Cheese Ziti Recipes

EASY CREAMY BAKED ZITI RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F and spray an 11x9-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a large saucepan, cook the pasta according to package (al dente/no salt) directions, drain.
• In the same large saucepan set over medium heat, cook the marinara sauce and cream cheese together until the cheese melts. Stir often.
• Add the pasta to the marinara/cheese sauce and mix well.
• Pour half the marinara/cheese/ziti sauce in the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with half the mozzarella and half the Parmesan cheeses.
• Sprinkle the cheeses with 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil.
• Layer the remaining marinara/cheese/ziti sauce over the cheese and top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
• Cover and bake at 375° for 30 minutes.
• Remove the cover and bake an additional 15-20 minutes or until the baked ziti is bubbly and cheese is golden.
• Garnish with the remaining chopped basil and serve with toasted baguette.
• Enjoy!

HAM AND CHEESE ZITI

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Cook and drain pasta as directed on package.
• While pasta is cooking, melt butter in 3-quart saucepan over low heat. Cook garlic in butter 30 seconds, stirring frequently. Stir in flour and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Gradually stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in mustard and Colby cheese. Cook, stirring occasionally, until cheese is melted.
• Stir pasta and ham into cheese sauce. Pour into ungreased 2-quart casserole. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake uncovered 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly.

FIVE CHEESE ZITI AL FORNO

Steps:

• Cook the pasta: Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350 F degrees.
• Make the sauce: Melt the butter in a large skillet then add the garlic and saute for 30 seconds. Sprinkle the flour over the garlic and stir. Add the half and half and whisk well. Stir in the salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, the sauce should thicken. Stir in all the cheeses but reserve 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Add the marinara sauce and Italian seasoning and stir well. Bring to a boil.
• Make topping: In a small bowl combine the breadcrumbs together with the butter, Italian seasoning and parmesan cheese. Set aside.
• Toss the pasta with the sauce: Pour the sauce over the ziti and toss well. Transfer the pasta to a casserole dish, top with remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese and then the panko topping.
• Bake: Transfer the casserole dish to the oven and bake for 30 minutes.

TWO-CHEESE ZITI

Steps:

• Cook ziti according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, melt butter. Stir in the flour, salt and pepper until smooth; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in cheeses until melted., Drain ziti; add to sauce and stir to coat. Transfer to a shallow 1-1/2-qt. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Cover and bake at 350° for 20 minutes., In a small bowl, combine bread crumbs and butter; stir in cheeses. Sprinkle over ziti. Bake, uncovered, for 5-10 minutes or until heated through and topping is lightly browned.

OLIVE GARDEN FIVE-CHEESE ZITI AL FORNO

Steps:

• PREPARE THE ZITI SAUCE:.
• Combining all ingredients for the Ziti Sauce in a large bowl; cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• PREPARE THE ZITI TOPPING:.
• In a medium-size bowl, whisk together the first four ingredients for the Ziti Topping.
• Add the garlic, oil, and parsley and mix until thoroughly blended. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• WHEN READY TO PREPARE THE WHOLE DISH:.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 13-by-9-inch baking dish or large casserole with non-stick spray.
• Prepare the pasta according to package directions.
• Pour 1/2 cup of prepared ziti sauce into the prepared dish, and spread it evenly over the bottom using a spoon.
• When pasta has finished cooking, drain the water and pour the hot pasta into the bowl of remaining sauce. Mix thoroughly; pour into the baking dish.
• Spread 1 cup of shredded mozzarella over the pasta and sauce mixture.
• Top the mozzarella with the prepared Ziti Topping, spreading evenly.
• Place pan on center oven rack and bake until top is golden brown and cheese is bubbling, about 30 to 40 minutes.
• Remove and serve immediately.
• From: Olive Garden Restaurant.

FIVE-CHEESE ZITI AL FORNO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Cook the pasta according to the package directions for al dente; drain., Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, combine the marinara sauce, Alfredo sauce, 1 cup mozzarella and the ricotta, provolone and Romano. Cook over medium heat until sauce begins to simmer and cheeses are melted. Stir in cooked pasta; pour mixture into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese., In a small bowl, stir together Parmesan, bread crumbs, garlic and olive oil; sprinkle over the pasta., Bake, uncovered, until mixture is bubbly and topping is golden brown, 30-40 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley or basil if desired.Freeze option: Cool the unbaked casserole; cover and freeze. To use, partially thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Cover casserole with foil; bake 50 minutes. Uncover; bake until heated through and a thermometer inserted in center reads 165°, 15-20 minutes longer.

EXTRA CHEESY BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• Combine canned tomatoes and their juices, basil, garlic, salt, pepper and the mascarpone cheese in a blender or food processor. (A food mill will also work.) Blend until the basil and garlic are chopped into tiny bits and the sauce is well mixed. Taste and adjust with additional salt as needed. Set aside.
• Heat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (if your oven runs hot, reduce this to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.)
• Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil, add the pasta, and then cook for about half of the recommended cook time on the package (5 or 6 minutes). Save 1/2 cup of the pasta water, drain the pasta, and then place it back into the pot. Undercooking the pasta makes sure that it does not overcook when baked with the sauce in the oven.
• In a medium bowl, toss the mozzarella, Fontina and Pecorino Romano cheese together.
• Add the sauce, 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water and three-quarters of the shredded cheese mix to the pot with pasta. Stir well. The mixture should look a bit thin, if it seems thick, add a splash more of the reserved pasta water.
• Transfer the ziti mixture to a large baking dish and top with the remaining shredded cheese mix. Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is melted and golden brown on top. Allow the baked ziti to cool for 5 minutes before serving.

OLIVE GARDEN FIVE CHEESE ZITI AL FORNO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Cook the pasta one minute shy of the directions on the box and drain.
• In a large metal bowl add the pasta, marinara sauce, alfredo sauce, ricotta cheese and fontina cheese and mix well.
• Add to a large oven safe skillet or 9x13 pan.
• Mix the mozzarella, panko, romano, parmesan and garlic together and add the topping over the pasta.
• Bake for 30-35 minutes uncovered until golden brown and bubbly.

--4 CHEESE BAKED ZITI--

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and return to the pan.
• Stir in Alfredo sauce and sour cream. Spoon half into a lightly greased 3-qt. baking dish.
• Combine the eggs, ricotta cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, Romano cheese and parsley; spread over pasta.
• Top with remaining pasta mixture; sprinkle with mozzarella and remaining Parmesan.
• Cover and bake at 350° for 25 minutes. Uncover; bake 5-10 minutes longer or until bubbly.
• Serve with tossed salad and buttered Italian bread.

BAKED ZITI II

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and rinse.
• In a medium bowl, mix ziti, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, egg and 1 1/2 cups spaghetti sauce.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish and spoon in ziti mixture. Top with remaining spaghetti sauce, followed by Parmesan cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes; let stand for 15 minutes before serving.