Olive Garden 5 Cheese Ziti al Forno
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Olive Garden 5 Cheese Ziti al Forno is the ultimate pasta dupe—ziti noodles swimming in a bold, cheesy blend of marinara and Alfredo, with five Italian cheeses baked right in. Topped with gooey mozzarella and baked to perfection, it’s like date night at Olive Garden… minus the bill and the awkward waiter small talk. 🍝😏
🔍 COPYCAT SECRETS UNCOVERED!
I’m not sure there can be an easier dish than this – once you have the Five Cheese Marinara. It’s just ziti with the delicious cheesy marinara and mozzarella! If you do go to Olive Garden – you can get a take home portion for just $6!
How to make Five Cheese Ziti al Forno
This copycat Olive Garden recipe is my nephew’s favorite! Once I figured out the 5 Cheese Marinara – it was easy peasy to make this recipe! Here’s how you’ll do it (preview: it’s a little work – but it’s not hard – I promise!)
- You’ll make a marinara sauce
- Then you’ll make an alfredo sauce with a five blend: Parmesan, Romano, Asiago, Gouda and Ricotta Cheese.
- Then mix them together!!! (Here’s the full recipe for the Five Cheese Marinara)
- Boil some ziti pasta – it’s easy to find. Rigatoni would work as well.
- Pour your ziti into an oven-safe casserole dish, cover with the 5 Cheese Marinara
- Sprinkle the top with Mozzarella
- Bake ziti for 25 minutes, then Low Broil for 5 minutes until the top is golden brown
Make it Quicker & Easier
You can cheat a bit for a semi-homemade version of the 5 Cheese Ziti al Forno recipe – but I encourage you to make your own alfredo – it’s worth the extra step!
- Jarred Sauce – you can buy a cheesy marinara jarred sauce
- Semi-Homemade – buy a jarred marinara but make your own alfredo (it’s worth it!)
- Pre-shredded mozzarella – I prefer to shred my own but the bagged works fine too
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More Olive Garden Sauce Recipes
What to serve with Olive Garden 5 Cheese Ziti
Olive Garden 5 Cheese Ziti Al Forno
Ingredients
Marinara Sauce
Alfredo Sauce
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp garlic minced
- 2 tsp flour
- 2 cups half and half
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 1/4 cup Romano cheese grated
- 1/4 cup Asiago grated
- 1/4 cup Ricotta
- 1/4 cup gouda grated
Ziti Al Forno
- 1 lb ziti
- 3 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven (do not use cast iron, as the acidity of the tomatoes may make the sauce taste metallic) over medium heat.2 tbsp olive oil
- When the oil is hot, add onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes. Add garlic. Cook until the garlic becomes translucent and very fragrant.1 small sweet onion, 5 cloves garlic
- Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato puree, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, ground black pepper and sugar to the pot and stir to combine.28 oz crushed tomatoes, 28 oz tomato puree, 28 oz diced tomatoes, 2 tsp Italian seasoning blend, 2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp ground black pepper, 1 tsp sugar
- Lower the heat and place a lid on the pot. Simmer (not boil) for 25 to 30 minutes.
- While marinara is simmering, boil water for ziti and cook to al dente. Preheat oven to 375º1 lb ziti
- When the pasta has about 4-5 minutes left, in a saucepan on medium heat, sauce butter and garlic. Cook for 1 minute, stirring occasionally.2 tbsp butter, 1 tbsp garlic minced
- Whisk in flour2 tsp flour
- quickly add half and half and all cheeses to saucepan and stir frequently until the sauce begins to simmer. Remove from heat.2 cups half and half, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, 1/4 cup Romano cheese, 1/4 cup Asiago, 1/4 cup Ricotta, 1/4 cup gouda
- Pour Alfredo sauce into marinara sauce and stir to combine. Drain pasta.
- Spray a large 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Lay out cooked pasta in bottom of baking dish.
- Pour 5 Cheese Marinara over ziti. Top with mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake for 25 minutes.3 cups mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
- Change oven to Broil-Low and broil for 3-5 minutes until top starts to bubble. Watch closely as broilers can cook quick!
