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The Best Baked Ziti (+Video)

This easy baked ziti is a huge family favorite. Creamy, cheesy alfredo pasta topped with a beefy spaghetti sauce! Then topped with melted cheese!

A DELICIOUSLY EASY BAKED ZITI RECIPE

This is one of my favorite comfort food pasta dishes. 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!

Fully cooked pasta shown on a small white plate with extra sauce dolloped on top and a casserole dish in the background

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Do I have to use ziti pasta?

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.

What if I like a lot of spaghetti sauce?

When I make this, I usually purchase an extra jar of spaghetti sauce so we can pour extra sauce over the top when serving.

Can I make my own alfredo sauce?

Absolutely! Or you can try using different flavored alfredo sauces – like garlic or basil.

Can I use ground turkey instead of ground beef?

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!

Can this be frozen?

Yes! Like most pasta dishes this freezes very well. Just cover properly to protect against freezer burn and it will jeep for up to 3 months.

How to store leftover Baked Ziti?

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.

a white plate topped with baked ziti and sauce.

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! As you can see below, I had to go with Prego here which is a good sauce as well. Use a sauce that you enjoy. 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
ground beef, spaghetti sauce, alfredo sauce, penne pasta (or ziti or rigatoni), yellow onion, shredded mozzarella cheese

HOW TO MAKE 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.

cooked and crumbled ground beef in a skillet with a wooden spoon

Put back in pot and pour in one jar of spaghetti sauce. Keep mixture on low until pasta is done. 

spaghetti sauce added to cooked ground beef in a skillet

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.

alfredo sauce added to cooked pasta in a large copper colored pot

Pour pasta mixture into bottom of 9×13 dish.

alfredo sauce coated ziti pasta spread into a casserole dish

Cover pasta with spaghetti sauce mixture. 

ground beef spaghetti sauce evenly spread on top of pasta in casserole dish

Sprinkle top with mozzarella cheese.

shredded mozzarella cheese sprinkled on top of spaghetti sauce and creamy pasta

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 foilRemove foil and bake for another 15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.

baked penne pasta topped with melted cheese scooped up with a large spoon

Let rest for about 5 minutes after taking out of oven.

silver fork inserted into penne pasta and spaghetti sauce

CRAVING MORE RECIPES?

The Best Baked Ziti recipe from The Country Cook

The Best Baked Ziti (+Video)

This easy baked ziti recipe is a huge family favorite. Creamy, cheesy alfredo pasta topped with a beefy spaghetti sauce! Topped with melted cheese!
4.67 from 180 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 32 ounce jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
  • 16 ounce jar alfredo sauce
  • 1 pound 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.
  • 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 additional paghetti sauce on top (optional)

Video

YouTube 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.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 368kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 16g | Sodium: 287mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g

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.

Did you make this recipe?Share it on Instagram @thecountrycook and mention us #thecountrycook!

Originally published: May 2011
Updated and republished: February 2020

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213 Comments

  1. I made this tonight! I used one can of spaghetti sauce instead. And I used the penne! It was delicious! Might try it with sausage instead of ground beef next time! Definitely worth making again! Great recipe!

  2. I love your recipe, but the pop up for another recipe was super annoying. I couldn't get it to go away, and it covered half the ingredients making it hard to shop.

  3. Hi! Curious if anyone has made this with 1 lb beef and 1 lb sausage? If so, did you make any adjustments to the recipe to accommodate the extra meat? My husband likes pasta dishes meaty but the rest of us like it saucy. Was curious if I add an extra lb of meat if I should add an extra jar of Alfredo and pasta sauce

  4. I've made this recipe before and it is AMAZING!!
    I will be making for my work holiday party to knock everyones socks off! Just going to double the recipe and put it in the crock pot, cook on low for 8 hours, then YUM!! CAN"T WAIT!!
    Thanks you so much for the amazing recipe!

  5. So, I asked hubby what does he want me to take out of the freezer for dinner = he said the ziti!

    I need to get a photo so I can do a post on my blog and add your link so lots of people can enjoy this delicious meal.

    Thanks

    Linda

  6. Does this freeze well? I am 8 mos pregnant & I am looking for some options for freezer meals so that I don't have to cook after the baby arrives.

  7. This was amazing!! I did make a few changes… I used half ground sausage and half ground beef, made my own Alfredo sauce which turned out amazing btw, and instead of using all mozzarella cheese I used some provel as well!!! My husband raved and said he didn't want to quit eating it! And yes the extra sauce is a must! Thanks for a great recipe!!!

  8. Dinner success! I made this tonight. The recipe was simple and it tasted great. My boys absolutely loved it! The garlic Alfredo sauce was an excellent touch. This dish will definitely be in my dinner rotation. Thanks for sharing!

  9. Thank you for sharing this recipe. I've never been a fan of mixing white and red sauces but it looked yummy enough to give it a try. I did modify slightly by only using half the pasta at the bottom with half a jar of alfredo and mixed the rest of the pasta with a can and a half of red with the hamburger…. LOVED IT as did my 18 year old who will be cooking it for her boyfriends family as the first dish she cooks for them.

  10. I wasn't sure about this recipe when I first read it but saw all the great comments and decided to give it a go and was not disappointed!!! This was easy and was loved by my hubby and myself! I will be taking it with me for lunch tomorrow and sharing with my boss. Thank you for all the wonderful recipes and keeping me from doing the same old recipes every week!

  11. I saw this on Pinterest today and baked it. I used ground beef and hot italian sausage and it was a winner. Made some garlic bread and now everyone is resting. Will definitely be doing this again. Very easy to make and didn't take much time. Thanks for sharing.

  12. I've made this several times now, but have used Italian sausage instead of ground beef. This last time, I added a layer of fresh Bella mushrooms between the noodles and the spaghetti sauce and it was to die for! Thanks for sharing this great recipe!

  13. I just made the baked ziti tonite for a celebratory supper and it was a HUGE hit. Everyone loved it including me because it was super easy. I have never used the alfredo sauce in this dish before and it made all the difference. Thanks for a great new dish that is very budget friendly and quick.

  14. I learned from the first time I made this. Make two at a time; one to eat know and one to freeze for another meal. I used turkey and pork sausage for a flavor twice – yum!

  15. The addition of the garlic alfredo sauce was GENIUS! I'll be emailing you soon to request permission to use this on my Shrinking On a Budget Meal Plan. I'll need to tweak it a little for my subscribers, but love the concept!

  16. Thank You so much for this recipe! Just made it tonight and it was sooooo yummy! Nephew had 3 servings! The only thing I did was to add some spices and seasonings to the meat sauce. MMMMMMMM…..

  17. I made this last night, only I made it with ground turkey instead of ground beef! It was delicious! I'll definitely make this again soon! It was so easy, and no complaints from the husband or kids! Thanks!

  18. This is one of the few Pinterest recipes that I make over and over. It's delicious!! Thanks for the great recipe.

  19. We like spicy in our house. So, changed the beef to hot Italian sausage, put it in the food processor (because the hubs and kiddos don't like chunky sauce) and added some additional spices to the sauce…keeper in our house! Made a quick green salad and some garlic bread…there is dinner on a busy Wednesday night!

  20. I made this yesterday. It's wonderful! As you recommended, I used penne pasta. I didn't use the additional/2nd jar of spaghetti sauce. I bought plain (Classico) alfredo sauce, then (as someone here suggested) I added garlic powder to my own taste. I used Francisco Rinaldi with mushrooms spaghetti sauce, and I did add onion. My dear husband panicked when he saw the jar of alfredo sauce. I assured him that he wouldn't really taste this ingredient, once it was mixed in. He took 2nd helping and maybe a 3rd. He said "I didn't expect to like this, but I really do." Thanks, Brandie – It's a keeper!