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

Related Words

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

More About Ziti

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.

Where does ziti come from?

The first records of the term ziti come from around the 1920s. It comes from the Italian zite, the plural of zita.

Did you know ... ?

What are some words that often get used in discussing ziti?

• baked
• cheese
• Italian
• pasta
• tomato
• sauce

What are some words ziti may be commonly confused with?

• rigatoni

How is ziti used in real life?

Popular in the United States, ziti is a common term for an Italian pasta shape.

Prepping Easter dinner for your friends when you have a variety of gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, lactose free food restrictions means 5 different trays of baked ziti and a tired Ashley.

— h (@halsey) April 21, 2019

Sneaking a full baked ziti in my jacket to see Many Saints of Newark.

— Mike Scollins (@mikescollins) October 1, 2021

Left over baked ziti is better than most fresh meals.

— Joe Santagato (@JoeSantagato) September 23, 2013

 

 

Try using ziti!

Is ziti used correctly in the following sentence?

“Jared loved to make a tray of baked ziti so he would have leftovers for days.”