Baked Ziti

Article by Alice K. Thompson

Here’s a delicious pasta dish that checks a lot of boxes: quick enough for weeknights, easy to make ahead and packed with the kind of flavor that’s garnered hundreds of five-star reviews. Our readers tell us they make this The Pioneer Woman recipe for their kids, for their parents and grandparents and for dinner parties or potlucks. It’s a universal favorite that’s worth knowing better.

Tips for Making Baked Ziti

Here’s the inside scoop on Ree’s top-rated baked ziti, including how to prepare it in two separate pans if you like.

Italian sausage is a flavor superstar. This one ingredient makes Ree’s quickly cooked sauce taste super-rich, like a meat sauce that’s simmered for hours.

Use either sweet or hot sausage. If you opt for hot you may want to omit or reduce the amount of red pepper flakes in the recipe.

Keep the ziti slightly undercooked. The pasta cooks further in the oven, so drain it when it’s just short of al dente – tender most of the way through with a bit of firmness in the center.

Rinse the noodles under cold water. This will stop the cooking, keeping the noodles tender but not flabby, and ensures that the hot pasta won’t start to melt the cheese mixture.

You can use other noodles. Mix it up with shapes like penne, mostaccioli or rigatoni; these are all substantial tube shapes that stand up well to the rich meaty sauce and cheeses.

You can bake it in two 9-by-9-inch pans. Cooking for smaller groups? This recipe serves 12, so consider baking half the recipe and saving the rest for another meal. See below for storage and freezing directions.

Bake until the cheese is bubbling. Baking time can vary, so make sure to cook to the indicator listed in the recipe. What you want to look for is deliciously melty cheese and sauce that bubbles around the edges of the pan.

Storing and Freezing Baked Ziti

You can assemble the casserole up to 2 days ahead, cover it and refrigerate it. Bring it to room temperature before baking it uncovered. and add a few minutes to the cooking time. Or wrap it securely in a layer of plastic and then a layer of foil and freeze it for up to 3 months. Allow it to thaw overnight in the fridge and bake it uncovered as directed, adding a few minutes to the baking time.

What to Serve with Baked Ziti

Tossing up an easy green salad while the ziti bakes is all you really need for a fantastic meal. But if you’re looking for a fuller menu here are some great starting points.

Garlic bread or garlic knots are an irresistible side with pasta.

Parmesan breadsticks are an excellent way to work even more great cheese flavor into your meal.

Caesar salad or kale Caesar are favorite classic salads to enjoy with pasta.

Roasted broccoli or broccolini are excellent sides for ziti, as do lightly steamed asparagus or boiled broccoli.