Description
This Olive Garden Baked Ziti Copycat recipe delivers a rich, cheesy, and comforting Italian pasta dish that replicates the classic flavors of the beloved restaurant favorite. Featuring ziti pasta cooked in a flavorful marinara sauce with a blend of cheeses, Italian sausage, and a creamy cottage cheese and heavy cream mixture, this baked ziti is finished off with a golden bubbly mozzarella topping baked to perfection. Perfect for an easy family dinner or special gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Oils
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Aromatics and Spices
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Sauces and Dairy
- 28 ounces marinara sauce
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese, shredded
- ¼ cup asiago cheese, shredded
- ¼ cup romano cheese, shredded
- ½ cup small curd cottage cheese
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 16 ounces whole milk mozzarella cheese, shredded
Pasta and Liquids
- 12 ounces ziti pasta
- 3 cups water
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the ziti later.
- Cook the sausage: In a large non-stick, oven-safe skillet, cook the ground Italian sausage over medium-high heat, breaking it into small pieces. Once fully cooked, remove the sausage with a slotted spoon to drain excess fat and set aside.
- Sauté garlic and spices: In the same skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking for about one minute until fragrant to develop the flavor base.
- Add sauces and cheeses: Stir in the marinara sauce along with parmesan, asiago, and romano cheeses. Mix well to combine and blend the flavors thoroughly.
- Add pasta and seasonings: Pour in the water, ziti pasta, salt, and Italian seasoning. Stir everything together to evenly distribute the ingredients in the skillet.
- Cook pasta: Cover the skillet and cook over medium to medium-high heat for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the ziti is nearly tender but still slightly firm, preventing it from overcooking in the oven.
- Combine remaining ingredients: Stir in the cooked Italian sausage, heavy cream, and cottage cheese. Taste and adjust seasoning by adding salt and pepper as needed for balance.
- Add mozzarella cheese: If your skillet is oven-safe, evenly sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the top of the pasta mixture.
- Transfer to baking dish if needed: If not using an oven-safe skillet, transfer half of the pasta mixture to a baking dish, top with half the mozzarella, then layer the remaining pasta mixture followed by the rest of the mozzarella cheese.
- Bake: Place the skillet or baking dish into the preheated oven and bake for about 10 minutes until the cheese melts and bubbles. Continue baking until the mozzarella turns lightly golden brown.
- Cool and serve: Remove the baked ziti from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes to allow the flavors to settle and the cheese to firm up slightly.
- Enjoy: Serve warm and savor this delicious Olive Garden-inspired baked ziti with family or friends.
Notes
- Using an oven-safe skillet simplifies the baking step by reducing dish transfers.
- Monitor pasta closely during stovetop cooking to prevent over-softening before baking.
- Feel free to substitute ground beef or turkey for Italian sausage for a leaner option.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat covered in the oven or microwave, adding a splash of water or cream to keep it moist.
