Baked Ziti (5 Ingredients)
If you are looking for a quick and economical dinner, this Baked Ziti is it! It has 5 ingredients, is freezable, and only takes minimal time to make. It’s been an easy casserole favorite in this family for years and is sure to be a huge crowd pleaser!
This easy casserole dish will taste like you have been slaving away in the kitchen when it will only take you about 15-20 minutes to prep and 30 minutes to bake. I honestly can’t think of a recipe that is delicious and at the same time, simple.
This recipe is also versatile. 5 ingredients is the bare minimum and tastes just fine, however, you can add more ingredients (such as cream cheese) to kick it up a notch or two. If you don’t have ziti noodles on hand, you can use a different type.
Recommended Casserole Making Products
If you click on the link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
The Signature Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set is crafted by European artisans wit… [More]
Whether prepping in the kitchen or serving at the table, the Oil and Vinegar cruets are… [More]
The Craft Series Utensil set is designed for everyday use and long-lasting durability. … [More]
The Heritage Square baking dish is a versatile and beautiful design that easily goes fr… [More]
Reasons to Make this Pasta Dish
Ingredients and Tips for this 5 Ingredient Baked Ziti
Curious about the items you need to make this delicious meal? Here’s a break down of the ingredients, complete with tips and affiliate links.
- Hamburger Meat: We like to use 92% lean, however, you are welcome to use any ratio you prefer.
- Garlic Salt: This is to add flavor to the hamburger meat. If you aren’t a fan of garlic salt, you can use regular salt & pepper OR use a bit of salt with a teaspoon or two of minced garlic.
- Ziti: This ingredient is what makes this dish popular. You can use a substitute for ziti such as rotini or penne, however, ziti will put it over the top.
- Spaghetti Sauce: You can use whatever sauce you prefer, even homemade! My 3 Mama’s Spaghetti Sauce Recipe is a great one to pair with it.
- Mozzarella Cheese: This is a must so do not skip! If you aren’t a fan of mozzarella, you can use another Italian style cheese or use a 5 Italian Cheese Blend.
Can I freeze casseroles?
Yes you can! Assemble the casserole (to include the cheese) in a disposable 9×13 aluminum pan. Do not bake. Wrap the pan tightly with saran wrap and again with aluminum foil. Label with production date and place in the freezer. It should be consumed within 2 to 3 months from the time of freezer placement.
How do I defrost a casserole?
When ready to eat, place frozen casserole in the fridge overnight. Bake, uncovered, the following day according to the directions in the recipe. Let it cool for about 10 minutes before serving. It is best to consume this meal within 3 days after defrosting.
What are good substitutions for ziti noodles?
If you don’t have ziti noodles on hand, you can substitute this part of the recipe with similar medium sized pasta that is tubular in shape. Our favorites are rigatoni and penne, however, mostaccioli can be used as well.
What brand of bakeware do I use to make this baked ziti?
Home cooks recommend the use of a 9×13 inch baking dish to create these delicious meals. We enjoy using these Emile Henry casserole dishes. You can purchase them in a vast array of colors and are made with Burgundy clay for the utmost cooking/baking experience.
Pyrex also has a wonderful selection of glass bakeware that will fit your casserole loving heart. Most of their pieces come with lids to make storing and transporting easy.
Casserole Recipes You Can’t Live Without
Looking for more family favorite recipes like the one above? Then check out these recipes from the site and from our friends!
- Husband’s Delight Casserole
- Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole
- Easy Swiss Chicken Bake Casserole
- 25 Easy Dinner Casseroles
- 25 Cheap and Easy Kid Friendly Casseroles
Make this baked ziti a full meal:
Wondering what to serve with this 5 Ingredient Baked Ziti to make it a full meal? I have suggestions linked below:
- Lemon and Olive Oil Green Beans
- Garlic Biscuits
- Mini Cherry Cheesecake Treats
- Easy to Make Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies
Our Favorite Casserole Seasonings
The following spices are what we use to create our casseroles. These are affiliate links and I may receive a tiny commission at no charge upon transaction.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 8 ounce package of ziti cooked and drained
- 28 ounce jar of spaghetti sauce
- 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese
Equipment You’ll Need
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Brown the ground beef in a non-stick skillet.
- Add the garlic salt while browning, stirring until crumbly.
- When the beef is brown on the inside and outside, drain well. Add the spaghetti sauce.
- Mix the ziti noodles with the spaghetti and meat sauce.
- Spoon into a 9×13 inch baking dish and top with mozzarella cheese.
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
Libby’s Notes
Brown the meat a day or two in advance and cook the noodles. Store both ingredients in separate containers. Freezer Tips:
To freeze, assemble the casserole (to include the cheese) in a disposable 9×13 aluminum pan. Do not bake. Wrap the pan tightly with saran wrap and again with aluminum foil. Label with production date. When ready to eat, place frozen casserole in the fridge overnight, then bake as directed the following day. Recipe Source:
From the cookbook, Take Five for Every Occasion
Where are the recipes? I see pictures of the food but can’t find the how to make it pages!
If you are viewing this from your phone, you need to click the ‘read more’ option inside the post and it will bring you to recipe and directions. If you are viewing this from your computer/desktop/laptop just scroll down to the end of the post and you will see the recipe card complete with ingredients and cooking instructions. Hope this helps 🙂
What if I am out of spaghetti sauce ? Can I substitute with tomato sauce / paste and add seasoning?
I have never tried it with tomato sauce or paste and seasoning. You can try it and see how it comes out. However, I would stick to spaghetti sauce if you can.
why not . ive used canned tomatoe sauce, which is base for spaghetti sauce. you can add tomato paste, water if you want a richer flavor. add in spices you like. oregano, basil, thyme, etc. fresh minced garlic, sauteed for few seconds for sure. or can use garlic salt, garlic powder. whichever you like for add ins to sauce.. peppers, onions sauteed, mushrooms, italian sausage cooked, hamburger cooked, garden veggies if you like,,a little bef broth, parmesan cheese.. and so on LOL good luck!
How long can you store this in the freezer?
I would store it for up to 2 months, but not any longer then that.
This is a huge family favorite in our house! It gets bonus points for being freezable!
I know what it’s like to have so many cookbooks. Our family moved a year ago and it took that move for me to scale down my collection.
I have a cross stitch sampler that says “My collection of cookbooks is greater than my cooking”.
I love that saying! Believe it or not, I’m still cooking through my collection…lol. It’s going to take a long while to get through all of them 😉 How did you scale your collection down?
Dear Galye
I too have collected cookbooks from nearly 50 states and am seeking forever homes for them.
Libby – Yes, I too am a Libby (as was Custers wife). Would love to compare notes and perhaps arrange adoptions. I have also written a collection of 3×5 inch TOO BUSY TO COOK books Libby G
I just made it for my family, with a side salad and garlic toast, and they LOVED it. It turned out pretty and yummy!!
I’m so glad to hear this! Yay!
This is really good! There are only 2 of here and occasionally the teenage granddaughter so here’s my tweak- I make this in 2 8×8 pans I use sauce with onions and garlic. I also add some fresh chopped mushrooms as we can’t get enough, Then we seal and freeze one (tape the reheating instructions and the use by date to the top and cover it with clear tape so it doesn’t smear when defrosting!) She was here to help me make it and we shared one between the 3 of us. We loved and and the extra went home with her so she can start dinner before her folks get home- a win/win! Thanks for posting this!
I’m so glad to hear this was a winner for you guys 🙂 We love freezing this dish as well 😉
What type of spaghetti sauce do you use?
We enjoy the tomato and basil kind. However, with this recipe, you can use any kind you enjoy and from any brand you like.
May I suggest to anyone getting ready to purge their cookbook collection, give your local library a call. I know my library has a great number of cookbooks, and would love your donation. Add the fact that you can always go back and borrow your books back if you need a recipe. Sharing is always best when it comes to cooking and eating!! Bon appetit!
That’s a good idea 😉 Thank you for sharing it with us Colette 😉
This could be made on top of the stove as a quick skillet recipe
Yes, it definitely could. Thank you so much for this tip Teri 🙂
My husband & I really enjoyed this dish
I’m so glad to hear this Christy 🙂 Thank you so much for letting us know 😉
Do you cook the noodles before adding to ground beef and sauce?
Hi Angela 🙂 Yes….you cook the noodles before adding to the ground beef and sauce 😉
BAKED ZITI, Wow my favorite. I love your idea of freezing it ahead of time ,
Thank You and Blessings..Pete
You are very welcome Pete! 😉
Can I sub the garlic salt with garlic powder? I’m out of the salt..
Yes! You sure can!
I’d like to make this tonight, but I have grated Parmesan on hand instead of the mozz. Could I substitute the parm for the mozzarella?
Yes, you sure can! Just keep in mind that it won’t be as “cheesy” as it would with mozzarella, but it definitely can be done.
We made this last night and it was great! Will this recipe work without the meat?
Hello Mike. I am so glad you enjoyed it. Yes, it will definitely work without meat.
Quick question? Do you cook the ziti noodles prior to mixing them with the meat sauce?
Yes you do.
What is the green stuff on top in the pictures?
I believe it may be dried basil. Can’t really say for certain though as these pictures were taken a few years back. The basil is not part of the ingredients because it is optional. Hope that helps some.
Hi there! Planning to make this recipe for dinner this week. My grocery store doesn’t have 8oz packages of dried pasta, only 16oz. Can I use the whole box or do I need to split it?
You can do either one….use the whole box or split it up. Either way will work 😉
Dear Erika
I am another Libby! My Family recipe for Ziti actually uses Parmesan Cheese! It also includes 1 C cookedItalian Sausage and 1 C layer of Ricotta cheese (or small curd cottage cheese drained ) I also add onion to the cooked meat (1/2 chopped or some minced dried onion. More ingrediebts but much richer taste Enjoy Libby G
Thank you for sharing this recipe! This is my family’s favorite baked ziti recipe (and we’ve tried a LOT of recipes to find our favorite!). I usually take half of the cheese and mix it with the cooked pasta and meat sauce before topping it with the remaining cheese so it’s extra cheesy throughout.
Oh you are so very welcome Ali. I am glad your family enjoys it! It’s a huge favorite here at our house as well. Thank you for sharing the tip about the cheese 😉
I’ve made this twice already and it is amazing! So easy and tastes great! We love this one ! Thanks for sharing😋
Dear Libby!
It is always such fun to meet another Libby.Custers wife, of course was also Libby. I apologize – I jumped right in and started making comments befor I saw I could me them directly to you.
I am now 77 years old an seriously seeking forever homes for my wonderful cook books. I sell them for consistent $% per book plus shipping which varies but is usually under $5. I am happy to share my list with anyone who is interested. I have also compiked a collection of 3×5 TOO BUSY TO COO books (chicken; fish, sweets and salties; Giftables, Pastas; Appetizers; BORN TO BE THE QUEEN OF BRIE; The list goes on for anyone interested. PS My mother usedto pack her gourmet magazines in her washing machine when we relocated. looking forward to reading more ofyour recipe. Suggestion: Our 5 Family group started spent a weekend cooking a freezing casseroles to share (1of 3ach to each family) a wonderful timesaver for the busy Holiday season. We utilized identical casserole dishes so didnt need to worry about returning them to their original home, just recycled them the following year at our annualcookie bake. Enjoy