This delicious Gluten Free Ziti Casserole has all of the flavor of lasagna, but takes half the time to make. Everything about this easy-baked ziti recipe is perfect, from the al dente gluten free pasta to the gooey cheeses! I also share several ways to meal prep this recipe.
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❤️ Sandi’s Recipe Summary
The Quick Bite: This homemade gluten free ziti casserole is easy to customize in several different ways. You can use different types of pasta, sauces, cheeses, and meats or vegetables to create a variety of flavors and textures. It is made with just a few simple ingredients: gluten-free pasta, ricotta and mozzarella cheeses, and my homemade sauce or your favorite jarred pasta sauce. It is a kid-and-family favorite. Meal prep ahead to save time on those busy weeknights.
I loved this dish! I realized last minute that I’d forgotten to buy ricotta, so I used cottage cheese and it was fine. I also used quite a bit more mozzarella and also increased the amount of bell peppers. I also added mushrooms and cooked them with the peppers and onion.”
Deborah, Blog comment
My family loved this dinner so much that I barely got any photos taken to show you. This is the pasta dinner you make when you need to feed a crowd, or a family with two hungry teenagers. It is an easy layered pasta casserole that is easy to make.
Serve it with this Gluten-Free Garlic Pull Apart Bread or my Gluten-Free Garlic Knots. They are delicious dipped into the cheesy sauce!
If you want more delicious kid-approved gluten-free dinner ideas, don’t forget to check out my delicious dinner recipes on the blog.
Ingredient Notes:
For the full list of ingredients and amounts, please go to the recipe card below.
- Ground Beef – I tested this recipe using ground beef, but any ground meat or vegan meat will taste delicious. Aim for the lower-fat ground beef.
- Gluten Free Pasta – I used Jovial gluten free penne pasta, but use any pasta brand you have. The secret is in how you cook the pasta, not which brand you use. I will share these tips in the directions.
- Onions – I recommend sweet yellow onions.
- Peppers – I used Italian red sweet peppers, which are not spicy in this recipe. They are sweet, just like their name, and have almost a fruity flavor. See the substitute list to see what else you can use.
- Tomato Sauce – I used plain tomato sauce. You can use any pasta sauce. When I am not using a homemade sauce, I usually use Mezetta pasta sauce since it is gluten free.
- Ricotta Cheese – I tested this recipe using the Galbani brand. Always read the label to verify the ricotta is gluten free.
- Mozzarella Cheese – Regular or skim is okay. I used shredded mozzarella; fresh also works well.
- Parmesan Cheese – You can use straight parmesan or a three-cheese blend.
- Seasonings – I used dried basil and oregano.
If you want another great Italian recipe, try this Gluten Free Cheese Manicotti.
Substitutions
- If you don’t have gluten free ziti noodles on hand, don’t worry. You can also use gluten free rigatoni or gluten free macaroni. You could even use gluten free lasagne noodles if you have them! You can’t go wrong because this recipe is so versatile.
- Swap out the red sauce for this thick, creamy Gluten Free Alfredo Sauce or this Nut-Free Pesto Sauce!
- If you don’t have roasted red peppers, use bell peppers.
How to Make a Gluten Free Ziti Casserole (Step-By-Step)
The stars of this recipe are the Italian Sweet Peppers. They add a delicious flavor to the meat sauce, with a very slight hint of spice. Again, feel free to substitute red bell peppers if you can’t find the Italian sweet peppers.
Step 1: Put a pot of water up to a boil.
Step 2: Add ground beef, onion, garlic, and peppers to a frying pan and cook on medium heat until the meat is browned. Use a large wooden spoon to break up the meat into small pieces as it cooks.
Step 3: Add tomato sauce and seasonings once the ground beef is mostly cooked. Cover and bring the mixture to a boil. Let it boil for 5 minutes, then reduce the heat to low.
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Step 4: Simmer the sauce for 20 minutes. Cook the pasta according to the package directions, BUT cook it for 2 minutes less than the package says. If you struggle with gluten free pasta that falls apart, read this to learn how to cook gluten free pasta to avoid mushy pasta.
Step 5: Remove the pasta pot from the stove and pour the pasta into a colander. Rinse it with very cold water to halt the cooking. Drain and add half of the cooked gluten free ziti to a 9×13 casserole dish. (I used a ceramic dish, but metal or glass works as well.
👀 Sandi Says: If you use a glass baking dish, it may need to bake longer because glass doesn’t conduct heat in the same way.
Step 6: Layer the ricotta cheese over the gluten free pasta.
Step 7: Top with a layer of the sauce, then repeat with another ziti, ricotta, and sauce layer.
Step 8: Top with Parmesan and mozzarella cheese and bake at 375ºF for 30 minutes.
How to Meal Prep This Casserole:
Yes, assembling baked ziti ahead of time is super easy and makes it the perfect dish for meal prepping. Here are three ways to meal prep this gluten free baked penne:
- You can assemble the baked ziti, refrigerate it for up to 2 days, then bake it when you are ready to eat.
- Another option is to freeze the baked ziti casserole, then cook it later. If frozen, thaw it in the refrigerator the day before, then bake it as directed.
- You can bake ziti casserole ahead of time and then save the leftovers in the fridge or freezer. Reheat it in the oven or microwave. Either way, it’s just as yummy as the first day! Perfect for a leisurely lunch or quick dinner too.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes, you can put meatballs in baked ziti casserole, which is divine! Use one of these delicious Gluten Free Meatball recipes, or make my Gluten Free Ricotta Meatballs.
Covering any baked pasta dish for the first ¾ of the cooking time is important for the best results. Then, for the last quarter, remove the aluminum foil to finish it.
Why? Because if you leave it uncovered the entire time, the top will burn before the center has time to cook properly. Lightly spray the aluminum foil before placing it on top of the ziti casserole so it doesn’t stick.
More Gluten Free Dinner Recipes:
You’ll love this baked ziti casserole, and I hope you will check out some of my other gluten free pasta recipes:
- Gluten Free Macaroni & Cheese – If you love cheese, this is the ultimate comfort food!
- Easy Creamy Ricotta Garlic Parmesan Pasta – This makes a wonderful family-friendly meal.
- Savory Gluten Free Pasta Sauce With 3 Types Of Meats – This three-meat pasta sauce is amazing if you love a meat sauce!
- Chicken Feta Pasta – Everyone loves this recipe. It is my take on the viral TikTok pasta recipe.
Love This Recipe?
If you made and enjoyed this recipe, I would be incredibly grateful if you could leave a comment below. This will help others know this recipe is delicious. Thank you!
Gluten Free Baked Ziti Casserole (A Family Favorite)
Ingredients
- 12 ounces One box/package gluten free pasta cooked
- 6 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 pound ground beef
- 30 ounces tomato sauce
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3 tablespoons grated parmesan
- ¼ cup chopped Italian sweet peppers or bell peppers
- 1 medium diced onion use yellow onion
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 3 tablespoons fresh basil or 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Equipment
Method
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet on medium heat. Add 1 pound ground beef, 1 medium diced onion, 2 cloves minced garlic, and 1/4 cup chopped Italian sweet peppers.
- Cook on medium heat until the ground beef is cooked. Optional: Drain the fat from the pan into a container. Never dump hot oil down the sink or it can clog pipes.
- Add 3 tablespoons fresh basil, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, and 30 ounces tomato sauce to the pan. Cover and simmer on low for 20 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 375º F.
- Spray a casserole dish with olive oil.
- Add 1/2 of the cooked ziti to the casserole dish.
- Top with 1/2 of the ricotta spread over the pasta.
- Pour half of the meat sauce on top of the pasta.
- Add another layer of pasta, ricotta, and sauce.
- Top with parmesan and mozzarella cheeses.
- Bake 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and the flavors all cook together.
Nutrition
Notes
- Gluten free pasta brands are all so different. Please cook your pasta according to the directions on the box.
- This casserole will keep fresh for up to 4 days in an airtight container in your refrigerator.
- I don’t recommend freezing this dish because gluten free pasta doesn’t hold up well to freezing.
Private Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!
This post was updated from an older May 2019 post with more recipe details.
I truly hope you enjoy this recipe. I have been testing and creating gluten-free recipes for over 15 years. Creating gluten-free recipes that do not taste gluten-free is my goal for every recipe. Sometimes I only have to test a new recipe a couple of times, and others it takes multiple times. I do this so you get reliable, delicious results every time!
This recipe is a winner, even if you use less tomato sauce than it calls for (I had a jar that only had 1/2 the amount) and the recipe still won over my family. Next time I will use more tomato sauce, but just to let folks know that this recipe will prove a success even if you have to skimp on some items. Thanks, Sandi!
I am so glad you loved this recipe, and that it worked with less sauce! My kids agree it is a winner.
This is a favorite recipe of mine with a slight alteration. I use the mozzarella cheese but also use heavy cream to lighten up the sauce and call it pink pasta. The kids at my church and the leaders, love this meal! (They get it with regular pasta but I’m gonna try it with the gluten free for myself.)
I am so glad you loved my ziti casserole. Your modifications sound so good. I will need to try adding a little heavy cream next time!