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Looking for a comforting and tasty dish? Try this simple and mouth-watering Baked Ziti recipe, perfect for any occasion. Just a few ingredients and minimal prep time required!

Dish Count – 3 8×8 Aluminum Pans, 2 Large Mixing Bowls, 1 Large Deep Pan, 1 Cutting Board

One of the best things a new mom can receive when she has a baby is food that she did not have to make herself. I know this from experience. And as much as I tried to prep my own freezer meals, like these freezer friendly beef and bean burritos, and mac and cheese, getting the gift of food from your close friends and family is a testatment to their love. They have shown their love through dedication and time to create a warm meal, brought it to you and shared their gratitude and love for this new life and journey. 

It should also be noted that giving a new mom a fresh batch of the world’s best lactation cookies also goes a long way, too. Moms need food. And chocolate. 

A dear foodie friend in my town recently had a baby. Although we live in the same town, it’s hard to find time to get together. Life being life, always throws you curveballs and chaos. But now that her and her husband’s bundle of joy has arrived, I wanted to spread the love to these first time parents, the way it was shared with me, with food. And while it is amazing to have fresh foods brought over, it can be overwhelming to try and muck through it all before it goes south. So I created these pans of freezer friendly baked ziti so that they could break them out whenever they wanted a night off from cooking, or were too exhausted (as all new parents are) to even conceive of a dinner menu. 

I’ve been open about my struggles with Postpartum Anxiety and Postpartum depression, and friends and family (and medication) were vital to me being able to get through it. So was chocolate. And good food. This is me paying it forward and showing this wonderful new mom that she is seen and loved as she navigates this new life. 

What is baked ziti?

Baked ziti is an Italian-American pasta dish, that incorporates short pasta noodles, tomato sauce, sausage and ground beef, with copious amounts of cheese. It typically utilizes both ricotta cheese and a blend of mozzarella and parmesan cheese. 

Is baked ziti like lasagna?

Yes, it’s like lasagna, but less fussy. The beauty of this freezer friendly baked ziti recipe is that it has all the same ingredients as lasagna, but doesn’t require the layering of those ingredients. The short pasta, like ziti, penne, or rotini (which I used here), create a more casserole style pasta bake. 

Does baked ziti contain ricotta cheese?

Yes, baked ziti does contain ricotta cheese. It also includes shredded mozzarella and parmesan or picorino. You can mix and match whatever you have on hand, but using typical Italian style shredded cheeses is standard. 

Can you substitute penne pasta? Or other types of pasta?

In this recipe I used what I had on hand, which was rotini pasta. Ziti noodles are a long, cylinder shaped noodle. If you can’t find the specific cut of pasta, penne is a common substitute. You can substitute other short pasta of a similar style in this ziti recipe. 

Ingredients to Make This Recipe?

Very similar to the ingredients of lasagna, this baked pasta is oven baked in a large baking dish. For this freezer friendly version, I am using disposable aluminum pans that can be frozen and then baked and thrown away when done! 

  • Olive Oil
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Italian Sausage
  • Ground Beef – or ground turkey if you prefer, but it will be more lean
  • Crushed Tomatoes
  • Marinara Sauce
  • Italian Seasoning
  • Red Pepper Flakes
  • Kosher Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • Ziti Noodles, Penne, rotini or other short pasta
  • Ricotta Cheese
  • Mozzarella Cheese
  • Parmesan Cheese
  • Egg
  • Parsley

How to Make This Recipe

This meat sauce baked pasta is absolutely delicious and comforting on every level. Because this makes SO MUCH, be sure to use a large pan, or even Dutch Oven if possible to contain it all! 

  1. In a large preheated pan, add in olive oil and cook down the diced onion until softened and the edges begin to browl. Stir in the minced garlic, and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add in the Italian sausage and ground beef, breaking it apart to brown. 
  2. While the onions begin to cook, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Drain pasta when complete and set aside. 
  3. As the meat begins to brown, add in the dry seasonings, half of the salt, ground pepper, pepper flakes, salt and pepper. When the meat has cooked through, drain away about 85% of the grease and liquid in the pan. 
  4. Stir in the pasta sauce or spaghetti sauce (whichever you call it) and crushed tomatoes. Stir together. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. 
  5. Simmer the meat sauce until it is heated through and the flavors begin to meld. 
  6. In another large bowl, stir together the ricotta cheese, half of the mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese, egg, and Italian seasoning. Set aside momentarily. 
  7. In another large bowl, place the cooked pasta, and stir in half of the meat sauce. Fold in the ricotta cheese mixture, folding only a little so large chunks of the ricotta remain. (Trust me, don’t mix it, the big pockets of ricotta are amazing when baked!)
  8. To create the freezer friendly version of this baked ziti, divide the pasta into three 8×8″ square pans. Top with the remaining sauce on top of the pasta. Then, sprinkle remaining shredded cheeses over the top. 
  9. To bake immediately, you can put into a 350 degree oven and bake until bubbling through, about 30 minutes. 

To Freeze Baked Ziti

Freezing this is so handy for those days you just can’t bring yourself to make something, or on a time crunch, or for gifting to friends and family. Follow these steps to create freezer friendly baked pasta. 

  1. Divide pasta into the square disposable baking pans, and top as the recipe instructions indicate. 
  2. To cool the pasta, place the square pans onto a large baking sheet and freeze, uncovered until frozen, or at least thoroughly cooled through. This will prevent the build up of any food borne pathogens. 
  3. Once completely cooled, or frozen, in the pans, remove from the fridge or freezer.
  4. The wrapping of the pans can be done a couple of different ways –
    1. Layer plastic wrap directly on top of the pasta, followed by a layer of heavy duty aluminum foil. This creates and additional vapor barrier to prevent freezer burn. Or, double layer foil, or heavy duty foil, on top of the pasta, sealing around the edges tightly to create an airtight container. 
  5. I suggest writing the name of the dish, and baking instructions on the foil prior to wrapping. 
  6. Place the casserole dish back into the freezer until ready to bake. 

To Cook Frozen Easy Baked Ziti 

There are two ways you can do this, frozen or thawed. Do whatever is best based on the time you have. 

If frozen – Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Place on a large baking sheet. Bake, covered, for about 90 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake an additional 30, or until bubbling through and warmed in the middle. Allow to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving so you don’t fry your mouth off.

If thawed – You can remove the pan from your freezer and thaw in the fridge for about 36-48 hours ahead of time. Then bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30-45 minutes, or until bubbling through and at temperature. Allow it to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Cooking times may vary depending on how thawed your baked pasta dish is. 

Side Dishes to Choose From

You have to have side dishes! Pick some of these below!

  • Garlic bread
  • Green Beans
  • Broccoli
  • Roasted Vegetables
  • Sauteed Zucchini

More Italian Inspired Homemade Recipes

Goat Cheese Pesto Skillet Lasagna

Lemon Ricotta Tarts

Homemade Ricotta Cheese

Print
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Freezer Friendly Baked Ziti with Ricotta and Mozzarella

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  • Author: Megan Keno
  • Prep Time: 1 Hour
  • Cook Time: 45 Minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
  • Yield: 12 – or Three 8×8 Pans 1x
  • Category: Pasta
  • Method: Stove Top
  • Cuisine: Italian
Print Recipe

Ingredients

    • 2 Tbsp Olive Oil

    • 1 Large Onion, chopped

    • 2-3 Cloves Garlic, minced

    • 1 Pound Italian Sausage

    • 1 Pound Ground Beef – or ground turkey if you prefer, but it will be more lean

    • 28 Ounce Can of Crushed Tomatoes

    • 1 24-oz Jar Marinara Sauce

    • 2 tsp Italian Seasoning

    • 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes

    • 1 tsp Kosher Salt

    • 1/2 Black Pepper

    • 1 pound Ziti Noodles, Penne, rotini or other short pasta

    • 1 15-ounce Container Ricotta Cheese

    • 1 Pound Mozzarella Cheese, shredded

    • 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese

    • 1 Large Egg

    • 1/4 cup Parsley, minced

Instructions

Baked Ziti

  1. In a large preheated pan, add in olive oil and cook down the diced onion until softened and the edges begin to browl. Stir in the minced garlic, and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add in the Italian sausage and ground beef, breaking it apart to brown. 
  2. While the onions begin to cook, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Drain pasta when complete and set aside. 
  3. As the meat begins to brown, add in the dry seasonings, half of the salt, ground pepper, pepper flakes, salt and pepper. When the meat has cooked through, drain away about 85% of the grease and liquid in the pan. 
  4. Stir in the pasta sauce or spaghetti sauce (whichever you call it) and crushed tomatoes. Stir together. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. 
  5. Simmer the meat sauce until it is heated through and the flavors begin to meld. 
  6. In another large bowl, stir together the ricotta cheese, half of the mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese, egg, and Italian seasoning. Set aside momentarily. 
  7. In another large bowl, place the cooked pasta, and stir in half of the meat sauce. Fold in the ricotta cheese mixture, folding only a little so large chunks of the ricotta remain. (Trust me, don’t mix it, the big pockets of ricotta are amazing when baked!)
  8. To create the freezer friendly version of this baked ziti, divide the pasta into three 8×8″ square pans. Top with the remaining sauce on top of the pasta. Then, sprinkle remaining shredded cheeses over the top. 
  9. To bake immediately, you can put into a 350 degree oven and bake until bubbling through, about 30 minutes. 

How to Freeze Baked Ziti

  1. Divide pasta into the square disposable baking pans, and top as the recipe instructions indicate.
  2. To cool the pasta, place the square pans onto a large baking sheet and freeze, uncovered until frozen, or at least thoroughly cooled through. This will prevent the build up of any food borne pathogens.
  3. Once completely cooled, or frozen, in the pans, remove from the fridge or freezer.
  4. The wrapping of the pans can be done a couple of different ways –
    1. Layer plastic wrap directly on top of the pasta, followed by a layer of heavy duty aluminum foil. This creates and additional vapor barrier to prevent freezer burn. Or, double layer foil, or heavy duty foil, on top of the pasta, sealing around the edges tightly to create an airtight container.
  5. I suggest writing the name of the dish, and baking instructions on the foil prior to wrapping.
  6. Place the casserole dish back into the freezer until ready to bake. 

Baking Instructions

  1. If Thawed or Freshly Made – Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes, or until heated through and bubbling in the middle.
  2. If Frozen – Bake at 375 degrees, covered, for 1 Hour 30 Minutes. Uncover, and bake an additional 30 minutes or until heated through and bubbling in the middle. 
  3. Allow to rest about 5 minutes before serving. 

 

Notes

Adapted from Ree Drummond’s Baked Ziti 

I used King Arthur Baking Pizza Seasoning in place of the Italian seasoning, and red pepper.