This Baked Ziti Recipe No Meat is an easy weeknight dinner that is hearty, comforting, and sure to be a family favorite. It's loaded with tender pasta, sauce, mozzarella cheese, and a creamy ricotta mixture. Ready in minutes and is sure to be loved by the whole family.
If you're craving more delicious pasta bake recipes, then try making some Easy Baked Spaghetti, Easy Lasagna, or Baked Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli.
Pasta, cheese, and sauce. What's not to love about that combination? This recipe comes together and bakes in less than one hour making it the perfect no-fuss weeknight meal.
Let's get started!
Why You'll Love This Meatless Recipe
- Easy to Make - This baked pasta dish is simple to make using just a few basic ingredients. Basically, boil the pasta, stir together the ricotta mixture, layer in a dish, and bake. Easy peasy!
- Meatless - There's no meat included in this pasta bake making it the perfect Meatless Monday recipe.
- Great Freezer Meal - The unbaked pasta freezes well for those times when you need a meal that's ready to go. Baked leftover ziti pasta can also be frozen to enjoy later as well, reducing food waste.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Pasta Sauce - To keep this easy baked ziti recipe simple, I prefer to use my favorite jar sauce, marinara sauce, spaghetti sauce, or red sauce to pair with the cooked pasta. If you prefer to make your own Easy Homemade Pasta Sauce, then you may do that as well.
- Creamy Ricotta Cheese - Provides a rich and creamy texture that's a great balance between the sauce and the pasta. Cottage cheese in the same unit of measure can also be used as a substitute.
- Parmesan Cheese - Try using freshly grated Parmesan cheese instead of the bag version as it will combine much easier. Gives the ricotta cheese mixture a savory and slightly salty flavor.
- Egg - A single large egg is needed to help the ricotta mixture to bind together.
- Italian Seasoning - This spice blend helps to season the cheese mixture and provides that staple flavor profile that you often find in Italian-style recipes.
- Salt and Ground Black Pepper - This helps to bring out the other ingredient flavors and prevents the baked pasta from tasting flat and bland.
- Ziti Pasta - Feel free to use any short pasta that you prefer or have on hand. You can use ziti, rigatoni, or penne pasta. Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted water, according to the package instructions, and make sure to adjust the cooking time to keep the pasta al dente. Gluten-free pasta could be used as a substitute.
- Mozzarella Cheese - Use shredded mozzarella cheese to layer the ziti and provide cheesiness to the pasta recipe. Try shredding the mozzarella cheese yourself using a box grater because it melts much better and doesn’t have any additional preservatives. Fresh mozzarella could be used instead.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient quantities and instructions.
How to Make Vegetarian Baked Ziti
Begin the recipe by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F. and grabbing a square 8x8-inch baking dish. Set aside.
Using a large pot over medium-high heat with heavily salted water, bring it to a boil before adding the ziti pasta. Allow the pasta to cook until a minute under al dente, about 4 to 6 minutes. Carefully strain off the pasta water and set the cooked pasta aside. Add the pasta sauce and stir to combine. Set aside.
In a large bowl, add the ricotta cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, a large egg, Italian seasoning, salt, and ground black pepper. Stir to combine.
Add half of the pasta and sauce to the bottom of the baking dish. Spread it out in an even layer.
Top with half of the ricotta mixture followed by half of the shredded mozzarella cheese.
Top with the other half of the pasta and sauce, ricotta mixture, and mozzarella cheese.
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Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil and place the pasta into the preheated oven to bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, until the cheese has melted. Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, it should be hot and bubbly.
Lastly, turn on the oven broiler to high and allow the top of the cheese to lightly toast until golden brown. Watch it carefully though, you should only need about 2 to 5 minutes.
Carefully remove the baked ziti recipe from the oven and allow it to cool for 5 to 10 minutes before cutting to serve warm. Serve it with garlic bread and enjoy!
Meatless Baked Ziti Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Do not overcook the pasta it will finish cooking in the oven. The pasta should be firm and able to be pierced with a fork. Think of pulling it a minute before al dente.
- Grate the parmesan cheese yourself or grab the freshly grated version from the deli/prepared food section of the grocery store. Skip the bagged cheese section or grated cheese from the shelf for the best result and fewer added ingredients.
- Use a block of mozzarella cheese and shred it yourself using a boxed cheese grater. Trust me, it melts so much better! One 8-ounce block of mozzarella cheese should provide you with more than enough shredded cheese for this recipe.
- Lightly spray the aluminum foil with cooking spray before topping the pasta. Make sure the side that you sprayed is facing the ziti. This extra step will prevent the cheese from sticking to the foil.
Storage Tips
Storage. If you have any leftovers, simply cover the baking dish with a lid or tightly with some aluminum foil and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also transfer leftovers to a separate airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days.
Reheating. When ready to serve, you can reheat it in the microwave or the oven at 300 degrees F. until warm.
Freezing. Assemble the baked ziti in the baking dish and allow it to cool to room temperature. Without baking, cover it tightly with a double layer of aluminum foil or plastic wrap and store it in the freezer for 1 to 2 months. Allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then bake as instructed. You may need to add some additional pasta or tomato sauce if you plan on freezing it and it may also require additional cook time.
Make Ahead. This meatless ziti recipe can be made in advance. Assemble it and cover it tightly with aluminum foil before storing it in the refrigerator overnight. When ready to bake, allow it time to come to room temperature a bit before placing it into the oven to bake per recipe instructions.
Want More Easy Pasta Recipes? Try These:
- Pasta with Lemon and Ricotta
- Lemon Pasta Salad
- One Pot Broccoli Mac and Cheese
- One Pot Creamy Alfredo with Peas and Bacon
- Chicken Enchilada Pasta
- Baked Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli
- Easy Hamburger Casserole Recipe
Have any comments, questions, or other delicious ways to serve this Baked Ziti Recipe with Ricotta? Please share them in the comments below!
📖 Recipe
Baked Ziti Recipe (No Meat)
Equipment
- 1 large pot or saucepan
- 1 8x8-inch square baking dish
Ingredients
- 8 ounces uncooked ziti pasta
- 24 ounces pasta sauce
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, grated or shredded
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Begin the recipe by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F. and grabbing a square 8x8-inch baking dish. Set aside.
- Using a large pot over medium-high heat with heavily salted water, bring it to a boil before adding the 8 ounces uncooked ziti pasta. Allow the pasta to cook until a minute under al dente, about 4 to 6 minutes. Carefully strain off the pasta water and set the cooked pasta aside. Add the 24 ounces pasta sauce and stir to combine. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, add the 15 ounces ricotta cheese, ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1 large egg, ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon ground black pepper. Stir to combine.
- Add half of the pasta and sauce to the bottom of the baking dish. Spread it out in an even layer. Top with half of the ricotta mixture followed by 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Top with the other half of the pasta and sauce, ricotta mixture, and 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
- Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil and place the pasta into the preheated oven to bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, until the cheese has melted. Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, it should be hot and bubbly.
- Lastly, turn on the oven broiler to high and allow the top of the cheese to lightly toast until golden brown. Watch it carefully though, you should only need about 2 to 5 minutes.
- Carefully remove the baked ziti recipe from the oven and allow it to cool for 5 to 10 minutes before cutting to serve warm. Serve it with garlic bread and enjoy!
Notes
- Do not overcook the pasta it will finish cooking in the oven. The pasta should be firm and able to be pierced with a fork. Think of pulling it a minute before al dente.
- Grate the parmesan cheese yourself or grab the freshly grated version from the deli/prepared food section of the grocery store. Skip the bagged cheese section or grated cheese from the shelf for the best result and fewer added ingredients.
- Use a block of mozzarella cheese and shred it yourself using a boxed cheese grater. Trust me, it melts so much better! One 8-ounce block of mozzarella cheese should provide you with more than enough shredded cheese for this recipe.
- Lightly spray the aluminum foil with cooking spray before topping the pasta. Make sure the side that you sprayed is facing the ziti. This extra step will prevent the cheese from sticking to the foil.
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