Layered Baked Ziti with Spinach and Mozzarella

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-04 · Updated 2026-05-04

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 developed and reviewed.

A comforting baked pasta layered with tender spinach, rich tomato sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese. This Italian-inspired Super Bowl recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 50 minutes, pairs ziti pasta, olive oil, fresh spinach 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.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 35 min Serves 6 Italian cuisine 420 cal/serving

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Ingredients

12 oz ziti pasta
2 tbsp olive oil
6 cups fresh spinach
3, minced garlic cloves
24 oz crushed tomatoes
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

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Instructions

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 8-10 minutes until al dente, then drain.
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. Add 6 cups fresh spinach and cook until wilted, about 3 minutes.
Step 3: Stir in 24 oz crushed tomatoes, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Simmer sauce for 5 minutes until slightly thickened.
Step 4: In a large baking dish, layer half of the cooked ziti, half of the spinach tomato sauce, and 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers with remaining ziti, sauce, and mozzarella.
Step 5: Sprinkle 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese evenly on top. Bake uncovered for 25 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden around the edges.