The Global Vegetarian

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Cheesy Mixed sauce Baked Ziti

Pooja Jhunjhunwala

This Cheesy Mixed sauce Baked Ziti is inspired by Olive garden and it’s so delicious! The sauce is an arrabbiata base with cream and cheese and it’s the perfect cheesy balance. All that goodness is baked on top with more cheese & breadcrumbs for that extra bite! This is such an easy vegetarian pasta recipe. A perfect meal for dinners in the winter. An absolute no brainier to make for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Kids and adults will love this!

Happy Cooking!

Servings: 6-8 servings

Prep Time: 5 mins

Cooking Time: 15 mins

Baking Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 35-40 mins

Ingredients: 

  • 12-14 oz Ziti 

  • 1.5 tbsp butter

  • 1.5-2 cups Arrabbiata sauce

  • 1-3-1/2 cup heavy Cream 

  • 1/3-2/3 cup pasta water 

  • 2 oz Mozzarella cheese grated

  • 0.5 oz Parmesan cheese grated

  • 1 oz pecorino cheese grated

Topping:

  • 1-2 oz Mozzarella cheese grated

  • 1/2 oz Parmesan cheese grated

  • 3-4 tbsp Bread crumbs  

Directions: 

  1. Preheat oven to 325F.

  2. Put water with some salt to boil in a saucepan and boil the pasta till al dente. Start making the sauce as the water comes to a boil. Once the pasta is boiled, drain and reserve pasta water.

  3. Put a pan on low-medium heat and add butter and let it melt.

  4. Add arrabbiata sauce and cook for 2-4 minutes.

  5. Once it comes to a low simmer, add heavy cream. Mix it together.

  6. Add 1/3 cup pasta water and mozzarella, pecorino, and parmesan cheese. Mix it all together and add more pasta water if needed to melt the cheese. Once the cheese is all melted and combined, the sauce is ready.

  7. Two ways to assemble it:

    • In a baking dish, add about half of the boiled pasta. Pour half the sauce over it. Top with the remaining pasta and then the remaining sauce.

    • Mix the pasta with the sauce and transfer to the bowl.

  8. Top with the cheese kept for topping. Sprinkle the bread crumbs over the cheese.

  9. Bake at 325F for 15-18 mins and then broil for 3-5 mins till the breadcrumbs till toasty.

  10. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes/Tips:

  • If you don’t have ziti any small pasta as penne would also work.

  • You can use store-bought sauce if you want.

  • If you don’t have pecorino you can use white cheddar or Amul processed cheese.

  • Make sure the bread crumbs are crispy to give that delicious bite.

  • You can make this from before and freeze it as well. Bake for longer at 300F and broil at the end.