Description
This delicious meatless baked ziti is a comforting Italian-inspired casserole loaded with tender pasta, fresh spinach, sautéed mushrooms, and a creamy blend of ricotta, goat cheese, and mozzarella, all baked to bubbly perfection with flavorful spaghetti sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 (16-ounce) package ziti pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Vegetables
- ½ (8-ounce) package fresh spinach, chopped
- 1 (4-ounce) package fresh mushrooms, sliced
Cheeses & Sauce
- 1 (15-ounce) container part-skim ricotta cheese
- 1 (8-ounce) package crumbled goat cheese
- ½ (8-ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 (14-ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prepare it for the baked ziti.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the ziti pasta until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain the pasta and transfer it to a large mixing bowl.
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté the chopped spinach and sliced mushrooms for about 5 minutes until tender. Add the cooked vegetables into the bowl with the pasta.
- Mix Cheeses & Sauce: Add the ricotta cheese, crumbled goat cheese, and half of the shredded mozzarella cheese to the pasta and vegetables. Stir in the spaghetti sauce thoroughly until everything is well combined.
- Assemble & Bake: Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese on top. Bake uncovered for 15 minutes or until the dish is bubbly and the cheese has melted and started to brown slightly.
Notes
- For a vegan option, substitute cheeses with plant-based alternatives.
- You can add red pepper flakes for a spicier dish.
- Use gluten-free pasta if needed to accommodate gluten sensitivities.
- Rinsing pasta after cooking is not recommended as it removes the starch needed to help the sauce adhere.
- This dish can be prepared a day ahead and baked just before serving.
