Description
A comforting and hearty Spinach Ziti baked with a flavorful marinara spinach sauce, creamy ricotta mixture, and melted mozzarella cheese. This easy-to-make baked pasta dish combines tender ziti pasta with sautéed garlic, onions, fresh spinach, and Italian herbs for a delicious vegetarian meal that’s perfect for family dinners or gatherings.
Ingredients
Pasta and Sauce
- 12 oz ziti pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 4 cups fresh spinach, chopped
- 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Cheese Mixture
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- ½ cup heavy cream (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Cook Pasta: Boil the ziti pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta well and set it aside while you prepare the sauce.
- Sauté Aromatics: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, sautéing for about 3 minutes or until fragrant and translucent.
- Cook Spinach and Prepare Sauce: Add the chopped spinach to the skillet and cook until it wilts. Stir in the marinara sauce, dried basil, oregano, red pepper flakes if using, and season with salt and black pepper. Let the sauce simmer gently for 5 minutes to blend the flavors.
- Mix Cheese Filling: In a separate bowl, combine ricotta cheese, half of the shredded mozzarella cheese (½ cup), grated Parmesan, the egg, and heavy cream if using. Mix well until smooth and creamy.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: In a large bowl, toss the cooked ziti pasta with the prepared spinach marinara sauce until evenly coated.
- Layer in Baking Dish: Spread half of the pasta mixture into the greased baking dish. Dollop the ricotta cheese mixture evenly over the pasta. Then, layer the remaining pasta mixture on top.
- Add Cheese Topping: Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the layered pasta.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes to let the flavors meld and the cheese melt without drying out.
- Finish Baking Uncovered: Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese topping is bubbly and slightly golden brown.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the baked spinach ziti to cool for a few minutes before serving to set and enhance flavors.
Notes
- You can omit the heavy cream for a lighter version if desired.
- Red pepper flakes add a nice heat, but you can leave them out for a milder dish.
- Fresh spinach can be substituted with frozen spinach; just be sure to thaw and drain it well before use.
- Use gluten-free pasta if you need a gluten-free version.
- Leftover spinach ziti keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheats nicely in the oven or microwave.