This easy recipe for Meatless Baked Ziti is made with a few simple ingredients but is super flavorful and quick to put together. It's guaranteed to become a family favorite!
Meatless Baked Ziti is not just a great weeknight meal, but a comforting baked pasta dish for holidays, special occasions and Sunday dinners. With just a few ingredients you likely have on hand, baked ziti comes together in less than an hour. This recipe makes a pretty large amount of pasta so you'll likely have leftovers for lunch!
We make our baked ziti recipe without meat because we don't like the texture it adds to the pasta. Without meat our recipe creates noodles baked into a smooth and creamy sauce that is irresistibly delicious. We use our favorite homemade spaghetti sauce, which you can also make in your slow cooker with a batch of meatballs if you'd like to add some protein to your dinner. Or add some ground beef like we do in lasagna roll ups.
And if you're looking for more easy casseroles for those busy nights, check out our pizza tater tot casserole, southern baked macaroni and cheese and creamy spinach and chicken casserole next. Need another vegetarian dinner? Try our vegetarian stuffed peppers. You can serve meatless baked ziti with a side of garlic bread or meatball toast.
Why You'll Love Baked Ziti Without Meat
- It's an easy weeknight meal that never fails to disappoint!
- You won't have a ton of pots and pans to clean up after - just one pot!
- Kids love it, and you can sneak in their favorite (or least favorite) vegetables.
Ingredients
- Ziti pasta: or use penne pasta, which we tend to do because the kids like the smaller shape compared to ziti.
- Spaghetti sauce: use your favorite homemade recipe or store bought brand for a baked ziti you'll love the most.
- Ricotta cheese
- Mozzarella cheese
- Grated parmesan cheese
- Eggs
Tips from the Chef
- Use your favorite spaghetti sauce for a flavor that you'll love!
- Add herbs, chopped spinach, or diced vegetables for a heartier vegetarian version.
How To Make Meatless Baked Ziti
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- 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 return ziti to the pot.
- Combine cooked ziti with 4 cups of spaghetti sauce, ricotta cheese, 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese and eggs. Mix well.
- Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Top with the remaining 1 cup of spaghetti sauce and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese.
- Cover with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and cook for an additional 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and begins to turn golden brown. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving.
Recipe FAQs
Store leftover baked ziti in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 7 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
This is a great dish to prepare ahead of time and freeze, especially for holiday meals. You can put the entire recipe together, cover with plastic wrap and foil and then bake the day you're going to serve it. You can also cook it before freezing and then reheat the day of serving. For optimal quality, only freeze for about 3 months.
Reheat leftovers in the microwave or put the whole casserole dish into the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until it's warmed through, about 5-10 minutes.
The eggs keep ricotta cheese from becoming grainy and dry when cooked. If you need to make this recipe egg-free, you can leave them out but the texture of the finished dish may be not be as smooth and creamy.
More Of Our Favorite Pasta Dinners
Recipe
Meatless Baked Ziti
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb ziti, or penne
- 5 cups spaghetti sauce
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- 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 return ziti to the pot.
- Combine cooked ziti with 4 cups of spaghetti sauce, ricotta cheese, 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese and eggs. Mix well.
- Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Top with the remaining 1 cup of spaghetti sauce and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese.
- Cover with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and cook for an additional 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and begins to turn golden brown. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Jennifer says
Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe. It turned out great!