Olive Garden Five Cheese Ziti (Print-Friendly Version)

Baked ziti with five cheeses, creamy marinara, and golden breadcrumb topping brings classic Italian flavors home.

# What You’ll Need to Make This:

→ Pasta Base

01 - 450 g dry ziti pasta

→ Cheese Blend

02 - 180 g mozzarella cheese, grated, divided

03 - 90 g Italian hard cheese blend (parmesan, Romano, Asiago), grated, divided

04 - 60 g fontina cheese, grated (or grated Monterey Jack)

→ Sauce

05 - 480 ml marinara sauce

06 - 240 ml heavy cream

07 - 425 g diced tomatoes, drained (or 2 fresh tomatoes, diced)

08 - 5 ml granulated sugar

→ Topping

09 - 30 g breadcrumbs

10 - Extra freshly grated parmesan cheese, for garnish

# How to Prepare:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, rinse under cold water, and toss with a drizzle of olive oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.

02 - In a medium saucepan, combine marinara sauce, heavy cream, diced tomatoes, and sugar. Bring mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Add 60 g of the Italian hard cheese blend, all fontina cheese, and 60 g of mozzarella. Stir thoroughly until cheeses melt and sauce is bubbling. Remove from heat.

03 - Transfer cooked ziti to an oven-safe baking dish. Pour prepared cheese marinara sauce evenly over the pasta. Top with remaining 120 g mozzarella cheese and 30 g Italian hard cheese blend.

04 - Sprinkle breadcrumbs evenly over the cheese layer.

05 - Place dish under a preheated grill (broiler) and heat just until topping is golden and cheese is bubbly, 2–4 minutes. Monitor closely to avoid burning.

06 - Remove from oven and immediately garnish with freshly grated parmesan cheese. Serve hot.

# Extra Tips:

01 - For casserole-style preparation, assemble as above in a lightly greased 33x23 cm baking dish, cover, and bake in a preheated 175°C oven for 30–45 minutes. Uncover and grill until the top is golden.

02 - Dish can be assembled in advance, then refrigerated or frozen for later baking.

03 - Cheese varieties may be substituted based on availability; Monterey Jack or extra mozzarella can replace fontina.

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