Olive Backyard 5 Cheese Ziti al Forno Simple Copycat Recipe

June 27, 2025

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Olive Backyard’s 5 Cheese Ziti al Forno represents the head of consolation meals perfection, combining the very best Italian-American delicacies in a single spectacular dish. The key lies within the luxurious rosa sauce, a harmonious mix of tangy marinara and wealthy Alfredo that creates the right backdrop for 5 Italian cheeses. Topped with golden, garlicky breadcrumbs and baked to bubbly perfection, this dish transforms easy elements into restaurant-quality magic.

Copycat Olive Garden five cheese ziti al forno on two plates.

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Why this recipe works

Baked pasta dishes may be hit and miss. Some are dry, others bland, however most should not definitely worth the effort. That’s not the case with the 5 Cheese Ziti al Forno Olive Backyard serves.

This dish delivers implausible flavors in each chunk because of its fabulous rosa sauce, the right mix of tangy marinara and wealthy Alfredo sauces. The sauce turns into one thing particular with including a mixture of your favourite Italian cheeses.

Prime the Olive Backyard 5 Cheese Ziti al Forno with garlicky breadcrumbs for a simple and scrumptious weeknight dinner.

5 Cheese Ziti al Forno Elements and What They Contribute to this Recipe

For the principle pasta dish, you’ll want:

Dry Ziti Pasta or small tube pasta – the bottom of the dish. The tube form permits the pasta to catch extra of the sauce.
Marinara sauce, jarred or recent, supplies the acidity that helps to steadiness the richness of the Alfredo sauce and cheeses.
Alfredo sauce, jarred or recent – provides a creaminess to the dish and tames the acidity of the marinara sauce.
Italian mix of cheese, shredded – contributes taste and creaminess to the sauce.
Full-fat ricotta cheese – helps to thicken the sauce and offers it an expensive mouthfeel.

For the Italian cheese mix, you possibly can grate your individual or purchase a pre-grated mix. Select the cheeses you need to embrace, however mozzarella, Provolone, Asiago, and Parmesan are good decisions.

For the panko topping, you’ll want:

Unsalted butter – helps the breadcrumbs brown evenly
Parmesan cheese, grated – provides a pointy, nutty taste to the breadcrumbs.
Panko bread crumbs – provide a beautiful crunch when flippantly toasted.
Granulated garlic – enhances the style of the breadcrumb topping however gained’t burn like recent garlic.

For the garnish, you’ll want:

Contemporary parsley – provides a pop of coloration and freshness to the dish.

Copycat Olive Garden five cheese ziti al forno ingredients on a tray.

Learn how to make Olive Backyard 5 Cheese Ziti al Forno

To organize Ziti al Forno with 5 Cheeses:

Put together the ziti in accordance in a big pot to the directions on the bundle.
Whereas the pasta is cooking, preheat the oven to 350°F.
In a big, oven-safe pot, like a Dutch oven or casserole dish, mix the Alfredo sauce, half of the Italian blended cheese, and all of the full-fat ricotta cheese.
Warmth the sauce over medium warmth whereas stirring on occasion till the sauce begins to simmer.
Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the sauce. Stir to mix.
Switch the pasta and sauce to a baking dish.
Sprinkle the remaining mix of Italian cheese excessive of the pasta.
Soften the unsalted butter and place it in a small bowl. Add the remainder of the Panko topping elements and blend effectively.
Unfold the flavored breadcrumbs on prime of the pasta.
Place the baking dish within the oven and prepare dinner till the topping browns properly, 30 to 40 minutes.
Let the Olive Backyard 5 Cheese Ziti al Forno relaxation on a wire rack for 5 minutes.
Whereas ready, chop the parsley and garnish the highest of the baked ziti with it.
Serve heat.

Making copycat Olive Garden five cheese ziti al forno.

What to serve with Ziti al Forno

You possibly can serve Ziti al Forno independently, however together with an appetizer and a facet or two will full the meal. Listed below are three choices you could need to make.

Garlic bread. There’s nothing extra conventional than pairing the 5 Cheese Ziti al Forno Olive Backyard serves with crusty garlic bread. This traditional model garlic bread from Brennan’s is fundamental however tasty. The toasted slices of French bread are slathered with loads of butter, recent garlic, herbs, and a sprinkling of cheese. It’s excellent for sopping up any leftover rosa sauce.

Fried Asparagus. Don’t fear if somebody in your loved ones isn’t a fan of asparagus; this fried asparagus recipe from Longhorn Steakhouse is engaging sufficient for anybody to attempt. The asparagus is dredged in buttermilk and flour earlier than being deep-fried and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese whereas nonetheless sizzling to create a tasty crisp and tacky crust.

Eggplant Parmesan. Whether or not you serve baked ziti with a facet of eggplant parm or Eggplant Parmesan with baked ziti, the 2 dishes go collectively splendidly. The earthy, barely bitter taste of the eggplant contrasts properly with the richness of the Ziti al Forno.

Copycat Olive Garden five cheese ziti al forno on two plates and two forks on a cloth napkin.

Storage & Reheating Directions

Fridge Storage: Retailer coated in an hermetic container for 3 days. Cool fully earlier than refrigerating to forestall condensation.
Reheating Technique: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cowl with foil and bake for 20-25 minutes till heated via. Take away the foil for the final 5 minutes to re-crisp the topping.
Freezing: Assemble with out baking, wrap tightly, and freeze for as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day and bake as directed, including 10-Quarter-hour to cooking time.

Two servings of copycat Olive Garden five cheese ziti al forno.

Do you like the pasta at Olive Backyard? Strive these copycat recipes!

Take a look at my straightforward pasta recipes and the very best copycat Olive Backyard recipes on CopyKat!