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 Spinach Ricotta Pasta Creamy Chicken & Ricotta Pasta with Wilted Spinach and Parmesan Ingredients: 12 oz (340g) pasta (penne, rigatoni, or shells) 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 lb (450g) cooked chicken breast, shredded or cubed 3 cloves garlic, minced 4 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped 1 cup ricotta cheese 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 teaspoon dried basil 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano Salt and black pepper to taste 1/4 cup reserved pasta water (as needed) Optional: crushed red pepper flakes, lemon zest, fresh parsley for garnish Directions: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water, then drain and set aside. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Add spinach and cook for 2–3 minutes until wilted. Stir in the shredded chicken and cook until heated through. Reduce heat to low, add ricotta, Parmesan, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir until creamy. Add cooked pasta and toss to coat, adding a splash of pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce. Serve warm, garnished with crushed red pepper, lemon zest, or fresh parsley if desired. Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 20 minutes | Total Time: 30 minutes Kcal: 485 kcal | Servings: 4 servings #chickenpasta #ricottarecipes #spinachpasta #comfortfood #easydinners #weeknightmeals #pastarecipes #creamychicken #cheesypasta #homecooked #familymeals #quickandeasy #highprotein #italianinspired #freshspinach #ricottapasta #pastaideas #easyentertaining #healthiercomfortfood #pastalovers Creamy, cozy, and oh-so satisfying! This Chicken and Spinach Ricotta Pasta is your new weeknight favorite. Ready in 30 minutes!

BEHEMOTH MEATBALL & RICOTTA DEEP DISH Ingredients: 2 cups pizza dough 1 ½ cups sliced or halved meatballs (beef or pork) 1 cup shredded mozzarella ¾ cup dollops of ricotta cheese 1 cup marinara sauce 1 clove garlic, minced Optional: fresh basil or oregano Instructions: 1⃣ Press dough into deep dish pan. 2⃣ Spread marinara sauce, layer meatballs, mozzarella, and garlic. 3⃣ Dollop ricotta across the top. 4⃣ Bake until crust is golden & cheese is melted and bubbly. 5⃣ Garnish with fresh basil and serve hearty, cheesy indulgence! Prep: 15 min | Cook: 30 min | Total: 45 min | Serves: 6

COLOSSAL FOUR-CHEESE & SAUSAGE DEEP DISH Ingredients: 2 cups pizza dough 1 ½ cups cooked Italian sausage, crumbled ½ cup mozzarella ½ cup provolone ½ cup ricotta (dolloped) ¼ cup Parmesan 1 clove garlic, minced Optional: red pepper flakes & basil Instructions: 1⃣ Press dough into deep dish pan. 2⃣ Layer sausage, garlic, and all four cheeses. 3⃣ Bake until crust is golden & cheese is bubbling. 4⃣ Top with red pepper flakes & basil for a kick. 5⃣ Serve molten, meaty, and insanely cheesy! Prep: 15 min | Cook: 30 min | Total: 45 min | Serves: 6

Looking for a comforting dish without the carbs? This Low-Carb Chicken Lasagna Bake is a creamy, cheesy delight that’s super simple to whip up! Ingredients: - 2 cups cooked shredded chicken - 1 cup ricotta cheese - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese - 1 cup marinara sauce (sugar-free) - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese - 1 large egg - 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning - 1 teaspoon garlic powder - 1 teaspoon onion powder - Salt and pepper to taste - Fresh basil for garnish (optional) Directions: 1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). 2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked shredded chicken, ricotta cheese, half of the mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, egg, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix everything until it's well combined. 3. Spread half of the marinara sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. 4. Layer half of the chicken mixture over the marinara sauce, spreading it evenly across the dish. 5. Add another layer of marinara sauce on top of that chicken layer. 6. Repeat the layers with the remaining chicken mixture and marinara sauce. 7. Sprinkle the rest of the mozzarella cheese on top. 8. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes. 9. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and golden brown. 10. Let it cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil if you like. Nutrition Facts (per serving): - Serving Size: 1/6 of the dish - Calories: 320 - Protein: 36g - Fat: 16g - Carbs: 9g - Fiber: 1g Get ready to dig into this delicious dish that’s perfect for cozy nights in. Enjoy! #LowCarb #ChickenLasagna #HealthyEating #ComfortFood #EasyRecipes