ziti

Or zit·ti

[zee-tee]

noun

Italian Cooking.

1. a tubular pasta in short pieces, similar to rigatoni, often baked in a tomato sauce.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ziti¹

1925–30; < Italian zite, ziti, plural of zita, zito, of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

Growing up in New Jersey, baked ziti was his family’s oven-baked pasta of choice.

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I adore the crispy, cheesy frico-adjacent bits that emerge in the corners of baked pasta like lasagna or baked ziti.

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So I said yes, and they came over with the beautiful ziti and it was warm and lovely.

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Pasta Bowl, for the uninitiated, is a local red-sauce institution — a shrine to baked ziti and tiramisu.

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We’re talking spaghetti and meatballs, baked ziti, or gluten-free vegan lasagna.

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Related Words

• gnocchi 
• linguine 
• macaroni 
• ravioli 
• spaghetti 
• tortellini 

When To Use

What is ziti?

Ziti is a type of short tubular pasta often baked in tomato sauce.Ziti is a type of pasta similar to rigatoni and penne, which are sometimes confused with each other. All are short tubes. Rigatoni has ridges, while ziti does not. Rigatoni also tends to be wider than ziti. Both usually have straight ends. Penne is any short, tubular pasta with diagonally cut ends. Ziti can be served in a variety of pasta dishes but is most often served as a part of a baked dish or casserole, especially in the United States. Baked ziti, sometimes just called ziti, is a popular dish with ziti, tomato sauce, and cheeses. Even when different pastas are used, the dish may still be referred to as baked ziti.Example: The worst part about baked ziti is cleaning up the pan afterward.