Olive Garden Five Cheese Ziti Pasta Recipe
This Olive Garden Five Cheese Ziti Pasta recipe is a creamy, cheesy baked pasta dish featuring a rich marinara sauce combined with a blend of five cheeses. Perfectly cooked ziti pasta is tossed in a luscious sauce with mozzarella, fontina, parmesan, romano, and asiago cheeses, topped with breadcrumbs, broiled to golden perfection, and garnished with extra parmesan to create a comforting and crowd-pleasing meal.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 lb Ziti pasta
Sauce
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 15 oz drained diced tomatoes (or two fresh tomatoes, diced)
- 1 tsp sugar
Cheese Blend
- 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese blend (grated parmesan, Romano, Asiago)
- 1/2 cup fontina cheese (can use grated Monterey Jack)
- 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese (grated)
Topping
- 1/4 cup bread crumbs (for the topping)
Instructions
- Cook the ziti pasta: In a large pot, cook the ziti pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta using a colander and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process. Toss the pasta with a drizzle of oil to prevent sticking, then set it aside.
- Prepare the five-cheese marinara sauce: In a medium saucepan, combine marinara sauce, heavy cream, drained diced tomatoes, and sugar. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Stir in 1/2 cup of the parmesan cheese blend, 1/2 cup fontina cheese, and 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese. Continue stirring until the sauce becomes bubbly, then remove from heat.
- Assemble and bake the pasta: Transfer the cooked ziti pasta to an oven-safe serving dish. Pour the prepared five-cheese marinara sauce evenly over the pasta. Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese blend over the top. Then evenly distribute the bread crumbs on the surface. Place the dish under the broiler for a few minutes, watching carefully until the cheese topping is melted and golden brown.
- Garnish and serve: Remove the pasta from the oven and garnish with freshly grated parmesan cheese before serving. Enjoy your creamy, cheesy, baked five-cheese ziti pasta.
Notes
- To make this as a casserole, cook the pasta and prepare the sauce as instructed, then combine and bake the entire dish covered at 350°F (175°C) for 20 minutes before broiling for a crispy top.
- Using fresh tomatoes instead of canned diced tomatoes adds a fresher taste.
- Tossing pasta with oil after draining helps prevent clumping before assembly.
- Watch the broiler carefully to avoid burning the cheese topping.
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