Vegetarian Baked Ziti with Roasted Cauliflower

posted by Alex Aldeborgh, RD on Mar 30, 2023 (last updated 7/5/23) 0 comments »

This baked ziti recipe features roasted cauliflower florets in place of meat for a vegetarian twist on the classic Italian dish. This vegetarian pasta bake is plant-based comfort food, packed with ziti noodles, marinara sauce, and three cheeses. Ready to eat in under one hour, vegetarian baked ziti is the perfect main dish when cooking for a crowd – it also makes for excellent leftovers.

cauliflower baked ziti in a large glass dish on a light grey backdrop

My husband and I have an easy pasta recipe at least once a week for dinner these days. There’s just something so comforting and satisfying about a warm bowl of pasta!

This vegetarian baked ziti with roasted cauliflower is the perfect cozy weeknight meal. Instead of sausage or ground beef found in traditional baked ziti recipes, this vegetarian version uses roasted cauliflower florets for added flavor, texture, and nutrition.

This recipe serves 6 people, so it makes enough for a whole family, but tastes amazing as leftovers if you are only cooking for one or two. From start to finish, you’ll have this recipe on the table in under one hour!

More healthy pasta recipes to try: lasagna with cottage cheese and ricotta, spinach green sauce with pasta, kale pesto pasta, cauliflower and kale pasta, and creamy rosé wine & tomato pasta sauce.

Is pasta good for you?

As a Registered Dietitian, I am here to assure you that pasta can definitely be part of a well-balanced diet. On its own, pasta does have some nutrition benefits! One cup of plain cooked white pasta provides:

2.5 grams of dietary fiber (9% of your daily needs)
8 grams of plant-based protein
1.8 mg iron (10% of your daily needs)
0.381 mg thiamin (32% of your daily needs)
0.189 mg riboflavin (15% of your daily needs)
2.351 mg niacin (15% of your daily needs)
165.20 mcg folate (41% of your daily needs)
36.68 mcg selenium (67% of your daily needs)

While pasta is high in carbohydrates, you can easily make it a balanced meal by adding in non-starchy vegetables, healthy pasta sauces, and protein sources. In the case of cauliflower baked ziti, we add a healthy marinara sauce, cauliflower for fiber and micronutrients, and cheese to provide a boost of protein.

Because pasta provides a good amount of plant-based protein and iron, it’s an especially good staple food to include if you follow a plant-based diet.

Ingredients in cauliflower baked ziti

Here is everything you need to make this meatless baked ziti recipe:

Ziti noodles
Marinara sauce – store bought or homemade marinara sauce
Cauliflower
Ricotta cheese
Mozzarella cheese
Parmesan cheese
Basil
Italian seasoning
Olive oil
Salt

Kitchen tools needed

To make this recipe, you need a baking sheet, a large pot, and a 9×13″ ceramic or glass baking dish.

cauliflower baked ziti ingredients measured out on a light grey backdrop

How to make cauliflower baked ziti

Cut cauliflower into florets. Toss with Italian seasoning, salt, and olive oil.
Roast cauliflower florets in a hot oven for about 25 minutes.

cauliflower florets on a baking sheet — Cut cauliflower into florets

Cauliflower florets and seasoning on a baking sheet — Toss with seasonings and olive oil

Roasted cauliflower on a baking sheet — Roast cauliflower florets until browned

While the cauliflower cooks, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Add the pasta to the boiling water when the cauliflower has about 10 minutes left to cook, so they finish cooking at the same time.
Cook the pasta until al dente, drain, and add the cooked pasta back to the pot.
Mix the pasta with 1 jar of marinara sauce right away.
Stir the roasted cauliflower into the pasta.

cooked ziti pasta in a pot — Cook ziti and return to the pot

ziti noodles tossed in marinara sauce in a pot with a mixing spoon — Toss pasta in marinara sauce

pot of pasta with red sauce and roasted cauliflower with a wooden mixing spoon — Stir roasted cauliflower into the pasta

Mix together ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, chopped basil, and salt in a mixing bowl.

three cheese mixture and basil in a bowl — Add three cheeses and basil to a mixing bowl

Cheese mixture in a small mixing bowl with a silver spoon — Cheese mixture of ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, and basil

Assemble the baked ziti in a 9×13 baking dish by layering in the order listed:
- 1 cup of marinara sauce on the bottom of the dish
- Half of the pasta and cauliflower mixture
- Dollops of marinara sauce and roughly torn fresh basil
- Half the cheese mixture in dollops
- Repeat the above layers with the remaining ingredients!

A layer of marinara sauce at the bottom of the baking dish

cauliflower and ziti in marinara sauce in a glass baking dish — Add a layer of half the pasta mixture

cauliflower baked ziti layered in a glass baking dish before being baked — Layer more marinara sauce, basil, and cheese mixture, then repeat!

Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes, until pasta bake is bubbling up at the sides.

Storing cauliflower baked ziti

As mentioned, this cauliflower pasta bake makes for excellent leftovers. Store baked ziti covered with tin foil (or transferred to an airtight container) in the fridge.

Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or until warmed through.

Can you make baked ziti ahead of time? Yes! You can prepare this dish a day ahead of baking it. Assemble the baked ziti in your baking dish, cover with tin foil and refrigerate. Remove from the fridge about an hour before you plan to bake it to bring it to room temperature.

Can you freeze baked ziti? Yes! Freeze assembled (but unbaked) baked ziti in a freezer-safe baking dish sealed tightly with a lid or plastic wrap. Let baked ziti casserole thaw in the fridge for 24 hours before baking. Baked ziti will keep frozen for up to 3 months.

Serving suggestions

This meal is quite filling on it’s own! Pair cauliflower baked ziti with something light like a green salad. It would be great with my simple kale & romaine salad, raw turnip salad with pears, heirloom tomato & burrata salad, or apple cranberry walnut salad.

Small bowl of cauliflower baked ziti with a fork on a light grey backdrop with a linen dish towel

Cauliflower nutrition & health benefits

Cauliflower is one of the healthiest vegetables to include in your diet. A part of the cruciferous veggie family, one cup of raw cauliflower provides:

2.1 grams of dietary fiber (8% of your daily needs)
2.1 grams of plant-based protein
60.99 mcg folate (15% of your daily needs)
0.714 mg pantothenic acid (14% of your daily needs)
0.197 mg Vitamin B6 (12% of your daily needs)
51.6 mg Vitamin C (57% of your daily needs)
16.6 mcg Vitamin K (14% of your daily needs)

Additionally, cauliflower provides a beneficial plant compound called sulforaphane. This compound has potent anti-inflammatory effects, protecting our cells against certain diseases. Other cruciferous veggies also have this plant compound, including kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage.

Let me know if you love this post by leaving a comment or star rating below, and check out Instagram and Pinterest for more healthy lifestyle inspiration. Thanks for stopping by!