Description
This Spinach Ziti is a comforting baked pasta dish featuring tender ziti pasta mixed with sautéed garlic, onions, fresh spinach, and a flavorful marinara sauce. It’s layered with creamy ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses, then baked to bubbly, cheesy perfection. A perfect satisfying vegetarian dinner that is easy to prepare and deliciously cheesy.
Ingredients
Scale
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: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prepare it for baking the ziti later.
- Cook Pasta: Cook the ziti pasta according to the package instructions until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, sautéing until they become fragrant and translucent, about 3 minutes.
- Cook Spinach and Sauce: Add the chopped spinach to the skillet and cook until wilted. Stir in marinara sauce, dried basil, oregano, red pepper flakes if using, salt, and black pepper. Let the sauce simmer gently for 5 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, half of the shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, egg, and heavy cream if using. Mix thoroughly until smooth and creamy.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked ziti to the skillet with the spinach marinara sauce and toss to combine everything evenly.
- Layer in Baking Dish: Spread half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Spoon dollops of the ricotta cheese mixture over the pasta layer, then cover with the remaining pasta.
- Add Cheese Topping: Sprinkle the remaining shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the pasta layers for a golden, bubbly finish.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld and cheese to melt.
- Bake Uncovered and Serve: Remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese topping is melted and bubbly with a light golden color. Let the baked ziti cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- You can omit the heavy cream for a lighter version of the dish.
- Red pepper flakes are optional and can be adjusted based on your preferred spice level.
- Use fresh spinach for best flavor, but frozen spinach thawed and drained can be substituted.
- For a lower-fat option, substitute part of the cheeses with low-fat versions.
- Make sure to stir the pasta and sauce thoroughly before layering to ensure even distribution of flavors.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
