Five Cheese Ziti al Forno
Five Cheese Ziti al Forno is the ultimate comfort dinner that my whole family loves! This Olive Garden copycat recipe is even better than the real deal. Marinara sauce is married up with alfredo sauce, mozzarella, ricotta, fontina and romano cheeses in this supremely cheesy baked pasta dish.
Five Cheese Ziti al Forno
I’m such a sucker for a good copycat recipe. When I try something at a restaurant that I enjoy and later make it even better in my own kitchen, it’s the best feeling! This Olive Garden five cheese ziti al forno recipe is just another feather in my cap when it comes to restaurant dupes.
If you’ve never had it, five cheese ziti al forno is basically exactly what it sounds like. It’s a baked ziti that’s made with 5 different cheeses! The cheesy, saucy pasta is baked beneath a layer of garlicky, crunchy breadcrumbs just to really send it over the top.
The very best part? This cheesy baked ziti recipe really couldn’t be much easier to make. Cooked pasta is tossed with sauce and cheeses, coated with a breadcrumb topping and baked until golden brown. Easy to make and can feed a small army – those are the two qualifiers that make this a weeknight staple in my house!
Ingredient Notes
Here are just a few quick notes about what you’ll need to make your new favorite baked ziti recipe! For exact ingredient measurements, keep on scrolling all the way down to the recipe card.
For the baked ziti
- Pasta – Ziti is of course the pasta of choice here! However, if you’re really in a pinch you can swap it for another tube shaped pasta like penne.
- Marinara Sauce – I love using homemade marinara sauce whenever I can.
- Alfredo Sauce – Homemade alfredo sauce is another one I love making and keeping on hand just for recipes like this.
- Cheeses – Complimenting the cheesy alfredo sauce are mozzarella, ricotta, fontina and romano cheeses.
For the topping
- Parmesan Cheese – For the very best texture and flavor, be sure to use freshly shredded parmesan cheese right off the block.
- Panko Breadcrumbs – These provide the very best crunch! You can use another type of breadcrumb if you want to, but the texture will vary.
- Garlic – I always recommend using fresh garlic (not pre-minced) for the best flavor.
- Garlic Powder – This really seals the deal on that bold garlicky flavor!
- Butter – It can be salted or unsalted, whichever you prefer. I typically opt for unsalted.
How to Make Five Cheese Ziti al Forno
This Olive Garden baked ziti is so easy to make in just a few simple steps! Keep on scrolling down to the recipe card for even more info.
- Prepare. Preheat your oven to 350°F. While that’s heating up, coat a casserole dish with nonstick spray.
- Cook the pasta. Cook the ziti in boiling water according to package directions. Once it’s al dente, drain well and set aside.
- Make it cheesy! Stir the marinara, alfredo, 1 cup of mozzarella, ricotta, fontina and romano cheeses in a pot over medium heat. Once everything is melted together, fold in the cooked pasta. Pour this mixture into the prepared baking dish and top with the remaining mozzarella.
- Make the topping. Mix together the parmesan, breadcrumbs, garlic, garlic powder and melted butter until combined. Spread this evenly all over the pasta.
- Bake. Pop the dish in the oven and bake uncovered for 30 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Enjoy! Let the baked ziti rest at room temp for about 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving. For the best pop of fresh flavor (if you feel like showing off), garnish with fresh basil or parsley.
What to Serve with Baked Pasta
More of the best easy baked pasta recipes!
- Spinach Ricotta Stuffed Shells
- Spinach Chicken Cannelloni
- Baked Chicken Florentine Pasta
- Baked Rigatoni Bolognese
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Get the Recipe: Five Cheese Ziti al Forno Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound uncooked ziti pasta or other small tube pasta
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 2 cups Alfredo sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded Fontina Cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Romano cheese
For the topping:
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 3/4 cup panko Bread crumbs
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
Equipment
- 1 baking dish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350˚F.
- Coat a 13×9 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente, drain and set aside.
- In a large pot or dutch oven, heat the marinara, alfredo, 1 cup mozzarella, ricotta, fontina and Romano cheese over medium heat until simmering. Stir until the cheeses are melted then fold in the pasta.
- Pour the pasta mixture into the baking dish and top with the remaining mozzarella.
- In a small bowl, combine the parmesan, bread crumbs, garlic, garlic powder and butter.
- Sprinkle the bread crumbs over the pasta.
- Bake the pasta, uncovered, for 30 minutes until bubbling and the to is golden brown.
- Allow to rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with chopped basil or parsley, if desired.
2 Comments on “Five Cheese Ziti al Forno”
This is delicious!
I could not find fontina cheese in the Acme, neither could the deli girl but it is still sooo good. My husband who is not a Italian food fan got 2nds!
The meat eater that he is wants sausage ( no thanks for me) in it next time.
Thanks!!!!
You’re welcome! It is delicious with sausage, too.