If you're looking for an easy comfort food casserole, give this baked ziti with spinach a try. It's filled with layers of pasta, marinara sauce, and spinach, with a gooey, cheesy layer of ricotta in the middle.
Why you'll love this recipe
Flavor: Classic baked ziti made with marinara sauce, three types of cheese, and mild Italian herbs.
Serves: 8 in a 9x13 pan
It's easy to assemble. Layer pasta, spinach, and marinara sauce with cheese, then bake to perfection in the oven. A truly simple meal the entire family will enjoy!
Great for: Family meals, Sunday dinner, meal prep (leftovers reheat beautifully!).
Similar to: Cheese Stuffed Shells and Lasagna Roll Ups
Serve with: Cheesy Garlic Bread and Italian Chopped Salad
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Ingredients and substitutions
- Pasta - Ziti can be substituted with rigatoni or penne, as long as you use the same amount in weight. For this recipe you'll need one 16 ounce box.
- Baby spinach - Can be substituted with regular spinach , kale, or chard if desired.
- Marinara sauce - I used a homemade marinara sauce, but any store bought marinara or spaghetti sauce you have on hand will work. Most store bought jars range in size from 24 to 28 ounces - any will work in this recipe.
- Cheeses - You'll need shredded mozzarella, freshly shredded parmesan, and ricotta cheeses.
- Seasoning - Salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning add flavor to your baked ziti. Homemade Italian seasoning or store bought works well. Italian seasoning can be substituted with a combination of Italian herbs you have on hand, like oregano, basil, marjoram, rosemary, and sage.
How to make baked ziti
- Boil pasta in salted water, then drain and return to the pot. Add marinara sauce and spinach, stirring to combine.
- Pour half of the pasta mixture into a 9x13 pan and top with cheese mixture.
- Pour remaining pasta mixture on top and spread into an even layer.
- Top with reserved shredded cheese, then bake in the oven until golden brown and bubbly.
Tips and tricks
Make sure you've got enough sauce - Use at least 24 ounces of sauce, which ensures your casserole doesn't dry out in the oven. You can even add up to an extra 8 ounces of sauce if you like a saucy baked ziti.
Cook pasta to al dente - Undercooked pasta continues soaking up liquid in the oven, which can dry out your casserole. Consult your pasta's cooking directions and cook to al dente for best results.
Reserve cheese for the top - The cheese on top helps insulate your casserole and keep it from drying out in the oven. Don't skip the top layer of cheese!
Variations - Add protein to the sauce by stirring in shredded rotisserie chicken, cooked ground beef, or a can of drained cannellini beans. Spinach can be substituted with baby kale or steamed and well-drained broccoli florets.
Make ahead
Baked ziti with spinach can be assembled up to a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator. You can either cook your noodles ahead and store them, or completely assemble your casserole and store.
Make sure it is covered and tightly sealed while refrigerating. Transfer it from the refrigerator to the counter top while your oven preheats.
Frequently asked questions
This recipe is made in a 3-quart 9x13 baking dish. Recipe can also be divided between two smaller 1 ½ to 2 quart dishes, like two 8x8 square pans.
Bake ziti can turn out dry if it's overbaked, the cheese topping was omitted (which helps insulate your casserole), too little sauce was used, or if the pasta was undercooked before adding it to the casserole. If your casserole looks dry on top (maybe the pasta was left exposed in the oven), give it a stir just before serving.
If you're reheating your casserole straight from the refrigerator, it will likely need an additional 10-15 minutes of baking time. I recommend covering with foil to help leftovers retain as much moisture as possible. When reheating leftovers in the microwave, cover your bowl with a damp paper towel.
Ziti, penne, and rigatoni are great pasta shapes for this recipe. No matter the shape, use 16 ounces of dried pasta.
Recommended
📖 Recipe
Baked Ziti with Spinach
Ingredients
- 16 ounces ziti, uncooked
- 4 cups baby spinach
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉.
- In a stock pot, bring salted water to a boil and add ziti. Cook to al dente according to package directions. Drain well.
- In a large bowl (or the stock pot used to prepare your pasta), add cooked ziti, spinach, and marinara sauce. Toss to coat and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, add ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and half of your mozzarella cheese. Stir to combine.
- In a 9x13 baking dish, add half of your ziti mixture and spread into an even layer. Next, add all of your ricotta mixture and spread into an even layer. Top with remaining ziti mixture. Sprinkle top of casserole evenly with reserved mozzarella cheese.
- Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes, or until cheese is melted across the top and casserole is bubbling around the edges.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- Make ahead: Baked ziti can be assembled up to a day ahead. Cover and store, unbaked, in the refrigerator. Remove casserole from the refrigerator to bring to room temperature while oven preheats and follow directions above for baking.
- Add meat: Stir 16 ounces of shredded rotisserie chicken, cooked ground beef, or a can of drained cannellini beans to the marinara sauce.
- Storage: Leftovers will keep for 2-3 days in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
- Vegetarian: To make this dish vegetarian-friendly, look for a parmesan cheese made with vegetable rennet, or labeled as vegan/vegetarian parmesan cheese.
Love this recipe! Simple and flavorful. I sometimes add sautéed mushrooms and I ply around with different cheeses based on what I have on hand. Delicious every time!
I tried it! It’s delicious. It was a huge hit. I didn’t have fresh spinach so I used frozen spinach and heated it in the bag in the microwave. I put about a cup and a half into the ziti mixture and it looked pretty. Everything else was according to your specs. It’s baking in the oven now so I’ll come back and let you know how it tastes!
Thanks,
Suzanne aka TwoCatMomma
Could you replace the ricotta with Boursin herb cheese?
Thanks
I haven't tried this recipe with Boursin cheese so I can't say for sure how it would turn out. However, a quick google search says that Boursin can be a good substitute for ricotta, so if you give it a try let us know how it goes!
Very simple and delicious! I did add some cooked hamburger to the marinara for the hubby but that was it. Thank you!
Can I add ground turkey to the baked ziti and spinach bake?
Sure! You can add cooked and crumbled meat to the sauce if desired.