Cream Cheese Vegetarian Baked Ziti Casserole

Introduction

Cream Cheese Vegetarian Baked Ziti Casserole is the ultimate comfort dish for those who crave hearty Italian flavors but prefer a meatless meal. Creamy, tangy cream cheese melts into the sauce, binding perfectly cooked ziti together with roasted vegetables and gooey cheese for a dinner that’s deeply satisfying, impressively easy, and ideal for busy evenings or feeding a hungry crowd.

Whether you’re preparing an easy weeknight dinner, meal-prepping for the week, or looking for a vegetarian staple that everyone at the table will ask for again and again, this baked ziti delivers bold flavor and serious comfort with every forkful.

What Makes This Baked Ziti Stand Out

Unlike traditional baked ziti, this vegetarian version gets a luxurious twist from the addition of cream cheese, which melts seamlessly into the tomato sauce to create a creamier, richer experience. A generous mix of sautéed vegetables—bell peppers, zucchini, and spinach—adds color, nutrition, and satisfying bite. The finished casserole boasts golden, bubbly cheese on top and a crave-worthy, velvety interior.

Choosing and Prepping Your Vegetables

Fresh, beautifully prepped vegetables are key to ensuring your casserole has the right texture and flavor balance. To quickly and uniformly chop bell peppers or zucchini, use the Mueller Pro-Series 10-in-1, 8 Blade Vegetable Chopper for speedy prep work and consistent results. Sauté your veggies until just tender to lock in their flavor before baking.

Perfecting the Cream Cheese Sauce

Combining cream cheese with marinara creates a rich, luscious sauce that coats each piece of ziti. To get the smoothest finish, cut the cream cheese into cubes and let it soften briefly at room temperature. Stir it thoroughly into your tomato sauce over gentle heat—using a sturdy nonstick skillet such as the SENSARTE Nonstick Frying Pan Skillet, 9.5 Inch can help prevent sticking and burning.

Assembling and Baking the Casserole

Once your sauce, pasta, and veggies are ready, you’ll layer everything together in a casserole dish: start with a thin spread of sauce, then half the ziti, followed by veggies and more sauce, then repeat, finishing with a thick blanket of shredded mozzarella and parmesan. For fuss-free cleanup and easy serving, line your casserole with Reynolds Kitchens Brown Parchment Paper Roll before assembling.

Bake until the cheese turns beautifully golden and bubbly—an irresistible finish for a dish that always delivers crowd-pleasing results.

Your New Favorite Vegetarian Crowd-Pleaser

Garnish with fresh basil or parsley before serving, and pair with a simple salad or garlic bread for a complete meal. To store leftovers, transfer individual portions into Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers for easy reheating.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This baked ziti casserole yields about 8 ample servings. Each serving is vegetarian, loaded with vegetables, protein-rich cheese, and comes in at approximately 420–470 calories, depending on the cheese and sauce choices.

Cream Cheese Vegetarian Baked Ziti Casserole (Recap)

Cheesy, hearty, and smile-inducing, this baked ziti casserole is proof that you don’t need meat to have a deeply satisfying, flavor-packed meal. Cream cheese adds a special twist, making each serving delightfully creamy and memorable—a surefire hit on any dinner table.

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). For easy cleanup and serving, line your baking dish with a sheet of the Reynolds Kitchens Brown Parchment Paper Roll.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti until just al dente according to package directions, then drain and set aside.
3. While the pasta cooks, heat SENSARTE Nonstick Frying Pan Skillet, 9.5 Inch over medium heat. Add olive oil, then sauté onion and garlic until fragrant and softened, about 2–3 minutes.
4. Add zucchini and bell pepper. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook while stirring for 5 minutes, until just tender. Add spinach and cook until wilted. Remove pan from heat.
5. In a large bowl, mix marinara sauce and softened cream cheese until fully blended. A quick pulse in a Ninja BL610 Professional 72 Oz Countertop Blender will give an ultra-smooth texture.
6. Stir the cooked pasta, ricotta cheese, and sautéed vegetables into the sauce mixture until fully combined.
7. Spread half of the pasta mixture into your prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with half the mozzarella and parmesan. Layer the remaining pasta mixture, then top with the rest of the cheeses.
8. Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbly.
9. Cool for 5–10 minutes, garnish with fresh basil or parsley, then serve and enjoy.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

This Cream Cheese Vegetarian Baked Ziti Casserole blends rich, creamy sauce with the earthy sweetness of roasted vegetables for a comforting, memorable meal that’s as satisfying for vegetarians as it is for anyone else at the table!