Easy Meatless Baked Ziti
Looking for an easy dinner that’s wholesome, hearty, and sure to be a hit! Try this recipe for baked ziti recipe without meat! It’s cheesy, satisfying, and only takes about 20 minutes in the kitchen to assemble!
Servings 8
Calories 455kcal
Ingredients
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8 ounces fresh mushrooms finely chopped
- 4 cups fresh spinach finely chopped
- 2 cups cottage cheese
- 12 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 24 ounce jar spaghetti sauce (3 cups)
- ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese block cheese preferred
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions in salted water until al dente. Drain immediately and shake off excess water.1 pound ziti pasta
- Heat olive oil in a skillet and cook the mushrooms until tender. Add the spinach and cook just until it’s wilted. Transfer to a fine mesh strainer and drain the veggies.1 tablespoon olive oil, 8 ounces fresh mushrooms, 4 cups fresh spinach
- Place the cottage cheese in a food processor and pulse until a texture similar to ricotta cheese.2 cups cottage cheese
- Combine blended cottage cheese with half mozzarella cheese, egg, and one cup of sauce in a large bowl. Mix well.12 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese, 1 egg, 1 24 ounce jar spaghetti sauce (3 cups), 2 cups cottage cheese
- Add the hot pasta and toss to combine.
- Transfer the pasta mixture to a sprayed 9 x 13 baking dish. Top with remaining spaghetti sauce, mozzarella cheese, and parmesan.12 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese, ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese, 1 24 ounce jar spaghetti sauce (3 cups)
- Bake in 350° F oven for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Remove from oven and let it stand for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Notes
Be sure to check out the full post for more ingredient tips, serving suggestions, storage info, and much more!
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- Covered vs Uncovered? The dish can bake uncovered if you prepare it as written and it goes straight in the oven. However, if you make ahead or the dish is cool and needs to heat longer than 30 minutes I’d recommend cooking it covered for the first 20 minutes. Then add the cheese and cook longer.
- Garnish for Presentation: Baked ziti looks a bit boring so a simple sprinkle of some chopped parsley or fresh basil adds a splash of color to the plate. I also love to have some extra parmesan cheese on the table.
- Make Sure the Pasta is Covered with Sauce. It’s important to make sure all the pasta in the baking dish is covered with a layer of sauce. This will keep the pasta on the top and edges from drying out.
- Salted Pasta Water. Make sure you cook your pasta in a large pot of salted water! This is key to the flavor of the dish.
Nutrition
Calories: 455kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 910mg | Potassium: 650mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 2190IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 338mg | Iron: 2mg