Olive Garden Five Cheese Ziti Al Forno
Olive Garden Five Cheese Ziti Al Forno made with ziti, San Marzano tomatoes, heavy cream, ricotta, mozzarella, Asiago, Parmesan, Romano, and breadcrumbs.
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Servings: 6
Ingredients
Pasta and Sauce
- 1 lb ziti pasta
- 28 oz canned whole San Marzano tomatoes
- 1 c heavy cream
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- 2 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp kosher salt or to taste
- 1/2 c whole milk ricotta cheese
- 1/2 c shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 c shredded Asiago cheese
Pasta Topping
- 1/4 c seasoned breadcrumbs
- 1/4 c panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 c shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp grated Romano cheese
Instructions
Prepare the pasta water.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, season the water generously with salt.
Preheat the oven.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Cook the pasta.
- Add the ziti pasta to the boiling water and cook 1 to 2 minutes less than al dente according to package directions.
Drain the pasta.
- Drain the cooked pasta thoroughly and transfer it to a 9x6-inch baking dish.
Prepare the sauce.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the San Marzano tomatoes, heavy cream, granulated sugar, dried basil, garlic powder, kosher salt, ricotta cheese, shredded mozzarella cheese, and Asiago cheese. Stir until well combined, crushing the tomatoes as needed.
Combine pasta and sauce.
- Pour the prepared sauce over the cooked ziti in the baking dish. Gently stir until the pasta is fully coated.
Add the cheese topping.
- Sprinkle the top evenly with shredded mozzarella cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, and grated Romano cheese.
Bake the pasta.
- Loosely cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the pasta is heated through and the cheese is melted.
Prepare the breadcrumb topping.
- While the pasta is baking, combine the seasoned breadcrumbs, panko breadcrumbs, and olive oil in a small bowl. Mix until the breadcrumbs are lightly coated.
Add the breadcrumb topping.
- Remove the baking dish from the oven and carefully discard the aluminum foil. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the top of the pasta.
Broil the pasta.
- Return the baking dish to the oven and broil for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the breadcrumb topping is golden and crisp. Watch closely to prevent burning.
Rest and serve.
- Allow the pasta to rest for several minutes before serving. Serve warm.
Notes
To make this Olive Garden Five Cheese Ziti Al Forno gluten free, replace the ziti pasta with certified gluten-free ziti or another short gluten-free pasta. Use gluten-free seasoned breadcrumbs and gluten-free panko breadcrumbs for the topping. Verify that the canned tomatoes, heavy cream, ricotta, mozzarella, Asiago, Parmesan, Romano, olive oil, spices, and all packaged ingredients are labeled gluten free. Use clean cookware, utensils, and baking dishes to prevent cross-contact with gluten-containing ingredients.