Learn how to make the best Vegan Baked Ziti, a cheesy, meaty, and easy comfort food that’s ready in 1 hour! Enjoy it for weeknight family dinners or freeze and reheat it later on.
Craving more easy and cheesy vegan pasta dinners? You’ll also love my Vegan Baked Mac and Cheese, Vegan Manicotti, Pumpkin Pasta Bake, and Vegan Lasagna Soup.
This Vegan Baked Ziti Recipe was one of the very first recipes I posted on my blog! And after all these years, it’s still one of my favorite family dinners and most popular recipes. It doesn’t matter who I feed it to—my kids, extended family, or die-hard meat eaters—it always receives rave reviews from everyone who tries it.
I can almost guarantee that if you like vegan lasagna, you’ll love baked ziti. It’s also a dreamy vegan comfort food disguised as a baked pasta dish, except it’s easy to toss together and bake in about 1 hour. Those ooey gooey layers of pasta, vegan cashew cheese, marinara sauce, and vegan beef are too good to pass up!
A perfect weeknight dinner you can serve hot from the oven or freeze and reheat when company comes over unexpectedly, my creamy baked ziti is possibly the best recipe ever.
Why you’ll love this easy vegan baked ziti recipe
- It’s just SO easy! This baked ziti is just as good as my Vegan Lasagna but much easier to make. Just dump everything into a casserole dish, bake, and enjoy!
- Everything you need in a comforting dinner – Al dente ziti noodles are combined with vegan ground “beef,” homemade cashew cheese, and marinara sauce. What more could you need in a family-friendly comfort food?
- A perfect freezer meal for later – Freezing baked ziti is a breeze! This freezer meal always comes in handy when company comes over, for holiday dinners, and during busy weeknights.
How to make vegan baked ziti
Find the complete printable recipe with measurements below in the recipe card.
Blend the cashew cheese ingredients together until smooth and creamy.
Next, cook the pasta until al dente. Drain the noodles and add them to a prepared casserole dish.
Cook the vegan meat in a pan until it’s browned and cooked through.
Stir the cooked vegan meat and marinara sauce into the dish with the noodles until combined. Spoon the cashew cheese on top and stir it in a little bit.
Extra cheesy option: Combine the cashew cheese with my Homemade Vegan Ricotta for an extra cheesy ziti.
Bake the vegan ziti uncovered until it’s hot and bubbly. Garnish with fresh herbs and vegan parmesan, then enjoy!
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can make this recipe gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta noodles. You might not be able to find gluten-free ziti, but a similar shape, like penne, will work just fine.
If you’re looking for a time-saving option, you can use a bag of non-dairy cheese shreds instead of the homemade cashew cheese. My Nut-Free Vegan Cheese Sauce would also be good here!
I like making this with Beyond Beef Crumbles best but any brand of vegan ground “beef” will work just as well. Impossible, Gardein, and even TVP that’s been rehydrated in broth are all good options. Sliced or chopped vegan sausages would also be tasty.
Once the leftover pasta bake has cooled, transfer it to individual airtight containers and refrigerate. The pasta will stay fresh for up to 4 days. To reheat, zap the leftovers in the microwave or warm them in a 350ºF oven or toaster oven.
Yes, vegan baked ziti freezes very well. After cooking the ziti and letting it cool completely, tightly cover the casserole dish with foil and freeze. When it’s time to eat, bake the ziti in a 350ºF oven for about 1 hour or until it’s warmed through.
Vegan Baked Ziti
Ingredients
Cashew Cheese
- 1 1/2 cups raw cashews
- 3/4 cup water
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 4 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 garlic clove
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
The Rest
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- (2) 24- ounce jars marinara sauce
- 16 ounces vegan ground beef Impossible/Beyond/or vegan sausages
- Optional: 2 cups vegan shredded mozzarella cheese + 1/4 cup vegan parmesan
- chopped fresh basil or parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare oven and dish: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and lightly grease a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish.
- Make the cheese sauce: Bring 3 cups of water to a boil (I use my tea kettle). Pour the hot water over the raw cashews and let soak for 5 minutes, or up to an hour. Drain the cashews and add to a high-powered blender along with the fresh water (¾ cup), lemon juice, nutritional yeast, garlic, onion powder and salt and blend until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
- Cook the pasta: Prepare pasta according to package instructions. You can cook the pasta while your cashews are soaking to save time. Drain the noodles and add to the casserole dish.
- Cook the vegan meat: Cook the vegan ground beef (or sliced sausages) in a pan until browned and cooked through.
- Combine in the baking dish: Pour the jars of marinara sauce and cooked vegan meat on top of the noodles and stir to combine. Spoon the cashew cheese on top of the pasta in large dollops. Stir it in just a little bit, leaving some pockets of cheese intact (you don’t want to mix it a lot, the cheese will become thicker as it bakes and taste incredible).
- Bake: If desired, sprinkle with some vegan mozzarella and/or parmesan. Bake, uncovered, for 25 minutes until hot and bubbly. Serve immediately, sprinkled with some fresh herbs for garnish.
Notes
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Gluten Free: Use gluten free noodles that are a similar shape to ziti, such as gluten free Penne.
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Vegan Meat: I used Beyond beef, but you can use Impossible, Gardein, or even TVP that has been rehydrated. Vegan sausage also works, sliced or chopped.
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For a Veggie Variation: In a pan, saute a few cups of veggies such as zucchini, spinach, bell peppers and/or mushrooms. Stir into the pasta with the sauce.
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Storage and Reheating: Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for about 4 days, making it a great meal prep for lunches. Simply reheat in the microwave until warm, or an oven-safe dish.
- Freezer: This dish can be frozen. Once cooked, let it cool completely, then cover tightly with foil and freeze. When ready to serve, bake at 350 degrees for an hour or until warm.
Nutrition
Very good, moorish, filling dish. I would probably cook a bit less pasta next time so that I had more sauce. I did add frozen peas which were good. Will make again – family loved it!
I only have 3 dishes on rotation at my house (I like to experiment otherwise) and this is one of them. It’s so amazingly good that my friends made their own batch in the same weekend that they tried it with me. The only change I make is adding more garlic because I love it. Thank you Nora!!!!
You’re welcome!
This was phenomenal. The cashew cheese was sooo tasty.
I’m so glad to hear that!
I totally agree- Your recipe’s NEVER disappoint!! And yet again this recipe is absolutely AMAZING!!! My Husband and I love all your recipes, and are always our go-to’s when planning our meals for the week. This one in particular really stood out and was one of our best meals that we have made in awhile. Looking forward to continuing to make more of your tasty recipes! Thank you! 🙂
Thank you so much! I’m happy you loved the ziti dish and my other recipes. ?
This is INCREDIBLE! I absolutely adore your recipes. I’ve never been disappointed. I’m pretty sure I’ve exclusively used your website for the past few weeks lol. Thank you for continuing to do this for us 🙂
That’s so great to hear! Thanks for the comment!
My daughter consistently requests this dish! I make it a lot 🙂 I do add chopped up broccoli and spinach leaves to our side to add some veggies in. The cheese sauce is amazing. I eat a couple spoonfuls before adding it in, lol.
I’m so glad you like it!
Whenever I make something delicious and vegan my carnivore boyfriend says, “Nora?” and 98% of the time he’s right. So good! This ziti is delicious.
Haha, that’s so great! Thanks for the comment!
AMAZiNG recipe! I followed directions exactly as written. I opted not to add a meat substitute. This tasted just like Olive Garden’s baked ziti to me. My carnivore husband LOVED it. My son who has been eating vegan for a month was in utter shock at how delicious it was! I can’t wait to try more of your recipes!
That’s so great to hear!
I am on my way to veganism and found this meal to be so delicious. Thank you for this recipe! I will find you on social media and follow you. 🙂
I’m so glad to hear that!
So good! Thank you Nora
Can you make the cashew cheese a few hours before cooking it? Thank you
Yes, that is not a problem.
I made this a few weeks ago. Just made it again with some frozen corn, ground “beef”, and mushrooms. It smells sooo goooddd. I love this recipe. My toddler really enjoys it also. Thanks so much!
You’re so welcome!!
This baked ziti is ridiculously delicious!!! I like it better than traditional baked ziti. The whole family loved it! Thank you for sharing your delicious recipes. I have loved every one of your recipes that I’ve tried.
That’s so great to hear! Thanks for the great comment!
When my husband was a non-vegan this was his favorite dish at Italian restaurants. After trying this last night he says it’s the best Baked Ziti he’s ever had. Hats off to NoraCooks.com !
Wow, that’s such a great compliment! Thanks so much!
Best freakin pasta ever.. one of the few things that makes my teenagers hug and kiss me!! For as long as it lasts..so does their love for me! Thank you for this amazing recipe! It will be a lifelong dish at our house.
Wow, thank you so much for the great comment! So glad you all love it!
I made this for lunch today for my family. We loved it! Thanks, Nora!!
You’re welcome!
This has been a big hit in my house. When I get asked whats for diner I usually get a “that’s cool” back from my answer but when I respond with Baked Ziti I get a “Hell Yeah!”
I also started adding your cashew cheese to my lasagna (on top of the tofu ricotta I make) and it brought my lasagna from a “this is pretty good lasagna” to “OMG!” My my meat eating co-workers request it EVERY potluck and I sadly never have left overs to take home.
Thanks for the wonderful comment!
Do you cook the beyond beef before putting it in or leave it raw?
Only if it’s frozen. If it’s just refrigerated, it warms up and cooks enough in the oven.
Nora, I’ve never tried one of your recipes that wasn’t great. This was no exception. This was my first time trying a cashew cheese and it was so good. I didn’t have any “meat” so I substituted with chopped broccoli and it worked really well.
Now, I just have to be patient for the banana bread (also your recipe) to come out of the oven.
That’s so great! Thanks for the great comment!
I had a half pound of Beyond meat to use up, and some baby bellas I’d forgotten about, and I’ve been craving something classically Italian lately… Cheesy and saucy. This was exactly the thing. I used chickpea penne and shells, added the chopped mushrooms mushrooms and “ground beef,” and made Brasil nut/hemp seed “parmesan” for the topping. It was heavenly, and the best part is there’s so much if it! I already can’t wait to eat it again for dinner tomorrow.
I’m so glad to hear that!
Hello Nora I just want to say from the bottom of my heart ♥️ thank you so much for creating your delicious recipes. This one turned out delicious!!! I was skeptical about how it would taste and if my family would like it. It was easy to make and delicious!! My husband first said, “I’m not sure if I will try that hummus-looking stuff” referring to the cashew cheese. But when the meal was prepared, he had three portions!! Thank you so much! ? Unfortunately, I am having e-mail issues not be able to send/receive messages.
Thanks for the wonderful comment! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the recipes!
This is a perfect family meal! We all loved it, and if I didn’t know better I would have never guessed it was vegan. Yum, will make again and again.
I’m so glad to hear that! Thanks!
Im making this tomorrow for my moms birthday, this may be a dumb question but can you put the ground “beef” in frozen or do you cook it, then add it to the casserole? Thanks!
You can actually just put it in frozen, it will cook with the rest of the dish. It might take a little longer to cook if your “meat” is frozen, so just make sure it’s warm throughout before serving. Hope your mom and you enjoy it!
It turned out perfect! Everyone loved it and request I make it more often now!
* I did 30 mins with the frozen “meat” in there and it was great!
I’m so glad it came out great!
Could I substitute a tofu ricotta for the cashew cheese if I want to make it but free?
Nut*!!
Yes, you could. Thanks!
Honestly, so good! Creamy saucy! What a great recipe. The lemon adds such a bright flavour! Thanks for sharing! We were vegetarian and now decided to go vegan, creams and cheese have been a challenge but this makes it up:)
Thanks for the great comment! I’m glad you liked it.