Vegetarian Oven-Baked Pasta With Ricotta Cheese and Spinach

Vegetarian Baked Pasta
The Spruce
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 40 mins
Servings: 6 servings

When you have a taste for cheese-stuffed shells but not the time or the inclination to make them, this vegetarian baked pasta with cheese and spinach recipe is the perfect stand-in. 

Is there anything more comforting than a cheesy, hot, baked pasta casserole? And the best part of all is you don't have to add meat to create this dish that is nourishing, satisfying and enjoyable for the whole family. It's the perfect vegetarian dinner idea

Made with Parmesan and ricotta cheeses, spinach, tomatoes, and basil, it's healthy enough for adults to give their nod of approval yet cheesy enough for kids to ask for seconds. 

This is a great everyday dish that is company-worthy meal when you serve it with a green salad, garlic bread, wine, and candles. Best of all, it can be assembled in advance and popped in the oven when you are ready to eat. And if the news couldn't get any better, it only takes about 10 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups pasta (uncooked penne, ziti, or medium shells)
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil (loosely packed, chopped)
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1 small onion (chopped)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 2 large tomatoes (chopped)
  • Optional: Salt and pepper (to taste)
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (Italian-seasoned)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 10 ounces frozen spinach (thawed and drained)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    The Spruce 
  2. Preheat oven to 350 F and lightly grease a 13-by-9-inch casserole dish.

    Grease the casserole dish.
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  3. Cook pasta in lightly salted water according to package directions—about 10 minutes. Drain well.

    Cooked pasta for a casserole.
     The Spruce
  4. Combine fresh chopped basil, Parmesan cheese, and minced garlic with 1 teaspoon olive oil to moisten the mixture. Stir in ricotta cheese and set aside.

    Cheese mixture for pasta casserole.
     The Spruce
  5. In a large skillet, sauté onions in 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat for 5 minutes or until translucent. Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in balsamic vinegar, tomatoes, and salt and pepper to heat. Cook for another 3 to 4 minutes.

  6. In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta with spinach and tomato-onion mixture. Transfer to the prepared casserole dish and spoon ricotta mixture on top and spread into an even layer.

    Combining pasta casserole ingredients.
     The Spruce
  7. Evenly sprinkle breadcrumbs on top then drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

  8. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until lightly bubbling. Let cool slightly before cutting into squares.

    Vegetarian baked pasta casserole.
     The Spruce
  9. Serve and enjoy!

Tips

  • To prepare this dish in advance, assemble it, cover, and refrigerate until you are ready to bake it. It will take an additional 10 to 15 minutes to bake if it is right out of the refrigerator.
  • It also freezes well after baking. Place individual portions in freezer containers for delicious hot lunches that can be rewarmed in the microwave at the office or school.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
425 Calories
15g Fat
53g Carbs
21g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 425
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 15g 20%
Saturated Fat 6g 31%
Cholesterol 29mg 10%
Sodium 463mg 20%
Total Carbohydrate 53g 19%
Dietary Fiber 6g 21%
Protein 21g
Calcium 511mg 39%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)