• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to header navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Eat Well.
Live Well.
Be Well.
Display Search Bar
  • Dinners Made Simple
  • Work with Us
  • Let’s Chat!
  • Blog
Follow us on Facebook! Follow us on Instagram! Follow us on Pinterest! Follow us on Twitter! Follow us on YouTube!

The Real Food Dietitians

Eat well. Live well. Be well.

  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Specialty Diets
      • Whole30
      • Paleo
      • Egg-Free
      • Dairy-Free
      • Gluten-free
      • Grain-Free
    • Meal Prep Recipes
    • Whole30
    • Freezer-Friendly
    • Appetizers
    • Main Entree
    • Breakfast
    • Drinks & Smoothies
    • One-Dish Meals
    • Slow-Cooker
    • Instant Pot
    • Salads & Sides
    • Sauces & Dressings
    • Soups & Stews
    • Snacks
    • Sweets & Treats
  • Real Plans
  • Meal Prep

Feb 22, 2018 By Jessica Beacom

5-Ingredient Baked Ziti

Egg-Free
Gluten-free
Nut-free
Jump to Recipe

Show that busy weeknight who’s boss with this 5-Ingredient Baked Ziti!

baked ziti in a white baking dish

Take the worry out of weeknight dinners

I don’t know about you, but I’d be LOST if it weren’t for meal planning. Now, that’s not to say that I do a meal prep every weekend because, let’s be honest, sometimes I don’t. But I always make time to plan our meals for the coming week.

Here’s why it’s a non-negotiable in my life:

  1. I hate last minute scrambling for anything,
  2. I hate wasting food,
  3. I dislike overbuying at the grocery store (because, budget),
  4. I like to use up what I have on hand first (again, budget + waste).

And most of all, I like to have some modicum of predictability in my week. Meal planning let’s me accomplish all those things in about 15 minutes. And when I do have time to prep, well, that’s just icing on the cake. Even if it’s a super quick prep to knock out a big salad, wash and prep veggies for snacking and recipes and prepare a whole chicken to repurpose for other meals later in the week – it still gets me ahead for the week ahead and reduces the likelihood of not knowing the answer to ‘What’s for dinner?’ or having to scramble to put something on the table fast.

Which is why I’m sharing this 5-ingredient Baked Ziti recipe today. It’s a regular on our meal plan and something that I can prep ahead, stash in the fridge and pop in the oven when the week gets hectic – and I think you’ll like it, too!

Looking for guidance with meal planning? Check out Real Plans, a highly customizable online meal planning service that includes over 300 of our very own recipes.

spoonful of gluten-free baked ziti

Double up: Cook once and eat twice

Yes, you can freeze this 5-ingrdient Baked Ziti to make life even easier later on down the road when you need a ‘reheat & eat’ meal. If you’re using gluten-free pasta like I do, you’ll want to cook the noodles until they’re just shy of al dente so that when the dish is thawed and baked the noodles won’t turn to mush.

It’s best to thaw the dish overnight in the fridge then bake, covered with foil, at 400ºF for 35-40 minutes or until hot throughout then remove the foil for the last 5-10 minutes of baking to allow the cheese to get all melty and a little brown around the edges.

You CAN make this dish from frozen, however, it will take significantly longer to bake (covered with foil) – plan for at least an hour or more in the oven at 400ºF.

baked ziti in a white baking dish with spoon

Looking for a meat-free option?

Just replace the ground beef and Italian sausage with 1-2 cups of your favorite cooked vegetables. I like sautéed zucchini, mushrooms and peppers but feel free to use that you have on hand. If using greens like spinach or kale, there’s no need to precook them – just stir them right into the pasta when you add the sugar-free marinara sauce and cheese.

baked ziti in a white bowl with fork

Ready, Set, Plan!

And take a load off knowing that this 5-ingredient Baked Ziti will be waiting in the fridge (or freezer!) when you need it this week.

Get 10% off on Primal Kitchen products with code: REALFOODRDS

Hungry for More? Subscribe to get our newsletter delivered straight to your inbox! And be sure to stay in touch on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.

Let's Get Cookin'

5-Ingredient Baked Ziti

  • Author: The Real Food Dietitians
  • Prep Time: 20 mins.
  • Cook Time: 30 mins.
  • Total Time: 50 mins.
  • Yield: 8 1x
  • Category: One-Dish, Freezer-friendly
  • Cuisine: Gluten-free
Print Recipe
★★★★★ 5 from 3 reviews

Ingredients

  • 12 oz. gluten-free pasta of choice
  • ½ lb. bulk mild Italian sausage + 1/2 lb. ground beef (may use 1 lb. ground meat of choice)
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder, optional
  • 1 24-25 oz. jar sugar-free marinara sauce
  • 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
  • Fresh basil, optional

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish (or two 9×9 baking dishes if freezing one) and set aside.
  2. Add ground beef and sausage to a skillet or saute pan over medium high heat. Using a spatula, break up the meat so it cooks quickly and evenly and cook until meat is no longer pink. Drain fat from meat, if needed.
  3. Transfer meat mixture to a paper towel lined plate using a slotted spoon or spatula.
  4. While meat is cooking, bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add pasta and cook 10-11 minutes or until al dente (pasta should be slightly firm or it will become mushy when baked – and even a little more al dente if you plan to freeze it). Drain pasta and pour into the greased pan (or split between the two pans if freezing one).
  5. Add meat, Italian seasoning, marinara sauce and 3/4 cup cheese to the pan (or pans) with the noodles. Stir gently. Sprinkle with remaining 3/4 cup cheese.
  6. If freezing one pan, see instructions below.
  7. Cover pan with foil and bake for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Remove foil for the last 10 minutes to allow cheese on top to melt.
  8. Sprinkle with fresh basil, if desired.

To freeze, prepare up through Step 5. Cover pan tightly with foil and transfer to the freezer. Will keep frozen for up to 3 months.

Thaw overnight in the fridge then bake, covered, at 400ºF for 35-45 minutes. To bake from frozen, bake at 400ºF for 60-75 minutes or until hot throughout.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: ⅛ recipe
  • Calories: 362
  • Sugar: 5g
  • Sodium: 520mg
  • Fat: 13g
  • Carbohydrates: 41g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Protein: 21g

What’s your go-to, make-ahead weeknight dinner? Tell us in the comments below!

Pin image for 5-Ingredient Baked Ziti


This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

SaveSave

  • Facebook79
  • Pinterest41.6K
  • Yummly144
  • Email

About Jessica Beacom

Jessica is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist living in Boulder, CO with her hubby and two daughters. She's been described as a 'real food evangelist' and loves sharing her knowledge with others to help them break free of the diet mentality and find their own food freedom. In her spare time she enjoys CrossFit, telemark skiing, mountain biking, teaching herself how to play the banjo and camping out under the stars.

< Previous Post
Next Post >

Reader Interactions

Join the Conversation

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

  1. Gina says

    February 22, 2018 at 7:26 am

    Yum!! What are your favorite pasta brands and sauce?

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      February 22, 2018 at 7:56 am

      Hi Gina, I would have to say for Gluten-free pasta my favorite brands would be Barilla or Ancient Harvest. I have also tried Banza which is a pasta made from beans and it was good but didn’t hold up as well. For sauce I usually choose Muir Glen. Hope that helps!

      Reply
      • Gina says

        March 5, 2018 at 8:17 pm

        Thanks so much!!

        Reply
  2. Linda Domes says

    February 27, 2018 at 9:12 am

    This looks delicious. Hw much Italian seasoning do you recommend? Step 5?

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      March 3, 2018 at 2:19 pm

      1 tsp. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Puneet says

    February 27, 2018 at 10:50 am

    I’m wondering (i) whether one could use cubes of chicken instead of the sausage and beef, and (ii) how one could convert this to a veg option e.g. use black beans and broccoli/cauliflower instead.
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      March 3, 2018 at 2:18 pm

      Hi Puneet! You could definitely try chicken in place of the sausage and beef. As far as the vegetarian option, that would be an entirely different recipe as the flavor would be much different. But it sounds good! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Kim S says

    February 27, 2018 at 4:43 pm

    Italian seasoning is mentioned in the directions but not the ingredient list. How much? And where does the optional garlic go? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      March 3, 2018 at 2:16 pm

      1 tsp. of Italian seasoning and you can add the garlic with the meat.

      Reply
  5. Karen says

    March 3, 2018 at 7:05 pm

    What brand of gf pasta do you think freezes best?

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      March 4, 2018 at 6:42 am

      Hi Karen, I typically go with Barilla or Ancient Harvest Quinoa Pasta. DeBoles or Ronzoni would be a couple of other options for you. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  6. Susan says

    August 20, 2018 at 8:04 pm

    Delicious! New family favorite…and so easy!

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      August 23, 2018 at 7:26 am

      YES! Thank you for this awesome feedback! Glad you’re family loved it 🙂

      Reply
  7. Linda M7lcshy says

    October 4, 2019 at 4:54 am

    I am fixing this for our evening meal tonight and çant wait to taste it. Thanks for sharing it with all of us. Linda Mulcahy

    Reply
  8. Marcia says

    December 12, 2019 at 7:29 am

    I’m not super knowledgeable about freezing items. Do you fully cook the casserole then freeze it? Or do you assemble then freeze, thaw, cook? Thanks

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      December 12, 2019 at 8:44 am

      Hi Marcia,

      The best way to do this, if you’re freezing it, is to cook the noodles until they’re about half done (meaning, they’ll feel underdone when you bite into one) then mix together the noodles, sauce, and cheese and refrigerate that until it’s completely chilled. Then wrap the dish tightly and freeze. When it comes time to use it from the freezer, allow it to thaw overnight in the fridge then bake it covered until it’s hot in the center.

      Reply
  9. Shauna says

    January 12, 2020 at 12:05 pm

    Thank you so much for including both a meat-free and a freezer option! I cook for just myself and boyfriend and often find we have WAY too much food. Love the recipe and this was delicious- will be making again!

    Reply
  10. Kirsi RHOADES says

    August 20, 2020 at 2:32 pm

    This was a keeper for all 4 of my kids!! Thanks!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      August 20, 2020 at 3:45 pm

      That’s awesome news!!

      Reply
  11. Courtney J Mohamed says

    October 19, 2020 at 4:33 pm

    Nothing better than finding a recipe the whole family likes! Thank you

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      October 21, 2020 at 7:03 pm

      That is such a great feeling!

      Reply
  12. Vanessa Gorski-Villalobos says

    January 31, 2021 at 9:11 pm

    Love this recipe! It’s got great basic instructions and easily allows for customization with other ingredients, like adding sautéed onions or other veg to the dish. Plus, it’s incredibly easy and a perfect Sunday evening meal that will last for several days with leftovers.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Welcome

The Real Food Dietitians is the passion-driven product of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists Stacie Hassing and Jessica Beacom. They’ve combined their love of nutrition, health and real food with the concepts of ease and convenience to bring you recipes that are big on flavor but short on ingredients.

Free eBook

Sign up to get your FREE recipe eBook + weekly newsletter!

Favorite Recipes

Sheet Pan Baked Salmon with Vegetables

Shepherd's pie topped with sweet potatoes plated and ready to serve

Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

A plate full of baked chicken nuggets with a side of honey mustard sauce

Baked Chicken Nuggets with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

Shredded easy salsa verde chicken over cauliflower rice, topped with radishes, avocado, cilantro, and cracked black pepper

Salsa Verde Chicken (Instant Pot or Crockpot)

A parchment covered serving platter piled high with chocolate chip peanut butter oatmeal energy bites

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls with Chocolate Chips

Overhead view of easy skillet lasagna in a bowl with a side salad and garlic bread

Easy Skillet Lasagna

Free Recipe eBook

Sign up to get your FREE recipe ebook + weekly newsletter!

Follow us on Facebook! Follow us on Instagram! Follow us on Pinterest! Follow us on Twitter! Follow us on YouTube!
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Let’s Chat!
Copyright © 2021 The Real Food Dietitians Site Credits. Designed by Melissa Rose Design. Developed by Once Coupled.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

How about a free recipe ebook?

Sign up for our newsletter and get your FREE recipe ebook delivered right to your inbox!

We respect your privacy! Your information will *never* be shared, traded or sold to a 3rd party.
  • 79
  • 41.6K
  • 144