Baked Ziti

Baked Ziti is one of those recipes that looks more impressive than it actually is to make. With a medium difficulty level and roughly 50 minutes from start to finish, it is an easy addition to a weekly rotation.

Most of what you need for this recipe comes from CedarKart's Pantry & Cooking department, along with a handful of pantry basics you likely already have on hand. The full ingredient list below reflects amounts for 6 servings — scale up or down as needed.

What you'll need

Penne Pasta
Marinara Sauce
Mozzarella
Ricotta
Ground beef

Prep time runs about 15 minutes, with roughly 35 minutes of cook time on top of that, for a total of about 50 minutes from start to table. This recipe is rated Medium, so it works well whether you are new to cooking or just short on time.

Tips before you start

One thing that helps this recipe go smoothly: prep every ingredient before you turn on the stove. Chopping, measuring, and setting everything within reach means the actual cooking moves quickly and nothing overcooks while you are still slicing something else.

It also helps to read through the full ingredient list once before shopping, since a few items — like ground beef — are easy to forget if you are working from memory instead of a written list. CedarKart's search bar makes it quick to check whether a specific item is in stock before you leave home.

How to make it

Start by prepping every ingredient on the list — wash and chop any produce, measure out pantry items, and bring anything refrigerated to room temperature if the recipe calls for it. Working with everything already prepped means the actual cooking moves at a steady pace instead of stopping and starting.

From there, build the dish in stages: get any base component going first (rice, pasta, or a protein, depending on the recipe), then layer in the remaining pantry & cooking ingredients as they are ready. Keep an eye on timing rather than the clock alone — textures and doneness cues are usually a better signal than an exact minute count, especially with home stovetops that run hotter or cooler than a recipe writer's.

Taste as you go and adjust seasoning near the end rather than all at once at the start. Salt, acid (a squeeze of lemon or a splash of vinegar), and fresh herbs are the three easiest ways to fix a dish that tastes flat, and they are worth reaching for before assuming something went wrong.

What to serve alongside it

Baked Ziti pairs well with something simple on the side rather than another heavy dish — a green salad, a piece of crusty bread from the bakery department, or a light seasonal vegetable. If you are feeding a crowd, doubling the recipe is usually more reliable than trying to stretch a single batch, since ratios of seasoning and liquid do not always scale down cleanly for smaller portions.

Storage and leftovers

This dish reheats better than most, which makes it a good candidate for meal prep. Store portions in individual containers so lunches or quick dinners are ready to grab without extra dishes later in the week.

Common questions

Can I make Baked Ziti ahead of time? In most cases, yes — prep the ingredients a day ahead and store them separately, then finish the recipe closer to serving time for the best texture and flavor.

What if I can't find Penne Pasta? Check with a CedarKart staff member for a close substitute in the Pantry & Cooking department, or search the online catalog for similar items before your trip.

Why this recipe works

Part of what makes this a good weeknight option is how little cleanup it leaves behind. Most of the ingredients come from one or two departments, which also makes it easy to build a quick shopping list before you head to the store.

Like most of the recipes we feature, Baked Ziti is built around ingredients that are easy to find at a neighborhood grocery store rather than a specialty shop. If you would rather skip the shopping trip entirely, you can build a basket for this recipe directly on the CedarKart site and submit a pickup request — browse to the Pantry & Cooking department, add what you need, and confirm your order online. There is no account required and no online payment collected; you simply pay when you arrive at the register.

That said, shopping in person still has an advantage for a recipe like this one: you can see and choose individual pieces of produce or cuts of meat rather than trusting a random pick from the shelf. If freshness matters more to you than speed, it is worth the short trip to 6213 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028 to pick things out yourself, especially for the penne pasta that anchors the whole dish.

For more ideas along these lines, browse the rest of our recipe collection, or check the seasonal produce guide for tips on choosing the freshest ingredients for whatever you are cooking next.