Vegan Baked Ziti

Name: Vegan Baked Ziti
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 35 min
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))

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

completed Vegan Baked Ziti in baking dish

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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.

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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

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.

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.