Description
A comforting baked pasta layered with tender ziti, creamy ricotta, fresh spinach, rich marinara sauce, and plenty of melted mozzarella, baked until golden and bubbly.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 4 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the ziti until just shy of al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant. Stir in spinach and cook until wilted. Remove from heat.
- In a large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, half of the mozzarella, parmesan, salt, black pepper, dried oregano, and the cooked spinach mixture.
- Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with olive oil.
- Spread a thin layer of marinara sauce on the bottom of the dish. Add half of the cooked pasta, then spoon over half of the ricotta mixture. Repeat the layers and finish with the remaining mozzarella on top.
- Bake uncovered for 25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and lightly golden and the sauce is bubbling.
- Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Undercook the pasta slightly so it finishes cooking in the oven.
- If using frozen spinach, thaw and squeeze out excess moisture before mixing.
- Let the baked pasta rest before slicing to help it hold its shape.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: baked ziti with spinach, vegetarian baked pasta, cheesy pasta bake, spinach pasta casserole, easy baked ziti