The Best Creamy Baked Ziti Recipe For Cozy Family Dinners

Comfort arrives in a steaming pan of classic creamy baked ziti that promises pure Italian-inspired delight.

Layers of tender pasta embrace rich, melted cheese and hearty marinara sauce.

Every forkful delivers a symphony of flavors that dance across your palate.

The bubbling, golden-brown top hints at the deliciousness waiting beneath.

Perfectly seasoned and wonderfully satisfying, this dish brings warmth to any dinner table.

Pasta enthusiasts and cheese lovers will fall head over heels for this irresistible comfort meal.

You won’t be able to resist diving into this mouthwatering creation that transforms simple ingredients into a spectacular feast.

Creamy Baked Ziti Crowd Appeal

• Indulge in a rich, cheesy pasta bake that delivers maximum flavor and satisfaction, perfect for family dinners or potluck gatherings.
• Easily adapt the recipe by adding ground meat, vegetables, or experimenting with different cheese combinations to suit your taste preferences and dietary needs.
• Experience a mouthwatering blend of melted mozzarella and Parmesan that creates a golden, bubbling top layer guaranteed to make everyone at the table smile.

Baked Ziti Ingredients

• Ziti: A classic tubular pasta that perfectly captures the creamy sauce in its hollow center.

• Marinara Sauce: A classic Italian tomato-based sauce that provides a rich, tangy base for the dish.
• Diced Tomatoes: Fresh tomatoes that add texture and extra tomato flavor to the sauce.
• Cream Cheese: Creates a luxurious, velvety texture that makes the sauce incredibly smooth and rich.
• Sour Cream: Adds a tangy creaminess and helps create a luscious, creamy consistency.
• Mozzarella Cheese: A melty cheese that provides stretchy, gooey goodness throughout the dish.
• Parmesan Cheese: Offers a sharp, salty flavor that enhances the overall taste of the ziti.

• No additional ingredients noted in the recipe instructions.

How to Make Creamy Baked Ziti

Step 1: Ignite the Oven

Fire up your oven to 375F (190C).

The right temperature sets the stage for a mouthwatering masterpiece.

Step 2: Boil the Pasta

Fill a large pot with water and bring to a rolling boil.

Drop in the ziti and cook according to package instructions.

Drain completely, keeping the pot handy for the next stage of deliciousness.

Step 3: Craft the Velvety Sauce

• Marinara sauce
• Diced tomatoes
• Cubed cream cheese

Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly.

Watch the cream cheese melt and transform the sauce into a silky, smooth concoction.

This magic takes about five minutes.

Step 4: Marry Pasta and Sauce

Reunite the pasta with the sauce, tossing until every single noodle is luxuriously coated.

The result should look like a creamy dream.

Step 5: Build the Ziti Layers

Grab a 13×9-inch baking dish and spread half the pasta mixture.

• Sour cream
• Mozzarella cheese

Top with the remaining pasta mixture.

Step 6: Crown with Cheese

Scatter the remaining mozzarella across the top.

Shower with Parmesan for an extra flavor punch.

Step 7: Bake to Bubbling Perfection

Slide the dish into the preheated oven.

Bake for 20 minutes until the cheese melts into a golden, bubbly blanket.

Give it a brief moment to cool before diving in – if you can resist!

Tips for Creamy Baked Ziti

• Rinse ziti under cold water after draining to stop cooking and prevent sticking, ensuring each noodle remains perfectly separate and ready to soak up that creamy sauce.
• Whisk cream cheese before adding to marinara to eliminate lumps, resulting in an ultra-smooth, velvety texture that coats every pasta piece evenly.
• Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil for the first 15 minutes of baking, then remove to let the cheese brown beautifully without becoming tough or scorched.
• Sauté minced garlic and herbs like basil or oregano in the pot before adding marinara sauce to enhance the overall taste profile and add a restaurant-quality dimension.
• Substitute regular cream cheese with low-fat or dairy-free alternatives, and use gluten-free ziti for those with specific dietary restrictions without compromising the dish's rich, comforting essence.

Save and Reheat Baked Ziti

• Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Cool completely before sealing to prevent moisture buildup.
• Transfer ziti to freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Seal tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Avoid freezing if using sour cream, as it may separate.
• Place individual portions in a microwave-safe dish. Add a splash of milk or water to prevent drying. Cover and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until steaming hot.
• Preheat oven to 350F. Place ziti in a baking dish, cover with foil to retain moisture. Warm for 15-20 minutes, removing foil for the last 5 minutes to crisp the cheese top.

Great Sides for Baked Ziti

• Pair Zesty Red Wine: Select a medium-bodied Italian red wine like Chianti or Sangiovese that complements the tomato-based sauce and cuts through the creamy richness.
• Serve Fresh Herb Salad: Create a crisp green salad with arugula, basil, and parsley dressed in light vinaigrette to balance the heavy, cheesy ziti and provide a refreshing contrast.
• Match Garlic Bread Sidekick: Prepare crusty garlic bread with a drizzle of olive oil to soak up the extra sauce and add a crunchy texture that enhances the creamy pasta experience.
• Offer Chilled Citrus Spritzer: Craft a light, tangy drink with sparkling water, fresh lemon juice, and a hint of mint to cleanse the palate between cheesy bites and refresh the overall meal.

Baked Ziti Variations

• Gluten-Free Ziti: Swap traditional ziti pasta with gluten-free penne or brown rice pasta to accommodate wheat sensitivities.
• Vegetarian Protein Boost: Replace marinara with roasted vegetable marinara and add diced tofu or plant-based protein crumbles for extra nutrition.
• Low-Carb Cauliflower Version: Substitute ziti with roasted cauliflower florets, keeping the creamy sauce and cheese layers for a keto-friendly alternative.
• Dairy-Free Adaptation: Use dairy-free cream cheese, plant-based mozzarella, and nutritional yeast instead of traditional cheeses for lactose-intolerant individuals.

FAQs

• How creamy is this baked ziti?

The sauce is ultra-creamy because of the combination of marinara, cream cheese, and sour cream. These ingredients create a rich, velvety texture that coats every pasta noodle perfectly.

• Can I use different types of pasta?

Ziti is traditional, but you can substitute with similar short pasta shapes like penne or rigatoni. Just ensure they’re similar in size and shape to maintain the recipe’s intended texture.

• Is this dish considered kid-friendly?

Absolutely! Kids typically love cheesy pasta dishes, and this recipe has mild flavors with multiple cheeses that most children enjoy. The creamy sauce and soft texture make it appealing to younger palates.

• What makes this baked ziti different from other versions?

This recipe stands out with its unique cream cheese base, which adds extra richness and smoothness to the traditional marinara sauce. The layering technique also ensures every bite is packed with cheesy goodness.

Creamy Baked Ziti Recipe

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4.5 from 9 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Comforting ziti masterpiece blends Italian-American pasta perfection with rich, melted cheeses and hearty marinara sauce. Savory layers promise a crowd-pleasing dinner you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 4 cups ziti pasta, uncooked (about 454 grams)
• 1 26-ounce (737 grams) jar marinara sauce
• 1 14.5-ounce (411 grams) can diced tomatoes, undrained

Cheese Ingredients:

• 6 ounces (170 grams) Philadelphia cream cheese, cubed
• 3/4 cup (180 milliliters) Breakstone’s or Knudsen sour cream
• 1 8-ounce (227 grams) package Kraft shredded mozzarella cheese with a touch of Philadelphia

Seasoning Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup (30 grams) Kraft grated Parmesan cheese

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375F (190C), ensuring the temperature is precise for optimal baking results.
2. Boil water in a large pot and cook ziti according to package instructions. Drain pasta completely, reserving the pot for sauce preparation.
3. Return pot to medium heat and combine marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, and cream cheese. Stir continuously until cream cheese melts and sauce becomes smooth, approximately 5 minutes.
4. Add cooked pasta to the sauce, thoroughly coating each piece to create a uniform, creamy mixture.
5. Transfer half the pasta mixture into a 13×9-inch baking dish. Distribute sour cream dollops evenly across the first layer, then sprinkle one cup of mozzarella cheese.
6. Cover the first layer with remaining pasta mixture, ensuring complete coverage.
7. Top the casserole with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, creating a generous cheese layer.
8. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes until cheese melts completely and turns golden brown. Allow 2-3 minutes of resting time before serving to let flavors settle and prevent burning.

Notes

• Customize the pasta type by using gluten-free ziti for a celiac-friendly version.
• Add roasted vegetables like zucchini or spinach for extra nutrition and flavor boost.
• Prep ahead by assembling the dish early and refrigerating until ready to bake, perfect for busy weeknights.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 430
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 750 mg
• Fat: 19 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 50 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 18 g
• Cholesterol: 45 mg