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Delicious Meatless Baked Ziti

This elegant meatless baked ziti recipe is an easy dish and always a crowd-pleaser.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 12 people

Equipment

  • 1 9x13 inch Baking Dish
  • 1 Large Pot For cooking pasta
  • 1 Large Skillet For sautéing vegetables
  • 1 Large Mixing Bowl For combining ingredients
  • 1 Spatula or wooden spoon For stirring and mixing

Ingredients
  

Main

  • olive oil cooking spray
  • 1 16 ounce package ziti pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ 8 ounce package fresh spinach, chopped
  • 1 4 ounce package fresh mushrooms, sliced
  • 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 the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook ziti in boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.
  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté spinach and mushrooms in hot oil until soft, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add to ziti in the bowl.
  • Add ricotta cheese, goat cheese, and 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese to ziti mixture; mix thoroughly. Stir in spaghetti sauce until well combined, then transfer mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese.
  • Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven until bubbly and cheese is melted, about 15 minutes.

Notes

To elevate this meatless ziti, consider a few culinary enhancements. For deeper flavor, sauté the mushrooms until well caramelized before adding spinach. Incorporate fresh herbs like basil or oregano into the cheese mixture, or a pinch of red pepper flakes for a subtle warmth. Ensure the ziti is cooked truly al dente, as it will finish cooking in the oven; this prevents a mushy texture. For a richer, creamier interior, you could cover the dish with foil for the first 10 minutes of baking, then remove for the final browning of the cheese. Always allow the baked ziti to rest for 5-10 minutes after removing from the oven, allowing it to set for cleaner serving.