Four-Cheese Baked Pasta with Spinach and Thyme

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A comforting baked pasta dish featuring a blend of four cheeses and fresh spinach, seasoned with thyme for a fragrant finish. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 45 minutes, pairs penne pasta, fresh spinach, ricotta cheese for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 30 min Serves 6 Italian cuisine 480 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook 12 oz penne pasta for 9 minutes until al dente, then drain and set aside.
  2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
  3. Step 3: Add 4 cups fresh spinach to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes until wilted. Season with 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves.
  4. Step 4: In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, sautéed spinach mixture, 1 cup ricotta cheese, 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, and 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese. Mix gently to combine.
  5. Step 5: Transfer the mixture to a greased 9x13-inch baking dish and bake uncovered for 20 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden on top.
  6. Step 6: Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

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