• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Meaningful Eats logo

  • Home
  • About
    • About Erin
    • Work With Me
    • Contact
  • Recipe Index
  • Favorites
    • Cookbooks
    • Favorites
    • In My Pantry
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Home > Dairy-Free Recipes > Dairy-Free Baked Ziti (Gluten-Free)

Dairy-Free Baked Ziti (Gluten-Free)

LAST UPDATED: May 7, 2019 PUBLISHED: May 15, 2018 27 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Dairy-Free Baked Ziti! This recipe will AMAZE you. The cashew cream sauce sets up just like ricotta – but totally dairy-free!

I feel like I’ve been holding out on you with this recipe. I’ve made this Dairy-Free Baked Ziti many times now and have perfected the recipe.

Just like this dairy-free spinach artichoke dip believe me when I say it – this recipe will amaze you and fool anyone who tastes it!

I love hearty, cheesy pasta dishes and have really missed them since cutting out most dairy. Instead of a classic ricotta cheese mixture, this dish uses a dairy-free cashew and egg based “cheese”.

And before you get all confused about the eggs let’s remember – eggs are not dairy! People with food allergies will know the difference.

Eggs are often mistaken for dairy because of the 90s food pyramid and the “dairy” section of the grocery store. However, eggs are from chickens and dairy is from cows. It’s a totally different animal and protein.

I personally can eat eggs but can’t eat much dairy. Many people do better on gluten-free/casein-free diets. Eggs have no casein so this recipe is meant for people with dairy allergies or intolerances – not for vegans.

My dairy-eating family absolutely loves this pasta. Every time I make it my husband asks me if I used real cheese. You have to taste it to believe it! The cashew sauce will look liquidy and runny when you first make it, but will set up perfectly in the oven thanks to the eggs. So don’t be alarmed with it looks nothing like ricotta initially!

My favorite gluten-free pasta to use is the Jovial Brown Rice Penne. It’s my favorite gluten-free pasta and I always have it on hand. Not sponsored – just my favorite.

I hope you enjoy this dairy-free dish as much as we do! If you’re dairy-free but can eat eggs you should also try this:

Dairy-Free Banana Cream Pie

Dairy-Free Beef Stroganoff

Hungry for more? Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter for all of the latest updates.

Dairy-Free Baked Ziti (Gluten-Free)

Author: Erin Collins
Prep: 25 mins
Cook: 25 mins
Total: 50 mins
Dairy-Free Baked Ziti! This recipe will AMAZE you. The cashew cream sauce sets up just like ricotta - but totally dairy-free!
5 from 11 votes
Servings: 6 servings
Print
2120shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

Ingredients

For the Creamy Sauce:

  • 1 cup raw cashews
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs

For the Baked Ziti:

  • 1 lb gluten-free tubular pasta, I use Jovial Foods Penne
  • olive oil
  • 1 lb Italian sausage, or ground beef
  • 1/2 large onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 26 oz jar marinara sauce, I like Trader Joe's Tomato Basil Marinara
  • 1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes

Instructions

  • Place the raw cashews in a bowl. Cover with boiling water (the 1 cup of water will be used later, just use enough boiling water to cover the cashews) and let sit for 30 minutes. You can make the pasta and tomato-meat sauce in the meantime.
  • Preheat the oven to 350F. Cook the pasta according to package instructions - but subtract a minute or so from the boil time so the pasta is al dente.
  • In a large skillet, add 1 tablespoon olive oil along with the Italian sausage and onion. Cook, breaking up into small pieces until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Add the garlic, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, marinara sauce and diced tomatoes. Cook until heated through for another 5 minutes or so. Remove from heat and set aside.
  • Drain the cashews and place in a high-speed blender. Add 1 cup of fresh water along with the olive oil, lemon juice, and salt. Blend until completely smooth. Add the eggs and blend until smooth. (The sauce will look very liquidy and runny but will set up in the oven.)
  • Add a scoop of the tomato-meat sauce to the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Spread out evenly. Mix the pasta with 1/3 of the remaining tomato-meat sauce. Pour half of the pasta into the pan. Drizzle over half of the cashew sauce followed by another 1/3 of the sauce mixture. Add the remaining pasta followed by the rest of the cashew sauce and tomato-meat sauce.
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden and bubbly. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Dairy-Free Baked Ziti (Gluten-Free)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 776 Calories from Fat 387
% Daily Value*
Fat 43g66%
Saturated Fat 12g75%
Cholesterol 112mg37%
Sodium 1492mg65%
Potassium 943mg27%
Carbohydrates 74g25%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 8g9%
Protein 25g50%
Vitamin A 755IU15%
Vitamin C 19.4mg24%
Calcium 87mg9%
Iron 5.9mg33%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
NUTRITION INFORMATION:
Calories: 776kcal
Erin of Meaningful Eats

Hi, I'm Erin!

BS Food Science, MS Nutrition
I believe you can make amazing, gluten-free food with everyday ingredients that everyone will enjoy. I'm here to share my tried-and-true recipes with you! More About Erin

freebies

CTA

Join my free email list to receive this Gluten-Free Dinners cookbook!

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Savannah says

    November 11, 2020 at 8:07 am

    Can this be set in the fridge to bake the next day? Or would the egg mix be not good?

    Reply
    • Erin Collins says

      November 11, 2020 at 7:31 pm

      Yes that should work great! I would worry more about the pasta holding up – but a day should be ok.

      Reply
      • P J says

        November 14, 2020 at 10:43 am

        5 stars
        Excellent dish for my dairy free gluten free household! I’m looking at the posted nutrition facts. Do you have a tip on how to cut down on the sodium a little? Thank you for this recipe!

        Reply
  2. Linda Grandstaff says

    December 18, 2020 at 7:05 pm

    5 stars
    I made this tonight for my family it was excellent. I grew up in an Italian neighborhood on the lower east side of manhattan so I was basically weaned on italian food. My daughter doesn’t eat cheese and is visiting for the holidays. I haven’t made a ziti, stuffed shells, manicotti or lasagna in over 10 years because she doesn’t eat cheese..on a whim I googled cheese less ziti and your recipe popped up. I thought what the hell since I wanted something I could prepare early in day and then just reheat in oven for dinner. Well we absolutely were amazed how delicious this ziti turned out!!! I give it 10 plus! Absolutely delicious and like a traditional ziti I’m betting it will taste even more delicious tomorrow. Thank you for posting recipe.

    Reply
    • Erin Collins says

      December 19, 2020 at 1:06 pm

      This is the best comment ever! I’m so happy to hear you liked it. Happy your daughter could enjoy it!

      Reply
« Older Comments

Primary Sidebar

Erin of Meaningful Eats

Hi, I'm Erin!

BS Food Science, MS Nutrition
I believe you can make amazing, gluten-free food with everyday ingredients that everyone will enjoy. I'm here to share my tried-and-true recipes with you! More About Erin

Freebies

freebie
Join my free email list to receive this Gluten-Free Dinners cookbook!

Popular Posts

Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies {Grain-Free}

chocolate chip cookies topped with sea salt on brown parchment paper

The Best Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

sliced pepperoni pizza on wooden cutting board

The Best Gluten-Free Pizza Crust

one caramel cube on parchment paper

Soft, Buttery Homemade Caramels

Seasonal Posts

chicken and rice in white bowl with fork topped with cheese

Instant Pot Southwestern Chicken and Rice

slice of gluten-free angel food cake on white plate with strawberries

Perfect Gluten-Free Angel Food Cake

bbq chicken in instant pot with marble background and blue striped towel

Instant Pot BBQ Chicken

The Best Gluten-Free Banana Bread

Featured On:

  • Back To Top
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2021 Meaningful Eats • Privacy Policy