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Vegan Baked Ziti – This super easy pasta bake is made with mostly pantry items for a comforting and delicious lunch or dinner! It’s enough to feed a crowd and anything left is perfect for leftovers.
Why We Love This Recipe!
This simple baked ziti recipe is a pantry favorite! It’s super easy to make and pretty much fail-proof! It’s:
- Simple and easily customizable.
- Budget and kid-friendly.
- Super easy to make, and can even be made ahead and baked later.
- Uses whole food, plant based pantry staples.
- It’s full of flavor!
You can make the sauce from scratch per my recipe which is a cinch, or use your favorite bottled pasta sauce. The topping is a vegan ricotta made from cashews, but can easily be made nut-free using this Tofu Ricotta.
Altogether, it’s an incredible baked pasta dish that will become a family favorite on the meal rotation!
Ingredients You’ll Need
In this easy recipe, cooked tubular pasta is tossed with a homemade tomato sauce, topped with a creamy vegan ricotta, and baked in the oven until bubbly and warmed through, creating a warm and comforting pasta dish the whole family will love.
Here is everything you will need:
- Pasta – Baked ziti is typically made with straight, tubular pasta such as ziti, penne, rigatoni, ect. You can change it up with large elbow or shell pasta if needed.
- Tomatoes – I used whole, peeled San Marzano tomatoes, but you can substitute diced or crushed tomatoes.
- Onion– You can use white, brown, or whatever you have on hand.
- Garlic – Use fresh or jarred minced for ease.
- Thyme + oregano – sub with Italian seasoning
- Cashews – use raw cashews only
- Lemon – sub with 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
- Garlic + onion powder – Added for good measure!
- Salt + pepper – As always, season to taste.
- Parsley – Freshly chopped, it adds color and herbaceousness.
How To Make Vegan Baked Ziti
- Make the vegan ricotta.
- Cook the pasta according to package directions.
- Make the pasta sauce, as shown above.
- Add the cooked pasta to the tomato sauce in a casserole or baking dish.
- Top the pasta mix with vegan ricotta.
- Cover and bake at 350 degrees F. for 30 minutes.
- Let cool and top with fresh chopped parsley (and/or basil), as shown below.
And now you’re ready to enjoy!
Recommended Equipment: I used this versatile Lodge Casserole with cover (affiliate link) to cook the sauce and bake the ziti.
Top Tips
- Make it quicker + easier.Use store-bought bottled marinara (or your favorite pasta sauce) or make this homemadeMarinara Sauceahead of time, using 4 cups (double batch). If using bottles, there is no need to heat it – simply combine the cooked pasta with sauce and continue the recipe.
- Add protein.For additional protein, add a can of rinsed lentils or sliced vegan sausage to the sauce.
- Make ahead.To make vegan baked ziti ahead, simply assemble ahead and store in the fridge for a few days or freeze for up to 2 – 3 months before baking. Bake from chilled or frozen as the recipe directs.
Adjusting For Dietary Restrictions
- Nut-Free. This Tofu Ricotta can be used in place of the cashew ricotta cheese used here for those with nut allergies.
- Gluten-Free. Use GF pasta such as one that uses chickpea, rice, or quinoa flour.
How To Store
- Refrigerator: Leftovers be stored in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 4 – 5 days. This is great for meal prep, too!
- Freezer: To store longer, vegan baked ziti will keep in the freezer for up to 2 – 3 months stored in multi-use freezer-safe containers (affiliate link).
- Reheat: Warm in a preheated oven set to 350 degrees F, covered, for 10 – 15 minutes or until warmed through. Alternatively, microwave, covered, using 30 – 60-second intervals, stirring after each interval until warmed through.
Serving Suggestions
This savory baked pasta is hearty and filling but is also great with a little something on the side. Here are a few of my favorite options to serve with baked ziti:
- Bread: Serve with a slice of homemadeArtisan Breador No Knead Bread, soft & chewy Naan Bread, or gluten-freeSoccaflatbread to soak up the juices.
- Salad: Pair with a House Salad or simple leafy green salad with Vegan Ranch,Creamy Ranch Hemp Dressing,or. It’s also great with Vegan Caesar Salad!
- Soup: Serve with a small bowl of Hearty Vegan Lentil Soup, Vegan Tomato Basil Soup, or Creamy Asparagus + Red Lentil Soup.
- Toppings: Add a light dusting of Almond Parmesan and freshly chopped parsley or basil.
More Easy Pasta Recipes!
- The Ultimate Vegetable Lasagna
- Vegan Goulash (American)
- Creamy Broccoli Pasta
- One-Pot Penne Pasta w/ Mushrooms + Vegan Sausage
If you try this vegan baked ziti recipe or have a question, please let me know!Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.
VEGAN BAKED ZITI
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star
5 from 13 reviews
This vegan baked ziti made with pantry staples is the BEST! It’s easily customizable, easy to make, and a perfect family meal everyone will love!
- Author: Julie | The Simple Veganista
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 45 min
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: Serves 6
- Category: Entree, Pasta
- Method: bake
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
Units Scale
- 16 oz. pasta (ziti, penne or rigatoni)
- parsley, to serve
Tomato Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or 1/4 cup water
- 2 cans (28oz.) San Marzano whole tomatoes, with juices
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 – 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3/4 teaspoon EACH dried thyme & oregano (sub with 1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning)
- salt + pepper, to taste
Cashew Ricotta Cheese
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 3/4 cup water
- juice of 1 small lemon or 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar)
- 1/2 teaspoon mineral salt
- 1/4 teaspoon EACH garlic & onion powder
Instructions
Cashew Ricotta: Soak the cashews in warm water for 5 – 10 minutes, drain. In a blender cup, place the cashews, water, lemon juice, garlic & onion powder and salt, blend until creamy smooth. Set aside.
Pasta: Cook the pasta according to package directions.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Tomato Sauce: In a medium pot, heat the oil/water over medium heat and saute the onion for 5 minutes, add garlic and cook 1 minute more. Add the tomatoes, thyme, oregano, salt and pepper, continue cooking over medium heat for 7 – 10 minutes, breaking up the tomatoes as you cook. Taste for flavor.
Assemble: In a casserole or medium-large baking dish, combine the sauce and pasta together, mixing well to incorporate the bits of tomato throughout. Top with vegan ricotta and cover.
Bake: Place on the center rake and bake for 30 minutes, removing the cover after 20 minutes. Let cool a few minutes, top with chopped parsley or basil.
Serves 6
Serve in individual bowls with a light dusting of Almond Parmesan.
Store: Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 4 – 5 days.To store longer, store in the freezer for up to 2 – 3 months.
Notes
Make it quicker + easier. For ease, use 4 cups of store bought bottled marinara (or your favorite pasta sauce) or make this homemade Marinara Sauce ahead of time, doubling the recipe. If using bottled sauce, simply combine the unheated sauce with the cooked pasta and continue the recipe.
Add protein. For additional protein, add 1 – 2 sliced vegan sausages or canned lentils (about 1 – 1 1/2 cups) to the sauce.
Make it nut-free. Those with nut allergies can use this Tofu Ricotta in place of the cashew ricotta cheese used here.
Go gluten-free. Use GF pasta such as one that uses chickpea, rice or quinoa flour.
Make ahead. To make ahead, simply prepare as directed, without baking, and store in the fridge for a few days or freeze for up to 2 – 3 months before baking. Bake from chilled or frozen as the recipe instructs.
Recipe edited: I’ve updated the recipe to include an extra can of tomatoes so there will plenty of juices!
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