Olive Garden Five Cheese Ziti (Print-Friendly Version)

Ziti pasta smothered in creamy five-cheese marinara, topped with buttery crumbs, broiled to bubbly perfection.

# What You Need:

→ Ziti Al Forno

01 - 450 g ziti pasta
02 - 60 ml olive oil (for tossing cooked pasta)
03 - 30 g breadcrumbs

→ Five Cheese Marinara Sauce

04 - 480 ml marinara sauce
05 - 240 ml heavy cream
06 - 425 g diced tomatoes, drained (or two fresh tomatoes, diced)
07 - 5 ml granulated sugar
08 - 75 g Parmesan cheese blend (grated Parmesan, Romano, Asiago)
09 - 55 g fontina cheese (or grated Monterey Jack)
10 - 170 g mozzarella cheese, grated

# How to Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add the ziti pasta and cook until just al dente according to package directions. Drain thoroughly using a colander, rinse briefly with cold water to halt cooking, and toss with olive oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.
02 - In a medium saucepan, combine marinara sauce, heavy cream, diced tomatoes, and sugar. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Gradually stir in 50 g of the Parmesan cheese blend, all of the fontina cheese, and 50 g mozzarella cheese. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the cheeses are fully melted and the sauce is bubbly. Remove from heat.
03 - Transfer the cooked pasta to an oven-safe serving dish or greased 23x33 cm baking dish. Ladle the hot cheese marinara sauce evenly over the pasta. Sprinkle 120 g mozzarella cheese and the remaining 25 g Parmesan cheese blend across the surface. Scatter the breadcrumbs evenly on top.
04 - Place the dish under a broiler set to high and broil for 2–4 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and the top is golden brown. Monitor closely to prevent burning. Remove from oven and let stand a few minutes before serving.
05 - Before serving, garnish with additional freshly grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve hot.

# Important Notes:

01 - This dish features a blend of Italian cheeses, a creamy marinara sauce, and a crispy breadcrumb topping for textural contrast.
02 - For classic baked casserole preparation, assemble in a greased baking dish, cover with foil, and bake at 175°C for 30–45 minutes before broiling to finish.
03 - Can be assembled ahead and refrigerated or frozen. Substitute cheeses according to availability—mozzarella, Monterey Jack, or Parmesan all work well.

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