Half-and-Half Baked Ziti with Spinach and Mozzarella

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-03 · Updated 2026-08-03

A comforting baked ziti dish enriched with half-and-half for a velvety sauce, layered with fresh spinach and melted mozzarella cheese. This Italian pasta recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 50 minutes, pairs ziti pasta, olive oil, and garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner. Each serving lands at about 420 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 "Build a week of meals around this recipe" 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.

Ingredients

• 12 oz ziti pasta
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 5 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 8 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 2 cups marinara sauce
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp dried oregano

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add 12 oz ziti pasta and cook for 8 minutes until just al dente, then drain.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Add 5 cups chopped fresh spinach and cook for 3 minutes until wilted.
3. Step 3: Stir in 1 cup half-and-half, 2 cups marinara sauce, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1 tsp dried oregano. Simmer for 5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
4. Step 4: In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained pasta, the spinach sauce mixture, 1 cup ricotta cheese, and 6 oz shredded mozzarella cheese. Stir gently to combine.
5. Step 5: Transfer pasta mixture to a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining 2 oz shredded mozzarella and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan evenly on top.
6. Step 6: Bake uncovered for 25 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly, with golden edges. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.