Healthy Baked Ziti Pizza

If you ask me, combining two comfort food favorites is always a good idea.

This mash-up of classic baked ziti and pizza creates a fun twist that brings the best of both worlds to your dinner table. Rich tomato sauce and perfectly cooked pasta meet melty mozzarella and all your favorite pizza toppings.

It’s layered with al dente ziti pasta tossed in a homestyle marinara, then topped with classic pizza ingredients that get nice and bubbly in the oven. The golden-brown cheese and crispy edges make every bite worth savoring.

It’s a crowd-pleasing dish that works for casual family dinners or weekend get-togethers, perfect for when you can’t decide between Italian favorites.

What Kind of Pizza Dough Should I Use?

For this fusion recipe, you’ve got several good options when it comes to pizza dough. Store-bought dough from your local grocery store or pizzeria will work perfectly fine – just make sure to let it come to room temperature before working with it, which usually takes about 30 minutes on your counter. Fresh dough tends to be stored in the refrigerated section, while some stores also carry frozen pizza dough that you’ll need to thaw overnight in your fridge. If you’re grabbing pre-made dough, look for one that feels soft and elastic when you press it – if it’s stiff or doesn’t stretch easily, it might be past its prime. The key is finding a dough that’s easy to work with and will give you that classic chewy-crispy pizza crust texture.

Options for Substitutions

This fun fusion recipe can be adapted with several easy swaps:

• Ziti pasta: Don’t have ziti? No worries! You can use penne, rigatoni, or even rotini pasta – any short, tube-shaped pasta will work great here.
• Pizza dough: While pizza dough is ideal, you can use flatbread, naan, or even a pre-baked pizza crust. Just keep in mind that cooking times might need to be adjusted if using pre-cooked bases.
• Marinara sauce: Any tomato-based pasta sauce works well here. You can use regular pizza sauce, tomato sauce, or even crushed tomatoes seasoned with Italian herbs.
• Ricotta cheese: If you’re out of ricotta, try cottage cheese (drained and blended smooth) or even cream cheese softened at room temperature.
• Mozzarella cheese: While mozzarella gives that classic pizza pull, you could use provolone, fontina, or a mix of Italian cheeses. Just avoid hard cheeses like parmesan as the main cheese since they won’t melt as well.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Baking

The biggest mistake when making baked ziti pizza is overcooking the pasta beforehand – you’ll want to cook the ziti just until al dente (about 2 minutes less than package directions) since it will continue cooking in the oven on top of the pizza.

Getting your pizza dough temperature right is crucial – cold dough won’t stretch properly and can tear, so make sure to let it come to room temperature for at least 30 minutes before working with it, and pre-bake the crust for 5-7 minutes before adding toppings to prevent a soggy middle.

When layering your ingredients, less is more – too much sauce or cheese can make the pizza heavy and wet, so stick to a thin layer of sauce and distribute the ziti evenly across the surface.

For the crispiest results, bake your pizza on a preheated pizza stone or baking sheet, and let it rest for 2-3 minutes after coming out of the oven to allow the cheese to set slightly before slicing.

What to Serve With Baked Ziti Pizza?

This mash-up of two Italian favorites calls for some simple sides that won’t compete with its carb-loaded goodness! A crisp Caesar salad or mixed green salad with Italian dressing helps cut through the richness of the cheese and pasta. Since this dish is pretty filling, I like to keep things light with some roasted broccoli or garlic-sautéed green beans on the side. For a true pizzeria experience, serve it with some pepperoncini peppers, a small bowl of extra marinara sauce for dipping the crust, or a plate of antipasto with olives and marinated vegetables.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: Got leftovers? Place your baked ziti pizza slices in an airtight container and pop them in the fridge for up to 3 days. I like to place pieces of parchment paper between the slices to prevent them from sticking together – it works like a charm!

Freeze: This pizza freezes surprisingly well! Let it cool completely, then wrap individual slices in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. They’ll keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. It’s perfect for those busy nights when you need a quick dinner fix.

Warm Up: To bring back that fresh-from-the-oven taste, pop your pizza slices in a preheated oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly again. For the best texture, avoid using the microwave – trust me, the extra few minutes in the oven are worth it!

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	12-15 minutes
Total Time	22-30 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Medium

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 800-900
• Protein: 30-35 g
• Fat: 35-40 g
• Carbohydrates: 90-100 g

Ingredients

• 1 cup dry ziti pasta
• 1 portion of your preferred pizza dough (store-bought is fine, at room temperature)
• 1/2 cup marinara or pizza sauce
• 2 tablespoons ricotta
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon oregano, dried
• 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

Step 1: Prepare for Cooking

Preheat your oven to 475 degrees Fahrenheit.

Meanwhile, bring a small pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat.

Step 2: Cook the Pasta

Once the water is boiling, add your pasta and cook for 7-8 minutes.

The pasta does not need to be fully cooked, as it will continue cooking in the oven.

After cooking, drain the pasta and return it back into the pot.

Step 3: Combine Pasta with Sauce

In the pot with the drained pasta, add your desired sauce, ricotta, a pinch of salt, and oregano.

Stir everything together until well combined, ensuring the pasta is evenly coated with the mixture.

Step 4: Prepare the Dough

Take a lightly oiled sheet pan and spread your dough into a circular shape.

This will form the base for your pasta bake.

Make sure the dough is even and smooth.

Step 5: Assemble and Bake

Evenly spread the pasta and sauce mixture over the prepared dough.

Sprinkle cheese on top to your liking.

Place the sheet pan in the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes or until the dish is bubbly and the cheese is golden brown.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy

Once your pasta bake is beautifully golden and bubbly, remove it from the oven.

Let it cool slightly before slicing and serving.

Enjoy your delicious homemade dish!