Spinach and Beef Baked Ziti Casserole
Spinach and Beef Baked Ziti Casserole layers tender pasta with rich tomato sauce, savory ground beef, and creamy ricotta, all blanketed in melty provolone and mozzarella. The spinach adds a fresh, mellow earthiness that balances the hearty cheese and meat. Serve it for a cozy family dinner or a casual potluck when you want comforting, crowd-pleasing flavors.
- Prep20 mins
- Cook1 hr 10 mins
- Serves12
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Spinach and Beef Baked Ziti Casserole, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 48 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 90 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 14
- Heart Health
- 69
- Metabolic
- 24
- Digestive
- 24
- Inflammatory
- 41
- Performance
- 41
- General Wellness
- 1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- 2
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the ziti and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- 3
Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir the ground beef, the onion, and 1/2 of the garlic in the hot skillet until the beef is browned and the onion is wilted, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the spaghetti sauce and simmer for 15 minutes.
- 4
While the meat sauce simmers, heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the remaining garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the spinach and cook, tossing occasionally, until wilted, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.
- 5
Combine the ricotta cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, and the wilted spinach in a large bowl until well mixed. Season with salt.
- 6
Place 1/2 of the ziti in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish and layer with 1/2 of the meat sauce. Lay the provolone cheese on top to make an even layer. Spread the spinach mixture over it, then cover with the remaining ziti and meat sauce. Top with 2 tablespoons Parmesan and sprinkle the mozzarella over the top.
- 7
Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let it firm up for at least 10 minutes before serving.
- Calories 340.89 kcal Moderate 17%
- Protein 16.08 g Good Source 32%
- Carbohydrate 17.18 g 6%
- Total Fat 23.0 g High 29%
- Saturated Fat 12.37 g High 62%
- Trans Fat 0.13 g High --
- Cholesterol 59.5 mg Moderate 20%
- Sodium 858.87 mg High 37%
- Dietary Fiber 2.82 g Moderate 10%
- Total Sugars 5.54 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 276.61 mg Good Source 21%
- Iron 2.48 mg Moderate 14%
- Potassium 466.09 mg Low Source 10%
- Vitamin A 76.94 mcg Low Source 9%
- Vitamin C 10.2 mg Moderate 11%
- Vitamin D 0.16 mcg Low Source 1%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Spinach and Beef Baked Ziti Casserole is made with 12 ingredients and serves 12. It takes about 1 hr 30 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Baby Spinach, Ground Beef, Minced Garlic, and Olive Oil. Each serving provides about 340.89 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Spinach and Beef Baked Ziti Casserole made of?
- The main ingredients are Baby Spinach, Ground Beef, Minced Garlic, Olive Oil, Onion. The full list of 12 is above.
- How long does it take to make Spinach and Beef Baked Ziti Casserole?
- About 1 hr 30 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 1 hr 10 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 340.89 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Spinach and Beef Baked Ziti Casserole easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 12 ingredients and 7 steps.
- Is Spinach and Beef Baked Ziti Casserole healthy?
- Spinach and Beef Baked Ziti Casserole has an easyChef Pro health score of 42/100. Per serving, it provides 340.89 calories and 16.08 g of protein, or 32% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of calcium. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 858.87 mg (37% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 12.37 g (62% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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