• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
  • Contact
  • About
  • Shop
Cozy Cravings
menu icon
go to homepage
  • RECIPES
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT
  • SHOP
  • SUBSCRIBE
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • RECIPES
    • CONTACT
    • ABOUT
    • SHOP
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Lunch & Dinner

    Vegetarian Baked Ziti

    Published: Apr 4, 2021 » Modified: Jun 8, 2021 by Haley » This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump To Recipe Print Recipe

    This Vegetarian Baked Ziti recipe is an actual breeze to put together and so absolutely delicious. It's a perfect meatless pasta that's special enough for a crowd but easy enough for a weeknight. Layers of pasta with homemade sauce and creamy cheese – can't go wrong!

    Close Up of Vegetarian Baked Ziti

    INGREDIENT NOTES:

    • Dried Pasta: This is baked ziti so of course ziti pasta is best. But you could really sub just about any tubular dried pasta – penne, rigatoni, and so on. Whole wheat would be good, too.
    • Tomato Paste: This helps give a delicious deep tomato flavor.
    • Crushed Tomatoes: The base of the tomato sauce.
    • Onion: A key sauce ingredient.
    • Garlic: Also a key sauce ingredient.
    • Dried Herbs: I like a mixture of dried oregano, parsley, and thyme. You could also use Italian seasoning if that's what you have on hand.
    • Cheese: This recipe calls for ricotta, parmesan, and mozzarella cheese. All very important for very different reasons! Ricotta for the traditional creaminess, parmesan for the salty tang, and mozzarella for the classic melty-ness throughout.

    WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO COOK THIS:

    • 9x13" baking dish
    • 2x sauce pots (or pots of similar size)
    • Medium sized bowl
    • Mixing spoons
    • Measuring cups/spoons

    HOW TO MAKE VEGETARIAN BAKED ZITI:

    As you'll see this meatless baked ziti comes together in just a few straightforward steps and makes plenty to serve a family and have more for leftovers. Serve with garlic bread for a delicious meal.

    1. Make the sauce. In one of your sauce pots, sauté the onion and garlic in 2 tablespoon olive oil for 5 minutes – until slightly translucent. Then add the tomato paste, salt, and pepper, cook for 2 minutes more. Last, add the crushed tomatoes, dried herbs, and butter. Let this sit while you make the pasta.
    2. Make the pasta. In your other sauce pot, boil water and cook pasta al dente (about 1 or 2 minutes shy of the package directions). Drain and return to the pot. Do not rinse.
    3. Coat the pasta. To the cooked and drained pasta, add 1 cup of sauce and stir to combine.
    4. Prep the cheese. In a bowl, combine the ricotta, parmesan, and 1 cup of mozzarella.
    5. Assemble. In your 9x13 baking dish, first put a thin layer of sauce. Then add half the pasta, then dollop half the ricotta cheese mixture and pour half the remaining sauce. Repeat - pasta, cheese, sauce. Then finish with the remaining 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese.
    6. Bake. In a 350℉ bake covered with tinfoil for 20 minutes, uncovered for 10 more. Broil for 5 at the end if you want the browned tops.
    • Vegetarian Baked Ziti Fresh Out Of The Oven
    • Close Up of Spoonful
    • Close Up of Spoonful Diagonal

    CAN I USE STORE-BOUGHT TOMATO SAUCE?

    Sure! I am very specific about the sauces I like, so I prefer to make them homemade. But you can absolutely use a jar of your favorite sauce. 32oz should be good.

    CAN I ADD VEGETABLES TO BAKED ZITI?

    Of course! You can layer cooked vegetables right in there with the sauce and cheese. Zucchini, eggplant, broccoli, cauliflower, or peppers would be great.

    HOW TO STORE VEGETARIAN BAKED ZITI AND HOW LONG IT LASTS:

    To properly store baked ziti, put it in an air-tight container and keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheating is best done in the microwave.

    MORE DELICIOUS PASTA DISHES:

    • Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta
    • Roasted Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
    • Creamy Tomato Sauce
    • Corn and Tomato Pasta
    • Extreme close up
    • Serving spoon in baked ziti
    • Vegetarian Baked Ziti in a bowl
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe

    Vegetarian Baked Ziti

    This Vegetarian Baked Ziti recipe is an actual breeze to put together and so absolutely delicious. It's a perfect meatless pasta that's special enough for a crowd but easy enough for a weeknight. Layers of pasta with homemade sauce and creamy cheese – can't go wrong!
    5 from 2 votes
    Prep time: 15 mins
    Cook time: 45 mins
    Total time: 1 hr
    Yield: 6 servings
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    INGREDIENTS 

    • 1 lb dried ziti pasta
    • 15 oz ricotta cheese
    • 3 cups mozzarella cheese shredded, separated (1 cup + 2 cups)
    • ½ cup parmesan cheese grated

    Sauce:

    • 1 ½ cups yellow onion diced (about ½ large onion)
    • 1 tablespoon garlic minced (about 4 cloves)
    • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • 28 oz crushed tomatoes
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
    • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
    • 2 tablespoon unsalted butter

    INSTRUCTIONS

    • Preheat your oven to 350℉.
    • To make the sauce:In one of your sauce pots, sauté the onion and garlic in 2 tablespoon olive oil for 5 minutes – until slightly translucent. Then add the tomato paste, salt, and pepper, cook for 2 minutes more.
    • Last, add the crushed tomatoes, dried herbs, and butter. Let this sit while you make the pasta.
    • In your other sauce pot, boil water and cook pasta al dente (about 1 or 2 minutes shy of the package directions). Drain and return to the pot. Do not rinse.
    • To the cooked and drained pasta, add 1 cup of tomato sauce and stir to combine.
    • In a bowl, combine the ricotta, parmesan, and 1 cup of mozzarella.
    • In your 9x13 baking dish, first put a thin layer of sauce. Then add half the pasta with sauce, then dollop half the ricotta cheese mixture and pour half the remaining sauce (it's ok if the cheese and sauce don't completely cover the pasta).
    • Repeat - pasta, cheese, sauce. Then finish with the remaining 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese.
    • Bake covered with tinfoil for 20 minutes, uncovered for 10 more. Broil for 5 at the end if you want the browned tops.

    NUTRITION ESTIMATE PER SERVING

    Calories: 702kcal | Carbohydrates: 75g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 96mg | Sodium: 1135mg | Potassium: 780mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 1212IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 611mg | Iron: 4mg
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: Pasta
    Author: Haley
    DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE?Tag @cozycravings and use #cozycravings

    More Lunch & Dinner

    • One Pot Orzo with Tomatoes
    • Roasted Garlic Cream Sauce with Gnocchi
    • Brothy Beans
    • Chicken Mushroom Wild Rice Soup

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Patricia

      November 25, 2022 at 1:43 pm

      This recipe has all this cheese and it's all dairy can we please get a Vegi dish with vegan cheese most vegetarians do not eat dairy products

      Reply
      • Haley

        November 27, 2022 at 9:29 pm

        Hi Patricia - I do not typically cook dairy-free, but you can substitute your favorite dairy-free version of these cheeses for a similar result (such as dairy free ricotta cheese).

        Reply
      • Gwen

        January 17, 2023 at 2:22 pm

        What temp and time would you recommend for cooking this from frozen? I wanted to prepare the casserole for a friend and give the preparation instructions for “fresh bake” and from “frozen” (incase she doesn’t need it right away).

        Reply
        • Haley

          January 19, 2023 at 8:30 pm

          Hi Gwen – that's so kind of you! I'd still recommend 350°F and to bake covered for an hour and uncovered for 15 minutes to let the top brown.

          Reply
    2. Brandi

      January 06, 2023 at 5:37 pm

      Does this recipe call for tomato sauce and tomato paste? The ingredient list only says pasta.

      Reply
      • Brandi

        January 06, 2023 at 5:38 pm

        Paste*

        Reply
      • Haley

        January 06, 2023 at 10:14 pm

        Hi Brandi - yes, it calls for both. Paste is listed third under the sauce ingredients! They are listed in the order of use.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    HEY THERE!

    Welcome to Cozy Cravings! Happy to have you. Here, you’ll find comfort food recipes & other delicious things to enjoy and devour.

    POPULAR POSTS

    • Roasted Garlic Baked Ricotta Dip
    • Spinach and Ricotta Puff Pastry Pinwheels
    • Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cookies
    • Potato, Egg and Bacon Breakfast Skillet

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    about

    • ABOUT
    • CONTACT
    • PRIVACY POLICY

    Let's Keep In Touch!

    Subscribe here for delicious recipes, updates & more!

    Thank you!

    You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

    .

    recipe index

    • APPETIZERS
    • BREAKFAST & BRUNCH
    • LUNCH & DINNER
    • SNACKS & SIDES
    • DESSERTS

    Copyright © 2023 · CozyCravings.com

    1590 shares