5.0 from 3 votes
Cheesy Creamy Baked Ziti
This Cheesy Creamy Baked Ziti is beyond your everyday pasta. It's easy yet tastes extraordinary. Perfect for weeknight family meals and weekend guests alike.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
45 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 816 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Italian
Ingredients
- 16 ounce package of ziti
- olive oil for sprinkling
- 1 lb Italian sausage no casings
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 3 cups your favorite spaghetti sauce
- 1 ½ cups freshly chopped spinach not frozen; coarsely chop
- 1 cup plain greek yogurt
- 6 oz shredded Monterey jack cheese
- 5 oz shredded Mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup freshly grated parmesan
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- In a large pot of generously salted water, cook ziti just until slightly firmer than al dente. Go about 1 minute less than package instructions for al-dente. Drain, but don't rinse. Sprinkle with olive oil, toss, and set aside.
- In a heavy large saucepan over medium heat, brown the sausage, into small pieces. Add garlic and onion, stirring for 2 minutes or until soft. Stir in spaghetti sauce and spinach. Simmer just until sauce is warmed through and spinach is wilted. stir in yogurt and remove from heat. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350F, with rack on lower middle position. In a 3 quart baking dish, spread a thin layer of sauce over the entire bottom of dish. Arrange half of the ziti in the dish. Layer with half of the Monterey Jack and half of the Mozzarella. Pour half of the spaghetti sauce over the cheeses, spreading sauce evenly onto sides and corners. Repeat layers of ziti, cheeses, and sauce. Sprinkle Parmesan over the top and bake about 30-40 minutes, until cheese is bubbly.
- Garnish with basil and serve.
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Calories
816kcal
(41%)
Carbohydrates
69g
(23%)
Protein
41g
(82%)
Fat
42g
(65%)
Saturated Fat
19g
(95%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
4g
Monounsaturated Fat
16g
Trans Fat
0.002g
Cholesterol
110mg
(37%)
Sodium
1621mg
(68%)
Potassium
909mg
(26%)
Fiber
5g
(20%)
Sugar
9g
(18%)
Vitamin A
1738IU
(35%)
Vitamin C
15mg
(17%)
Calcium
506mg
(51%)
Iron
4mg
(22%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 816
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 816kcal | 41% |
| Carbohydrates | 69g | 23% |
| Protein | 41g | 82% |
| Fat | 42g | 65% |
| Saturated Fat | 19g | 95% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 4g | 24% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 16g | 80% |
| Trans Fat | 0.002g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 110mg | 37% |
| Sodium | 1621mg | 68% |
| Potassium | 909mg | 19% |
| Fiber | 5g | 20% |
| Sugar | 9g | 18% |
| Vitamin A | 1738IU | 35% |
| Vitamin C | 15mg | 17% |
| Calcium | 506mg | 51% |
| Iron | 4mg | 22% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.