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Updated October 9, 2026
Five Cheese Ziti al Forno

Olive Garden Five Cheese Ziti al Forno

$17.99 1,170 cal Classic EntréesLunch-Sized FavoritesLighter Portions

A baked blend of Italian cheeses, pasta and our signature five cheese marinara.

4.6 · 9 ratings
Olive Garden Menu View on OliveGarden.com

About This Dish

Olive Garden Five Cheese Ziti al Forno is the restaurant's baked ziti, priced at $17.99 for the dinner portion with 1,170 calories, 69 grams of fat and 2,440 milligrams of sodium. Ziti pasta is tossed in the five cheese marinara, a tomato sauce blended with mozzarella, fontina, romano, ricotta and parmesan, then topped with more Italian cheeses and baked until the top is browned and bubbling. It is a vegetarian-friendly Classic Entrées choice for guests who want something baked and cheesy without cream sauce. Dine-in orders include unlimited breadsticks and a choice of soup or salad.

The dish comes in three sizes: the $17.99 dinner portion, a $13.49 Lighter Portion and an $11.49 Lunch-Sized Favorite served weekdays until 3 PM, the smaller two at 630 calories each. It is one of the cheapest ways to get a baked pasta at lunch. For groups, a family-size pan of ziti in five cheese marinara baked with melted Italian cheeses serves 4 to 6 for $49.99 on the family-style and catering menus (4,680 calories per pan), and the Family-Style Five Cheese Ziti al Forno Bundle adds the house salad and a dozen breadsticks for $64.49. The five cheese marinara is also sold as a sauce for Create Your Own Pasta and as a large side.

Nutrition Facts

Per serving

1170 Calories
69g Total Fat
2440mg Sodium

* Nutritional values are approximate and may vary. Last updated Oct 9, 2026

Five Cheese Ziti al Forno Price by Menu

The same dish is offered on more than one Olive Garden menu — portion and price differ.

MenuListed asPriceCalories
Classic Entrées Five Cheese Ziti al Forno $17.99 1,170 cal
Lighter Portions Five Cheese Ziti al Forno $13.49 630 cal
Lunch-Sized Favorites Five Cheese Ziti al Forno $11.49 630 cal

How to Copycat Olive Garden Five Cheese Ziti al Forno at Home?

Prep: 15 min Cook: 45 min Total: 60 min Easy

Olive Garden Five Cheese Ziti al Forno is one of the most popular baked pasta dishes at the restaurant, combining the satisfying heartiness of baked ziti with a restaurant-quality five-cheese sauce. Home cooks searching for the copycat recipe often struggle to replicate the specific creamy-yet-sharp flavor because they use too few cheeses or skip the baking step that creates the dish's characteristic texture.

The key to this copycat recipe is building the cheese sauce correctly. Stirring ricotta directly into warm marinara creates a creamy base, while topping the dish with shredded mozzarella and Fontina ensures you get that golden, stretched cheese pull when serving. Baking covered first retains moisture, then removing the foil for the final 10 minutes sets the golden top layer that defines this dish.

Ingredients

6 servings

Pasta

Five Cheese Marinara Sauce

Cheese Topping

Instructions

0 / 6

  1. Cook ziti in heavily salted boiling water until 2 minutes short of al dente. It will finish cooking in the oven. Drain and set aside.

    9 min

    Slightly undercooked pasta is essential. Fully cooked pasta becomes mushy after baking.

  2. Preheat oven to 375F. In a large bowl, combine marinara sauce with ricotta, grated Parmesan, Romano, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder. Mix until smooth and creamy.

    5 min

  3. Add the drained ziti to the cheese marinara and toss until fully coated. Transfer to a 9x13 inch baking dish.

    3 min

  4. Scatter shredded mozzarella and Fontina evenly over the top, followed by the remaining Parmesan.

    2 min

  5. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes until the cheese is golden, bubbly, and lightly crisped in spots.

    40 min

    Watch the uncovered baking closely. The difference between golden and burnt is about 2 minutes at this temperature.

  6. Let the baked ziti rest for 10 minutes before serving. This allows the cheese to set and makes portioning much cleaner.

    10 min

Pro Tips

  • Use whole-milk ricotta, not part-skim. The higher fat content produces a creamier, richer sauce that stays smooth during baking.
  • Try a block of Fontina and shred it yourself. Pre-shredded Fontina often contains cellulose that inhibits proper melting.
  • Make this dish a day ahead and refrigerate unbaked. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking and add 10 minutes to the covered baking time.

Variations

Meat Version

Brown 1 lb of ground beef or Italian sausage and stir into the cheese marinara before combining with the pasta.

Spicy Arrabbiata Ziti

Replace standard marinara with arrabbiata sauce made with crushed red pepper flakes and garlic for a heat-forward version.

Serving Ideas

  • Serve straight from the baking dish with a large spoon for a casual family-style presentation
  • Pair with a simple Caesar salad or Italian house salad
  • Garlic breadsticks are essential for scooping up the extra cheese sauce
  • A glass of Chianti or Barbera pairs well with the tomato and cheese combination
  • Top individual portions with fresh basil and a drizzle of good olive oil before serving

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Find Five Cheese Ziti al Forno Near You

Visit one of Olive Garden's 900+ locations to enjoy the Five Cheese Ziti al Forno at $17.99.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The dinner portion is $17.99, the Lighter Portion is $13.49 and the Lunch-Sized Favorite, served weekdays until 3 PM, is $11.49. Dine-in orders include unlimited breadsticks and soup or salad. Prices vary slightly in New York, Alaska and California.
The dinner portion has 1,170 calories, 69 grams of fat and 2,440 milligrams of sodium. The lunch and lighter portions have 630 calories each. The family pan that serves 4 to 6 totals 4,680 calories.
The five cheese marinara blends mozzarella, fontina, romano, ricotta and parmesan into the tomato sauce, and the pasta is topped with more mozzarella and parmesan before baking. The dish is vegetarian but contains dairy and wheat.
Yes. A family-size pan that serves 4 to 6 is $49.99, and the Family-Style Five Cheese Ziti al Forno Bundle with the house salad and a dozen breadsticks is $64.49. Both are available for pickup and delivery through Olive Garden catering.
Stir ricotta, shredded mozzarella, fontina, romano and parmesan into warm marinara, toss with cooked ziti, spread in a baking dish, top with more mozzarella and parmesan and bake at 400°F for 20 minutes until browned. The full recipe on this page takes about 40 minutes.

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