Description
This Delicious Meatless Baked Ziti is a comforting and hearty Italian-inspired casserole that combines al dente pasta with sautéed spinach and mushrooms, creamy ricotta and goat cheeses, mozzarella, and rich spaghetti sauce. Baked to bubbly, cheesy perfection, it’s a perfect vegetarian meal that’s satisfying and easy to prepare, serving a crowd in just 45 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 (16-ounce) package ziti pasta
Vegetables
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ (8-ounce) package fresh spinach, chopped
- 1 (4-ounce) package fresh mushrooms, sliced
Cheeses
- 1 (15-ounce) container part-skim ricotta cheese
- 1 (8-ounce) package crumbled goat cheese
- ½ (8-ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese
Sauce
- 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 prevent sticking and prepare for assembling the baked ziti.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ziti pasta and cook until al dente, approximately 8 minutes. Drain the pasta and transfer it to a large mixing bowl.
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped spinach and sliced mushrooms, sautéing for 5 minutes or until the vegetables are tender and fragrant. Stir 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 bowl with the pasta and vegetables. Pour in the spaghetti sauce and stir everything together until well combined.
- Assemble & Bake: Transfer the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Evenly sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese on top. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden.
Notes
- For extra flavor, sprinkle some Italian seasoning or red pepper flakes into the sauce mixture before baking.
- You can substitute spinach with kale or other leafy greens if preferred.
- Use whole wheat or gluten-free pasta to make the dish healthier or accommodate dietary needs.
- This dish is great for meal prepping; leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To make it vegan, replace cheeses with plant-based alternatives and ensure the spaghetti sauce contains no animal products.
