Who doesn’t love baked ziti? It’s easy to make and absolutely scrumptious. Also, you can eat it for 2-3 days, depending on how much you make. It’s perfect for family dinners, as well as when you have dinner parties. This easy baked ziti with spinach, can be made healthier by using part-skim cheese and lower sugar spaghetti sauce. It’s also kid-friendly and picky eater approved. When you make this, make sure you used chopped spinach – this way I can tell my picky eater that it’s herbs (sometimes he questions me on what’s in his food). Read on for the delicious recipe for Easy Baked Ziti with Spinach!
From start to finish, this can be ready in 1 hour and 15 minutes, making it a great choice when you want to have dinner ready to go for your family or a crowd. You can also have it in your fridge, ready to go into the oven as your guests arrive.
You’ll need:
1 (16 ounce) package ziti pasta
24 ounces ricotta cheese (use part skim or low fat if possible)
1/2 pound shredded mozzarella cheese (use part skim or low fat if possible)
1/2 pound shredded pepper jack cheese (if you don’t like pepper jack, any mozzarella or cheese is fine)
1 small onion, diced
8oz spinach, chopped (leave this out if you don’t like spinach)
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp dried basil
Salt and pepper
1 egg, beaten
1 (32 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce, of your choice
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set it aside.
Place a large non-stick skillet over medium heat, add the oil. Once the oil is hot, add the onion and cook until soft.
After that, add spinach, cook and stir until wilted.
Next, add garlic, basil, salt and pepper. Stir and cool for 1 minute.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and ziti and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water.
In a bowl combine the cooked ziti, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, pepper jack cheese, egg. then start mixing in the spinach mixture and 1 1/2 cups spaghetti sauce, stir to combine.
Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
Top with remaining spaghetti sauce, then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese on top.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
Let it cool for 15 minutes.
Serves 6. I like to serve this with a side salad. My picky eater prefers to eat his in a bowl.
Now if you like this, you’re going to love this creamy alfredo sauce from Sweet and Savory Meals. I’ll be trying this myself soon. My father-in-law loves alfredo sauce so I’m excited to make it!
Easy Baked Ziti
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 16 ounce package ziti pasta
- 24 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1/2 pound shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 pound shredded pepper jack cheese
- 1 small onion diced
- 8 oz spinach chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp dried basil
- Salt and pepper
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 32 ounce jar spaghetti sauce, of your choice
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set it aside.
- Place a large non-stick skillet over medium heat, add the oil. Once the oil is hot, add the onion and cook until soft.
- After that, add spinach, cook and stir until wilted. If you don't like spinach, leave it out.
- Next, add garlic, basil, salt and pepper. Stir and cool for 1 minute.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and ziti and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- In a bowl combine the cooked ziti, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, pepper jack cheese, egg, spinach mixture and 1 1/2 cups spaghetti sauce, stir to combine.
- Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining spaghetti sauce, then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese on top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
- Let it cool for 15 minutes before serving.
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