Baked Pasta with Ricotta and Spinach Cheesy Ricotta‑Spinach Baked Ziti al Forno Ingredients: 14 oz (400 g) ziti or penne rigate 1 tbsp olive oil 1 small onion, finely diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 10 oz (280 g) fresh spinach, roughly chopped 2 cups (500 g) ricotta cheese 1 large egg 1 cup (90 g) shredded mozzarella, divided ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan, divided 2 ½ cups (600 ml) marinara sauce 1 tsp dried oregano ½ tsp dried basil ¼ tsp ground nutmeg Salt & freshly‑ground black pepper, to taste Optional garnish: fresh basil ribbons Directions: Preheat oven to 375 °F (190 °C). Lightly grease a 9×13‑inch (23×33 cm) baking dish. Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water 2 minutes less than package “al dente” time. Drain; set aside. While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium. Sauté onion 4 min until translucent; add garlic and cook 30 sec. Add spinach, season with a pinch of salt, and wilt 2 min. Remove from heat; cool slightly. In a bowl, whisk ricotta, egg, oregano, basil, nutmeg, ¼‑cup Parmesan, ½‑cup mozzarella, salt, and pepper until smooth. Fold in sautéed spinach mixture. Combine cooked pasta with marinara sauce. Spread half of sauced pasta in baking dish. Dollop and gently spread ricotta‑spinach filling over pasta. Top with remaining pasta. Sprinkle remaining ½‑cup mozzarella and ¼‑cup Parmesan on top. Cover loosely with foil. Bake 20 min; uncover and bake 10 min more until cheese is golden and bubbly. Rest 5 min, garnish with basil, and serve hot. Prep Time: 15 minutes | Baking Time: 30 minutes | Total Time: 45 minutes Kcal: 460 kcal | Servings: 6 #bakedpasta #ricotta #spinach #vegetarian #comfortfood #pastabake #weeknightdinner #italianinspired #cheesylovers #zitialforno #mealprep #familyfriendly #freezerfriendly #meatlessmonday #easyrecipes #onepanmeal #cheesebake #heartymeals #midweekmagic #ovenlove Nothing beats the cozy comfort of Cheesy Ricotta‑Spinach Baked Ziti fresh from the oven!

Chicken and Macaroni Bake Creamy Chicken and Macaroni Cheese Bake with a Golden Crust Ingredients: 2 cups cooked elbow macaroni 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded (rotisserie or poached) 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 cups milk 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese ½ cup mozzarella cheese ½ teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon onion powder ½ teaspoon paprika Salt and pepper to taste ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese ¼ cup breadcrumbs (optional topping) Chopped parsley for garnish Directions: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x9-inch baking dish. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour to form a roux and cook for 1 minute. Gradually add the milk, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Cook until the sauce thickens, about 3–5 minutes. Stir in cheddar, mozzarella, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth and cheese is fully melted. In a large bowl, combine the cooked macaroni and shredded chicken. Pour the cheese sauce over and mix to coat evenly. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs on top for a crunchy crust. Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes or until the top is golden and bubbling. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley. Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 30 minutes | Total Time: 45 minutes Kcal: 420 kcal | Servings: 6 servings #chickenmacaroni #comfortfood #macandcheese #easybake #cheesybake #pastabake #familydinner #homestylecooking #ovenbakedpasta #chickendinner #bakedmacaroni #cheeselovers #mealprepideas #chickencasserole #simplemeals #weeknightdinner #creamybake #cheeseaddict #parmesancrust #bakedgoodness Creamy, cheesy, golden, and comforting! This Chicken and Macaroni Bake is the weeknight dinner your whole family will devour.

Baked Ziti Cheesy Baked Ziti with Marinara and Ricotta Ingredients: 1 lb ziti pasta 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage 1 small onion, diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 (28 oz) jar marinara sauce 1 (15 oz) container ricotta cheese 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 egg 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried Salt and pepper to taste Fresh parsley (optional garnish) Directions: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Cook the ziti according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook for 2–3 minutes. Add the ground beef or sausage and cook until browned. Drain excess fat. Stir in the marinara sauce and simmer for 5 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and basil. In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese, 1 cup mozzarella, Parmesan, and egg until smooth. Toss the cooked pasta with half of the meat sauce. In the baking dish, layer half of the pasta mixture, spread the ricotta mixture evenly over it, then top with remaining pasta and sauce. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella cheese on top. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10–15 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and slightly browned. Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley if desired. Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cooking Time: 40 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour Kcal: 525 kcal | Servings: 8 servings #bakedziti #pastaalforno #italiancasserole #familydinner #cheesylayers #comfortfoodclassic #homemadepasta #pastabake #weeknightdinner #zitimeal #easyitalianrecipes #ovenbakedpasta #ricottarecipes #mozzarellalove #heartycasserole #onepanmeals #italiandinner #sundaydinnerideas #quickitalian #cheesycomfort Layers of melty cheese, savory sauce, and baked pasta perfection This Baked Ziti is everything you want on a cozy night in.

Easy Cheesy Lasagna Creamy, Gooey, and Effortless Cheesy Lasagna Ingredients: 9 lasagna noodles 2 cups ricotta cheese 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese 2 cups marinara sauce 1 egg 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon dried basil 1 teaspoon dried oregano Salt and pepper to taste Fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional) Directions: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook lasagna noodles according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside. In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, garlic, dried basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix well. Spread a thin layer of marinara sauce on the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Layer 3 cooked lasagna noodles over the sauce. Spread one-third of the ricotta mixture over the noodles, then sprinkle with one cup of mozzarella and a little Parmesan. Repeat the layers two more times, ending with mozzarella and Parmesan on top. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden. Let the lasagna cool for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired. Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 40 minutes | Total Time: 55 minutes Kcal: Approximately 450 kcal per serving | Servings: 6 servings #cheesylasagna #easyrecipes #italiandinner #comfortfood #lasagnarecipe #homemadelasagna #pasta #cheese #dinnerideas #familymeal #bakedpasta #ricottacheese #mozzarella #parmesan #classicitalian #weeknightdinner #foodie #yum #savorymeal #cheesy Dive into layers of cheesy goodness with this Easy Cheesy Lasagna! Perfect for comforting family dinners and impressing guests.

Spicy Beef and Cheese Pasta Fiery Cheesy Beef Pasta Bake with Chili Kick Ingredients: 12 oz (340g) pasta (penne or rigatoni) 1 lb (450g) ground beef 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 small onion, diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste) 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1 (15 oz) can crushed tomatoes 2 tablespoons tomato paste Salt and pepper to taste 1/2 cup beef broth or water 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese Fresh basil or parsley for garnish Directions: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and sauté for 3–4 minutes until softened. Add garlic, red pepper flakes, paprika, and cumin, and cook for another minute. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess fat if needed. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, broth, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes to blend the flavors. Add the cooked pasta to the beef sauce and mix well. Transfer mixture to a greased baking dish. Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheese evenly over the top. Bake for 15–20 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and golden. Garnish with chopped basil or parsley and serve hot. Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 30 minutes | Total Time: 40 minutes Kcal: 495 kcal per serving | Servings: 4 servings #spicybeefpasta #cheesypastabake #comfortfoodrecipes #bakedpasta #pastaandcheese #beefandpasta #chilipasta #fierybites #easyweeknightmeals #spicycomfortfood #familydinnerideas #groundbeefrecipes #pastaovenbake #cheeselovers #easybakedmeals #heartyfood #mozzarellapasta #boldflavors #quickovenmeals #cheesycomfort Craving comfort food with a spicy twist? This Spicy Beef and Cheese Pasta Bake delivers BIG flavor and gooey cheese in every bite!