One Pot Baked Ziti with Ricotta – easy cheesy vegetarian pasta casserole made in one pot in 30 minutes!
Italian baked ziti (or other pasta) is the ultimate comfort food for me. It tastes similar to lasagna (which is a huge plus), but, apart from being rich in calories, it can also mean a lot of work and a kitchen left with loads of dirty dishes.
To simplify it maximally, I made vegetarian version of baked ziti with ricotta cheese where protein comes from cheese and not from meat. Extra cheese is always good, right?
Like in recipes for Civil War Macaroni and Cheese and One Pot Spaghetti, here, too, pasta is cooked directly in the sauce, so there is no need for several different pots, pans or skillets.


TIP: To shorten the cooking time even more, soak pasta in salted water while preparing the sauce.
You can make baked ziti ahead, keep it refrigerated and then pop it in the oven when you’re ready. Any leftovers can be frozen.
Easy cheesy One Pot Baked Ziti with Ricotta casserole is a perfect weeknight meal or a hot dish to bring to your potluck and I’m pretty sure you will love it!
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One Pot Baked Ziti with Ricotta – easy cheesy vegetarian pasta casserole made in one pot in 30 minutes!
- 230 g (8 oz) ziti or penne or similar pasta
- 1-2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp butter
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic
- 3 cups crushed tomatoes with juice
- 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning (oregano, basil and thyme)
- 1-2 tsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp red wine, optional
- 2 cups water
- salt, black pepper
- 1 cup (230 g) ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup (60 g) mozzarella, cut into small cubes
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 1 small egg
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OPTIONAL STEP: Soak ziti pasta in salty water while you're preparing the sauce (to shorten cooking time).
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Saute onion in olive oil and butter until soft. Add garlic, tomatoes, wine, sugar and seasonings and cook for about 5-10 minutes.
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Drain pasta, add it together with 2 cups water to tomato sauce in the pot. Bring to boil, cover and cook on low boil, stirring from time to time, until pasta is tender, about 10-15 minutes.
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Combine ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan cheese and egg. Season with salt. Stir half of the mixture into pasta and dollop remaining on top.
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Transfer the pan to the 500 F (260 C) preheated oven. Bake One Pot Baked Ziti with Ricotta until cheese has melted and starts browning, about 5 minutes.
Recipe Video
going to make this tonight. if i want to make it earlier than dinner time would i follow the whole recipe and then just reheat? or do i do everything except the oven and refrigerate until dinner time and then put it in the oven? thanks!
I would probably do everything except the oven, refrigerate until dinner time and then top with cheese and put it in the oven.
I thought ziti was rice like pasta, but your picture shows penne pasta,
Rice like pasta is called Orzo or Risoni, while Ziti are similar to Penne.
My pans are only oven safe up to 400 degrees. How long should I cook in the oven
Bake until cheese has melted and starts browning, about 5-10 minutes.
Sounds very similar to pasta forno which i make but I’m going to try this as it sounds wonderful . my husband is Italian and can be very fussy but I think he will enjoy this !!! Yum
I hope you’ll both like it!
Is it safe to eat this when you’re only cooking after adding the egg for 5 minutes? Does that make ingesting the egg safe?
If it is cooked through, it is safe. You can prolong cooking time until eggs are completely cooked.