Baked Ziti With Spinach, Zucchini & Mushrooms

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50 minutes

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This easy baked ziti with spinach will have your family begging for seconds (and your kids won’t even complain about eating their veggies).

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A serving of baked ziti garnished with parsley on a white plate, with a casserole dish in the background.

It’s not always easy to get kids to eat their veggies. I’ve even been known to be a little sneaky about it, like making zucchini noodles, turkey meatloaf with spinach and mushrooms or this pasta with broccoli. The kids tend not to notice as much when you bake them right into the recipe!

That’s why my girls go crazy for this and tell me it’s the best baked ziti recipe they’ve ever tasted. Okay, it may be the only baked ziti they’ve tasted but still, a compliment is a compliment, right?

Easy Baked Ziti

I love making this baked ziti with spinach, zucchini and mushrooms but you can switch it up and add any veggies you like. We also add ground turkey but you can leave that out if you like your baked ziti vegetarian style.  

Start by chopping the veggies and parsley. Set the parsley aside for later.

Chopped spinach, zucchini, and mushrooms arranged side by side on a wooden cutting board.

Put the pasta on the stove to boil. While your waiting for the pasta, saute the zucchini.  

Diced zucchini being sautéed in a stainless steel pan with a wooden spatula.

After sauteing the zucchini for three minutes, add the spinach and mushrooms and saute for another two minutes.   

Chopped vegetables being poured into a stainless steel bowl, including spinach, mushrooms, and zucchini.

Remove from heat and brown the ground turkey.  Drain and pour into a mixing bowl, then add the veggies. 

Preparing a meal with ground meat and diced zucchini mixture in glass bowls.

Stir in garlic and herbs.

Sprinkling dried herbs into a bowl of chopped ingredients.

Add pasta sauce and stir well.

A bowl of homemade marinara sauce with a wooden spoon.

Take a couple of spoonfuls for the sauce and cover the bottom of a 9 x 13 glass pan or casserole dish.

A ladle serving a portion of chunky tomato-based vegetable stew into a white baking dish

Add 1/2 of your ziti, 1/2 of the remaining meat sauce, 1/2 of the ricotta.

A dish of pasta with tomato sauce and chunks of cheese in a white serving bowl.

Sprinkle 1/2 of the mozzarella over the top.  

A person's hand sprinkling shredded cheese over a baking dish filled with a pasta dish.

Repeat this step with the remaining ingredients and top with parmesan cheese.

An unbaked ziti dish topped with shredded cheese in a white casserole dish.

Bake for 20 minutes and let stand for five minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley.

A freshly baked ziti with melted cheese and garnished with chopped parsley, served in a rectangular baking dish.

This recipe is so good and my family always wants seconds. The best part is that you’ll probably have leftovers so you’re off dinner duty the next night. You’re welcome!

A serving of baked ziti being scooped out of a dish, with melted cheese and chopped parsley visible.

My girls love this ziti recipe and happy kids make for a happy mom! 

A plate of baked ziti garnished with herbs on a wooden table.

It’s so good your family will be asking for seconds. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do you cook baked ziti?

Because the ground beef and pasta are pre-cooked, you’re really just heating everything up and melting the cheese. Bake for about 20 minutes and you’re good to go.

Can you freeze baked ziti?

We freeze this baked ziti all the time. I just take what’s left over and cut it into individual servings, then put in freezer bags. They’re good for up to a month. They may even be good longer than that but a month is the longest we’ve ever frozen them.

How do you reheat baked ziti?

We just reheat our baked ziti in the microwave. However, you can always sprinkle more cheese over the top and reheat in the oven for about 10 minutes at 350.

What meat can you add to baked ziti?

We usually make our ziti with ground turkey but you can also use regular ground beef, ground chicken or sausage.

Can you make baked ziti ahead of time?

Yes, you can make this the night before, cover tightly with plastic wrap and bake the next day (makes life so easy!)

A plate of baked ziti garnished with parsley, with a fork lifting a cheesy bite.
A plate of baked ziti topped with melted cheese and fresh parsley.
4.56 from 75 votes

Baked Ziti With Spinach, Zucchini and Mushrooms


Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
The kids will love eating their veggies when you serve this delicious baked ziti with spinach, zucchini and mushrooms

Ingredients
 

  • 1 lb ziti 1 box
  • 1 zucchini
  • 2 cups spinach
  • 4 ounces mushrooms
  • 1 lb ground turkey
  • 2 tbsp parsley chopped
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 tsp dried basil
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 48 ounces pasta sauce 2 jars
  • 8 ounces part skim ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups part skim mozzarella cheese shredded
  • 1/2 cup shredded parmesan
  • Extra parsley for garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350
  • Cook ziti according to package
    1 lb ziti
  • Chop zucchini, spinach and mushrooms.
    1 zucchini, 2 cups spinach, 4 ounces mushrooms
  • Saute zucchini in olive oil for three minutes. Add spinach and mushrooms and saute for two additional minutes.
  • Cook ground turkey and pour into large bowl.
    1 lb ground turkey
  • Add sauteed mixture, parsley, oregano, basil, garlic and pasta sauce. Stir.
    2 tbsp parsley, 2 tsp dried oregano, 2 tsp dried basil, 3 cloves garlic, 48 ounces pasta sauce
  • Cover the bottom of a 9×13 glass pan (or casserole dish) with a thin layer of the meat & veggie mixture.
  • Add 1/2 of the cooked ziti.
  • Next, add 1/2 of the remaining meat & veggie mixture.
  • Add 1/2 of the ricotta.
    8 ounces part skim ricotta cheese
  • Add 1/2 of the mozzarella.
    2 cups part skim mozzarella cheese
  • Repeat.
  • Top with parmesan cheese.
    1/2 cup shredded parmesan
  • Bake uncovered at 350 for 20 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
  • Garnish with extra parsley.
    Extra parsley for garnish

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 462kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 1157mg | Potassium: 1037mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1890IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 436mg | Iron: 4mg
The nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used.

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    4.56 from 75 votes (71 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




    33 Comments

    1. 5 stars
      Looks absolutely yummy! Thank you for the recipe too.

      1. Thanks…it really was delicious!
        xoxo
        Lisa

    2. Yummy! What a great way to get the kids to eat their veggies. No pancakes though? That is strange! 😉

    3. This looks so yummy! I’m pinning it for later. Always looking for way to sneak more veggies into our diet.

    4. Stopping by from the Titus 2 Tuesday Link Up. This looks fantastic! I’ve recently been thinking it would be good for me to start sneaking some veggies into our usual family meals! Thanks!

      1. It’s so much easier than trying to get them to eat a plate of zucchini! I’m all about being sneaky now…LOL!
        xoxo
        Lisa

    5. Kelly @RaisingSamuels says:

      5 stars
      This looks amazingly delicious, Lisa! Thanks for sharing with #SocialButterflySunday! Hope to see you link up again this week 🙂

    6. I love finding ways to hide veggies in our meals! I will definitely be making this one!

      1. You should…the kids (and you) will love it! I’m so glad you stopped by today!
        xoxo
        Lisa

    7. Oh my GOODNESS! I wanted to eat your photos – every. single. one!!!
      Love the recipe…I’m a “sneak-er”, too – LOL
      Thanks for sharing this over on Coffee & Conversation today!!

    8. Yum!! I love hiding veggies in pasta 🙂 Adding this to my “recipes to try” pinterest board! Can’t wait.

      1. It does seem like pasta makes it easier to hide these things, doesn’t it? Thanks so much for sharing!
        xoxo
        Lisa

    9. 5 stars
      Looks so yummy! You could also make it with whole wheat noodles to add fiber. I’ve been using whole wheat everything since my kids were little and they don’t know the difference now! I love the addition of zucchini & spinach. Stopping by from While I’m Waiting Wednesday link up. Have a great weekend!

      1. That’s such a great idea! They’ll never know the difference with everything else that’s mixed in. I’m putting that on my list for next time…thanks so much for sharing!
        xoxo
        Lisa

    10. This looks really delicious! My toddler would spot the tiny green flecks from a mile away, but that’s okay because then there’d be more for me to eat! 🙂 Pinning!

    11. 5 stars
      This is great! Over the summer I tutor my niece then I make her dinner. She is a picky eater, but I want to make sure she eats healthy. I love your recipe! Ragu is my favorite sauce too.

      1. Thanks so much! I think she’ll really love it…my kids did! Thanks so much for visiting!
        xoxo
        Lisa

    12. I’m pretty sure my boys would notice the veggies since they are a tween and a teenager but they try almost anything now and I think this dish would be a hit!

      1. If you make it, you’ll have to let me know how they like it!
        xoxo
        Lisa

    13. This is a good way to get me to eat my veggies, hah. I love baked ziti & now my mouth is watering!

      1. Thanks! It really is so good…my whole family loved it!
        xoxo
        Lisa

      1. This is a great easy Recipe. I just made it waiting for it to cool down alittle. I tasted a corner side. Its absolutely Delicious!!!!!

      2. I’m so glad that you love it as much as we do! Enjoy!!!

    14. Looks delicious! Thanks for sharing your recipe with us at Snickerdoodle Sunday! Pinned and tweeted 🙂

      1. Thanks so much for hosting! By the way, I LOVE the name of your blog…so cute!
        xoxo
        Lisa

    15. I absolutely love baked ziti and this looks like a great recipe! Love that it has the extra vegies in it! Thanks for sharing! #SmallVictories

    16. You never said what to do with the garlic?

      1. Hi Caitlin,
        It’s in step 7 of the recipe card. I hope you enjoy it 🙂

    17. How many servings is this considered?

      1. Hi Steph, You should get about 8 large servings or 10 regular sized servings. Hope you enjoy it 🙂

      1. Thank you so much! I’m really glad you enjoyed it!

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