What Is Ziti pasta and How Can I Use It?

Ziti pasta is easier to cook with than it looks. Here's how to choose, use, and store it, what to substitute, and 43 recipes to get you started.

What is ziti pasta?

Ziti is a medium-width pasta tube with straight, square-cut ends and a smooth outer wall. It is wider than penne and longer, and the classic version has no ridges.

The name comes from a southern Italian word for bridegrooms, since the pasta was once served at wedding feasts in Campania and Sicily.

Most cooks meet ziti in one dish above all others: baked ziti, the American-Italian casserole of tubes, tomato sauce, and melted cheese.

Using Ziti

The hollow tube is what makes ziti a baking pasta. When it goes into the oven under sauce and cheese, the sauce works into the open centers, so the inside stays moist while the top browns. That structure holds up to long bakes far better than a flat noodle.

Boil dried ziti for about 11 to 13 minutes to al dente. For a casserole, stop two or three minutes short of that, since the tubes finish cooking in the oven and turn soft if you boil them fully first.

Ziti is sold as long rods to snap by hand, or already cut into short tubes labeled cut ziti. The short version is what you want for baked dishes and skillet meals; the long rods suit a dressed, sauced plate.

For the basics of salting the water and getting pasta to al dente, see the pasta hub.

Sauces and Pairings

Ziti was built for hearty tomato and meat sauces. A long-simmered ragu with sausage or ground beef fills the tubes and coats them, the way it does in Beef Ziti Casserole. Ricotta and mozzarella belong here too, since the soft cheese melts into and around the tubes.

It also takes vegetables well. Ziti with Ratatouille Sauce leans on eggplant and peppers, chunks that sit comfortably against the wide tube. The Greek baked dish Pastichio uses the same tube under a layer of bechamel.

The mistake to avoid is a thin or oily sauce. Ziti walls are smooth, so without body the sauce slides off and pools, leaving the pasta plain. Reach for penne rigate if your sauce is delicate, since its ridges grip better.

Substitutes

Penne is the nearest swap, close in width and just as good baked, with ridges that hold extra sauce. Rigatoni is wider and ridged, a good choice when you want a heftier bite in the same casserole.

Mostaccioli is essentially the same smooth tube under a different name and swaps in one for one. In a pinch, elbow macaroni or rigatoni will carry a baked dish, though the look on the plate changes.

Buying and Storing

Choose ziti made from durum wheat or semolina, listed right on the box. That hard wheat keeps the tubes firm through a par-boil and a long bake, while soft-wheat pasta goes slack and splits.

Smooth ziti is standard, but ziti rigate, the ridged version, is worth buying when sauce-grip matters more than tradition.

Dried ziti keeps for a couple of years in a sealed container somewhere cool and dry. Cooked ziti, or leftover baked ziti, holds three to four days in the fridge and freezes well; a finished casserole reheats better than plain boiled tubes, which dry out.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find ziti pasta: Ziti pasta is usually found in the pasta section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Pasta, ziti is a member of the Cereal Grains and Pasta US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

面食，ziti

British (UK) term

Pasta, ziti

en français

pâtes, ziti

en español

pasta, ziti

How much does ziti pasta weigh?

Related

Cereal Grains and Pasta

Recipes using ziti pasta

There are 43 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Baked Beef Ziti

Made this baked beef ziti for Sean's dinner two days ago, and he absolutely enjoyed it. He said the flavor, seasonings and texture were just perfect. The creaminess and cheesiness from the ricotta and parmesan mixed with ziti were delicious. It was much easier than making lasagna, and it came out so flavorful and tasty!

Baked Pasta with Sausage, Tomatoes, & Cheese

Awesome, this is the best pasta I have ever had. I couldn't believe how flavorful it came out, perfectly balanced on both flavor and texture.

Pasta Salad with Asparagus, Baby Corn, & Fresh Herbs

Pasta salad with asparagus, baby corn, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh herbs. A fast, pantry-friendly cold salad that comes together in 15 minutes with Italian or Caesar dressing.

Neopolitan Ziti

Neopolitan ziti tossed with hot Italian sausage, sauteed bell peppers, plum tomato marinara, and fresh basil. A rustic southern Italian weeknight plate from the sausage-and-peppers tradition.

Beef & Mushroom Ziti Casserole

Hearty ziti casserole loaded with browned ground beef, earthy mushrooms, and red wine-spiked sauce topped with melty mozzarella. Feeds a crowd with sour cream on the side.

Tri-Pasta Salad with Herbed Vinaigrette

Tri-pasta salad combines ziti, bow-tie, and spinach rotini with tri-color peppers, olives, and capers in a no-oil herbed red wine vinaigrette. Colorful, tangy, and low-fat for picnics and potlucks.

Bagna Caudi (on Ziti with Carrots)

Bagna Cauda pasta sauce with 15 garlic cloves, anchovies, roasted garlic, and cream, reduced and tossed with ziti and carrot matchsticks. A rich Piedmontese-inspired pasta in 40 minutes.

Broccoli & Macaroni San Pierota

Broccoli and ziti San Pierota with garlic-sauteed broccoli florets over pasta tossed in a simple crushed tomato sauce, finished with red pepper flakes and grated Parmesan.

Pasta with Tuna & Fresh Basil

Cold tuna pasta salad with ziti, fresh basil, red bell pepper, and lemon juice. A no-cook, five-ingredient summer main course that chills before serving.

Pasta Ooooh Baby I.E.S.Jjgf65A

Summer vegetable pasta with seared zucchini, yellow squash, fresh tomatoes, mushrooms, and basil tossed with ziti and Parmesan. Bright, garden-fresh, and quick.

Ziti with Asparagus, Peas & Lemon Cream

Ziti with asparagus, peas, and lemon cream: tender pasta in a tangy reduced cream sauce with spring vegetables, wilted Bibb lettuce, and Parmesan. A bright, elegant springtime pasta in 30 minutes.

Sloppy Ziti

Sloppy ziti with lean ground beef and food-processor chopped vegetables in a chili-spiced tomato paste sauce. A healthier, sneaky-veggie twist on sloppy joes tossed with pasta.

Ziti with Cheese

Ziti with cheese: hot pasta tossed with diced mozzarella, Parmesan and fresh herbs, then slicked with warm garlic-infused oil so the cheese melts into gooey, stretchy pockets. A fast, no-cook-sauce pasta in minutes.

Greek Spinach, Pasta & Toasted Almonds

Greek pasta with ziti, wilted spinach, browned mushrooms, garlic, kalamata olives, feta, and toasted almonds. A Mediterranean weeknight dinner in 30 minutes.

Pasta with Sauce Veracruz

Vanilla is the secret ingredient in this cross-cultural sauce, which is also delicious served with grilled or roasted meats, poultry or seafood.

Ziti with Spicy Pesto Pantesco & Locatelli

Ziti with Spicy Pesto Pantesco and Locatelli recipe

291284 -- Ziti Casserole

Baked ziti casserole with broccoli, mushrooms, and walnuts in a homemade Parmesan-cheddar cream sauce. A make-ahead vegetarian pasta bake the whole family will love.

Speedy Ziti with Zesty Chicken

Speedy ziti tossed with cooked chicken, frozen peas, and a tangy Dijon-lemon sauce made from chicken broth. A 35-minute one-skillet pasta perfect for busy weeknights using rotisserie chicken.

Pasta with Grilled Poultry Sausages

Pasta with grilled turkey or chicken sausages, fresh tomatoes, roasted peppers, and saffron vinegar. A light, Mediterranean-style pasta toss ready in 30 minutes.

Ziti with Fresh Tomato-Olive Sauce

Ziti with a raw fresh tomato-olive sauce made with kalamata olives, capers, balsamic vinegar, fresh basil, garlic, and red pepper flakes, topped with crumbled goat cheese and Parmesan.

Pasta with Winter Squash

Butternut squash pasta sauce with melted Monterey Jack, vegetable broth, and sun-dried tomatoes tossed with ziti. A creamy, lighter fall pasta without heavy cream.

Creamy(Turkey) Ham Ziti

Creamy turkey ham ziti with a blended spinach and sour cream sauce, Dijon mustard, fresh dill, and red bell pepper. A lighter pasta dish with a vivid green sauce.

Baked Ziti with Three Cheeses

Vegetarian baked ziti layered with creamy ricotta, melty mozzarella, and sharp parmesan in tangy tomato sauce. Simple Italian comfort food ready in an hour.

Ziti Baked My Way

Layered baked ziti with creamy ricotta, marinara, and Parmesan baked under a golden bubbling crust. Crowd-feeding Italian-American casserole that yields 12 hearty servings from one dish.

Broccoli & Ziti Casserole

Delicious and succulent casserole is perfect for a dinner with the whole family together.

Cheesy Italian Baked Ziti

Baked ziti loaded with ground beef, Italian sausage, mozzarella, and parmesan in a herby spaghetti sauce. The crowd-feeding casserole that earns its place on every Sunday table.

Baked Ziti Al Telefono

Baked ziti tossed in tomato sauce and creamy balsamella with cubes of fresh mozzarella that melt into long, stretchy strings. Topped with Parmesan breadcrumbs and baked until bubbling.

Easy Baked Ziti

Ground beef in a garlicky tomato sauce layered with creamy ricotta, stretchy mozzarella, and sharp Parmesan. Classic baked ziti that feeds a crowd without breaking a sweat.

Akin Back Farm's Pasta Blue

A succulent dish made with chicken breasts, spinach, ziti pasta and gorgonzola cheese.

Meaty Ziti Casserole

Meaty ziti casserole with a lean blend of ground chuck and ground turkey, mushrooms, bell pepper, and a from-scratch tomato sauce baked under bubbling parmesan. A weeknight crowd-pleaser that lightens the classic without losing the meat-sauce flavor.

Mexican Pasta Pie

Mexican pasta pie layered with ziti, taco-seasoned tomatoes, black beans, chicken, ricotta, and cheddar. A baked casserole that combines pasta night with taco night in one dish.

Italian Ziti Medley

Baked ziti casserole loaded with Italian sausage, mushrooms, and green peppers in a creamy cheddar and Parmesan sauce. Bubbly, golden, and ready for a crowd.

Ziti with Ratatouille Sauce

Garden-loaded ratatouille sauce with eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, and sweet potato tossed with ziti and showered in fresh basil and mint. A vibrant, plant-based pasta that eats like a celebration of summer produce.

Baked Chicken with Provolone & Ziti

With a true Italian taste, this savory dish is perfect for a romantic dinner for two at home.

Beef Ziti Casserole

Baked ziti casserole loaded with ground beef, green beans, corn, chunky tomatoes, and melted sharp cheddar in a creamy mushroom soup base. Feeds six and comes together in about an hour.

Mimi's Baked Ziti

This has been a hit since I first made it on X-mas a few years ago! This dish has been demanded at every occassion!

Pasta with Kielbasa & Sauerkraut

Pasta with kielbasa and sauerkraut brings smoky Polish sausage, tangy kraut, red bell pepper, and Dijon together over ziti with a splash of white wine. A hearty Eastern European pasta dinner.

Pastichio (Greek Lasagna)

Pastichio (Greek lasagna) with ziti, seasoned ground meat, crumbled feta, cream cheese, Parmesan, and eggs baked into a rich, set casserole. A simplified take on the classic Greek baked pasta.

Easy Microwave Baked Ziti

Easy microwave baked ziti with tomato sauce and melted mozzarella, ready in 15 minutes. Three-ingredient single-dish dinner for busy weeknights.

Ziti with Broccoli

Classic Italian ziti tossed with tender steamed broccoli in a warm garlic, olive oil, and butter sauce finished with freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano. Simple, satisfying, and on the table in 45 minutes.

Easy Baked Ziti with Turkey Sausage Casserole

Try this turkey sausage casserole today by following this easy recipe that is hassle free.

All 43 ziti pasta recipes