This oven baked 4-ingredients creamy everything bagel ziti is the kind of weeknight comfort food that somehow feels fun enough for a movie night too. It takes a familiar baked pasta and gives it a savory shortcut twist with everything bagel seasoning, which adds garlic, onion, sesame, and poppy seed flavor without needing a long ingredient list. It is exactly the kind of dish I love keeping in rotation when work is busy and I still want something warm, cheesy, and genuinely satisfying at the end of the day.
Serve this ziti with a crisp green salad, simple roasted broccoli, or garlic green beans to balance the creamy pasta. For movie night or a casual dinner, I also like putting out warm breadsticks or toasted sourdough to scoop up the extra sauce, and a chilled sparkling water or light white wine pairs nicely with the rich, cheesy flavor.
Oven Baked 4-Ingredients Creamy Everything Bagel Ziti
Servings: 6
Ingredients
1 pound ziti pasta
2 cups whipped cream cheese spread
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
2 to 3 tablespoons everything bagel seasoning
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a rectangular glass baking dish and cook the ziti in well-salted water until just shy of al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1 cup of the pasta water.
2. Return the hot pasta to the pot and stir in the whipped cream cheese spread with about 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water. Mix until the pasta is evenly coated in a smooth, creamy sauce. Add more pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
3. Stir in 1 1/2 cups of the mozzarella cheese and 1 to 2 tablespoons of the everything bagel seasoning. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread it into an even layer.
4. Top with the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella and sprinkle the rest of the everything bagel seasoning over the top. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until bubbly around the edges and melted on top. For extra color, broil for 1 to 2 minutes at the end.
5. Let the baked ziti rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving so the sauce can settle slightly. Scoop into bowls or onto plates and serve warm.
Variations & Tips
Add protein: Stir in shredded rotisserie chicken or cooked crumbled sausage before baking if you want to make it heartier for a bigger dinner.
Make it extra creamy: If your pasta seems dry before baking, add a splash more reserved pasta water when mixing. The pasta keeps absorbing sauce in the oven, so a looser mixture at the start gives you the creamiest result.
Try a cheese swap: Part-skim mozzarella works fine, but a blend of mozzarella and provolone gives the top a slightly stretchier, richer finish while still keeping the recipe simple.
Balance the seasoning: Everything bagel seasoning brands can vary in saltiness, so start with less and add more to taste. If yours has large garlic or onion pieces, crushing it lightly between your fingers helps it distribute more evenly.
Prep ahead: Assemble the dish up to a day in advance, cover, and refrigerate. When ready to bake, let it sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes first, then bake until hot and bubbly.