Click Here for our Quick and Easy Baked Ziti Recipe - Yay Kosher (2024)

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Kosher Easy Vegetarian Baked Ziti is one of those delicious comfort food meals that is perfect for a weeknight meal when you don't feel like cooking. Easy cheesy baked ziti is ready in 5 steps and uses only 6 ingredients. This recipe is a cinch to put together and is on the table before anyone can ask "what's for dinner?" The best part, it is made without boiling any water! This recipe is kosher, vegetarian, and meatless. Read on for instructions on how to make the best Easy Vegetarian Baked Ziti recipe from scratch.

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  • No Boil Baked Ziti
  • Ingredients used to make Easy Vegetarian Baked Ziti With Ricotta
  • A Step by step guide to making this recipe
  • FAQ
  • Variations and suggestions
  • More recipes like this one
  • 📖 Recipe
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Click Here for our Quick and Easy Baked Ziti Recipe - Yay Kosher (1)

No Boil Baked Ziti

This is one of those Italian vegetarian baked pasta recipes that is so quick and easy to make that you will find yourself making it more often than you would first think. There are only 5 steps to making this recipe and none of them involve boiling water. With very low prep time, this recipe is virtually hands off. Most of the time you spend on this is just waiting for the pasta to finish baking in the oven.

Click Here for our Quick and Easy Baked Ziti Recipe - Yay Kosher (2)

Ingredients used to make Easy Vegetarian Baked Ziti With Ricotta

All you need to make a dump and bake ziti recipe that you will love are these 6 ingredients:

  • tomato sauce - choose your favorite sauce. If you feel brave, you can use a homemade marinara sauce!
  • ziti pasta - the hard kind that comes in a box
  • ricotta cheese - provides some of the consistency
  • mozzarella cheese - what would a pasta recipe be without tons of mozzarella cheese
  • parmesan cheese - for flavor
  • garlic powder - adds that extra pop that gives this dish the full flavor experience

A Step by step guide to making this recipe

Time needed:1 hour and 10 minutes

Quick and Easy Meatless Baked Ziti recipe step by step

  1. Mix the pasta, sauce, and water

    Pour the whole jar of sauce and 2 ½ cups of cold water into a bowl and add the dry pasta right in on top and mix. That's right, no stove top or boiling in this recipe.Click Here for our Quick and Easy Baked Ziti Recipe - Yay Kosher (3)

  2. Add ricotta

    After the pasta is fully covered in sauce, add in the ricotta cheese and stir until incorporated.Click Here for our Quick and Easy Baked Ziti Recipe - Yay Kosher (4)

  3. Add the remaining ingredients

    Add the mozzarella cheese, garlic powder, and parmesan cheese. Stir until everything is incorporated and get ready to bake. Remember to save some mozzarella cheese for the top after the ziti has finished baking.Click Here for our Quick and Easy Baked Ziti Recipe - Yay Kosher (5)

  4. Pour into pan

    Pour the mixture into a greased 9x13 pan or casserole dish. Extra virgin olive oil is perfect for this. Cover and bake. (Skip this step if you are using the 1 pan method). The pasta will cook in the dish.Click Here for our Quick and Easy Baked Ziti Recipe - Yay Kosher (6)

  5. Uncover

    Uncover and sprinkle the rest of the mozzarella cheese over the top. Place back into the oven for another 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Authentic Italian Baked Ziti ready for your table.Click Here for our Quick and Easy Baked Ziti Recipe - Yay Kosher (7)

Click Here for our Quick and Easy Baked Ziti Recipe - Yay Kosher (8)

FAQ

Do I need a separate bowl to make this recipe?

We like to use the separate bowl to make sure that all of the ingredients are fully incorporated and also for illustration purposes. That being said, you can just as easily make this recipe by putting all of the ingredients into the baking pan, stirring, and baking in the oven. We call this the 1 pan method for making baked ziti and it is just as yummy.

Do I make baked ziti covered or uncovered?

In this recipe, you will bake the ziti covered for most of the bake time. This allows the moisture to stay in the pan and ensures the noodles get fully cooked. The only time the baked ziti gets uncovered is right at the end to melt the cheese on top.

Is ziti the same as penne?

No, they are different pastas that have a similar shape. There are three main differences between ziti and penne: ziti is shorter, ziti is thicker, and ziti has a straight edge while penne has a diagonal cut. They can be used interchangeably as to your preference.

How can I store baked ziti?

Pasta dishes like this one are super simple to store. Just seal the leftovers in an airtight container and it will last in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Deciding how long to reheat baked ziti is simple. Reheating baked ziti is a snap. Pop it into the oven uncovered for 10 minutes at 300ºF. Easy cheesy ziti!

Can you freeze baked ziti?

You can make a pan of this in advance, cover it with plastic wrap and then foil, and freeze it to reheat at a later date. Now you have a make ahead baked ziti for later. When reheating, remove the plastic wrap and cover with the foil. Place it into the oven for 30-40 minutes at 300ºF.

Click Here for our Quick and Easy Baked Ziti Recipe - Yay Kosher (9)

Variations and suggestions

  • Easy Baked Ziti without ricotta? - If you do not have ricotta you can substitute cottage cheese. Vegetarian baked ziti with cottage cheese!
  • Vegetarian Baked Ziti with Spinach Recipe - Before baking, stir chopped spinach to add some vegetables to your baked ziti. Garnish with fresh basil.
  • Side dish suggestion - Serve with a green salad and some garlic bread for a complete meal.
  • Spice it up! Add some red pepper flakes or Italian seasoning blend into the marinara sauce.
  • We like to use a classic marinara sauce but any tomato sauce from a jar will do for this recipe. There are so many varieties of kosher tomato sauce in the store that you can try different ones and you may find a new favorite.
  • Top with a cheese mixture of shredded mozzarella, muenster, asiago, and parmesan.

More recipes like this one

  • Easy Creamy Mushroom Pasta
  • Passover Mac and Cheese
  • Easy Broccoli Cheddar Quiche
  • Crackle Top Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Quick Passover Chicken Marsala

📖 Recipe

Click Here for our Quick and Easy Baked Ziti Recipe - Yay Kosher (10)

Easy Vegetarian Baked Ziti

Just stir and bake. What could be easier? No boiling necessary.

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course

Cuisine: American, Italian, Jewish, Kosher

Keyword: One Pot, pasta

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 421kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 jar pasta sauce
  • 2 ½ cups cold water
  • 16 oz ziti uncooked
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded and divided
  • 15 oz ricotta cheese
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ cup parmesan cheese

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400ºF. Grease 9x13 baking dish and set aside.

  • In a large bowl, thoroughly combine pasta sauce, water, noodles, 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella, ricotta, garlic powder, and parmesan.

  • Pour into prepared baking dish. Cover.

  • Bake, covered, for one hour.

  • Uncover and sprinkle on remaining ½ cup shredded mozzarella. Bake additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

  • Allow to cool slightly and enjoy.

Notes

Variations and suggestions

  • Easy Baked Ziti without ricotta? - If you do not have ricotta you can substitute cottage cheese. Vegetarian baked ziti with cottage cheese!
  • Vegetarian Baked Ziti with Spinach Recipe - Before baking, stir chopped spinach to add some vegetables to your baked ziti. Garnish with fresh basil.
  • Side dish suggestion - Serve with a green salad and some garlic bread for a complete meal.
  • Spice it up! Add some red pepper flakes or Italian seasoning blend into the marinara sauce.
  • We like to use a classic marinara sauce but any tomato sauce from a jar will do for this recipe. There are so many varieties of kosher tomato sauce in the store that you can try different ones and you may find a new favorite.
  • Top with a cheese mixture of shredded mozzarella, muenster, asiago, and parmesan.

Nutrition

Calories: 421kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 51mg | Sodium: 719mg | Potassium: 492mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 818IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 312mg | Iron: 2mg

More The Best Kosher Dinner Recipes - Yay Kosher

  • Classic Jewish Beef Brisket (Kosher for Passover)
  • Easy Slow Cooker London Broil with Onion Soup Mix and Beer
  • Creamy Cheese Ramen Noodles - Quick and Easy Comfort Food
  • Dairy Free Spaghetti Alla Bolognese

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Click Here for our Quick and Easy Baked Ziti Recipe - Yay Kosher (2024)

FAQs

Does baked ziti contain ricotta cheese? ›

Ricotta cheese – It creates a creamy layer in the center of the baked ziti. For the best texture, make sure to use whole milk ricotta in this recipe.

Should baked ziti be covered when baking? ›

Bake, uncovered, 350°F until lightly browned and bubbly, 60 to 70 minutes. Cover with foil if the top browns before the inside is fully heated. Freezing and reheating a baked ziti: Bake, covered with foil, at 350°F. (Make sure you remove any plastic wrap first.)

What's the difference between baked ziti and lasagna? ›

well, lasagna noodles! The noodles are stacked in a baking dish with cheese and sauce between each layer. Baked ziti, however, uses ziti noodles that are tossed with sauce and cheese. There's still some layering involved but only a little so it comes together quicker and easier than lasagna.

How long does baked ziti last in the fridge? ›

If you are storing it in the dish it was baked in, be sure to cover to top tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. You can also transfer it to an airtight container. Baked ziti will last in the fridge for about 4-5 days.

What is the closest substitute to ricotta cheese? ›

Cottage cheese: As far as ricotta substitutes go, light and mild cottage cheese is your best bet. In fact, some people prefer to use cottage cheese because it has a similar flavor and fewer calories.

What can I use instead of ricotta cheese in baked ziti? ›

If you're simply looking to substitute another cheese for ricotta without the extra step, cottage cheese is the most similar, and cream cheese and mascarpone are also worthy replacements (via Izzy Cooking).

Why is my baked ziti so watery? ›

Why is my pasta bake watery? There are a couple of reasons why your pasta bake might be runny. Sauce that is thick at room temperature or from the fridge will thin out in the hot oven. It is better to have a thicker sauce at the beginning, so it will be the right consistency after cooking.

How do you keep baked ziti from drying out? ›

Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil in order to keep all the moisture. This will keep the pasta from drying out. Another tip is to add around ¼ cup of water to the dish to help prevent a dried out baked ziti.

Should you undercook ziti before baking? ›

(You want to undercook the pasta slightly, as it will continue to cook in the oven. A good way to do this is cook it 2 minutes less than you normally would if preparing it al dente.) Reserving 1 cup of the pasta cooking liquid, drain pasta and rinse with cool water; set aside while the tomato sauce finishes cooking.

Do they eat baked ziti in Italy? ›

Baked Ziti is a popular Italian-American dish that is not commonly found in Italy. It is a casserole-style pasta that typically consists of ziti pasta, tomato sauce, cheese (usually a combination of ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan), and added ingredients like meat or vegetables.

Should lasagna be baked in glass or metal pan? ›

Save your glass pans for lasagna, plátanos maduros horneados, baked eggs, piñon, casseroles, and doughnut bread pudding—they're easy to clean, they're so smooth they're naturally nonstick, they'll keep your kugel warm as it sits on the table, they won't cause discoloration or off-tastes when you're slow-roasting ...

Can I eat week old baked ziti? ›

Mayo Clinic says 4 days is the limit for refrigerated. food.

How long can baked ziti sit out before it goes bad? ›

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) food and safety basics states cooked food can be left at room temperature up to two hours. If the temperature outside (or inside your house) is 90°F or above, you should cut that time in half.

Can I eat 5 day old pasta bake? ›

A pasta bake or chicken stir-fry dinner can make a great next-day lunch, but how long does it take for leftovers to become unsafe to eat? As a general rule, food should be eaten within two to three days of cooking.

What is baked ziti made of? ›

Combine cooked ziti, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, egg, and 1 1/2 cups spaghetti sauce in a medium bowl. Transfer into the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining spaghetti sauce, then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes; let stand for 15 minutes before serving.

Does Italy use ricotta cheese in? ›

In Italy, ricotta is typically eaten as a filling for pasta or cannoli. Here in Racale, Margherita's ricotta is eaten by the spoonful — without even salt or olive oil. Light and pillowy in texture, it's like tasting a cloud of sheep's milk.

What do Italians use instead of ricotta in lasagna? ›

If you Google authentic Italian lasagna you will find that Italians use béchamel sauce and NOT ricotta in their recipe.

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