Description
This Olive Garden Five Cheese Ziti Al Forno Copycat recipe recreates the rich, cheesy baked pasta favorite with a creamy five-cheese marinara sauce, tender ziti pasta, and a delightful breadcrumb topping. Perfect for a comforting Italian-American meal that can be quickly assembled and broiled to golden perfection or baked as a casserole.
Ingredients
Scale
Ziti Pasta:
- 1 lb Ziti pasta
- Olive oil (for tossing cooked pasta)
Breadcrumb Topping:
- 1/4 cup bread crumbs
Five Cheese Marinara Sauce:
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 15 oz drained diced tomatoes, or two fresh tomatoes, diced
- 1 tsp sugar
- 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese blend (grated parmesan, Romano, Asiago), divided
- 1/2 cup fontina cheese (can substitute grated Monterey Jack), divided
- 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese (grated), divided
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: In a large pot, cook the ziti pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta in a colander, rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process, and toss with a little olive oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.
- Prepare the Five Cheese Marinara Sauce: In a medium saucepan, combine the marinara sauce, heavy cream, diced tomatoes, and sugar. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Add half of the parmesan cheese blend (1/2 cup), half of the fontina cheese (1/2 cup), and half of the mozzarella cheese (1/2 cup). Stir continuously until the cheese melts and the sauce is bubbly. Remove from heat.
- Assemble the Dish: Place the cooked ziti pasta into an oven-safe serving dish or casserole dish. Ladle the five cheese marinara sauce evenly over the pasta. Sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup parmesan cheese blend on top. Then sprinkle the breadcrumbs evenly over everything.
- Broil Until Golden: Place the assembled dish under the broiler just until the cheese melts and the breadcrumbs turn golden brown, about 3-5 minutes. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven and garnish with freshly grated parmesan cheese before serving. For a casserole variation, refer to the notes for baking instructions.
Notes
- Casserole Instructions: To bake as a casserole, place the pasta in a lightly greased 9×13 inch baking dish. Ladle all the sauce over the top and sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup parmesan cheese. Top with breadcrumbs. Bake covered at 350°F (175°C) for 30-45 minutes, then remove cover and broil until the top is golden and bubbly.
- Ziti Al Forno can be assembled ahead and refrigerated or frozen for later use.
- Feel free to substitute cheeses with what you have, such as Monterey Jack, mozzarella, or parmesan varieties to suit your taste.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
