Description
This comforting veggie baked ziti is packed with tender pasta, chunky veggies, creamy ricotta, and gooey mozzarella, all baked together in a rich marinara sauce. Perfect for cozy nights and hungry guests.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 ounces ziti pasta (or any short-cut pasta like penne or rigatoni)
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- 1 medium zucchini, diced or sliced thinly
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease your baking dish with olive oil or cooking spray.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook the ziti pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add diced onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes until softened.
- Stir in garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
- Add zucchini and bell peppers to the skillet. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the veggies are tender.
- Toss in the spinach and let it wilt for about 2 minutes. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Remove from heat.
- In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, half of the shredded mozzarella, and half of the grated Parmesan. Stir until smooth.
- In the baking dish, spread a thin layer of marinara sauce on the bottom. Add half of the cooked pasta, followed by half of the veggie mixture and half of the ricotta mixture. Repeat the layers, ending with marinara sauce on top.
- Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the top.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
- Let the baked ziti cool for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
[‘Don’t overcook the pasta to ensure a better texture after baking.’, ‘Layer evenly to balance sauce, cheese, and veggies.’, ‘Use freshly grated cheese for better melting.’, ‘Feel free to customize the veggies based on what you have on hand.’, ‘Cover with foil to prevent the cheese from burning while baking.’, ‘Add a sprinkle of freshly chopped basil or parsley before serving for extra freshness.’]
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 400
- Fat: 15
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 6
- Protein: 18
Keywords: veggie baked ziti, vegetarian pasta bake, comfort food, easy dinner, meatless recipe