Italian spinach pasta bake is a classic dish that combines the flavors of spinach, cheese, and pasta in a creamy, flavorful casserole. This hearty and versatile dish is perfect for a quick weeknight meal or a special occasion dinner. With its simple ingredients and easy preparation, this recipe is sure to become a family favorite.
Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!
MAKE AHEAD ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND PASTA BAKE
This wonderful hearty, make ahead casserole really hits the spot. full of flavor, easy to make (and freeze) for those hectic or lazy days ahead.
Provided by CHILI SPICE
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 50m
Yield 8-10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Cut sausage into 1/2 inch chunks. I large skillet, brown sausage over medium-high heat, in batches and adding oil if necessary. Transfer sausage to a bowl.
- Pour off any fat from pan. Add onions, garlic and red pepper, cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes or until softened. Stir in pasta sauce, tomato sauce, basil, oregano and fennel seeds; bring to a boil, stirring and scraping up any brown bits from bottom of pan. Return sausage and any accumulated juices to pan; cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until sausage is firm throughout.
- Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta for 6 minutes, add spinach;cook for 1 minute. Drain well and return to pot. Add sausage mixture and provolone/mozzarella cheese; stir to combine well.
- Transfer to 2 greased 8-inch square baking dishes or 1 13x9-inch dish. Sprinkle with Asiago/parmesan cheese. Cover dish with greased foil, greased side down.
- To serve: Bake, covered with foil, in in 375 degree F. oven for 30 minutes or for 1 hour if from the refrigerator. This freezes beautifully (thaw in refrigerator before baking).
Nutrition Facts : Calories 833.6, Fat 41.1, SaturatedFat 17.7, Cholesterol 84.9, Sodium 2096.9, Carbohydrate 79.3, Fiber 12.5, Sugar 14.3, Protein 37.9
CHERYL'S SPINACH CHEESY PASTA CASSEROLE
This recipe was given by a friend and it instantly became a favorite! It tastes great as leftovers as well! Enjoy!
Provided by FBERLAGE
Categories Main Dish Recipes Casserole Recipes Vegetable
Time 1h15m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente; drain. Bring 1/2 cup water to a boil in a saucepan, and cook the spinach 4 to 6 minutes, until tender.
- Place the cooked pasta in a medium bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and oil. Toss the pasta with the cooked spinach, egg mixture, and bread crumbs.
- Cover the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish with 1/3 of the pasta sauce. Pour half of the pasta mixture into the baking dish, and cover with another 1/3 of the pasta sauce. Sprinkle with half of the Cheddar cheese and half of the mozzarella. Layer with remaining pasta mixture, and top with remaining sauce. Sprinkle with the rest of the Cheddar and mozzarella cheeses.
- Bake 45 minutes in the preheated oven, or until bubbly and lightly browned.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 378.5 calories, Carbohydrate 38 g, Cholesterol 64.4 mg, Fat 18 g, Fiber 4.2 g, Protein 17 g, SaturatedFat 7.5 g, Sodium 668.2 mg, Sugar 9.8 g
ITALIAN PASTA BAKE
I love to make this pasta bake whenever I need to bring a dish to pass. Fresh tomatoes add a nice touch that's missing from most other meat, pasta and tomato casseroles.-Karla Johnson, East Helena, Montana
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h5m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce, diced tomatoes, mushrooms and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes., Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Add to beef mixture and gently stir in sliced plum tomatoes. , Transfer to an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with cheeses. Bake 25-30 minutes or until bubbly and heated through.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 489 calories, Fat 20g fat (8g saturated fat), Cholesterol 80mg cholesterol, Sodium 702mg sodium, Carbohydrate 45g carbohydrate (10g sugars, Fiber 5g fiber), Protein 32g protein.
SAUSAGE SPINACH PASTA BAKE
I've swapped in other meats-such as chicken sausage, veal or ground pork-and added in summer squash, zucchini, green beans and mushrooms, depending on what's in season. Also, fresh herbs really perk up the flavors. -Kim Forni, Laconia, New Hampshire
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h
Yield 10 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°. Cook pasta according to package directions., Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook turkey and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic. Cook 1 minute longer; drain. Stir in tomatoes, oregano, basil and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes., Drain pasta; stir into turkey mixture. Add spinach and cream; heat through. Transfer to a 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with cheeses. Bake, uncovered, 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 377 calories, Fat 11g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 50mg cholesterol, Sodium 622mg sodium, Carbohydrate 45g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 8g fiber), Protein 25g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
CHICKEN, SPINACH, AND CHEESE PASTA BAKE
Pasta, chicken, spinach, and cheese baked to bubbly perfection.
Provided by jr911
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 1h15m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Saute onion in hot oil until tender, 5 to 7 minutes.
- Mix penne pasta, onion, chicken, diced tomatoes, spinach, and cream cheese together in a baking dish until the cream cheese melts and coats everything. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the pasta mixture. Cover baking dish with aluminum foil.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking until heated through and beginning to brown along the edges, about 15 minutes more.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 544.2 calories, Carbohydrate 53.2 g, Cholesterol 85.3 mg, Fat 21.7 g, Fiber 6.4 g, Protein 34.2 g, SaturatedFat 10.2 g, Sodium 331.9 mg, Sugar 3.2 g
ITALIAN SPINACH & PASTA BAKE
We love this served along side of several different chicken recipes that I make. It's cheesy and delicious. You can turn this into a main dish by doubling the recipe and adding 2 cups of cubed chicken, pork, meatballs, sausage, shrimp or whatever you like directly to it before baking. It's a very flexible dish.
Provided by Realtor by day
Categories < 60 Mins
Time 1h
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 3qt baking dish.
- Boil the water and cook the pasta according to package directions. DO NOT ever add oil to the water! It will make your sauce slide off the pasta later.
- Meanwhile heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat, add onion and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
- Add the heavy cream, romano cheese, Italian seasoning and garlic powder. Whisk and cook until thickened slightly, about 5 minutes. Add spinach.
- In a little bowl, mix the ricotta and the egg together and add this and the cooked pasta to the skillet. Toss to mix everything up and spoon into baking dish.
- Cover with foil and bake 25 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle evenly with mozzarella and then a little paprika to give it a pretty color. Return to oven for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and starting to brown.
Tips:
- Use fresh spinach: Fresh spinach has a more vibrant flavor and texture than frozen spinach. If you're using frozen spinach, be sure to thaw and drain it thoroughly before using.
- Season the spinach: Spinach can be a bit bland on its own, so be sure to season it well. You can use garlic, salt, pepper, nutmeg, or any other spices you like.
- Use a good quality pasta: The pasta is the base of this dish, so it's important to use a good quality pasta. Look for a pasta that is made with durum wheat and that has a slightly firm texture.
- Don't overcook the pasta: Pasta should be cooked al dente, or slightly firm to the bite. Overcooked pasta will be mushy and will not hold its shape well in the casserole.
- Use a creamy sauce: A creamy sauce will help to bind the ingredients together and make the casserole more flavorful. You can use a béchamel sauce, a cheese sauce, or a combination of the two.
- Add some protein: You can add some protein to this casserole by using cooked chicken, beef, or pork. If you're using a vegetarian protein, such as tofu or tempeh, be sure to press out the excess moisture before using.
- Top with cheese: Cheese is a classic topping for pasta bakes. You can use any type of cheese you like, but a good melting cheese, such as mozzarella or cheddar, is a good choice.
- Bake until golden brown: The casserole should be baked until the top is golden brown and bubbly. This usually takes about 20-25 minutes.
Conclusion:
Italian spinach pasta bake is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It's made with simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand, and it's sure to please the whole family. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy pasta dish, give this Italian spinach pasta bake a try. You won't be disappointed!
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