Spinach and Artichoke Baked Ziti

Our easy baked ziti with spinach and artichokes only requires about 15 minutes of hands-on time. We add a creamy layer of sour cream, pesto, and cheese to the middle of the ziti, making the pasta utterly delicious. Jump to the Easy Baked Ziti Recipe or read on to see our tips for making it.

Easy Baked Ziti Recipe with Spinach, Artichokes, and Pesto

Not Your Typical Baked Ziti

If there’s one dish that will instantly make our knees buckle, it’s baked ziti. Just the thought of it makes us gasp. I’ll take baked pasta anyway I can get it, but this vegetarian version is loaded with spinach and artichokes as well as an ultra-creamy and cheesy layer of sour cream, pesto, and cheese. It’s ridiculously good!

How To Make The Best Baked Ziti

This baked ziti recipe comes together fast. Let me show you how I make it:

Start by cooking your pasta, but undercook it by 1 to 2 minutes. This way, when we toss it with the marinara sauce and bake, the pasta won’t become mushy.

When the pasta is cooked, I drain it, but save some of the hot pasta water for later. The starchy pasta water helps to make the sauce stick to the pasta when it bakes in the oven.

From there, I toss the pasta into a big bowl with marinara sauce (homemade or store-bought), fresh spinach, and the artichokes. For the artichokes, I use canned that have been drained.

Before baking the ziti, I toss slightly undercooked pasta with marinara sauce, spinach, artichokes, and a little starchy pasta water.
Before baking the ziti, I toss slightly undercooked pasta with marinara sauce, spinach, artichokes, and a little starchy pasta water.

As you toss the ziti ingredients in the bowl, you will notice that the spinach will begin to wilt from the heat of the pasta. It will seem like a lot of spinach at first, but as it wilts, it becomes more reasonable.

When everything is tossed together, spoon about half of the pasta, spinach, and artichokes into a baking dish then add a layer of creamy pesto.

The creamy pesto layer is my favorite part of this baked ziti recipe. It’s such a treat and really simple to make. To make it, I stir sour cream and pesto together. Cottage cheese, ricotta, and cream cheese are all excellent substitutes.

Adding a creamy pesto layer to the middle of the ziti makes this veggie baked ziti extra delicious.
Adding a creamy pesto layer to the middle of the ziti makes this veggie baked ziti extra delicious.

In addition to the pesto layer, I add some mozzarella cheese then top with the rest of the pasta, spinach, and artichokes.

So that the baked pasta is extra cheesy, I add more mozzarella on top, and then bake until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese has melted.

How to Make Seriously Good Baked Ziti with Spinach, Artichokes, and a Creamy Pesto Layer

Make Ahead and Storing Tips

Baked ziti is the perfect make-ahead meal. Hereā€™s how I do it:

You can refrigerate the pasta unbaked. Cover and refrigerate the assembled, but unbaked pasta up to 2 days. When you cover, use parchment paper between the pasta and aluminum foil. Aluminum foil can react with the tomatoes.

Baked ziti also freezes well. Let it cool completely on a rack before freezing, and then wrap it very well with foil (we use two layers). Defrost the frozen pasta overnight in the refrigerator and then bake at 400Ā°F for about 1 hour. (I prefer baking and then freezing the pasta instead of freezing uncooked pasta dishes.)

Easy Baked Ziti with Spinach and Artichokes

More Baked Pasta Recipes

Recipe updated, originally posted October 2012. Since posting this in 2012, we have tweaked the recipe to be more clear. ā€“ Adam and Joanne

Spinach and Artichoke Baked Ziti

  • PREP
  • COOK
  • TOTAL

Baked ziti with spinach and artichokes only requires about 15 minutes of hands-on time. A layer of sour cream, pesto, and cheese is sandwiched in the middle of the ziti, making it extra delicious. If you do not have sour cream, substitute with cream cheese, cottage cheese, or ricotta cheese.

Makes about 8 servings

You Will Need

1 pound dry pasta like ziti, penne, or rigatoni

Salt, to taste

3 cupsĀ marinara sauceĀ or use 1 (28-ounce) jar store-bought sauce

1/4 cup basil pesto, see our pesto recipe

3/4 cup reduced fat sour cream

10 ounces fresh baby spinach

1 cup canned or jarred and drained artichoke hearts, chopped

4 ounces mozzarella cheese, coarsely grated (about 1 cup)

Directions

  • Prepare Ziti
  • 1Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 3-quart baking dish or spray with non-stick cooking spray.

    2Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil, add the pasta then follow package directions, but cook 1 to 2 minutes less than the package calls for. Reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta water then drain.

    3While the pasta cooks, warm the marinara sauce in a saucepan over medium heat.

    4In a small bowl, stir basil pesto and the sour cream together until well blended.

    5Add the cooked pasta to a large bowl with the spinach, artichokes, warmed marinara, and the reserved pasta water. Toss until the spinach has wilted and everything is well combined.

  • To Finish
  • 1Spoon half of the pasta into the baking dish. Spread the sour cream and pesto mixture over the pasta and scatter with half of the mozzarella cheese.

    2Top with the remaining pasta, lightly press everything down into the baking dish, and then scatter remaining mozzarella cheese on top.

    3Place the baking dish onto an aluminum-lined baking dish (just in case any sauce drips over the sides of the baking dish). Bake until the cheese has melted and the sauce is bubbling, about 30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Adam and Joanne's Tips

  • Nutrition facts: The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. We have used the USDA database to calculate approximate values.

If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #inspiredtaste ā€” We love to see your creations on Instagram and Facebook! Find us: @inspiredtaste

Nutrition Per Serving Serving Size 1/8 of the recipe / Calories 457 / Protein 25.2 g / Carbohydrate 62.1 g / Dietary Fiber 9.6 g / Total Sugars 8 g / Total Fat 13.3 g / Saturated Fat 4.9 g / Cholesterol 23.3 mg / Sodium 893 mg
AUTHOR:  Adam and Joanne Gallagher
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61 comments… Leave a Review
  • Isabel November 21, 2021, 8:34 pm

    Just new here and saw this recipe. Will definitely be making this one. Thank you.

    Reply
  • Margie December 11, 2018, 10:47 am

    Could I make this beforehand and reheat it? If so how long to reheat and at what temperature? Thanks

    Reply
    • Joanne December 12, 2018, 2:47 pm

      Hi Margie, You can. I’d cover and store the premade ziti in the fridge then bake at the same temperature suggested in the recipe (350F). You may need a little longer than the suggested 30 minutes since you will be starting with a cold dish. Just bake until heated through.

      Reply
  • Sona Creighton July 8, 2018, 11:00 pm

    Could I replace all the artichokes with mushrooms?

    Reply
    • Joanne August 9, 2018, 6:29 pm

      Yes, that would be great.

      Reply
  • Nancy December 4, 2017, 5:40 pm

    In your Easy Baked Ziti with Spinach, are the artichoke hearts marinated or plain?

    Reply
    • Joanne December 4, 2017, 5:46 pm

      Hi Nancy, You can use either.

      Reply
  • Liz August 21, 2017, 10:53 am

    I made this 2 times. We love it. So easy and good. Can the recipe be frozen?

    Reply
    • Donna November 11, 2017, 8:06 am

      Wondering if you learned if this can be frozen? If so, how to adjust the baking directions?

      Reply
      • Joanne November 14, 2017, 6:19 pm

        Hi Donna, Let it cool completely on a rack before freezing, and then wrap it very well with foil (we use two layers). You can freeze for at least 1 month.

        Reply
  • Maeghan August 17, 2017, 10:24 pm

    This is my new favorite dish. It was magical. The only change I made was sauteeing the artichokes with some mushrooms I had on hand to add some flavor to them and to use up the mushrooms. The basil pesto layer was amazing. The whole dish was. We’re newly vegetarians and regular baked ziti was a staple dish in our home but this was so much better. Will definitely be making again.

    Reply

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