Olive Garden’s Five Cheese Ziti al Forno represents the pinnacle of comfort food perfection, combining the best Italian-American cuisine in one spectacular dish. The secret lies in the luxurious rosa sauce, a harmonious blend of tangy marinara and rich Alfredo that creates the perfect backdrop for five Italian cheeses. Topped with golden, garlicky breadcrumbs and baked to bubbly perfection, this dish transforms simple ingredients into restaurant-quality magic.
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Why this recipe works
Baked pasta dishes can be hit or miss. Some are dry, others bland, but most are not worth the effort. That is not the case with the Five Cheese Ziti al Forno Olive Garden serves.
This dish delivers fantastic flavors in every bite thanks to its fabulous rosa sauce, the perfect blend of tangy marinara and rich Alfredo sauces. The sauce becomes something special with adding a mix of your favorite Italian cheeses.
Top the Olive Garden Five Cheese Ziti al Forno with garlicky breadcrumbs for an easy and delicious weeknight dinner.
Five Cheese Ziti al Forno Ingredients and What They Contribute to this Recipe
For the main pasta dish, you’ll need:
Dry Ziti Pasta or small tube pasta – the base of the dish. The tube shape allows the pasta to catch more of the sauce.
Marinara sauce, jarred or fresh, provides the acidity that helps to balance the richness of the Alfredo sauce and cheeses.
Alfredo sauce, jarred or fresh – adds a creaminess to the dish and tames the acidity of the marinara sauce.
Italian blend of cheese, shredded – contributes flavor and creaminess to the sauce.
Full-fat ricotta cheese – helps to thicken the sauce and gives it a luxurious mouthfeel.
For the Italian cheese blend, you can grate your own or buy a pre-grated blend. Choose the cheeses you want to include, but mozzarella, Provolone, Asiago, and Parmesan are good choices.
For the panko topping, you’ll need:
Unsalted butter – helps the breadcrumbs brown evenly
Parmesan cheese, grated – adds a sharp, nutty flavor to the breadcrumbs.
Panko bread crumbs – supply a wonderful crunch when lightly toasted.
Granulated garlic – enhances the taste of the breadcrumb topping but won’t burn like fresh garlic.
For the garnish, you’ll need:
Fresh parsley – adds a pop of color and freshness to the dish.
How to make Olive Garden Five Cheese Ziti al Forno
To prepare Ziti al Forno with Five Cheeses:
Prepare the ziti according in a large pot to the instructions on the package.
While the pasta is cooking, preheat the oven to 350°F.
In a large, oven-safe pot, like a Dutch oven or casserole dish, combine the Alfredo sauce, half of the Italian blended cheese, and all the full-fat ricotta cheese.
Heat the sauce over medium heat while stirring from time to time until the sauce begins to simmer.
Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the sauce. Stir to combine.
Transfer the pasta and sauce to a baking dish.
Sprinkle the remaining blend of Italian cheese over the top of the pasta.
Melt the unsalted butter and place it in a small bowl. Add the rest of the Panko topping ingredients and mix well.
Spread the flavored breadcrumbs on top of the pasta.
Place the baking dish in the oven and cook until the topping browns nicely, 30 to 40 minutes.
Let the Olive Garden Five Cheese Ziti al Forno rest on a wire rack for five minutes.
While waiting, chop the parsley and garnish the top of the baked ziti with it.
Serve warm.
What to serve with Ziti al Forno
You can serve Ziti al Forno independently, but including an appetizer and a side or two will complete the meal. Here are three options you may want to make.
Garlic bread. There is nothing more traditional than pairing the Five Cheese Ziti al Forno Olive Garden serves with crusty garlic bread. This classic style garlic bread from Brennan’s is basic but tasty. The toasted slices of French bread are slathered with plenty of butter, fresh garlic, herbs, and a sprinkling of cheese. It’s perfect for sopping up any leftover rosa sauce.
Fried Asparagus. Don’t worry if someone in your family isn’t a fan of asparagus; this fried asparagus recipe from Longhorn Steakhouse is enticing enough for anyone to try. The asparagus is dredged in buttermilk and flour before being deep-fried and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese while still hot to create a delectable crisp and cheesy crust.
Eggplant Parmesan. Whether you serve baked ziti with a side of eggplant parm or Eggplant Parmesan with baked ziti, the two dishes go together wonderfully. The earthy, slightly bitter flavor of the eggplant contrasts nicely with the richness of the Ziti al Forno.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
Refrigerator Storage: Store covered in an airtight container for 3 days. Cool completely before refrigerating to prevent condensation.
Reheating Method: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cover with foil and bake for 20-25 minutes until heated through. Remove the foil for the last 5 minutes to re-crisp the topping.
Freezing: Assemble without baking, wrap tightly, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight and bake as directed, adding 10-15 minutes to cooking time.
Do you love the pasta at Olive Garden? Try these copycat recipes!
Olive Garden Five Cheese Lasagna
Check out my easy pasta recipes and the best copycat Olive Garden recipes on CopyKat!
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