• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Food Sharing Vegan logo
  • Recipes
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Vegan Dinner Recipes
    • Vegan Dessert Recipes
    • Vegan Soups & Stews
    • Salad Recipes
    • Recipe Index
  • About
    • Subscribe
    • Podcast
  • Cookbooks
  • Shop
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Vegan Dinner Recipes
    • Vegan Dessert Recipes
    • Vegan Soups & Stews
    • Salad Recipes
    • Recipe Index
  • About
    • Subscribe
    • Podcast
  • Cookbooks
  • Shop
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Vegan Dinner Recipes
    • Vegan Dessert Recipes
    • Vegan Soups & Stews
    • Salad Recipes
    • Recipe Index
  • About
    • Subscribe
    • Podcast
  • Cookbooks
  • Shop
ร—
Home ยป Recipes ยป Vegan Dinner Recipes

Vegan Baked Ziti

Published: Apr 29, 2024 ยท Modified: Dec 28, 2024 by Toni ยท This post may contain affiliate links

Vegan baked ziti is a cozy Italian-American comforting pasta bake turned meat and dairy-free! A crowd-pleasing, make-ahead, freezer-friendly meal.

Jump to Recipe
completed Vegan Baked Ziti in baking dish
Jump to:
  • Cozy Comforting Vegan Baked Ziti Recipe
  • The Ingredients and Substitutions
  • How to Make Easy Vegan Baked Ziti
  • FAQs
  • Pro Recipe Tips
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Storage Instructions
  • Vegan Baked Ziti

Cozy Comforting Vegan Baked Ziti Recipe

Baked ziti is a simple and classic Italian tomato pasta bake, traditionally made by combining al-dene ziti noodles with rich tomato sauce and plenty of melty cheese – often with added meat and/or vegetables. It’s simple yet super tasty and even earned the nickname "lazy lasagna." This easy vegan baked ziti recipe is just as satisfying but now 100% vegan-friendly!

For this baked meatless ziti, I’m using simple vegan alternatives (like vegan beef crumbles and vegan cheese) and shortcuts (like jarred sauce) to pull together this 'cheesy', comforting casserole with minimal effort and time. The result is a crowd-pleasing, family-friendly, comforting meal on busy weeknights, holidays, potlucks, and entertaining. It’s meal-prep friendly, too!

Looking for more cozy, comforting pasta dishes? Try my one-pot vegan Hamburger Helper or easy vegan carbonara. And if you want something a little healthier, my tortellini pasta salad is always a hit.

The Ingredients and Substitutions

ingredients for Vegan Baked Ziti on a white surface

Recipe Variations

  • Red pepper flakes: (Or chili/cayenne powder) to add some spice to this vegetarian baked ziti. Adjust the amount to taste.
  • Eggplant baked ziti: Add a layer of roasted eggplant instead of or over the tofu, or cube and mix into the pasta bake.
  • Vegetables: Make a bulked-up baked veggie ziti with veggies like sauteed bell peppers or mushrooms, olives, peas, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini, spinach/kale, etc.
  • Vegan alfredo baked ziti: Replace tomato sauce with vegan alfredo sauce.
  • Breadcrumbs: To sprinkle over the vegan pasta casserole before baking for crunch.

How to Make Easy Vegan Baked Ziti

process shot showing diced onions and garlic on cutting board
process shot showing adding soy curls to pan

Step 1: First, peel and finely chop the onion and mince the garlic.

Step 2: Then, heat the oil in a large, lidded pan over medium heat. Once hot, sauté the onion, garlic, and ground beef crumbles for 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Then add the paprika and stir for a further 10 seconds.

Adjust the cooking time depending on the vegan ‘meat’ and whether it’s frozen or chilled.

process shot showing adding nutritional yeast to pan
process shot showing slices of tofu on surface

Step 3: Stir in the tomato sauce and nutritional yeast, mix well, cover with a lid, and bring to a boil. Immediately reduce the heat to a simmer. Next, cook the pasta according to the package instructions, minus 3 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Step 4: Then, pat the tofu dry and slice it into ½-inch slabs, placing them on a cutting board and sprinkling with salt and lemon juice. Leave it to marinate while preheating the oven to 425F/220C.

It’s important to undercook the pasta as it will continue to cook in the oven.

Want to save this recipe?

Enter your email & get this sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get great new recipes from me every week!

process shot showing sauce added to baking dish
process shot showing pasta added to baking dish

Step 5: Remove the sauce from the heat and add a cup of it to the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish.

Step 6: Stir the pasta into the saucepan with the remaining sauce, then mix well and transfer half of it to the baking dish in an even layer.

process shot showing vegan cheese added to baking dish
process shot showing vegan cheese added to baking dish

Step 7: Place a single layer of tofu slices over that, about a cup of vegan mozzarella, and then the remaining pasta.

Step 8: Top it with the remaining vegan mozzarella and a drizzle of olive oil, and bake for 15 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and melted. Finally, remove the vegan baked ziti from the oven and allow it to sit at room temperature for at least 10 minutes before serving, garnished with fresh parsley and/or basil. Enjoy!

FAQs

How to make gluten-free baked ziti?

Yes, simply use gluten-free pasta. You might struggle to find gluten-free ziti, but other pasta ‘tubes’ will work well.

Could I make a freezer meal baked ziti?

Yes, prepare and assemble the dish until the point of baking, then freeze for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen for about an hour at 350F/175C.

The pasta will soak up the sauce while it sits. You may want to add an extra splash of water/broth if making ahead.

Can I make it ahead?

Our preferred method of preparing make-ahead baked ziti is to prepare and assemble the casserole, then store it, wrapped in plastic wrap, in the fridge for up to 2 days. Remove it from the fridge 20-30 minutes before baking, then bake until warm and bubbly.

Pro Recipe Tips

  • Undercook the pasta: The key is to cook it until just before al dente or al dente, as it will continue to bake in the oven without becoming mushy.
  • Layer the ingredients: While it may not seem important, creating layers helps ensure you get 'cheesiness' in every bite and is worth the effort.
  • For air fryer baked ziti: At 350F/175C for 6-9 minutes until the vegan cheese has melted and is bubbly.
completed Vegan Baked Ziti in baking dish

Serving Suggestions

  • Bread: Easy air fryer garlic bread or easy garlic herb focaccia
  • A simple side salad: Like easy vegan Greek salad, vegan Caesar salad, garden salad, etc.
  • Roasted or steamed veggies: Like broccoli, air fryer asparagus, brown sugar green beans, cauliflower, carrots, or maple glazed Brussels sprouts.

Storage Instructions

Fridge: Leave the baked meatless ziti to cool, then store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

Freezer: You can also freeze baked ziti in individual portions (in airtight containers or Ziplock/Stasher bags, spread flat) or as a large bake for up to 3 months. Make sure to let the ziti cool completely to prevent freezer burn. And here are the labels I used in the photo below.

completed Vegan Baked Ziti in storage container

How To Reheat Baked Ziti?

Cook from frozen or chilled by covering it with foil and baking at 350F/175C until warmed (about 60-70 minutes from frozen or 40 minutes from chilled).

Alternatively, chilled leftovers can be microwaved in individual portions for about 2 minutes. Add a splash of water to prevent it drying out.

completed Vegan Baked Ziti in baking dish

Vegan Baked Ziti

Toni
Vegan baked ziti is a cozy Italian-American comforting pasta bake turned meat and dairy-free! A crowd-pleasing, make-ahead, freezer-friendly meal.
5 from 55 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 35 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 to 6
Calories 1045 kcal

Equipment

  • measuring spoons
  • knife set

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  • 1 large red or yellow onion, diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 10+ ounces of vegan beef crumbles
  • 1 tablespoon of paprika
  • 30 ounces of tomato basil sauce
  • ¼ cup of nutritional yeast
  • 1 pound of firm tofu
  • 1 lemon
  • ½ teaspoon of salt
  • 1 pound of ziti or penne pasta
  • 2 cups of vegan mozzarella cheese
  • Fresh parsley and/or basil leaves, chopped, for garnish (optional)

Instructions
 

  • In a large pot with a lid, add the oil and heat over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, and vegan beef crumbles for 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the paprika, mix well, and cook for 10 seconds stirring continuously.
  • Add the sauce and nutritional yeast. Mix well, cover with a lid, bring to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook while you prep the rest of the ingredients.
  • Cook the pasta for 3 minutes less than the recommended cooking time on the package. It will continue to cook in the oven. Drain and set aside in a colander.
  • To prepare the tofu, wrap it in a clean kitchen towel and dry it well. Slice it into about ½-inch thick slices and place the slices on the cutting board. Squeeze a lemon on them and sprinkle salt. Set aside while the oven preheats.
  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
  • Turn off the heat for the sauce and add 1 cup of sauce to the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  • Add the pasta to the pot with the sauce and mix well.
  • Add ½ of the pasta to the baking dish and spread it into an even layer.
  • Place the tofu slices into an even layer over the pasta, sprinkle 1 cup of the vegan mozzarella, and top with an even layer of the remaining pasta.
  • Top with the remaining mozzarella, drizzle some olive oil, and bake for 15 minutes or until the vegan cheese is melted.
  • Remove from the oven and allow it to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley or fresh basil.

Notes

  • Undercook the pasta: The key is to cook it until just before al dente or al dente, as it will continue to bake in the oven without becoming mushy.
  • Layer the ingredients: While it may not seem important, creating layers helps ensure you get 'cheesiness' in every bite and is worth the effort.
  • For air fryer baked ziti: At 350F/175C for 6-9 minutes until the vegan cheese has melted and is bubbly.

Nutrition

Calories: 1045kcalCarbohydrates: 136gProtein: 45gFat: 34gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.03gSodium: 1967mgPotassium: 1214mgFiber: 18gSugar: 22gVitamin A: 1353IUVitamin C: 25mgCalcium: 292mgIron: 9mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @foodsharingvegan on Instagram!

More Vegan Dinner Recipes

  • Completed Vegan Manicotti (With Tofu Ricotta) in baking dish.
    Vegan Manicotti (With Tofu Ricotta)
  • completed Garlic and Lemon Pasta in pot
    Garlic and Lemon Pasta
  • completed Sweet Potato Pumpkin Soup in a bowl alongside pot
    Sweet Potato Pumpkin Soup
  • completed Chili Sauce and Grape Jelly Meatballs on a plate
    Chili Sauce and Grape Jelly Meatballs

Reader Interactions

Comments

    5 from 55 votes (44 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Tina says

    April 29, 2024 at 1:25 pm

    5 stars
    This Baked Ziti is so delicious! I'm going to make extra next time and freeze it!

    Reply
    • Andrea says

      May 05, 2024 at 3:54 am

      Isn't it?! It's the best!!!

      Reply
  2. Nicole says

    April 29, 2024 at 2:21 pm

    5 stars
    This is so good, my family loves it! Itโ€™s quick enough that I can make it on weeknights which is a huge plus!

    Reply
    • Andrea says

      May 05, 2024 at 3:55 am

      Love the quick recipes! So glad y'all enjoyed it!

      Reply
  3. Bernice says

    April 29, 2024 at 5:08 pm

    So excellent!! I've been looking for a vegan version of my favourite pasta bake and finally found it. Can't wait to make it again when my daughter visits. Thanks for the great recipe.

    Reply
    • Andrea says

      May 05, 2024 at 3:55 am

      Right?! Hope your daughter enjoys it as well ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  4. Tiffany DesLoges says

    April 29, 2024 at 8:39 pm

    5 stars
    This is a delicious go to easy dinner for my family! We really all like it!

    Reply
    • Andrea says

      May 05, 2024 at 3:55 am

      Right?! Such a yummy family night dinner!

      Reply
  5. Elizabeth says

    April 30, 2024 at 1:42 am

    5 stars
    A weeknight dinner staple! My family loves this recipe!

    Reply
    • Andrea says

      May 05, 2024 at 3:55 am

      Right?! So easy and delicious!

      Reply
  6. andrea says

    April 30, 2024 at 2:52 am

    5 stars
    Love this dish!

    Reply
  7. Katie says

    April 30, 2024 at 1:50 pm

    5 stars
    This Baked Ziti was so delicious! Looking forward to making it again!

    Reply
    • Andrea says

      May 05, 2024 at 3:55 am

      Yay! Glad it was a hit! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  8. Krystle says

    May 04, 2024 at 1:49 am

    5 stars
    I'm so glad I found this as I've been craving this. Such a rich cheesy flavor!

    Reply
    • Andrea says

      May 05, 2024 at 3:56 am

      Yay! It's such a yummy dish!

      Reply
  9. Amy says

    May 04, 2024 at 6:26 am

    5 stars
    Love this dairy free version. My allergy is getting worse but I miss eating all my favourite foods. This was top notch!

    Reply
    • Andrea says

      May 05, 2024 at 3:56 am

      So glad you could still enjoy this dish!

      Reply
  10. Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says

    May 04, 2024 at 8:02 pm

    5 stars
    This dish is rich and creamy. Your meat eating friends will never notice itโ€™s vegan!!

    Reply
    • Andrea says

      May 05, 2024 at 3:56 am

      Right?! So sneaky and delicious!

      Reply
  11. Tisha says

    May 06, 2024 at 5:46 pm

    5 stars
    I love that this is perfect for freezer meals, I have some friends having babies soon and this is perfect to take to them to just pop in the oven.

    Reply
  12. Tracy L says

    December 18, 2024 at 1:46 am

    5 stars
    Amazing and very easy! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Andrea says

      December 21, 2024 at 5:19 am

      So glad you enjoyed this yummy ziti recipe! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Photo of Toni Okamoto, the author of this website, eating grapes and sitting on a porch.

Hi, I'm Toni. Welcome to Food Sharing Vegan. Here you'll find comforting, delicious, vegan recipes to share with friends and family.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Spring Salads

  • completed Vegan Greek Salad on a white plate against a white background
    Easy Vegan Greek Salad
  • Tortellini Pasta Salad
    Tortellini Pasta Salad
  • completed Vegan Chickpea Salad Sandwich on a white surface
    Vegan Smashed Chickpea Salad [Sandwiches, Wraps, Dip]
  • completed Taco Pasta Salad [Without Meat] on a plate
    Taco Pasta Salad [Without Meat]

Comforting Soups

  • completed Sweet Potato Pumpkin Soup in a bowl alongside pot
    Sweet Potato Pumpkin Soup
  • completed Vegan Broccoli Cheddar Soup in a bowl
    Vegan Broccoli Cheddar Soup
  • completed Butternut Squash and Carrot Soup in a bowl
    Butternut Squash Carrot Soup
  • completed Vegan French Onion Soup in separate bowls
    Vegan French Onion Soup

Footer

As Featured On

Terms

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Accessibility Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign up for emails and updates

About

  • About
  • Contact
  • Cookbook
  • Podcast

↑ back to top

  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest

Copyright © 2025 Food Sharing Vegan

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.