Comforting baked ziti with ricotta, spinach, olives, and melted cheese in a savory tomato sauce.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 1 pound ziti or penne pasta
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
05 - 6 ounces fresh baby spinach
→ Cheese & Dairy
06 - 1½ cups ricotta cheese
07 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
08 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
09 - 1 large egg
→ Sauce
10 - 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
11 - ½ teaspoon dried oregano
12 - ½ teaspoon dried basil
13 - ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
14 - Salt and black pepper to taste
→ Olives
15 - ½ cup Kalamata or black olives, pitted and sliced
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook ziti until just al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook onion until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
04 - Add spinach to skillet and cook, stirring, until wilted, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
05 - In a large bowl, mix ricotta, egg, half of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Stir in the spinach mixture and olives.
06 - Add marinara sauce and cooked pasta to the bowl. Gently fold ingredients until evenly combined.
07 - Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses on top.
08 - Cover dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
09 - Remove foil and bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
10 - Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving.
