Baked Ziti with Crunchy Italian Salad and Garlic Bread

Rating: 3.38 stars
499 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 98
  • 4 star values: 135
  • 3 star values: 148
  • 2 star values: 95
  • 1 star values: 22

The classic Italian supper comes together remarkably quickly -- garlic bread bakes alongside the ziti, and a green salad is tossed in mere minutes.

Everyday Food, October 2007

Gallery

Read the full recipe after the video.

Recipe Summary

prep:
20 mins
total:
40 mins
Servings:
4
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Ingredients

For Baked Ziti
For Garlic Bread
For Crunchy Italian Salad

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente, according to package instructions; drain and reserve.

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  • In a small bowl, combine ricotta, egg, 1/4 cup Parmesan, and half the mozzarella; season with salt and pepper.

  • In the bottom of a shallow 2-quart casserole dish, spread half the tomato sauce. Top with ziti, then ricotta mixture and remaining sauce. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan and remaining mozzarella. Place casserole on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake until top is browned and sauce is bubbling, 20 to 25 minutes.

  • Meanwhile, prepare garlic bread: Make deep, even cuts into the bread, about 1/2 inch apart, without cutting through the bottom. In a small bowl, combine butter and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Brush garlic butter between cuts in bread. Wrap bread loosely in aluminum foil, and bake with ziti during last 10 minutes of baking.

  • In a large bowl, whisk together vinegar and oil; season with salt and pepper. Add endive and arugula, and toss to coat. Serve baked ziti with salad and garlic bread.

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Reviews (38)

499 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 98
  • 4 star values: 135
  • 3 star values: 148
  • 2 star values: 95
  • 1 star values: 22
Anonymous
Rating: 5 stars
12/27/2017
I have made this recipe countless times - sometimes with the salad and bread, too. It always gets great reviews. I think it helps to use a good tomato sauce, such as Raos, or one with less than 3g sugar. The sweet ones give it an off taste.
Anonymous
Rating: 4 stars
11/09/2016
Very good ziti recipe. I added frozen spinach & some crumbled ground beef. But it all fell into place nicely.
Anonymous
Rating: 5 stars
09/18/2016
Love this. I double the recipe and add 1 lb ground beef and 1 lb mild italian sausage and put it in 4 quart dish. Enough to serve a crowd. To make it a little easier to layer, I just mix the noodles in with the ricotta mixture and then put 1/2 sauce on bottom, then ricotta noodle mixture and layer of sauce on top covered with the remaining cheese.
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Anonymous
Rating: 5 stars
03/16/2015
Very quick and easy, and delicious! My new ziti recipe :)
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
02/27/2014
This is the best ziti recipe I have ever had. Super easy, too! I added cooked ground hamburger to my sauce as well. Excellent dish!
Anonymous
Rating: 5 stars
09/19/2013
This is my go to dish when I need something in a hurry but taste delicious! I would love to be able to print the food photo along with the recipe. Thanks for this great dish.
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Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
10/09/2012
This recipe is delish!!!! I also add chicken sausage to it.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
07/09/2011
delicious,i added hamburger in it also
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
07/03/2011
Really easy and really delicious!! I added frozen choppen spinach to the cheese mixture and sauteed garlic and onion to my jarred pasta sauce. Will definitely make again!
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
04/11/2011
Perfect -- easy, quick, and delicious. This is a go-to of mine for when I don't have a lot of time but want a nice Sunday dinner.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
11/10/2010
Really an ideal recipe for large groups and/or freezing individual meals for the week. Most easiest tastiest baked ziti I've made! Not to say that I have made a lot.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
10/16/2010
Made this just as the recipe calls for - we love it. What an easy meal to prepare. Good for company. Freezes well, too.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
07/22/2009
Excellent recipe-I added Italian seasoned ground turkey sausage to the sauce (my husband wanted meat in it, but the turkey kept it lean!) My 5 year old loved it!
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
05/07/2009
i love this recipe but i also add hamburger to it
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
02/14/2009
I love this recipe. I make it at least once a week. I find it's better to have the bottom layer be pasta, not sauce, as the sauce burns pretty bad.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
02/03/2009
This is a great recipe. I typically add a little extra sauce. Also, I rarely freeze anything, as I am always worried it will sacrifice taste, or texture when defrosting and cooking - but this meal froze very well and tasted as fresh as the day I made it. !
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
01/26/2009
My sister just called and asked me for this recipe the other day-all of our kids love it. I found it a little lacking in flavour the first time I made it so now I substitute an organic pizza/pasta sauce that has a lot more flavour to it than regular tomato sauce and that has definitely helped to improve the taste.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
01/13/2009
the vodka sauce is a great idea- we'll try that next time. We added frozen spinich and grilled chicken- the whole family loved it. GwenHex- i think you will do fine to use regular table salt, but kosher salt does have a better taste (in my opinion)- it's good in all cooking.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
01/05/2009
this sounds and looks good--and healthy, but do i NEED coarse salt?
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
12/28/2008
I make this all the time at home. We love it. :)
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
11/05/2008
I agree with krisx2, use an entire box of ziti and increase the mozzarella a bit, put it in a 9 x 13 pan and you have several meals!!! Fabulous!
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
11/04/2008
This was SO good! The recipe calls for 8 ozs pasta which is 1/2 box. If you think your family will eat more than that, you can use 3/4 to the whole 16 oz box since the recipe makes a lot of sauce (just use a larger casserole dish). We will definitely be making this again. It was so easy and the whole family loved it.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
11/04/2008
I just made the Baked Ziti and it's SO easy and yummy! My husband and mom absolutely loved it. I used Trader Joe's Tomato
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
10/26/2008
I used the recipe builder on Weight Watcher E tools and the Ziti recipe alone was 10 points per serving. Didn't check the rest of the recipe. This was also using lowfat cheeses.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
10/23/2008
This was great! I recommend leaving it in the oven longer. About a hour is perfection.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
10/22/2008
I agree about the nutritional information for the web site recipes. I am a Weight Watcher and need this information to help decide if it is right for me !
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
09/30/2008
This is so simple but so delicious! My kids love when I make this, and so do I because it comes together so easily. The garlic bread is perfect every time, too..
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
09/12/2008
The baked ziti is delicious, easy, and loved by the whole family. I'm usually so impressed with these recipes, and this one was no exception.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
09/01/2008
I am diabetic and would love to see the nutrition break down with your recipes. This sound out-of-site, but need to know if it fits in my diet or what I might be able to do to make it fit.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
07/08/2008
We loved the baked Ziti! My husband thought it would be great with italian sausage in it. We'll try it that way next!
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
05/30/2008
I made the Baked Ziti yesterday morning, put it in the fridge, and reheated forsupper last nignt. My husband loved it !!! {He's very particular when it comes to past and sauce.} I used Luchini Roasted Tomato w/Basil Sauce, but I added browned ground beef, onions, and garlic. I also had 3/4 cup mascarpone I needed to use up, and I mixed it with 1/2cup ricotta. It was beyond YUMMY! Next wife will have to go some to beat this! LOL
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
04/07/2008
very easy, quick meal to make that was a hit with my family. even those that turn their nose up to ricotta came back for seconds!
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
04/01/2008
This is one of our favorite dishes! I forgot to buy ricotta and just happened to have mascarpone cheese, so I used it. I am so glad I forgot the ricotta because it is awesome with the mascarpone and that is what I always use to make it with now. I used the whole wheat pasta and Newman's Own Tomato
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
03/24/2008
This is one of my boyfriend's favorites! It's even delicious with whole wheat noodles.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
02/15/2008
My husband enjoyed this recipe, however when I added small meatballs to the dish before baking, this put it over the top for him. This is my 'thank-goodness'' recipe when we have unexpected company. Quick and Delicious!
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
01/22/2008
my family loved this! If you can find De Lallo brand Vodka sauce at your grocery store in the specialty section...by all means get it! I always make my own sauce, but in a pinch this sauce is the best jarred I have had. Using a crummy store bought sauce will ruin a good recipe.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
01/20/2008
I made this with a chunky style pasta sauce with veggies (zucchini, carrots, etc). It was delicious. Will definately make again.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
01/11/2008
My Family and I love Baked Ziti! I am going o make this with the salad next time. I usually just make a blah spinach salad. This should pick up my dinner a bit! :)
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