Name: Five Cheese Ziti al Forno
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 1 pound dry ziti pasta; 1 (8-ounce) package shredded Italian blend cheeses; 2 (24-ounce) jars marinara sauce; 1 (15-ounce) jar Alfredo sauce; 1 cup ricotta cheese; 1/2 cup Italian seasoned panko bread crumbs; 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted; 2 cloves garlic, minced

Prep Time:

10 mins

Cook Time:

40 mins

Total Time:

50 mins

Servings:

8

Jump to Nutrition Facts

This copycat Olive Garden five cheese ziti al forno is “a cheater recipe,” according to recipe developer and test kitchen expert Juliana Hale. “The jarred sauces and cheese blend make it super easy, but no one else will know that. It’s so good!”

Five Cheese Ziti al Forno Ingredients

These are the ingredients you’ll need to make this copycat five cheese ziti al forno recipe:

Pasta: This recipe starts with a pound of dry ziti pasta.
Cheeses: It should come as no surprise that you’ll need plenty of cheeses for this dish: A package of shredded Italian blend cheeses, a cup of ricotta, and grated Parmesan.
Jarred sauce: Using jarred sauce cuts down on time — but, of course, you can make your own marinara and Alfredo sauces!
Bread crumbs: Use store-bought or homemade seasoned bread crumbs.
Butter: You’ll need two tablespoons of melted butter for the rich topping.
Garlic: Flavor the buttery bread crumb topping with fresh garlic.

How to Make Five Cheese Ziti al Forno

You’ll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make Olive Garden five cheese ziti al forno:

Cook and drain the pasta.
Toss the pasta with the sauces, half of the Italian blend cheeses, and ricotta.
Transfer the mixture to the prepared dish and top with remaining cheese.
Make the topping and sprinkle it over the pasta.
Bake the five cheese ziti al forno until bubbly and golden.

Test Kitchen Tips

Using Italian blend cheeses is a time and money saver. You get 4 or 5 cheeses in one package and it’s already shredded and ready to use.
You may substitute 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup shredded romano cheese, and 1/2 cup shredded provolone or Asiago cheese for the shredded Italian blend cheeses.
You may substitute plain panko crumbs and add 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning.

What to Serve With Five Cheese Ziti al Forno

Looking for serving inspiration? We’ve got you covered with our collection of Olive Garden-inspired recipes. We recommend pairing this five cheese ziti al forno with homemade buttery breadsticks.

How to Store Five Cheese Ziti al Forno

Store your leftover five cheese ziti al forno in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Reheat in the oven or in the microwave.

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

Ingredients

1 pound dry ziti pasta
1 (8 ounce) package shredded Italian blend cheeses
2 (24-ounce) jars marinara sauce
1 (15-ounce) jar Alfredo sauce
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup ITalian seasoned panko bread crumbs
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 cloves garlic, minced

Directions

Gather all ingredients. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

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Cook the pasta 1 minute less than directed on the package. Drain pasta and transfer to a large bowl.

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Set aside 1/2 cup of the Italian blend cheeses.

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Add marinara sauce, Alfredo sauce, remaining Italian blend cheeses, and ricotta cheese to the pasta; toss to combine.

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Transfer pasta mixture to the prepared dish. Top with reserved 1/2 cup cheese.

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For the topping, in a small bowl, combine panko, Parmesan, melted butter, and garlic. Sprinkle over the pasta mixture in the baking dish.

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Bake until golden brown and bubbly, 30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)

642	Calories
46g	Fat
33g	Carbs
25g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 642
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 46g	59%
Saturated Fat 26g	129%
Cholesterol 134mg	45%
Sodium 1945mg	85%
Total Carbohydrate 33g	12%
Dietary Fiber 5g	16%
Total Sugars 12g
Protein 25g
Vitamin C 7mg	35%
Calcium 646mg	50%
Iron 3mg	14%
Potassium 888mg	19%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.