Description
This creamy vegetarian baked ziti is the ultimate comfort casserole — rich, cheesy, and completely meatless. With layers of marinara, spinach, ricotta, cream cheese, and mozzarella, it’s perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prep, or family gatherings. A cozy pasta bake that’s as satisfying as it is easy to make.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta and Sauce:
- 1 lb (450g) ziti pasta
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 5 oz (140g) baby spinach, chopped
- 24 oz (680g) marinara sauce
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
For the Cheese Layer:
- 4 oz (115g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (250g) ricotta cheese
- 2 cups (200g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For the Topping:
- 1 cup (100g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- Fresh basil, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Boil ziti in salted water until al dente (about 8 minutes). Drain and set aside.
- Prepare the sauce: Sauté onion in olive oil until translucent. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Stir in spinach and cook until wilted. Add marinara, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Simmer 5 minutes.
- Mix the cheese filling: In a bowl, combine cream cheese, ricotta, half the mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, salt, and pepper. Stir until smooth.
- Assemble: In a greased 9×13-inch dish, layer half the pasta, half the sauce, and half the cheese mix. Repeat layers. Top with remaining mozzarella.
- Bake: Cover with foil and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake 15 minutes more until golden and bubbly.
- Serve: Let rest 10 minutes, garnish with basil, and enjoy.
Notes
- Slightly undercook pasta so it stays firm after baking.
- Drain spinach well to avoid watery sauce.
- Use softened cream cheese for the smoothest filling.
- Swap spinach with kale, mushrooms, or zucchini for variety.
- To freeze: Assemble but don’t bake. Wrap tightly and freeze up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Pasta, Comfort Food, Vegetarian
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 740mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 21g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: Vegetarian Baked Ziti, Creamy Ziti with Cream Cheese, Meatless Pasta Bake, Easy Dinner Recipes, Comfort Food Casserole