Browned and bubbly, extra cheesy and saucy -Baked Ziti is an easy dish that your whole family will love. My minimal, easy prep, creamy casserole is made on the stovetop and then baked in the oven with a creamy blanket of melted cheese on top.
This recipe was inspired by another baked ziti recipe that's in one of my favorite cookbooks - The EAT-CLEAN DIET for Family & Kids by Tosca Reno. This book is full of the best info about feeding yourself and your family in a healthy way.
I’ve tweaked and altered this recipe over the years to suit our family’s tastes and make it our own. Baked ziti has been loved and DEVOURED by our kids and grandkids over the years, and they think I've hit that perfect balance of healthy and mouth-wateringly delicious so - it's time I update the recipe again and share it here with you.
What Goes with Baked Ziti?
- A side salad: You can round out this easy meal with a personalized family salad bar and salad bowl. Each person can make a salad just the way they like.
- Garlic bread: You can make some gluten-free garlic bread using my flatbread recipe. I made a video showing how to make gluten free flatbread, if you want to take a look 🙂
- Healthy 8 salad: I like to make this combo of veggies meal prep style and keep it in the fridge to add to meals and side dishes
- Chocolate pudding: This simple recipe is the perfect way to end an ultimate comfort food meal that features a ziti casserole. It's easy to make in the microwave while the casserole bakes.
10 things You Need to Make Gluten Free Baked Ziti
- Meat -Ground beef and ground Italian sausage
- Carrot
- Garlic (not shown but don’t leave it out!)
- Beef broth - for added richness (also not in the picture - I totally spaced it)
- Dried herbs
- Olive oil, or another oil you like to cook with
- Tomato paste
- Crushed tomatoes - makes a richer sauce than if you used tomato sauce
- Your favorite gluten-free pasta ( or you can use regular pasta)
- Mozzarella cheese
Gluten Free Pasta Choices
I like to use ziti pasta in this recipe, but I can’t always find that particular shape. It’s not always easy to find gluten-free noodles when you need them!
I sub gluten-free penne, rotini, or any other tube shaped pasta I can find. I sometimes use macaroni in this and other pasta dishes and they’re all delicious.
Here are some great options for gluten free pasta that I found in my local grocery stores. They all have simple ingredients and I think it’s safe to say that you can find them for a reasonable price at the grocery store.
- Trader Joe’s brown rice Ziti. This is the one shown in the step-by-step photos. Brown rice pasta can get a little mushy if it’s cooked too long, but for this pasta casserole it lends a creaminess that gives it a delicious flavor.
- Jovial Brown Rice Fusilli. I recently started using Jovial gluten free pastas and I have to say - they are giving Barilla a run for their money! Our whole family loves the taste and texture of this brand. Since it’s a brown rice pasta, it and the Trader joe’s brown rice ziti will probably give you the best results in this recipe.
- Great Value Brown Rice and Quinoa Penne. This is a combo of brown rice and quinoa. Quinoa pasta is not my favorite flavor, but that just might be me. The price is good, so if you like the flavor of quinoa this may be the one for you.
- Trader Joe’s Red Lentil Sedanini. To be honest, I haven’t tried it (yet) in this gluten-free baked ziti recipe. It’s a bean-based pasta that contains 15 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber per serving! With that gorgeous reddish orange color and unique shape, I think it will be a crowd pleaser in this dish.
- Barilla Corn and Rice Penne. This has been my tried and true favorite pasta for years now. It holds up well in this pasta bake and has a very good flavor.
- Barilla Corn and Rice Rotini. I know rotini and fusilli are not even tube shaped pastas, but I’ve made this recipe many times with rotini and fusilli and we love them every time.
Let's Get Cooking:
Step 1. Brown the meat with the carrots and garlic
Step 2. Add tomatoes, spices, pasta and broth.
Step3. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until pasta is tender. More water may need to be added until the pasta is tender.
Step 4. Spread your al dente pasta mixture in a casserole dish.
Step 5. Add cheese, S&P, and parmesan to taste.
Step 6. Cover with foil and bake according to the recipe card (below)
Gluten Free Pasta Cooking Tips
- Pasta ingredients make a difference: For some recipes, like my cold macaroni salad, I prefer using corn and rice based pasta. But for the best baked ziti, brown rice pasta is my first choice.
- Handle gently when hot: All gluten free pasta is pretty fragile when it’s hot. Stir and fold it gently for the best success.
- Gluten free pasta turns brittle when it’s cold: Don’t worry if your pasta leftovers seem hard and crunchy when they first come out of the fridge. Let them come to room temperature or heat them in the microwave and they will return to their creamy state.
Want Some Bread with Your Pasta?
The very best tasting gluten free bread is the kind you make yourself - if you have an excellent recipe and a good teacher! I teach a gluten free sandwich bread workshop on Teachable, if you’re interested.
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Recipe for Baked Ziti Casserole
Browned and bubbly, extra cheesy and saucy -gluten free baked ziti is an easy dish that your whole family will love. My minimal, easy prep, creamy casserole is made on the stovetop and then baked in the oven with a creamy blanket of melted cheese on top.
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 pound lean ground Italian sausage
- 1 cup of carrot, finely shredded
- 2 Tablespoons of garlic, pressed or finely chopped (about 2 cloves)
- 1 ½ tablespoons dried basil leaves
- 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoons olive oil, or another oil of your choice
- 1 can tomato paste, 6 oz.
- 1 can of crushed tomatoes, 28 oz.
- 3 ½ cups beef broth (chicken broth can also be used)
- 16 oz . gluten free pasta, such as ziti, penne, or fusilli
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- grated parmesan, salt, and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- In a large skillet or stock pot, heat oil over medium heat. Cook beef, sausage, garlic, and carrots together until meat is browned and vegetables are softened.
- Stir in the tomato paste, spices, crushed tomatoes, pasta, and broth.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until pasta is tender but not too soft - al dente. Stir regularly to avoid mixture sticking to bottom of pan. You may need to add a little more water before the pasta is done. You will want to end up with tender pasta in a creamy sauce (see the photos above to guide you).
- Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray. Spread the pasta mixture evenly in the pan.
- Add parmesan, salt, and pepper, if desired to taste. Sprinkle mozzarella evenly over the top.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for roughly 5 minutes longer, or until the cheese is a little browned and bubbly.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: dinner
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ⅛
- Calories: 438
- Sugar: 6.2 g
- Sodium: 289.9 mg
- Fat: 20.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 38.5 g
- Fiber: 3.2 g
- Protein: 24.2 g
- Cholesterol: 67.4 mg
bekah
I made this for a baby shower party and one of my friends daughters who is 5 years old and really picky had 3 helpings!
Everyone loved it! Thank you for such a yummy and simple recipe! Now I have another go-to recipe for parties.
beneficialbento
I'm so glad you liked this recipe, and I'm so glad to hear that your friend's daughter loved it so much! And thanks for taking the time to let me know 🙂
amy craft
This sounds great! I'm going to try it this week for supper for the family.
Wilma P
I will be trying this Baked Ziti Casserole this weekend..........yummm!
adriana
I made this yesterday and it was delicious.
beneficialbento
I'm so glad you tried it! It's one of my family's favorites.
KHBride
This looks amazing and something even my picky eating husband would like! Can't wait to try it!!
beneficialbento
thanks, I hope you try it out, and I'd love to hear what your husband thought of it!
Shaylin Struckhoff
Looks super yummy!!