Description
Olive Garden’s five cheese ziti al forno brings creamy Italian comfort to home kitchens with rich, melted cheeses and hearty pasta. Pasta enthusiasts will savor this classic baked dish that delivers restaurant-quality flavor in one satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Cheese:
- 1 lb (454 grams) ziti pasta
- 1 cup (240 grams) ricotta cheese
- 1 cup (100 grams) mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup (100 grams) fontina cheese, shredded
- 1 cup (100 grams) Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 cup (100 grams) Romano cheese, grated
Sauces:
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) marinara sauce
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) alfredo sauce
Seasonings and Extras:
- 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 375F (190C) ensuring precise temperature for optimal cooking.
- Cook ziti pasta until perfectly al dente, then drain thoroughly and set aside.
- Create a rich sauce base by blending marinara, alfredo, ricotta, salt, and pepper in a spacious mixing bowl until smooth and consistent.
- Gently fold cooked ziti into the sauce, ensuring each pasta piece is completely coated.
- Prepare a greased 9×13-inch baking dish by layering half the ziti mixture, followed by a generous sprinkle of mozzarella, fontina, Parmesan, and Romano cheeses.
- Repeat the layering process with remaining pasta and cheese, creating a decadent stratified presentation.
- Craft a crispy topping by mixing breadcrumbs with melted butter and Italian seasoning, then evenly distribute over the cheese layer.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until the surface turns golden brown and the edges become deliciously bubbly.
- Allow the dish to rest for 5 minutes after removing from oven, permitting flavors to settle and making serving easier.
Notes
- Customize the cheese blend by swapping out or mixing different varieties for a unique flavor profile.
- Prevent pasta from becoming mushy by cooking it just under al dente, as it will continue cooking in the sauce during baking.
- Enhance creaminess by letting the dish rest for 5-10 minutes after baking, allowing the cheeses to set and meld together.
- Make it gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta and breadcrumbs, ensuring all other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 530 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 56 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg