Five-Cheese Ziti al Forno
“After having the five-cheese ziti at Olive Garden, I tried to make my own version of it—and I think I got pretty close. I always double this when I’m making it and freeze the second one for another meal.” —Keri Whitney, Castro Valley, California
| Servings | Prep Time | Cook Time |
| 12servings | 20minutes | 30minutes + standing |
| Servings | Prep Time |
| 12servings | 20minutes |
| Cook Time |
| 30minutes + standing |
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 lb ziti or small tube pasta about 7-1/2 cups
- 2 jars marinara sauce 24 ounces each
- 1 jar Alfredo sauce 15 ounces
- 2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese divided
- 1/2 cup reduced-fat ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded provolone cheese
- 1/2 cup Grated Romano cheese
- TOPPING:
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Minced fresh parsley or basil optional
Portions: servings
Units:
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Ingredients
Portions: servings
Units:
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°. Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente; drain.
- Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, combine marinara sauce, Alfredo sauce, 1 cup mozzarella and the ricotta, provolone and Romano cheeses. Heat over medium heat until sauce begins to simmer and cheeses are melted. Stir in cooked pasta; pour mixture into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Top with remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
- In a small bowl, stir together Parmesan, bread crumbs, garlic and olive oil; sprinkle over pasta.
- Bake, uncovered, until mixture is bubbly and topping is golden brown, 30-40 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley or basil if desired.
- Freeze option: Cool unbaked casserole; cover and freeze. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Cover casserole with foil; bake 50 minutes. Uncover; bake until heated through and a thermometer inserted in centre reads 165°, 15-20 minutes longer.
Recipe Notes
Test Kitchen tip
If you have a few extra minutes, you can make a homemade Alfredo sauce that's rich and creamy.
Nutrition Facts
1 cup: 449 calories, 15g fat (8g saturated fat), 32mg cholesterol, 960mg sodium, 59g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 4g fibre), 21g protein.
