Spinach and Ricotta Pasta Bake

Name: Spinach and Ricotta Pasta Bake
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 pound (454 grams) penne pasta; 2 cups ricotta cheese (16 ounces); 3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided; ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 egg, beaten; 4 cups fresh baby spinach; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper; 2 1/2 cups marinara sauce

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Spinach and Ricotta Pasta Bake is the ultimate cozy comfort meal, packed with creamy ricotta and tender spinach, tossed in marinara, and baked with extra cheese until bubbly. It tastes like Vegetarian Spinach Lasagna, but way easier to make! The whole family loves this simple, vegetarian dinner.

Spinach and Ricotta Pasta Bake is the ultimate cozy comfort meal, packed with creamy ricotta and tender spinach, tossed in marinara, and baked until bubbly. | aheadofthyme.com

Pasta is my go-to for quick, family-friendly meals, and this spinach pasta bake has quickly become one of our regular options. Everyone loves the cheesy sauce, and I love that we're sneaking in some spinach for some extra greens! Serve it on its own as a vegetarian main or pair it with your favorite Italian recipes, like meatballs or eggplant parmesan, to make it a complete meal. Dinner is served!

Why You'll Love This Spinach and Ricotta Pasta Bake

Quick and easy. This "lazy lasagna" is just that! While the pasta cooks, preheat the oven and work on the ricotta mixture. Then, mix everything together, top with tomato sauce and extra cheese, and bake. That's it. So easy!
So flavorful. Similar to Stuffed Shells, this delicious pasta bake is loaded with creamy cheese and spinach. A touch of marinara cuts through all that creamy goodness and adds a rich tomato flavor to bring everything together.
Great for entertaining. If you have company coming over and you want something you can pop in the oven while you catch up, this is the recipe to try! You'll have plenty of time to mingle while the pasta bakes. You can even prep it the night before for easy entertaining!
Easy to customize. Need a gluten-free option? Want to add more fiber? Prefer a different noodle? There are so many ways to make this ricotta pasta bake recipe your own.

Ingredient Notes

To make this delicious Spinach and Ricotta Pasta Bake, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

pasta - we like using a pasta that catches as much sauce as possible. Our favorite is penne, but other good ones that work in this recipe are rotini, rigatoni, and farfalle.
cheeses - the filling is made with three kinds of cheese: ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan, and you'll sprinkle extra mozzarella on top before baking. If real Parmesan is out of your budget, try Grana Padano or Pecorino Romano.
garlic
egg - to hold the cheese mixture together.
baby spinach - the fresh spinach will wilt from the heat of the warm pasta, so there is no need to blanch or cook it first.
salt and pepper
marinara sauce - a little pasta sauce adds color and a pop of acidity. We love using our Homemade Marinara Sauce in this pasta.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, a large pot, strainer, a large bowl, and a 9x13 baking dish.

How to Make the Best Spinach and Ricotta Pasta Bake

Cook pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add pasta and cook until al dente (fully cooked but still firm), about 8-10 minutes, or according to package directions. Drain well and leave the pasta in the pot to stay warm.

Make cheesy sauce. In a large mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 1 cup mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, garlic and beaten egg. Mix well.
Toss in pasta. Add the warm pasta, spinach, salt, and pepper and toss well, until the spinach is wilted.

Assemble. Transfer the pasta ricotta mixture into a 9x13 casserole pan. Top with marinara sauce and the remaining 2 cups mozzarella cheese.

Bake. Bake the pasta in a 375F preheated oven for 25 minutes until the melted cheese is golden brown. Let cool for 15 minutes, then serve.

Recipe Variations

Change the pasta. Feel free to use your favorite pasta shape, like pasta shells, rotini, etc. Whole wheat pasta is more filling, but you can also use your favorite gluten-free pasta.
Play with add-ins. For extra flavor, sprinkle sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes, olives, or pine nuts into the pasta mixture before baking.
Add extra protein. Add browned Italian sausage crumbles or leftover rotisserie chicken to the pasta mixture before baking. Or, replace the marinara sauce with your favorite meat sauce.

How to Serve

This Spinach and Ricotta Pasta Bake is delicious and filling served on its own. You can also pair it with some pasta sides including:

For more recipes, see our 30 Side Dishes for Pasta.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Salt the water. This will add flavor directly to the pasta, which brings the whole dish to life.
Cook until al dente. Especially since the pasta will continue to cook in the oven, it's very important to bring it out of the boiling water as soon as it turns al dente. Be careful not to overcook.
Prep the night before. If you want to serve this great pasta bake for a dinner party, make everything the night before, cover with foil, and keep it in the fridge. The next day, preheat the oven and bake like normal.

Storing and Freezing Instructions

How to Store

Let any leftover pasta cool to room temperature, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

How to Reheat

Microwave individual portions for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. To reheat large portions, bake them in the oven at 350 until piping hot in the middle.

How to Freeze

Leftover pasta bake can be frozen in individual airtight containers for several months.

FAQ

What is a good alternative for ricotta in pasta bakes?

If you need to avoid ricotta for whatever reason, look for small curd cottage cheese. It cooks down just as well and has a mild, creamy flavor. It's an easy swap and can sometimes be easier to find (and cheaper) than regular ricotta.

What type of pasta is best for a spinach and ricotta pasta bake?

Pasta bakes require noodles that can handle some stirring and baking. I prefer to use penne pasta, which has a tubular shape that holds onto sauce and doesn't fall apart as easily as more delicate pasta varieties.

Do you have to add marinara sauce on top?

No, but I recommend it! The spinach ricotta sauce has a mild, creamy flavor, and the acidity of the marinara cuts through all that richness. This balances the flavors in the dish and adds a little color contrast, too.

More Vegetarian Pasta Recipes

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