Best Baked Ziti Recipe (vegan, meatless)

This Baked Ziti is no meat comfort food with lots of flavors, rich, creamy with seriously the best homemade sauce and a creamy topping. You will be surprised how easy it is to make and you will never ever tell it is vegan.

Pasta bake is one of my favorites. Just think of my Pasta Al Forno, the Pizza Spaghetti, my Tetrazzini, the Million Dollar Spaghetti, or Taco Spaghetti.

Those vegan pasta recipes are dishes I made often.

This Baked Ziti recipe is not just another pasta bake. It is the epitome of where it all started. With ziti or penne pasta, a rich meaty sauce, dollops of ricotta, and baked topped with typical mozzarella to cheesy perfection.

Why this is absolutely the best meatless Baked Ziti

Diced tomatoes and tomato sauce make a great texture: smooth but with amazing juicy bits.

Vegan sausage and vegan ground beef create a great meaty texture, so I add them both

The cheeses: There isn’t anything more satisfying than vegan ricotta and vegan parmesan: so rich, creamy and cheesy like I did in my Spinach Lasagna or the Eggplant Lasagna.

The seasonings are what make Baked Ziti so delicious: I use fresh garlic and onions, Italian herbs, and red pepper flakes which create a great flavor.

Preparation is as easy as it can be and with my step-by-step pictures you have a guarantee to get the most amazing result,.

And the pasta is even precooked which I think you’ve never seen before and saves you a lot of time.

What you need for this Baked Ziti recipe

• Pasta
• Vegan mozzarella cheese
• Vegan parmesan cheese
• Olive oil
• Garlic
• Onions

• Vegan ground beef
• Vegan sausage
• Red pepper flakes
• Italian herbs
• Marinara
• Diced tomatoes

How to make Baked Ziti

Preheat oven to 390°F and set an 8×11 inch casserole dish or baking pan aside.

Heat olive oil in a large frying pan. Add finely diced onions and garlic, and fry on medium heat for 2 minutes until lightly softened. Give the vegan ground beef and sausage to the pan and cook on high for 4 minutes.

Mix in the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, and pepper flakes, and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes more.

Mix pasta with sauce, and transfer to a casserole dish.

Now take a small mixing bowl and combine the ricotta, half of the mozzarella, and half of the parmesan. Spoon dollops of the ricotta mixture on top of the pasta, and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Bake for around 15 minutes, then take the meatless Baked Ziti out of the oven and let it cool down to room temperature before serving. The pasta should be al dente by now.

Leftovers, make ahead and freezer instructions

Leftovers of my Baked Ziti will stay fresh in the fridge for around 5 days, and will beautifully reheat in the oven. Make ahead option: you can prepare in advance stick it in the fridge the night before and bake the next day.

For freezing: let cool completely, cover with aluminum foil, and freeze for around 3 months.

How to serve Baked Ziti?

Serving Baked Ziti is a delightful experience, especially when you’re ready to enjoy a comforting and flavorful meal. Here are some tips on how to serve it:

Transfer the baked ziti from the oven to a heat-resistant surface. Use a large serving spoon or spatula to scoop out portions onto individual plates.

Sprinkle some fresh basil leaves or chopped parsley over the top for a burst of color and added flavor. A drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil can enhance the dish.

Serve your Vegan Baked Ziti with a side salad, garlic bread, or crusty baguette. A simple green salad with a lemon vinaigrette pairs well to balance the richness of the pasta.

If you’re serving a group, place the entire baking dish on the table and let everyone help themselves.

Tips and tricks

Use an amazing pasta: ziti or penne is great, but rigatoni works also well because it has deep ridges that hold the sauce.

If you’re looking for a little more heat you can use my Arrabbiata Sauce as the base for the meat sauce in this Baked Ziti, yum.

Other pasta recipes to try:

• Lemon Pasta
• Hamburger Helper
• Toasted Ravioli

Try this easy Baked Ziti recipe and tag me with a snapped picture of all your remakes on Instagram or Facebook.

Cheers, Florian.