This easy baked ziti is a huge family favorite. Creamy, cheesy alfredo pasta topped with a beefy spaghetti sauce! Then topped with melted cheese!
THE BEST EASY BAKED ZITI CASSEROLE
TIPS FOR MAKING THIS DELICIOUS BAKED ZITI:
- I like the Penne pasta because it has those little ridges in it. And those little ridges are really good at hanging onto the pasta sauce. But if you prefer the Ziti pasta, then use that instead of the Penne. This recipe is versatile and you can use almost any other pasta noodle you prefer. I love it in this CREAMY GARLIC PENNE PASTA.
- When I make this, I usually purchase an extra can of spaghetti sauce so we can pour extra sauce over the top when serving.
- Try using different flavored Alfredo sauces - like garlic or basil.
- Ground turkey or pork can be used.
- Want an extra kick? Try adding some ground Italian sausage to the mixture!
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
HOW TO MAKE BAKED ZITI:
Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick spray. Prepare pasta according to directions. In a medium sauce pan, brown ground beef with onion (if using.) 
After beef is browned and crumbled, drain excess grease. Put back in pot and pour in one jar of spaghetti sauce.
Keep mixture on low until pasta is done. When pasta is finished, drain well. You want the pasta as dry as possible. Put pasta back in large pot (with heat off) and pour in jar of alfredo sauce. Combine until thoroughly coated.
Pour pasta mixture into bottom of 9x13 dish.
Cover pasta with spaghetti sauce mixture. 
LOVE THIS PASTA RECIPE? HERE'S MORE!
INSTANT POT BAKED ZITI
EASY BAKED SPAGHETTI (Spasagna)
SAUSAGE SPAGHETTI "CUPCAKES"
PIZZA PASTA BAKE
MEATBALL SUB CASSEROLE
CROCK POT CHICKEN ALFREDO LASAGNA
EASY BAKED RAVIOLI CASSEROLE
THE BEST EASY BAKED ZITI
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 (32 oz) jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
- 1 (16 oz) jar alfredo sauce
- 1 lb penne pasta (or ziti or rigatoni)
- ½ yellow onion, diced
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
- Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Prepare pasta according to directions.
- In a medium sauce pan, brown ground beef with onion (if using).
- After beef is brown and crumbled, drain excess grease.
- Put back in pot and pour in one jar of spaghetti sauce.
- Keep mixture on low until pasta is done.
- When pasta is finished, drain excess water from pasta. You want the pasta as dry as possible.
- Put pasta back in large pot (with heat off) and pour in jar of alfredo sauce. Combine until thoroughly coated.
- Pour pasta mixture into bottom of 9 x 13 dish.
- Cover pasta with spaghetti sauce mixture.
- Don’t put the pot that you used for the spaghetti sauce in with the dirty dishes yet. Keep that pot out and start heating up second jar of spaghetti sauce on low heat. Put a cover on it to keep warm until ziti is finished baking.
- Sprinkle top with mozzarella cheese.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake for another 15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. Let rest for about 5 minutes after taking out of oven.
- Serve portions onto plates, and pour some of the heated spaghetti sauce on top.
Video
Nutrition
Originally published: May 2011
Updated and republished: February 2020
This looks heavenly Bran! I love Baked ziti though I've never had it with alfredo sauce! Mmmm sounds delish!!
Can I freeze this once all put together but before the baking?
Did you try to freeze this? I’m wondering the same!
I love penne, too! And your baked ziti sounds fabulous...I'd go with extra sauce, too. YUM! Merry Christmas, Brandie! xo
???? You think it'd be good to add risotto ?????
Not really
???? You think it'd be good to add ricotta?????
I'm a sucka for all pastas, one fave is the penne and for the same reasons too! That looks awesome. I will have to try it in my large Dutch oven.
Yup, the extra sauce is a keeper. I just made a penne pasta dish as well, but it didn't have all the ooey gooey creaminess that this one does. Totally comfort food.
I have homemade marinara sauce cooking in my CrockPot and was going to use some of it for pizza tonight...but this is too good to pass up on this frigid day in NM!!!!
Baked Ziti is one of my favorites and especially with extra sauce. New here and it is nice to meet you Brandie. Looking forward to more of your posts. Happy Holidays to you.
I used your recipe for dinner tonight. Big hit. Very yummy!
Thanks!
Karen
Extra sauce is a must, this is a stick to your ribs meal. The fact that it is inexpensive is an extra bonus.
What a fabulous dish. It looks and sounds delicious. I love to visit your blog. I never leave empty handed and always have a recipe or tip to show for the time I spend here. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary
Baked Ziti (or Penne) is a go-to dish here when we have a crowd. I love that you used Alfredo too. What a great idea!
I know without a doubt that we would gobble that up in a heartbeat!
I too am very intrigued with using Alfredo sauce as well as regular spaghetti. Looks REALLY good & I bet the Alfredo sauce makes it a little creamier! Will be making soon!
WOW! That looks so good! I'm going to ask hubby if he wants that tonight! YUMO! ♥♥♥
I made a meatless version of this for supper tonight - can't wait to try it. I'm sure the whole kitchen will be warm and good-smelling!
Lovely! Baked pasta is just such a comfort dish 🙂
Your Baked Ziti (penne) is marvelous.
I call it penne, too;) I've been craving a pasta dish, so I'll be making this one with the extra sauce, soon.
I came across this wonderful dish on pinterest. My family loved it...especially the kids!
Faith, thank you for taking the time to let me know how it turned out for you. I just love Pinterest. I've made some great new food friends because of it!! So happy to have you here! 🙂
I was wondering if you can taste the alfredo sauce, or if it just adds a little creaminess? I am not a huge fan of alfredo sauce but if it just adds more flavor without the taste that would be good for me.
Pics of this meal look delicious
Hi Stephanie! Personally, I don't think the Alfredo Sauce has a strong flavor in this. It really just adds creaminess to the sauce. I love the additional garlic flavor that it adds when you use the garlic flavored alfredo sauce. Hope you enjoy it if you give it a try!
I've used a no-boil recipe to make this and loved it, but I'm really liking the idea of the garlic Alfredo instead of ricotta - so much more affordable without much flavor variation. Will try this the next time I have all the ingredients.
thank you country cook i am definitely going to give the garlic alfredo a try.
I'm new to your blog and I'm looking at all you delicious-sounding recipes. I'm so excited to try this one and the Creamy Chicken Enchiladas. I've gotten so bored with the same old recipes that I make so it will be fun to try some new ones! Thank you!!!!
I made this exactly to your recipe for supper tonight. It is SO good. Creamy and tastes wonderful. This will be appearing on my table again.
Yay! Thank you so much!! I appreciate you letting me know how it turned out for you! 🙂
Ive made this recipe for my sons bday party tomorrow and I made a double batch! Because I wanted it hot at party I prepared it to bake and have it in fridge! Do you think it will be ok that it's sitting overnight??
Thank You,
Andrea in PA
Hi Andrea! It would be fine (if it is only overnight) to keep it in the fridge. 🙂