Five Cheese Ziti al Forno

4.7
(16)

Five cheese ziti al forno is a delicious pasta bake made with ready-made marinara and alfredo sauces, Italian cheese blend, ricotta, ziti, and topped with panko bread crumbs and Parmesan.

a bowl of baked ziti with a forkful being lifted from the bowl,
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Prep Time:
10 mins
Cook Time:
40 mins
Total Time:
50 mins
Servings:
8

This copycat Olive Garden five cheese ziti al forno is “a cheater recipe,” according to recipe developer and test kitchen expert Juliana Hale. “The jarred sauces and cheese blend make it super easy, but no one else will know that. It’s so good!”

Five Cheese Ziti al Forno Ingredients

These are the ingredients you’ll need to make this copycat five cheese ziti al forno recipe: 

  • Pasta: This recipe starts with a pound of dry ziti pasta. 
  • Cheeses: It should come as no surprise that you’ll need plenty of cheeses for this dish: A package of shredded Italian blend cheeses, a cup of ricotta, and grated Parmesan. 
  • Jarred sauce: Using jarred sauce cuts down on time — but, of course, you can make your own marinara and Alfredo sauces!
  • Bread crumbs: Use store-bought or homemade seasoned bread crumbs.
  • Butter: You’ll need two tablespoons of melted butter for the rich topping. 
  • Garlic: Flavor the buttery bread crumb topping with fresh garlic. 

How to Make Five Cheese Ziti al Forno

You’ll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make Olive Garden five cheese ziti al forno: 

  1. Cook and drain the pasta. 
  2. Toss the pasta with the sauces, half of the Italian blend cheeses, and ricotta.
  3. Transfer the mixture to the prepared dish and top with remaining cheese.
  4. Make the topping and sprinkle it over the pasta. 
  5. Bake the five cheese ziti al forno until bubbly and golden.

Test Kitchen Tips

  • Using Italian blend cheeses is a time and money saver. You get 4 or 5 cheeses in one package and it’s already shredded and ready to use.
  • You may substitute 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup shredded romano cheese, and 1/2 cup shredded provolone or Asiago cheese for the shredded Italian blend cheeses.
  • You may substitute plain panko crumbs and add 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning.

What to Serve With Five Cheese Ziti al Forno

Looking for serving inspiration? We’ve got you covered with our collection of Olive Garden-inspired recipes. We recommend pairing this five cheese ziti al forno with homemade buttery breadsticks.

How to Store Five Cheese Ziti al Forno

Store your leftover five cheese ziti al forno in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Reheat in the oven or in the microwave. 

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 8 servings

  • 1 pound dry ziti pasta

  • 1 (8 ounce) package shredded Italian blend cheeses

  • 2 (24-ounce) jars marinara sauce

  • 1 (15-ounce) jar Alfredo sauce

  • 1 cup ricotta cheese

  • 1/4 cup ITalian seasoned panko bread crumbs

  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

    all ingredients to make a baked ziti casserole gathered on a kitchen counter.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Cook the pasta 1 minute less than directed on the package. Drain pasta and transfer to a large bowl.

    al dente cooked ziti noodles in a glass bowl.

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  3.  Set aside 1/2 cup of the Italian blend cheeses.

    shredded italian blend, and parmesan cheese divided into two small glass bowls.

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  4. Add marinara sauce, Alfredo sauce, remaining Italian blend cheeses, and ricotta cheese to the pasta; toss to combine.

    marinara sauce, Alfredo sauce, remaining Italian blend cheeses, and ricotta cheese added to the pasta and tossed to combine.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Transfer pasta mixture to the prepared dish. Top with reserved 1/2 cup cheese.

    ziti topped with remaining italian blend shredded cheese

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  6. For the topping, in a small bowl, combine panko, Parmesan, melted butter, and garlic. Sprinkle over the pasta mixture in the baking dish.

    unbaked ziti casserole topped with breadcrumb and cheese mixture.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  7. Bake until golden brown and bubbly, 30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

    Baked ziti golden-brown fresh out of the oven.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

642 Calories
46g Fat
33g Carbs
25g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 642
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 46g 59%
Saturated Fat 26g 129%
Cholesterol 134mg 45%
Sodium 1945mg 85%
Total Carbohydrate 33g 12%
Dietary Fiber 5g 16%
Total Sugars 12g
Protein 25g 50%
Vitamin C 7mg 8%
Calcium 646mg 50%
Iron 3mg 14%
Potassium 888mg 19%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.