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ronzoni baked ziti box recipe

Ronzoni Baked Ziti Recipe

This cheesy, comforting Ronzoni baked ziti recipe is your ultimate weeknight dinner hero. Simple to make, endlessly customizable, and guaranteed to be a family favorite—even the kids cheer when it hits the table! Whether you go basic or fancy, it's always a win.
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Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian-American
Keyword: baked ziti, cheesy ziti, easy pasta bake, ronzoni ziti, weeknight dinner
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 570kcal
Author: info.thekitcheen

Equipment

  • Large pot for boiling pasta
  • Large skillet or sauté pan
  • Mixing bowls
  • 9x13 inch baking dish
  • Foil
  • Oven

Ingredients

  • The Basics:
  • 1 box 16 oz Ronzoni Ziti
  • 3 cups tomato sauce jarred, chunky style preferred
  • 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese whole milk recommended
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning or oregano
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • For the Super Creamy Version:
  • 15 oz ricotta cheese whole milk
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tbsp chopped parsley fresh or dried
  • 1 clove garlic minced (or 1/2 tsp garlic powder)
  • Optional - If You Want Meat:
  • 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
  • 1 onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic

Instructions

  • Step 1: Prep Oven and Pasta
  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Bring large pot of salted water to a boil.
  • Boil ziti for 8 minutes (al dente). Drain and reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water.
  • Step 2: Cook Meat (Skip for Vegetarian)
  • Brown meat in skillet with onion until no longer pink.
  • Add garlic at the end, cook 1 minute.
  • Drain excess fat.
  • Step 3: Mix Ricotta Layer
  • In bowl, mix ricotta, 1.5 cups mozzarella, egg, parsley, salt & pepper.
  • Step 4: Assemble
  • In baking dish, spread thin layer of sauce.
  • Mix half of ziti with some sauce, layer on bottom.
  • Spread ricotta mixture over ziti.
  • Add rest of ziti and remaining sauce.
  • Top with remaining mozzarella and all the parmesan.
  • Step 5: Bake
  • Cover loosely with foil.
  • Bake 20 minutes.
  • Remove foil, bake 10–15 minutes more until cheese is golden.
  • Rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

For extra moisture, add a little reserved pasta water before baking.
Make-ahead tip: assemble early and refrigerate, add 15 mins baking time.
To reheat, add extra sauce or splash of water before placing in oven.
For vegetarians, skip meat and add sautéed veggies.
Cottage cheese can replace ricotta for a budget-friendly version.
Penne or rigatoni can be used in place of ziti if needed.

Nutrition

Calories: 570kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 28g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 830mg | Potassium: 600mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 850IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 350mg | Iron: 3mg