One-Pot Baked Ziti with Spinach and Italian Sausage

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-10 · Updated 2026-05-10

A hearty one-pot pasta dish combining Italian sausage, tender spinach, and melted mozzarella baked to bubbly perfection. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 55 minutes, pairs Italian sausage, casings removed, olive oil, yellow onion, diced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 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

• 1 lb Italian sausage, casings removed
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium (about 1 cup) yellow onion, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
• 2 cups water
• 12 oz dried ziti pasta
• 4 cups fresh baby spinach
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

The 9x13 baking dish we’d bake this in → Best Bakeware for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add 1 lb Italian sausage (casings removed) and cook for 5-7 minutes, breaking up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through.
2. Step 2: Add 1 cup diced yellow onion and 4 minced garlic cloves to the skillet, sauté for 4 minutes until onions are translucent and garlic is fragrant.
3. Step 3: Stir in 28 oz crushed tomatoes, 2 cups water, 12 oz dried ziti pasta, 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Step 4: Fold in 4 cups fresh baby spinach and 1 cup ricotta cheese. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella evenly over the top.
5. Step 5: Transfer skillet to the oven and bake uncovered for 20 minutes until pasta is tender and cheese is bubbly and golden.
6. Step 6: Remove from oven and sprinkle 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese on top. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.