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Home » Course » Dinner » Easy Cheesy Baked Ziti

Published: Sep 28, 2018 · Modified: Apr 7, 2022 by Veronika's Kitchen * This post may contain affiliate links

Easy Cheesy Baked Ziti

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Easy Cheesy Baked Ziti recipe is the quick and simple 30 minutes dinner idea made in one skillet. Creamy pasta with blush sauce topped with melted cheese is a perfect comfort meal.

Easy Cheesy Baked Ziti in white skillet.

If you have a busy week and don’t want to spend hours making dinner, I have a super easy 30 minutes meal for you! Everything is done in one pan!

This is one skillet meatless baked ziti pasta, made with blush sauce and topped with lots of cheese. A perfect comfort meal for lazy weeknights!

Also, if you like One Skillet meals, check out my Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry,  Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Casserole and One Pot Chicken and Rice.

Baked Ziti Ingredients

This is a very simple ingredients list:

  • Crushed tomatoes
  • Ziti pasta
  • Heavy cream
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Mozzarella cheese
Easy Cheesy Baked Ziti in white skillet.

How to make Easy Cheesy Baked Ziti

You will need a large and deep pan or a skillet that is oven safe.

NOTE: If you don’t have an oven safe skillet, you just will need to transfer the pasta to a baking pan before putting it in the oven. This way you’ll end up having Baked Ziti Casserole.

Preheat you pan on a medium/high heat and add crushed tomatoes. Give it a stir and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat to medium and let it simmer for about 5 minutes.

Then, add water, pasta, and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir, cover with the lid, and let it cook for about 15-20 minutes.

NOTE: It is very important to stir the pasta every few minutes, so it won’t stick together or to the bottom of the pan.

process photos of how to make Easy Cheesy Baked Ziti
process photos of how to make Easy Cheesy Baked Ziti

Preheat the oven to 450°F.

When pasta is cooked, turn off the stove. Add heavy cream and grated parmesan cheese and stir.

Then evenly sprinkle grated mozzarella cheese over the pasta. I like to buy a pizza blend, which has a mix of mozzarella, provolone and asiago cheeses. It will make you pasta taste like pizza!

Bake the ziti for 10 minutes at 450°F until the cheese is melted and browned.

Easy Cheesy Baked Ziti in white skillet.

Did you make this recipe?!? I’d love to know how it turned out! leave a comment and a rating below👇 thank you!

Easy Cheesy Baked Ziti in white skillet.
Print Recipe
5 from 8 votes

Gluten-Free Baked Ziti

Easy Cheesy Baked Ziti recipe is the quick and simple 30 minutes dinner idea made in one skillet. Creamy pasta with blush sauce topped with melted cheese is a perfect comfort meal.
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time25 mins
Total Time30 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 471kcal
Author: Veronika’s Kitchen

Ingredients

  • 1 can crushed tomatoes 28 oz
  • 3 cups water
  • 16 ounces ziti
  • Salt pepper to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup parmesan cheese grated
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded

Instructions

  • Preheat a large skillet on a medium/high heat and add crushed tomatoes. Bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Add water, ziti, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes and mix. Cover with a lid and cook for about 15-20 minutes, stirring every few minutes, so pasta won’t stick together.
  • Preheat the oven to 450°F.
  • When the pasta is cooked, turn off the stove, add heavy cream and grated parmesan and mix. Add more salt if needed. Sprinkle grated mozzarella cheese over the pasta.
  • Bake at 450°F for about 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and browned.

Video

Notes

NOTE 1: If you don’t have an oven safe skillet, you just will need to transfer the pasta to a baking pan before putting it in the oven. This way you’ll end up having Baked Ziti Casserole.
NOTE 2: When you cook the pasta, it is very important to stir the pasta every few minutes, so it won’t stick together or to the bottom of the pan.

Nutrition

Calories: 471kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 404mg | Potassium: 213mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 573IU | Calcium: 324mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to know how it turned out! Please let me know by leaving a review below. Or snap a photo and share it on Instagram; be sure to tag me @veronikaskitchen.
Easy Cheesy Baked Ziti in white skillet.

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Reader Interactions

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Emily Leary says

    October 09, 2018 at 11:44 am

    My mouth was watering as soon as I saw the first photo! I love pasta and this recipe looks so delicious!

    Reply
  2. Sam | Ahead of Thyme says

    October 07, 2018 at 11:43 pm

    Wow this pasta looks delicious and so creamy! Just the weeknight meal I was looking for!

    Reply
  3. Julie says

    October 07, 2018 at 9:56 pm

    I’ve never thought about making baked ziti in a cast iron skillet — what a great idea. I bet the top and bottom get so nice and crispy!

    Reply
  4. Sharon says

    October 07, 2018 at 9:46 pm

    5 stars
    I’m always ready for pasta but a one-pan pasta dish that’s easy for weeknights, yes, please!

    Reply
  5. Lorie says

    October 07, 2018 at 8:07 pm

    5 stars
    This looks so amazing and I can’t wait to make it! My hubby will be the happiest ever!

    Reply
  6. Lorie says

    October 07, 2018 at 8:05 pm

    5 stars
    No doubt my husbands favorite dinner out there. He’s gonna be so happy when I make this!

    Reply
  7. Anne Murphy says

    October 07, 2018 at 4:46 pm

    5 stars
    I always loved baked ziti, but it seemed so much fuss! This is something you can reasonably do at home on a weeknight. Cool!

    Reply
  8. Leslie Haasch says

    October 07, 2018 at 11:58 am

    That slightly crunchy, cheesy top layer is what I LIVE for! Will you judge me if I just eat it straight out of the pan with a slotted spoon?

    Reply
  9. Nicolas Hortense says

    October 07, 2018 at 3:06 am

    Wow that pasta certainly looks comforting, amazing how you prepared this in one pan. That gratinated cheese on top is making me so hungry!

    Reply
  10. Monica | Nourish Fete says

    October 07, 2018 at 12:26 am

    5 stars
    This is the ultimate comfort food, no doubt about it, but I love how quickly this version comes together! Perfect for busy nights!

    Reply
  11. prasanna hede says

    October 06, 2018 at 10:28 am

    One pan meals are always stress free for me.I loved your pasta recipe and specially its great for dinner.

    Reply
  12. Claire | The Simple, Sweet Life says

    October 06, 2018 at 3:20 am

    This looks so delicious, and I love that it’s a one-pan kind of dish. I’ll definitely be making this on one of our busy weeknights!

    Reply
  13. Gloria says

    October 02, 2018 at 5:41 pm

    5 stars
    If you can cook it in one pan…especially cast iron, count me in. You can never go wrong with a pasta dish any night of the week. Always a family pleaser. Great for stress-free entertaining too.

    Reply
  14. Dawn says

    October 01, 2018 at 12:02 pm

    5 stars
    Love doing pasta bakes, especially this time of year as the weather cools. This one looks so good! This, some crusty bread and vino and I’m set 🙂

    Reply
  15. Sally says

    September 29, 2018 at 12:27 pm

    5 stars
    Veronika! I saw this on Instagram and had to immediately check it out. This will be on my menu this week. The baked ziti looks fabulous and how great to be able to make it quick in one pan. Perfect for my vegetarian son, too! Great pictures, girl. ❤️

    Reply
    • Veronika's Kitchen says

      September 29, 2018 at 9:58 pm

      Hi Sally! I am so happy you liked the recipe! Cannot wait to hear feedback from your son;)

      Reply

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