Every Tuesday night dinner is Pasta Night at our house. We have so many “go-to” pasta dishes that we LOVE, and this easy baked ziti recipe is one of them!
The sauce is so flavorful and creamy (it has cream cheese). It’s also topped with a delicious layer of shredded AND fresh mozzarella cheese, which is the best way to top off any recipe.
This recipe is perfect for feeding our big family. We only made one large casserole dish full of ziti to feed all 8 of us. That’s what I love about baked pasta recipes for dinner because they’re ideal for feeding the masses!
For more of my family’s favorite baked pasta dinners, check out Baked Rigatoni, Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole, and Spaghetti Casserole
Why we think you’ll love it:
- Filling for the whole family! It easily feeds our family of 8. Pair it with a side salad or bread, and you’re good to go!
- For busy nights. From start to finish, this dish is ready in only 30 minutes!! This is a great weeknight dinner.
- Extra cheesy. With two kinds of mozzarella and cream cheese, this dish is one cheesy masterpiece!
Easy Baked Ziti Ingredients
- Ziti (16-ounce package) – Ziti gives sturdy ridges that hold sauce and bake up tender. You can also use rigatoni, shells, pinwheel, penne, bow tie, or other similar-sized noodles.
- Ground beef, 80% lean / 20% fat (½ pound) – Ground beef adds savory richness and hearty bite.
- Mild Italian sausage (½ pound) – Italian sausage brings spice and extra flavor to the meat sauce.
- Marinara sauce (1½–2 cups) – Marinara sauce coats every noodle and delivers classic tomato flavor. Homemade sauce or a store-bought brand (we love Rao’s)
- Diced tomatoes (14.5-ounce can) – Diced tomatoes add juicy texture and bright tomato pops.
- Cream cheese, softened (4 ounces) – Cream cheese melts into the sauce for silky, creamy body.
- Sour cream (½ cup) – Sour cream adds tang and helps the sauce stay lush and smooth. You can also use plain Greek yogurt instead
- Garlic salt with parsley flakes (1 teaspoon) – Garlic with parsley seasons the bake quickly and evenly.
- Italian seasoning (1 teaspoon) – The seasoning layers herby notes that match the sauce.
- Fresh mozzarella, sliced (8 ounces) – Fresh mozzarella creates those gooey pools that brown beautifully on top.
- Shredded mozzarella cheese (1 cup) – Shredded mozzarella melts evenly for full cheesy coverage.
- Fresh basil, for garnish – Fresh basil finishes the dish with color and a burst of freshness.
- optional – Add heat with jalapeños, red pepper flakes, or hot sauce.
- optional vegetables – shredded carrot, shredded zucchini, olives, mushrooms, diced bell peppers, chopped onion, or chopped fresh spinach
How to Make Easy Baked Ziti
PREP. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
PASTA. Cook Ziti noodles to al dente in a large pot according to the package instructions. Once cooked, drain the pasta.
MEAT. While the pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet and brown ground beef and Italian sausage until no longer pink. Drain fat and set it aside.
SAUCE. In a large pot over medium heat, combine Marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, cream cheese, and sour cream, and simmer until well blended and the cream cheese is melted.
MIX. Add pasta and sauce to the saucepan with ground beef and sausage, and mix well. Add garlic salt and Italian seasoning.
CHEESE. Pour the mixture into a greased 9×13 pan. Top with rounds of fresh mozzarella cheese and shredded mozzarella cheese.
BAKE. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes. Let rest for at least 5 minutes before serving. Garnish this easy baked ziti recipe with fresh basil.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Cook pasta just to al dente, as it keeps its texture after baking. You can also salt the pasta water so the noodles are tasty before saucing
- To help keep the top noodles from drying out, cover all of the noodles with cheese. If needed, cover with foil to finish baking.
- You can also use rigatoni, shells, pinwheel, penne, bow tie, or other similar-sized noodles.
- Add sautéed bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, or spinach to the pasta mixture.
- Boost the heat by using hot Italian sausage, adding red pepper flakes, or adding some hot sauce to the marinara.
Easy Baked Ziti Recipe
Equipment
Video
Ingredients
- 1 (16-ounce) package ziti
- ½ pound ground beef, 80% lean / 20% fat
- ½ pound mild Italian sausage
- 1½-2 cups marinara sauce, (we love Rao’s)
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt with parsley flakes
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- fresh basil, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish and set aside.
- Cook pasta to al dente according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, cook ground beef and Italian sausage in a large saucepan over medium heat, stirring and breaking up into small pieces, until no longer pink, 7-10 minutes. Drain fat and set saucepan aside.
- In a large pot over medium heat, combine marinara sauce, tomatoes, cream cheese, and sour cream and cook, stirring often, until well blended and cream cheese is melted.
- Add cooked pasta and sauce to the saucepan with ground beef and mix well. Add garlic salt and Italian seasoning.
- Pour into the perpared pan. Top with fresh mozzarella and shredded mozzarella.
- Bake for 20 minutes, uncovered.
- Let rest for at least 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil.
Notes
- Cook pasta just to al dente, as it keeps its texture after baking. You can also salt the pasta water so the noodles are tasty before saucing
- To help keep the top noodles from drying out, cover all of the noodles with cheese. If needed, cover with foil to finish baking.
- You can also use rigatoni, shells, pinwheel, penne, bow tie, or other similar-sized noodles.
- Add sautéed bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, or spinach to the pasta mixture.
- Boost the heat by using hot Italian sausage, adding red pepper flakes, or adding some hot sauce to the marinara.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Prepare the casserole as directed, but don’t top with cheese or bake. Instead, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1-2 days, or wrap again with foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw if needed, add cheese, and bake.
Allow to cool completely, add to an airtight container(s) and store in the fridge for 3-4 days or freezer for 2-3 months before reheating.
Complete The Meal
Sides
Garlic Bread Recipe
20 mins
Quick Caprese Salad
5 mins
Baked Zucchini Chips
40 mins
Mozzarella Sticks
40 mins
Baked Pasta Dishes
Desserts
Italian Cookies
1 hr 20 mins
Panna Cotta Recipe
4 hrs 10 mins
Cream Puff Recipe
55 mins
Chocolate Mousse
2 hrs 20 mins
Collections
This post was originally published March 2016.
I made this dish x6 for 150 guests. Worked out great! Thank you so much! I left off the cheese. Covered the dishes. When we served each plate, we added more warmed marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese on top. Perfect!
Wow, that’s a lot of guests! Thanks for trying it & for letting me know! Glad it was a hit!
My family all loves this recipe. And, it’s easy. So, a huge win. I leave the cheese off the top and just put it on the individual servings since I have a cheese hater. 😉
I love the sausage/ground beef combo. The fresh mozzarella made the perfect topping. Yum!
I love the sausage/ground beef combo and the mozzarella was the perfect topping. Yum!
We love ziti! This recipe will not disappoint. Creamy and cheesy!
Ziti is one of our go-to Sunday meals! The whole family loves it & takes no time at all to make! My kind of meal!
Easy and delicious. My kids all loves this dish even though I have a bunch of picky eaters.
I want to bake this for family. Quick and easy
Yes, it is 🙂 I hope you will give it a try & that your family likes it!
Hi Kristyn
I have a question for you!!! LOVE your recipes……I want to make these above pasta dishes…
I would be making them ahead of time,now do you think they would freeze ok or even make them a day before and refrigerate??
We have a four day family reunion with about 30ish hungry people. I am always looking for fun,easy and affortable menu options.
Keep your awesome recipes coming.
Steph
How fun!! I’m glad you found some recipes to try! Yes, these should freeze just fine. Have fun with your family!
MMM. This looks DELICIOUS!
Thank you – it really is so good!
If I were to use ground beef in this recipe would I add the tomato sauce, tomatoes, and cream cheese to it (after browning ofcourse) then mix in the pasta?
That’s what I would do 🙂 I bet it would be good in there!!