Easy Baked Ziti
This easy baked ziti is a huge family favorite. Creamy, cheesy alfredo pasta topped with a beefy spaghetti sauce! Then topped with melted mozzarella cheese!
A DELICIOUSLY EASY ZITI RECIPE
This is one of my favorite comfort food pasta dishes. I literally make this several times a month for dinner because it is so simple to make and leftovers are fantastic for my work lunch the next day! This one along with my Baked Spaghetti (Spasagna) is the ultimate comfort food for me. Serve it with some Garlic Bread and a salad and I am a happy camper!
I’ve made this several times and I freeze them for those busy nights or when I don’t feel like cooking.I’ve brought them to cookouts and gave some in smaller pans for a couple of elderly neighbors. I’m always asked for the recipe. Thank you for sharing. It’s highly requested!
– Annie
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
I usually use 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.
When I make this, I usually purchase an extra jar of spaghetti sauce so we can pour extra sauce over the top when serving.
Absolutely! Or you can try using different flavored alfredo sauces – like garlic or basil.
Yes, of course. Whatever you prefer. Ground pork can also be used.
Want an extra kick? Try adding some ground Italian sausage to the mixture!
Yes. Like most pasta baked dishes, you can assemble it all the night before, cover with foil and put into the refrigerator then bake the next day. You will probably have to add a few minutes to the baking time since you are starting everything from a cold state.
Yes! Like most pasta dishes this freezes very well. Just cover properly to protect against freezer burn and it will keep for up to 3 months.
Allow it to cool fully then put it in a covered container and into the refrigerator where it will keep for up to 3 days.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
- ground beef – you can use Italian sausage, ground pork or pretty much any ground meat you prefer.
- spaghetti sauce – I really love Rao’s pasta sauce when I can get it on sale. It’s so good! Use a sauce that you enjoy and is in your budget. Or you can make your own Homemade Marinara Sauce.
- alfredo sauce – use your favorite storebosugh alfredo sauce or make your own from scratch. I have a delicious homemade alfredo sauce that I make for my Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo recipe.
- penne, ziti or rigatoni pasta – you can use any pasta that is of similar size and you’ll want to use the same amount.
- onion – if you also enjoy adding peppers to your sauces, you would add it in at the same time you add the onion.
- shredded mozzarella – shred your own or use store bought pre-shredded cheese
HOW TO MAKE EASY BAKED ZITI:
Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray a 9×13-inch 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 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).
Pour in jar of alfredo sauce. Combine until thoroughly coated. Pour pasta mixture into bottom of 9×13-inch dish.
Cover pasta with spaghetti sauce mixture and spread it out evenly.
Sprinkle top with mozzarella cheese. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes. I like to spray the inside of my foil with nonstick spray so the cheese doesn’t stick to it. Or you could use nonstick aluminum foil.
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.
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
Originally published: May 2011
Updated and republished: July 2025
Easy Baked Ziti
Ingredients
- 1 pound penne pasta (or ziti or rigatoni)
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ yellow onion, diced
- 24 ounce jar of your favorite pasta sauce (see notes below)
- 16 ounce jar garlic alfredo sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- dried parsley (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Prepare 1 pound penne pasta according to directions until al dente.
- In a medium sauce pan, brown and crumble 1 pound ground beef with ½ yellow onion, diced. Once cooked, drain any excess grease and put back into pan.
- Put back in pot and pour in 24 ounce jar of your favorite pasta sauce. Keep mixture on low heat until pasta is done.
- When pasta is finished, drain well. You want the pasta as dry as possible.
- Put pasta back into the large pot (with heat off) and pour in 16 ounce jar garlic alfredo sauce. Combine until thoroughly coated.
- Pour pasta mixture into bottom of the 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cover pasta with pasta sauce mixture. Spread evenly.
- Sprinkle top evenly with 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese. Cover with nonstick 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. Optional: sprinkle the top with a little dried parsley.
- Serve portions onto plates, and pour additional pasta sauce on top (optional)
Video
Notes
- Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
- If you like your baked ziti extra saucy, pick up an extra jar of pasta sauce. Warm it up and use it to add additional sauce to individual servings.
- Feel free to add one diced green pepper and 2 cloves minced garlic to the ground beef an onion mixture.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
My granddaughter and I made this for dinner tonight. My Dad actually complimented it (he never, ever says anything nice about food), and my granddaughter put this on the top of her favorite recipes. It uses a lot of pans, but well worth it!
Looks delicious! Yum. I love how everyone makes this recipe their own. Thanks for sharing.
I made this last night and was delicious! I love all pasta. I used 1 can of the Hunts sauce (which happens to be my favorite) and a container of homemade sauce my friend made. Her sauce had hot sausage and zucchini in it. Awesome easy dinner to make. I did make it ahead night before. I commute so it was nice to come home and just pop it in the oven. I did keep it in the oven a bit longer as it was in the fridge. Thanks!:)
I am thinking of substituting the ground beef with sweet Italian pork or chicken sausage for more of a spicy taste. Maybe adding sweet onions. This dish sounds delicious. I plan to baked and bring to a potluck dinner happening in a few weeks. Thanks!
This was a big hit at our house tonite!
Another hit, Brandy….
LeighAnne
This was the best Baked Ziti I ever had! My family absolutely loved it and we had the leftovers a few days later and to me, it was even better, lol. I will definitely be making this for now on, Thank you for a great recipe!
I can't wait to try this! It sounds delish! I have a quick question about the extra can of sauce? Since you set it to the side & warm it while the dish is cooking, do you just use it as a topper when the dish is done?… as you can tell I don't cook a Whole lot! Lol! Thanks for your help! Definitely trying this, this week! Nom!
I can't wait to try this!! I have a question about the extra can of sauce? If you set it to the side & warm it while the dish is cooking, do you just use it as a topper after the dish is done cooking?…. as you can tell I don't cook much! Lol! Thanks for your help, I will definitely be trying this out this week!
It warms my heart reading these comments!! Thank you so much! I'm so happy y'all have had success with this one!! Brandy- yep, I just heat up that second can of sauce and either spoon it right on top of the individual servings. Or if you like, put some on the bottom of the plates & then serve pasta on top 🙂
Thank you so much!!! I love how you take a picture of the ingredients and step by step of the process!! I'm such a visual person and this rocks! I am 28 and LOVE your receipes…finally I feel like I can cook! 😛
Please keep the receipes coming!!!
I made this over the break and picky husband who says he does not like pasta loved it. I exchanged sausage for the ground beef and mixed a beaten egg with the alfredo sauce only because I had read somewhere to do that when making baked pasta. This is the perfect funeral food dish, so the ingredients are on my shopping list to have on hand when necessary. Thanks so much.
Yes, you can use the classic Alfredo 🙂
Can I use classic Alfredo sauce instead of garlic Parmesan? I accidentally bought the wrong one.
I'm sure you know this but the dish freezes very well. I cook the hamburger and ziti and assemble it. Once it's cooled I freeze it. Then when I want to cook it I pull it from the freezer the day before. It works great and there is one batch going in the freezer today!
Thx for adding this tip!
thank you
excellent
Wow! I think this will become family favorite, it just came out of the oven and it took some willpower to let it cool. It is delicious and I think I may need seconds. Thank you.
Hi, I was just wondering if this would freeze well? I have made it once before and it was a hit with my family!! Delicious!
Hi Kim! I didn't think there were eggs in alfredo sauces. I know there are eggs in carbonara sauces but alfredo is usually butter and heavy cream. But I would definitely check the back of the label to make sure there aren't egg products in it. You could make your own alfredo from scratch if you like. There are some pretty simple recipes for it online. I hope that helps!
My husband is allergic to eggs which is in many Alfredo sauces. Can I substitute something for it?
This looks delicious! And how easy? Yum…thanks for the recipe!
Just took this out of the oven – and wow, does it look and smell great! Giving it a few minutes to cool and then feed the starving peeps here! Thank you so much for sharing great recipes!
I'm making this for dinner tonight–works out I already have everything needed. All your recipes look soo yummy, can't wait to take some time to look at others =)
Could you substitute ground pork instead of beef? This looks oh too good and I happen to have GP on hand.
Thank you so much for the recipe.
I made this last night and everyone Loved it.
It was very easy and very good!!!
Thanks 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. 🙂
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.
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!!!!
thank you country cook i am definitely going to give the garlic alfredo 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.
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 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
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 came across this wonderful dish on pinterest. My family loved it…especially the kids!
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.
Lovely! Baked pasta is just such a comfort dish 🙂
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!
WOW! That looks so good! I'm going to ask hubby if he wants that tonight! YUMO! ♥♥♥
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!
I know without a doubt that we would gobble that up in a heartbeat!
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!
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
Extra sauce is a must, this is a stick to your ribs meal. The fact that it is inexpensive is an extra bonus.
I used your recipe for dinner tonight. Big hit. Very yummy!
Thanks!
Karen
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'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.
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!
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 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?????