BEST SIMPLE BAKED ZITI RECIPE (NO MEAT)

This creamy, cheesy, saucy Baked Ziti Recipe With Ricotta (No Meat) is the ultimate in comfort food. It’s perfect because it can be made ahead of time for the busiest nights and it reheats beautifully.

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Classic Baked Ziti Recipe With Ricotta (No Meat)

Name a better trio than cheese, pasta, and marinara sauce. I’ll wait.

There’s just something healing to the soul when you have a great bowl of pasta baked with lots of gooey cheese. 

If you’re looking for a great meatless Monday dish or just want to incorporate more vegetarian dishes into your rotation, this is a GREAT place to start. 

Kids and grownups alike will be licking their plates when you serve this yummy pasta dish. 

Even if you THINK you’re a ricotta hater (like I always did), I promise this recipe will change your mind. It’s delicious.

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

Reheats Beautifully: This recipe makes a TON of food! You can easily freeze half and serve it later. Anytime I can cook once and feed my family twice, I consider that a win!

Meatless: Even if you aren’t vegetarian, it’s sometimes nice to incorporate more meatless meals into your menu. This is a family favorite at our house and I think you’ll love it too.

Comfort Food: This warm and hearty meal is the epitome of comfort. 

Budget-Friendly: Any time you can incorporate meatless meals into your rotation, it can help save some cash at the grocery store. Featuring only pasta, sauce, and cheeses, this dish can fill many tummies for a low cost. You can always splurge on fancier store-bought sauces if you’d like or use your favorite lower cost option. I am a big fan of Rao’s Marinara Sauce (which is pricy) but have found the brand Mezzetta to have a very similar taste (with similar ingredients) at about half the price. 

INGREDIENTS IN THIS BAKED ZITI RECIPE WITH NO MEAT:

• Ziti Noodles: Ziti is the traditional choice but feel free to use any pasta you prefer or have on hand. 
• Marinara Sauce: Store bought marinara is perfectly fine in this recipe! Use your favorite brand. Rao’s is my favorite splurge brand but I find that Mezzetta is equally delicious and usually around half the price. 
• Ricotta Cheese: I typically use part skim but full fat Ricotta works beautifully too.
• Mozzarella Cheese:  I recommend buying a block and shredding it yourself for the best texture.
• Salt, pepper, and any other seasonings to taste: I like adding extra garlic. If I’m not feeding kiddos, I like to use spicy marinara or add red pepper flakes. 

SUBSTITUTIONS FOR VEGETARIAN BAKED ZITI

• Ricotta Cheese: If you’re not a fan of ricotta, you can substitute it for cottage cheese. 
• Marinara: Substitute store bought marinara for homemade sauce or use any jarred sauce you prefer (with meat, veggies, etc. added).
• Seasonings: This recipe relies on the seasonings found in the jarred marinara along with added salt. Feel free to substitute salt for any saltless seasoning you prefer. You can also add additional herbs and spices to taste. We like this with added basil and red pepper flakes but we do omit the red pepper flakes when feeding kids. 

HOW TO COOK MEATLESS BAKED ZITI :

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Bring salted water to a boil and add pasta.
3. Cook according to package directions according to package instructions, less approximately 2 minutes allowing the pasta to further cook in the oven.  
4. Meanwhile shred mozzarella cheese if using block.
5. In a large mixing bowl, combine marinara and ricotta cheese. Mix well.
6. Drain pasta well. 
7. Mix pasta with ricotta and marinara.
8. Pour into a 9×13 baking dish.
9. Top with mozzarella cheese.
10. Bake covered at 375 for 20 minutes, then uncovered for approximately 10 minutes.
11. If desired, turn oven to broil and cook until golden brown (approximately 3 minutes but check closely)
12. Let rest for approximately 10 minutes before serving. 

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

• Caesar Salad
• Salad with Italian dressing (we love the Olive Garden one)
• Steamed Broccoli
• Roasted Broccoli
• Garlic Bread
• Bread with oil and vinegar

HOW TO STORE THIS MEATLESS BAKED ZITI RECIPE

Allow the dish to cool completely before storing leftovers in an airtight container. This pasta will last in the fridge for up to four days. 

To reheat, transfer individual portions to a microwave safe dish and reheat until warmed through, approximately 2-3 minutes. 

HOW TO FREEZE THIS BAKED ZITI RECIPE (NO MEAT)

While you can freeze a whole baked ziti, I like to cut up any leftovers into indivual portions for freezing. This is great for those nights when no one in the family wants the same dinner. Simply wrap portions in plastic wrap and store in a gallon freezer bag. To defrost, place ziti in the refrigerator overnight to thaw completely. Then reheat in the microwave or in the oven.

SUBSTITUTIONS AND RECIPE NOTES

• Substitute cottage cheese for ricotta.
• Substitute store bought marinara for homemade or use any pasta sauce of your choice (with added vegetables, meat, etc.)
• Substitute a portion of the mozzarella cheese for parmesan.
• This recipe relies on the seasonings found in the jarred marinara along with added salt. Feel free to substitute salt for any saltless seasoning you prefer. 
• Feel free to add additional herbs and spices to taste. We like this with added basil and red pepper flakes but do omit those when feeding kids. 
• Add red pepper flakes to the jarred sauce for a spicy marinara.

EQUIPMENT NEEDED:

• Large pot
• Strainer
• Slotted Spoon
• Mixing bowl
• Spoon
• Cheese grater
• 9×13 baking dish
• Aluminum foil
• Salt shaker or grinder

Serve With:

• Caesar Salad
• Simple Salad with Italian Dressing
• Steamed Broccoli
• Roasted Broccoli
• Garlic Bread
• Bread Dipping Seasoning and Olive Oil with Bread

FAQ

Does baked ziti have eggs in it? 

Baked ziti often does have eggs in it, but this recipe omits them. Eggs do help bind together baked pasta dishes but they don’t really impact the flavor at all. If you want to add eggs, you can but they’re not necessary! 

Should baked ziti be covered when baking? 

Yes, cover the baked ziti with foil (ensuring the foil isn’t directly touching the cheese) and then remove to finish cooking.

How do you make baked ziti not dry?

Adding a sufficient amount of sauce to the baked ziti and cooking it covered helps to ensure a saucy, not dry dish.

Should you undercook ziti before baking?

Yes! Because you will be boiling the pasta THEN baking it in the oven, you should cook the pasta approximately two minutes less  than package instructions say. 

Can I use cottage cheese instead of ricotta?

Yes. Many people substitute cottage cheese for ricotta. I prefer the taste and texture of ricotta, though. 

Does ziti need to rest before serving?

Yes. If you cut and serve the ziti immediately upon removing it from the oven it will fall apart. Allow it to rest for approximately 10 minutes before serving. 

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