Half-and-Half Baked Ziti with Spinach and Ricotta

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-30 · Updated 2026-07-30

A comforting baked ziti layered with spinach, ricotta, and a creamy half-and-half cheese sauce, baked to bubbling golden perfection. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, pairs ziti pasta, olive oil, fresh spinach leaves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. 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 "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.

Ingredients

• 12 oz ziti pasta
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 6 cups, roughly chopped fresh spinach leaves
• 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
• 1 1/4 cups half-and-half
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp (optional) crushed red pepper flakes

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 8-9 minutes until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 6 cups roughly chopped fresh spinach and sauté for 3-4 minutes until wilted. Remove from heat.
3. Step 3: In a medium saucepan, melt 2 tbsp unsalted butter over medium heat. Whisk in 2 tbsp all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute until the mixture bubbles but does not brown.
4. Step 4: Gradually whisk in 1 cup milk and 1 1/4 cups half-and-half, stirring constantly. Cook for 4-5 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
5. Step 5: Stir in 1 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, and optional 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes.
6. Step 6: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked ziti, sautéed spinach, 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese, and the prepared half-and-half sauce. Mix gently until evenly combined.
7. Step 7: Transfer the pasta mixture to a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle 1 cup shredded mozzarella and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan evenly over the top.
8. Step 8: Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until the cheese on top is melted and golden brown. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.