sauce as my sauce – great choice. Thanks Debi – we’re a few pounds heavier following this scrumptious dish but it was well worth it!
Thanks Debbie! I appreciate the info on the cooking time after freezing. So glad you loved the ziti!
I made this one. Loved it! It made a lot. Thanks, Debi
Hey Pam! So glad you made this recipe and loved it! Yes, it makes a ton! 🙂
Debi’s baked ziti is fabulous. It has just the right amount of yummy, cheesy, gooeyness. It is definitely enough for a large group so pull out the big pot for preparation. It’s easily adapted for a family dinner as well.
Thank you Pam! I loved that you mentioned how this Ziti is great for a large crowd. It’s perfect for taking to a friend in need! 🙂