What To Do With Leftover Baked Ziti – 13 Easy Ideas

Ah, leftovers, the bane of every home cook’s existence.

What do you do with all that extra food?

If you’re like me, you either eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner until it’s gone or you get really creative and find new ways to use it up.

Baked ziti is one of those dishes that seems to multiply in the fridge.

No matter how much you make, there always seems to be more the next day.

But instead of eating the same dish over and over again, why not try one of these thirteen easy ideas for what to do with leftover baked ziti?

From frittatas to meatballs, there’s something here for everyone.

What To Do With Leftover Baked Ziti

What To Do With Leftover Baked Ziti – 13 Easy Ideas

I never throw out leftovers.

I’m the type of person who will eat leftover pizza for breakfast, leftover Chinese food for lunch, and leftover baked ziti for dinner.

I’m also the type of person who is always looking for new and interesting ways to use up leftovers.

Here are 13 easy ideas for what to do with leftover baked ziti:

1. Make a Frittata

baked ziti Frittata

I love frittatas because they are so versatile.

You can pretty much add any type of leftover pasta, vegetables, and cheese that you have in your fridge and it will taste great.

This is a great way to use up any leftover baked ziti that you might have.

Pro Tip: When adding the pasta to the frittata, make sure to chop it into small pieces so that it cooks evenly.

3 Potential Additions:

  • Vegetables: Try adding some sautéed spinach or mushrooms.
  • Meat: Throw in some cooked bacon or sausage.
  • Cheese: Mix in some shredded mozzarella or Parmesan cheese.

2. Make Baked Ziti Meatballs

Meatballs go great with tons of different dishes, but my personal favorite is baked ziti.

I love the combination of the rich tomato sauce with the cheesy pasta and juicy meatballs.

Plus, it’s a great way to use up any leftover baked ziti you might have.

Pro Tip: To make these meatballs extra flavorful, add in some of your favorite herbs and spices. I like to add a little bit of garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning.

3 Potential Additions:

  • Sauteed Mushrooms
  • Diced Onion
  • Green Peppers

3. Make a Baked Ziti Casserole

Baked Ziti Casserole

Who doesn’t love a warm, bubbly casserole dish straight out of the oven?

This is the perfect way to use up your leftover baked ziti, and it only takes a few minutes to throw together.

Simply layer the ziti with some shredded mozzarella cheese and diced tomatoes, and bake until hot and bubbly.

Pro Tip: If you want a little bit of a crunch in your casserole, try adding some crushed-up Ritz crackers to the top before baking.

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Read Also: The Best Cheeses for Ritz Crackers

3 Potential Additions:

  • Pepperoni
  • Sausage
  • Green Peppers

4. Make a Baked Ziti Pizza

Everybody loves pizza – there’s just no denying it.

But sometimes, you want something a little bit different.

That’s where this recipe comes in.

It takes all of the best parts of baked ziti – the cheesy, saucy pasta – and combines it with everyone’s favorite food.

The result is a dish that will have your family and friends asking for seconds… or thirds!

Cooking Tips:

  • To make this dish even easier, you can use store-bought pizza dough. Just roll it out into a 12-inch circle and place it on a greased baking sheet.
  • If you want a crispy crust, preheat your oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit before baking the pizza.
  • For extra flavor, top the pizza with some freshly grated Parmesan cheese before serving.

Here’s my way of doing it:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. In a large pot, cook the pasta according to the package directions.
  3. Drain the pasta and add it to a large bowl with the sauce and mozzarella cheese. Mix everything together until well combined.
  4. Spread the mixture onto a 12-inch pizza crust and bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  5. Serve immediately, garnished with Parmesan cheese if desired. Enjoy!

5. Make Baked Ziti Stuffed Peppers

If you don’t mind a little prep work, these stuffed peppers are definitely worth it.

They’re packed with flavor and make for a great Meatless Monday dinner.

Plus, they’re a great way to use up any leftover baked ziti you might have.

Cooking Tips:

  • For extra cheesy peppers, top them with some shredded mozzarella cheese before baking.
  • To make this dish gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta and breadcrumbs.
  • If you want to save some time, you can cook the peppers in the microwave for 5 minutes before stuffing them.

Here’s how I do it:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Cut the tops off of the peppers and remove the seeds.
  3. In a large pot, cook the pasta according to the package instructions.
  4. Once the pasta is cooked, add in the baked ziti and mix everything together.
  5. Stuff each pepper with the ziti mixture and place them in a baking dish.
  6. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the peppers are tender.

6. Make Baked Ziti Stuffed Mushrooms

Baked Ziti Stuffed Mushrooms

Why not buy some mushrooms and stuff them with your leftover baked ziti?

You can even add some extra cheese on top if you’re feeling fancy.

This is a great way to use up leftovers and make something new and exciting.

Cooking Tips:

  • Wash and dry your mushrooms before removing the stems.
  • Carefully stuff the mushroom caps with the ziti, being careful not to overfill them.
  • Bake the mushrooms in a 400 degree oven for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

7. Make Baked Ziti Muffins

Baked Ziti Muffins

Savory muffins can be SO GOOD.

I’m talking like, better-than-your-average-blueberry-muffin good.

And these ziti muffins are no exception.

They’re cheesy, they’re saucy, and they have all of the flavors of your favorite baked ziti recipe packed into one neat little package.

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Cooking Tips:

  • Be sure to squeeze as much water as possible out of the thawed spinach before adding it to the batter. Otherwise, your muffins will be soggy.
  • I like to use a cookie scoop to portion out the batter evenly into the muffin tins. It makes for perfectly domed muffins every time!
  • These freeze really well, so feel free to make a double batch and save some for later. Just pop them in the microwave for a quick reheat.

And here’s how you do it:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a muffin tin with cooking spray and set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, combine cooked ziti, thawed spinach, eggs, ricotta cheese, and mozzarella cheese.
  3. Mix until well combined.
  4. Scoop batter evenly into the prepared muffin tin.
  5. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
  6. Serve immediately, or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

8. Make a Baked Ziti Quiche

baked ziti Quiche

Once you try this dish, you’ll never want to eat regular quiche again.

The baked ziti gives it so much flavor and heartiness. It’s the perfect comfort food for a rainy day.

Cooking Tips:

  • Make sure to squeeze all of the water out of the thawed spinach before adding it to the quiche. Otherwise, your quiche will be watery.
  • I like to use pre-made crusts for this recipe because they make life easier, but you can definitely make your own crust if you’re feeling ambitious.
  • If you want a cheesy quiche, use shredded mozzarella cheese instead of grated Parmesan.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together 12 eggs, 1 cup of milk, 1/2 cup of flour, and 1 teaspoon of salt.
  3. Stir in 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese and 2 cups of cooked and cooled ziti pasta.
  4. Pour the mixture into a 9-inch pie dish or quiche pan.
  5. Bake for 45 minutes to an hour, or until the quiche is golden brown and set in the middle. Let it cool for 10 minutes before serving hot.

9. Make Baked Ziti Arancini

Have you considered turning your leftover baked ziti into arancini?

These little fried balls of goodness are the perfect way to use up any pasta dish, and they’re so easy to make!

Here’s how:

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
  3. In a large bowl, mix together 2 cups of cooked ziti, 1 egg, 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, and 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese.
  4. Shape the mixture into small balls (about 1 inch in diameter) and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
  5. Bake for 10 minutes, or until golden brown.
  6. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

10. Make a Baked Ziti Calzone

Calzone reminds me of my childhood.

My mom would make these for us all the time and I loved them.

They’re basically like a giant stuffed doughy pocket, and what’s not to love about that?

This recipe is the perfect way to use up your leftover baked ziti.

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All you need is some mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, and an egg.

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. In a bowl, mix together 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup of ricotta cheese, and 1 egg.
  3. Cut your baked ziti into 6 equal pieces.
  4. Take one piece of ziti and put 1/6 of the cheese mixture on top.
  5. Then fold it over to create a half-moon shape.
  6. Press the edges together to seal it.
  7. Repeat this with the rest of the ziti and cheese mixture.
  8. Put the calzones on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.

11. Make a Baked Ziti Panini

I know this sounds a bit odd, but trust me on this one.

If you have some leftover baked ziti, throw it in a panini press with some mozzarella cheese and you’re good to go!

The pasta will get nice and crispy while the cheese gets all melty and delicious.

Step-by-step instructions:

  1. Preheat your panini press.
  2. Assemble your sandwich with a few slices of mozzarella cheese and some leftover baked ziti.
  3. Place the sandwich in the panini press and cook until the cheese is melted and the bread is crispy, about 5 minutes.
  4. Enjoy!

12. Make a Baked Ziti Grilled Cheese

Baked Ziti Grilled Cheese

Who can say no to a ooey, gooey grilled cheese?

This is the perfect way to use up your leftover baked ziti.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Preheat a skillet over medium heat.
  2. Spread some pasta sauce on one side of each slice of bread.
  3. Layer on some shredded mozzarella cheese and top with a few pieces of baked ziti.
  4. Top with another slice of bread and spread some more pasta sauce on the outside.
  5. Grill the sandwiches for about 4 minutes per side, or until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted.
  6. Serve immediately!

13. Make a Baked Ziti Omelette

Baked Ziti Omelette

And lastly, since breakfast is the most important meal of the day, here’s an idea for using up your leftover baked ziti.

This omelette is packed with flavor and is a great way to start your day.

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. In a large skillet, cook your eggs how you like them.
  3. Once they’re cooked, add in the ziti and mix everything together.
  4. Top with cheese and place in the oven for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  5. Serve hot and enjoy!
leftover baked ziti ideas

What To Do With Leftover Baked Ziti – 13 Easy Ideas

Leftovers can be a pain to deal with, but they don't have to be! This article provides 13 easy and delicious ideas for what to do with leftover baked ziti.
From simple reheating methods to new and creative dishes, there's something here for everyone.
With these ideas, you'll be able to turn your leftovers into a meal that you're excited to eat, rather than something you have to force down.
So next time you're stuck with a big pan of baked ziti, give one of these ideas a try!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Appetizer, Breakfast, Main Course, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people
Calories 400 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • Make a Frittata
  • Make Baked Ziti Meatballs
  • Make a Baked Ziti Casserole
  • Make a Baked Ziti Pizza
  • Make Baked Ziti Stuffed Peppers
  • Make Baked Ziti Stuffed Mushrooms
  • Make Baked Ziti Muffins
  • Make a Baked Ziti Quiche
  • Make Baked Ziti Arancini
  • Make a Baked Ziti Calzone
  • Make a Baked Ziti Panini
  • Make a Baked Ziti Grilled Cheese
  • Make a Baked Ziti Omelette

Instructions
 

  • Choose any of these ideas to use up your leftovers.
  • Prepare the ingredients according to the recipe.
  • Enjoy in no time!
Keyword What To Do With Leftover Baked Ziti