Baked Ziti with Spinach Recipe

Lisa Grant | Jersey Girl Cooks

Baked Ziti with Spinach is a family favorite no one will ever get tired of. A classic Italian meal that's sure to please!

Baked Ziti with Spinach Photo

Pasta has always been my signature dinner. I grew up in an Italian family and on most Sundays, there would be a big bowl of spaghetti on the table next to meatballs or Italian Pot Roast. I feel very comfortable cooking Italian and there is always a batch of marinara sauce in my freezer. Italian dinners are what I am most comfortable with but also some of my family’s favorites.

These days we don’t have hours to sit down on a Sunday or weeknight for dinner but that is no reason not to cook. There are plenty of easy Italian recipes to go around. Even if dinner is over in a quick half hour, it is worth having that time with my family.

I love the ease of this baked ziti recipe and the fact that it can be made in advance. I like to assemble it in the morning then bake it right before dinner. While the whole recipe takes about an hour to make, the baking time is only 30 minutes.

Baked Ziti with Spinach Picture

It is also a perfect dinner to reheat in the microwave for any family members that straggle into dinner late. It is pretty nice to come home from soccer practice at 8 pm but still be able to have a warm hearty dinner ready in two minutes.

While I frequently serve this dinner with Italian bread, a salad and a glass of wine, it really is a complete meal with meat, pasta, cheese and vegetables included. What more can you want from a meal?

Baked Ziti with Spinach Image

This is just one of my easy pasta dinners. I am the queen of serving pasta to my family and I’ve never heard a complaint about too much pasta on anyone’s plate. For other easy pasta meals, why don’t you try serving these? Your family will thank you when they see what’s on the table!

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Baked Ziti with Spinach Recipe

    6 Servings

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Ground Beef
  • 3 cups Marinara Sauce, Homemade or jarred
  • 1 10 ounce package Chopped Frozen Spinach, Defrosted
  • 12 ounce box Ziti Pasta, Or penne pasta
  • 1 cup Ricotta Cheese
  • 2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, Divided
  • 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

Directions

  1. In a large saucepan, brown ground beef on medium high heat for 10 minutes or until no longer pink. Drain any excess grease. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Add marinara sauce and spinach to the pan and simmer on low for 10 minutes or until sauce thickens.
  3. While sauce is simmering, cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Drain.
  4. Add drained pasta to saucepan and turn off heat. Stir in the ricotta cheese, half the mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese.
  5. Put the pasta mixture into a large casserole dish and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Loosely cover with foil.
  6. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 10 minutes until cheese is bubbly.    

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Published:
Modified:
Author:
Cooking Method:
Baked
Cuisine:
Italian
Category:
Spinach
Tags:
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Related Recipes:
Italian Recipes, Pasta Recipes, Spinach Recipes, Dinner Recipes, Easy Dinner Recipes, Family Meals and Snack Recipes, Baked Recipes, Make Ahead Recipes
Recipe Yields:
6 servings
Prep Time:
Cook Time:
Total Time:
Related Post:
Published:
Author: Lisa Grant
Recipe Yields: 6 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 60 minutes

Nutrition Facts

Servings Per Recipe 6

Amount Per Serving
Calories from Fat 189
Calories 431

% Daily Value*
36%
Total Fat 24g
44%
  Saturated Fat 9g
36%
Sodium 864mg
6%
Total Carbohydrate 18g
5%
  Dietary Fiber 4g
  Sugars 12g
74%
Protein 37g

* Percent Daily Value are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrition Facts are estimated based on ingredients and data provided by Fat Secret. Please consult a doctor if you have special dietary needs.
Lisa Grant

About Lisa

Like all moms, Lisa needs quick and easy dinners during the week for her busy family. As our Easy Dinners Fanatic, she creates meals that you can make between soccer and band practice that are full of flavor and good for you too. You can see more from Lisa on Jersey Girl Cooks.

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