Five-Ingredient Baked Ziti with Spinach and Chickpeas

This Five-Ingredient Baked Ziti with Spinach and Chickpeas is perfect for an easy vegetarian weeknight dinner! It’s loaded with spinach and chickpeas to balance out the cheese.

During my first trimester, there wasn’t a lot of foods I enjoyed eating, but baked cheesy pasta was one of them! I’ve made this Five-Ingredient Baked Ziti with Spinach and Chickpeas so many times this summer. It was definitely worth it for me to turn on the oven. 🙂

I’ve made baked cheesy pasta before, but I hadn’t made baked ziti until recently. Not that it’s so different from regular pasta, but there’s something about baked ziti that’s delicious!

I’m all about the five-ingredient dinners these days! Sometimes, I get a little carried away, and before I know it, I’ve spent almost $30 on ingredients for one dinner. While I love using many ingredients, I also love the challenge of making a delicious meal with only a few. I hope you love five-ingredient dinners as much as I do. I’m posting a roundup of a bunch on Thursday.

Five-Ingredient Baked Ziti Recipe Ingredients

• Ziti – Of course, I used ziti pasta, but in a pinch, you could use another noodle, like penne. Gluten-free will also work.
• Chickpeas –  These days, chickpeas are my go-to protein for pastas, salads, and soups. They have a mild flavor, lots of protein, and go well with pretty much anything!
• Sauce – You can make your own or use storebought pasta sauce. I used canned chickpeas.
• Baby spinach – To this baked ziti recipe, I added some spinach to help balance out the cheese and some chickpeas to add extra protein. I went with baby spinach leaves.
• Cheese – I like to use shredded Monterey Jack or mozzarella, but vegan cheese can also be used if desired.

How To Make This Five-Ingredient Baked Ziti

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Add ziti noodles and cook according to package directions.
2. Drain noodles and add back into the pot. Stir in spaghetti sauce, chickpeas, and spinach.
3. Add half the noodle mixture into a large baking dish and cover with half of the cheese mixture. Add the rest of the noodles on top and cover with the remaining cheese.
4. Cover with foil and bake until pasta is heated through and cheese is melted, 20-25 minutes.

Baked Ziti Recipe Frequently Asked Questions

This Five-Ingredient Baked Ziti with Spinach and Chickpeas is one of my favorite vegetarian dinner recipes.

• Can I make it vegan? You can easily veganize it by omitting the cheese or using vegan cheese instead.
• Can I make this ziti gluten-free? Yes, you can substitute gluten-free pasta.
• How long will leftovers last? I recommend storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. It’s also a great comfort dish to freeze after baking and cooling for a future easy meal.

Have a question about this recipe? Ask me in the comments, and I’ll get back to you ASAP.

Looking For More Easy Comfort Dishes?

Vegan Chickpea Noodle Soup

Quick and Easy Garlic Noodles

High-Protein Tofu and Black Bean Enchilada Skillet

Mediterranean Tortellini Bake

Cheesy Buffalo Butternut Squash Pasta

5 Ingredient Baked Ziti with Spinach and Chickpeas

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4.8 from 4 reviews

• Author: She Likes Food
• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 4-6 1x

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This 5 Ingredient Baked Ziti with Spinach and Chickpeas is perfect for an easy vegetarian weeknight dinner!  It’s loaded with lots of spinach and chickpeas to balance out the cheese!

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Ingredients

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• 16 ounces ziti pasta
• 1 (15 oz) can chickpeas, or 1 1/2 cups
• 4 cups spaghetti sauce
• 2–4 cups baby spinach leaves, depending on how much you like
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese, I like to use Monterey Jack or mozzarella.  Vegan cheese if desired

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Instructions

• Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F.  Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil.  Add ziti noodles and cook according to package directions.
• Drain noodles and add back into the pot.  Stir in spaghetti sauce, chickpea and spinach.
• Add half the noodle mixture into a large baking dish and cover with half of the cheese mixture.  Add the rest of the noodles on top and cover with the remaining cheese.
• Cover with foil and bake until pasta is heated through and cheese is melted, 20-25 minutes.

• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 40 mins
• Category: Dinner, Vegetarian
• Cuisine: Italian

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