Five Cheese Ziti Al Forno
A comforting and delicious copycat recipe of Olive Garden's creamy, cheesy ziti baked to perfection, perfect for weeknight dinners or family gatherings.
Ingredients
Pasta and Sauce
- 1 lb Ziti pasta Can substitute with penne or rigatoni
- 2 cups Marinara sauce Feel free to use pre-made sauce
- 1 cup Heavy cream For creaminess
- 15 oz Drained diced tomatoes Or use two fresh tomatoes, diced
- 1 tsp Sugar To balance acidity
Cheeses
- 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese blend Grated Parmesan, Romano, Asiago
- 1/2 cup Fontina cheese Can use grated Monterey Jack
- 1 1/2 cups Mozzarella cheese Grated
Topping
- 1/4 cup Bread crumbs For the topping, can toast for extra crunch
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then add the ziti and cook until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix together the marinara sauce, heavy cream, diced tomatoes, and sugar until well combined.
- Add the cooked ziti to the sauce mixture and stir until the pasta is well coated.
- Fold in the Parmesan cheese blend and fontina cheese, mixing until nicely incorporated.
- Pour the pasta mixture into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Top evenly with mozzarella cheese and then sprinkle breadcrumbs on top.
Baking
- Place the dish in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
Serving
- Let it cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy your homemade Olive Garden experience!
Notes
Feel free to mix and match your cheeses based on what you have on hand. To elevate the flavors, consider toasting your breadcrumbs in a bit of olive oil or butter before sprinkling them on top.