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Olive Garden Copycat Five Cheese Ziti Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.8 from 117 reviews
  • Author: Emily
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 10 servings 1x
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Italian-American

Description

This Olive Garden Five Cheese Ziti Al Forno Copycat recipe features tender ziti pasta baked in a rich and creamy five-cheese marinara sauce. Combining marinara, heavy cream, diced tomatoes, and a blend of Parmesan, fontina, and mozzarella cheeses, topped with golden breadcrumbs, this comfort food masterpiece delivers cheesy, bubbly delight reminiscent of the popular Italian-American restaurant dish.

Ingredients

Scale

Ziti Al Forno Olive Garden Copycat:

  • 1 lb Ziti pasta
  • 1/4 cup bread crumbs (for the topping)

Five Cheese Marinara Sauce:

  • 2 cups marinara sauce
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 15 oz drained diced tomatoes (or two fresh tomatoes, diced)
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 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)

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta: In a large pot, cook the ziti pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta into a colander and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Toss with a little oil to prevent sticking and set aside.
  2. Prepare the five cheese marinara sauce: Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, combine the marinara sauce, heavy cream, diced tomatoes, and sugar. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
  3. Add cheeses to sauce: Stir in 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese blend, 1/2 cup of fontina cheese, and 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese. Continue stirring until the cheese melts completely and the sauce is bubbly. Remove from heat.
  4. Assemble the dish: Place the cooked pasta in an oven-safe serving dish. Ladle the prepared sauce evenly over the pasta.
  5. Add cheese and breadcrumbs topping: Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese blend evenly over the sauce-covered pasta. Then sprinkle the bread crumbs evenly on top.
  6. Broil until golden and bubbly: Place the dish under the broiler just until the cheese topping browns and becomes golden, watching carefully to avoid burning.
  7. Garnish and serve: Before serving, garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese for extra flavor and presentation.

Notes

  • Casserole Instructions: For a baked casserole version, place the pasta in a lightly greased 9×13 baking dish. Pour all the sauce over the pasta, then sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Top with breadcrumbs and bake covered at 350°F (175°C) for 30-45 minutes. Then remove cover and broil the top until golden brown.
  • This dish can be assembled ahead and refrigerated or frozen for later use.
  • Feel free to substitute cheeses with what you have on hand, such as Monterey Jack, mozzarella, or Parmesan cheeses.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 420
  • Sugar: 5g
  • Sodium: 550mg
  • Fat: 18g
  • Saturated Fat: 10g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 7g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 45g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Protein: 18g
  • Cholesterol: 60mg

Find it online: https://emilyquickdinners.com/olive-garden-copycat-five-cheese-ziti-recipe/