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Baked Ziti with Spinach Recipe

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4.3 from 83 reviews

This comforting Baked Ziti with Spinach recipe combines tender pasta with a flavorful blend of marinara sauce, ricotta, and mozzarella cheeses, enhanced by fresh spinach and Italian seasoning. Perfect for a family dinner, this casserole bakes to bubbly, cheesy perfection in just 50 minutes.

  • Author: Sarah
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Italian-American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Pasta and Vegetables

  • 16 ounces ziti, uncooked
  • 4 cups baby spinach

Sauces and Cheese

  • 24 ounces marinara sauce
  • 15 ounces ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • ½ cup grated parmesan cheese

Seasoning

  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350℉ to prepare for baking the casserole.
  2. Cook Ziti: Bring a large stock pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ziti pasta and cook until al dente, following the package instructions. Drain the pasta thoroughly.
  3. Combine Pasta and Spinach: In a large bowl or back in the stock pot, toss the cooked ziti with the baby spinach and marinara sauce until evenly coated. Set this mixture aside.
  4. Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a separate bowl, combine ricotta cheese, grated parmesan, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and half of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Stir well until all ingredients are fully incorporated.
  5. Layer Casserole: In a 9×13-inch baking dish, spread half of the ziti mixture evenly. Layer all of the ricotta cheese mixture on top, smoothing it out, then add the remaining ziti mixture over the cheese layer.
  6. Top with Cheese: Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the casserole to create a cheesy crust once baked.
  7. Bake: Bake the assembled casserole uncovered for 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the casserole is heated through around the edges.

Notes

  • Make ahead: Assemble the baked ziti up to one day in advance. Cover and refrigerate unbaked, then bring to room temperature before baking.
  • Add meat: Incorporate 16 ounces of shredded rotisserie chicken, cooked ground beef, or a can of drained cannellini beans to the marinara for added protein.
  • Storage: Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
  • Vegetarian: Use vegetarian or vegan parmesan cheese made with vegetable rennet to keep this dish vegetarian-friendly.

Find it online: https://cookingwithsarah.com/baked-ziti-with-spinach-recipe/