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A baking dish of Five Cheese Ziti Al Forno on top of a checkered table cloth with glassware in the background.

Five Cheese Ziti Al Forno Recipe

This Five Cheese Ziti Al Forno is a perfect combination of pasta sauce and melty cheese, tender pasta, and the golden brown crispy topping.
Serving4 Servings
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

For the pasta:

  • 0.75 lb. dry ziti pasta
  • 1 ⅓ cup marinara sauce
  • ¼ cup can chopped tomatoes
  • 1 cup alfredo sauce*
  • ¼ cup ricotta cheese
  • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

For the cheese mix:

  • ½ cup provolone cheese, shredded
  • ½ cup Mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • ¼ cup Fontina cheese, shredded

For the breadcrumbs topping:

  • ¼ cup breadcrumbs, plain
  • 1 ½ Tablespoon butter

Equipment

Instructions

Prepare the pasta:

  • Cook the pasta: cook your pasta in a pot of salted boiling water, until al dente. Drain the pasta.
  • Coat the pasta: in a large bowl, combine marinara sauce, can chopped tomatoes, alfredo sauce, ricotta, and freshly grated parmesan. Add pasta and stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Make your cheese mix:

  • Gather your cheese: add provolone, mozzarella, and fontina cheese in a bowl. Reserve ⅓ cup of the cheese mixture.
  • Add the cheese to the pasta; add the remaining cheese to the pasta and stir to combine.

Prepare the breadcrumbs topping:

  • Make the topping: melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in the breadcrumbs and set aside.

Assemble the pasta:

  • Heat your oven: preheat your oven to 375℉.
  • Bake the pasta: add the pasta to a slightly greased 9-inch baking dish. Add reserved cheese blend on top as well as the prepared breadcrumb topping. Bake the pasta for 30 minutes. Allow the pasta to cool down for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

*If you want to make your homemade alfredo, which is way superior to the store-bought versions here is what you will need:
  • ¼ cup butter
  • ¾ cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup freshly grated parmesan
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon Italian herbs
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
How to: add butter and heavy cream to a skillet. Simmer for 2 minutes or until the butter is melted. Stir in parmesan, garlic powder, and Italian herbs. Whisk until the cheese is melted.  Season to taste and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 699 kcal · Carbohydrates: 77 g · Protein: 28 g · Fat: 30 g · Saturated Fat: 17 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 4 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 8 g · Trans Fat: 0.2 g · Cholesterol: 97 mg · Sodium: 1310 mg · Potassium: 541 mg · Fiber: 4 g · Sugar: 7 g · Vitamin A: 941 IU · Vitamin C: 7 mg · Calcium: 376 mg · Iron: 3 mg
Cuisine: American
Cost: $15
Author: Steph Loaiza
Course: Main Course