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Easy Meatless Baked Ziti Recipe

Easy Meatless Baked Ziti Recipe

Cozy, cheesy baked ziti loaded with marinara, three cheeses, and fresh basil—no meat needed. Perfect weeknight comfort.
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Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients
 

Main Ingredients

  • 1 lb ziti pasta
  • 4.5 cup marinara sauce
  • 2.25 cup ricotta cheese
  • 3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 0.75 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 cup yellow onion finely chopped
  • 2 tsp minced garlic
  • 1.5 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 0.25 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1.25 tsp kosher salt
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
  • 0.5 cup fresh basil chopped
  • 2 cup baby spinach roughly chopped
  • 0.5 cup reserved pasta water

Instructions

Preparation Steps

  • Heat oven to 375°F. Lightly oil a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  • Boil ziti in salted water until just shy of al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain.
  • Warm olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Soften onion for 5 minutes.
  • Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds. Add marinara, Italian seasoning, red pepper, salt, and black pepper.
  • Simmer sauce 5 minutes. Fold in spinach to wilt. Stir in half the basil.
  • Combine ricotta with 1 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan in a bowl until creamy.
  • Toss cooked ziti with the sauce. Splash in reserved pasta water to loosen and coat.
  • Spread a thin layer of sauced ziti in the dish. Dollop half the ricotta mix over it.
  • Add half of the remaining ziti. Sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan.
  • Repeat layers with remaining ziti and ricotta. Finish with the rest of mozzarella and Parmesan.
  • Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes. Uncover and bake 8–10 minutes until bubbly and lightly browned.
  • Rest 10 minutes. Scatter remaining basil and serve warm.

Notes

Variation: Stir in sautéed mushrooms or swap spinach for chopped kale. For extra heat, add more red pepper flakes. Storage: Refrigerate leftovers up to 4 days or freeze up to 2 months. Reheat covered at 350°F until hot.
This recipe is an original creation inspired by classic Easy Meatless Baked Ziti Recipe flavors. All ingredient ratios and instructions are independently developed.