Five Cheese Ziti al Forno is a mouthwatering Italian-American pasta dish featuring ziti pasta smothered in a delightful marinara sauce and five luscious cheeses, baked to golden, gooey perfection.
½cupshredded Asiago cheese(you can also use shredded Romano cheese)
6slicesProvolone cheese cut into pieces
Topping:
½cupItalian breadcrumbs
½cupshredded Asiago cheese
2tablespoonsmelted butter
Instructions
Butter a 9 x 13 baking dish. Set aside.
Cook the pasta according to the direction on the package. Set aside.
In a Dutch Oven, melt the butter and add the onion.
Cook on medium heat until the onions are softened and start to be translucent.
Add the flour and whisk together with the butter and onions. You are making a Roux.
Keep whisking and add the chicken broth. This will help make a smooth sauce.
Add the salt, ground black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and Italian seasonings. Mix well.
Add the Marinara sauce, and mix until it is incorporated into the mixture.
Sprinkle the cheeses in the sauce, reserving 1 cup of the Mozzarella cheese.
Over low heat mix the cheese until they are all coated with the sauce. They don’t need to be all melted.
Add the cooked pasta. Mix to coat the pasta.
Spread the pasta evenly into the prepared 9 x 13.
Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup Mozzarella on top.
Set aside.
Make the topping.
In a medium size bowl, mix the breadcrumbs, Asiago cheese, and melted butter.
Mix until combined.
Spread evenly on the pasta.
Bake in a preheated oven, uncovered, for 30 to 35 minutes or until the top is crispy and the cheese is melted.
Serve and Enjoy!
Notes
Side dish: salad, vegetables, roasted veggies. We love cucumber salad with it.
Storage: Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Because of the amount of cheese, I wouldn’t recommend freezing it as cheese sometimes when thawed can separate.
Re-warm: In a microwave or in a skillet at low heat. You don’t want to cook the pasta too much, but make sure it is heated through.
Have fun with the recipe:
Make it spicy: When adding the spices, add some Cayenne pepper,