Olive Garden Five Cheese Ziti al Forno (Copycat)
Inspired by Olive Garden Five Cheese Ziti al Forno, this baked pasta combines tender ziti, creamy marinara, five Italian cheeses, and a crisp, garlicky panko topping.
Our Five Cheese Ziti al Forno recipe is a creamy, cheesy Olive Garden copycat with a rich tomato base and a crisp finish. Unlike traditional baked ziti, it combines marinara with Alfredo sauce and a blend of ricotta, Fontina, mozzarella, Romano, and Parmesan. If you enjoy cheesy pasta dishes, try my Gigi Hadid Pasta too. It's an easy meatless dinner with classic Italian flavors and easy-to-find ingredients.
Quick Look: Five Cheese Ziti al Forno
- 🍝 Key Ingredient: Ziti pasta
- 🧀 Cheeses: Ricotta, Fontina, mozzarella, Romano, and Parmesan
- 🍅 Flavor Profile: Creamy, cheesy, garlicky, and tomato-based
- ✨ Texture: Tender pasta with creamy sauce and a crisp panko topping
- ♨️ Cooking Method: Oven-baked
- 🌿 Dietary: Vegetarian
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy
- Why This Recipe Works: A creamy, cheesy sauce keeps the baked ziti rich and saucy. Like my Four Cheese Pasta, it combines several cheeses for extra creaminess. The golden panko topping adds a crisp finish that contrasts with the tender pasta.
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Jump to:
- Quick Look: Five Cheese Ziti al Forno
- What Is Ziti al Forno?
- Chef's Notes from Valentina
- Ingredients
- Substitutions And Additions
- How to Make Five Cheese Ziti al Forno
- Expert Tips for Five Cheese Ziti al Forno
- FAQs About Five Cheese Ziti al Forno
- More Pasta Favorites
- Olive Garden Five Cheese Ziti al Forno (Copycat)
- Storage and Reheating
What Is Ziti al Forno?
Ziti al forno simply means baked ziti, a pasta dish made with ziti, sauce, and cheese, then baked until hot and bubbly. Depending on the recipe, it can be meatless or include ground beef or sausage.
Traditional baked ziti commonly uses marinara, ricotta, and mozzarella. Five Cheese Ziti al Forno adds more cheese and a creamier sauce for a different version of the classic baked pasta.
Olive Garden's version combines pasta with Italian cheeses and five-cheese marinara. Our copycat uses marinara and Alfredo sauce with ricotta, Fontina, mozzarella, Romano, and Parmesan, plus a garlicky cheese and panko topping.
Ingredients
- Ziti pasta – 16 oz. Ziti is ideal for this recipe because the sauce gets inside the tubes and coats the outside. Use white, whole-wheat, or gluten-free ziti.
- Marinara sauce – 4 cups. Use store-bought or homemade marinara. It gives the dish its tomato flavor and combines with the Alfredo sauce for a creamier sauce.
- Alfredo sauce – 2 cups. Use store-bought or homemade Alfredo sauce. If needed, a store-bought dairy-free Alfredo sauce can be used, although the flavor and consistency may vary by brand.
- Ricotta cheese – ½ cup. Use full-fat ricotta for a creamier texture. You can substitute full-fat cottage cheese or cream cheese.
- Fontina cheese – 1 ½ cups, shredded. Fontina is mild and creamy and melts easily with the other cheeses.
- Mozzarella cheese – 1 cup, shredded. Use ½ cup in the pasta and the remaining ½ cup in the topping.
- Romano and Parmesan cheeses – ¼ cup each, grated. Both add savory cheese flavor to the topping. If you don't have Romano, use additional Parmesan.
- Panko breadcrumbs – ¼ cup. Panko gives the baked ziti its crisp topping. Use white, whole-wheat, or gluten-free panko.
- Garlic – 2 cloves, minced. Fresh garlic adds flavor to the panko topping. You can substitute 1 teaspoon of garlic powder. Add freshly cracked black pepper if desired.
- Parsley – 3 tablespoons, chopped. Sprinkle it over the baked ziti before serving. You can use another fresh herb instead.
How to Make Five Cheese Ziti al Forno
- Prepare the oven and baking dish: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9 × 13 inch baking dish or large oven-safe skillet and set it aside.
- Cook the pasta: Cook the ziti 1 to 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain the pasta, but do not rinse it. PIC. 1
- Mix the pasta and sauce: Add the cooked ziti to a large bowl. Toss with 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil, if using, to help prevent sticking. Add the marinara, Alfredo sauce, ricotta, Fontina, and ½ cup mozzarella. Stir until evenly combined. PIC. 2
- Fill the baking dish: Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread it evenly.
- Make the topping: In a separate bowl, mix the remaining ½ cup mozzarella, panko, Romano, Parmesan, and garlic. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the pasta.
- Bake: Bake uncovered on the middle rack for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling.
- Serve: Sprinkle the baked ziti with chopped parsley and serve hot.
FAQs About Five Cheese Ziti al Forno
Use penne, rigatoni, or cavatappi. These sturdy, short shapes hold the creamy sauce well and stand up to baking. Use the same 16 oz by weight and cook it 1 to 2 minutes less than the package directions.
Yes. If you need to make a swap, choose a cheese with a similar texture and purpose. Cottage cheese or cream cheese can replace ricotta, provolone can replace Fontina, and extra Parmesan can replace Romano.
Take the ziti out of the oven once the sauce is bubbling and the topping is golden brown. Baking it too long can dry out the pasta because it continues to absorb sauce as it cooks.
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Olive Garden Five Cheese Ziti al Forno (Copycat)
Equipment
- 1 pot
- 1 Baking dish
- 1 Mixing bowl
- 1 Rubber Spatula
- oven
- 1 Colander
Ingredients
Pasta
- 16 oz ziti pasta – uncooked
- 4 cups homemade marinara sauce or store-bought
- 2 cups Alfredo sauce – store-bought or homemade
- ½ cup full-fat ricotta cheese
- 1 ½ cups shredded Fontina cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Topping
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs – white, whole-wheat, or gluten-free
- ¼ cup grated Romano cheese or Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic – minced, or 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- freshly cracked black pepper – optional
Garnish
- 3 tablespoons chopped parsley or another fresh herb of choice
Instructions
- Prepare the oven and baking dish: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9 × 13 inch baking dish or large oven-safe skillet and set it aside.
- Cook the pasta: Cook the ziti 1 to 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain the pasta, but do not rinse it.
- Mix the pasta and sauce: Add the cooked ziti to a large bowl. Toss with 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil, if using, to help prevent sticking. Add the marinara, Alfredo sauce, ricotta, Fontina, and ½ cup mozzarella. Stir until evenly combined.
- Fill the baking dish: Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread it evenly.
- Make the topping: In a separate bowl, mix the remaining ½ cup mozzarella, panko, Romano, Parmesan, and garlic. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the pasta.
- Bake: Bake uncovered on the middle rack for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling.
- Serve: Sprinkle the baked ziti with chopped parsley and serve hot.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Storage and Reheating
Make-ahead(longer storage): Cook the pasta 2 minutes short, drain and rinse it, then toss with 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Let it cool and freeze it in a single layer for up to 1 month. When ready to make the ziti, combine the pasta with the sauces and cheeses and continue with the recipe.Make-ahead (short-term): Assemble the ziti through the topping step, cover, and refrigerate until ready to bake. When baking directly from the refrigerator, allow additional baking time and make sure the center is hot before serving. Storage: Store leftover Five Cheese Ziti al Forno in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Reheating: Cover individual portions and microwave for about 2 minutes per portion, or until the center reaches 165°F (74°C). Microwave times vary. Check that the ziti is heated through before serving.
Nutrition
** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.
Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.
Absolutely amazing! The perfect mix of cheeses and sauce.