There are very few things that can beat pasta for me — I absolutely love it. I love that pasta can be hearty like our Pumpkin Mac and Cheese or light, like this shrimp ziti. I love that you can combine it with almost anything, from brown butter and walnuts to sausage and ricotta. Most of all, I love that it’s fast. With about 15 minutes of hands-on time this easy baked ziti is perfect for busy nights.
How to Make Baked Ziti with Shrimp and Spinach
Start by cooking your pasta, but undercook it by 1 to 2 minutes. This way, when we toss it with the other ingredients and bake the pasta won’t become mushy. One of my favorite parts to this recipe is the lemony tomato sauce. It’s light and plays so nicely with the shrimp and feta cheese. It’s extremely simple to make — just olive oil, canned tomatoes, garlic, red pepper flakes, and lemon zest. For the shrimp, season them lightly with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper. Then, when the pasta is cooked, toss it with the shrimp, our homemade sauce, spinach, and feta cheese. Toss everything together and slide into a baking dish. See how fresh and light it looks. I love that. Just before baking, we scatter breadcrumbs, feta cheese, and a drizzle of olive oil on top. Then the ziti is baked until the shrimp are cooked through and the top of the ziti begins to brown. Recipe updated, originally posted February 2012. Since posting this in 2012, we have tweaked the recipe to be more clear. – Adam and Joanne 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 medium garlic cloves, finely chopped 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest 8 ounces medium shrimp, peeled and deveined 1 (10-ounce) package frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry (about 1 1/4 cups) 2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled 2 tablespoons dried breadcrumbs Salt and fresh ground black pepper 2Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil, add the pasta then follow package directions, but cook 1 to 2 minutes less than the package calls for. Drain. 3Meanwhile, make the sauce. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes over medium heat until the garlic turns light brown; about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes with juices, lemon zest, a 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and a pinch of pepper. Cook until heated through, about 5 minutes. Taste the sauce for seasoning, and adjust with additional salt and pepper if necessary. 4Toss the shrimp with 1 teaspoon of olive oil, a 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and a few grinds of black pepper. 5In a large bowl, toss the drained pasta, tomato sauce, shrimp, ringed out spinach, and half of the feta cheese. Add to the baking dish then top with remaining feta cheese, breadcrumbs, and a drizzle of olive oil. 6Bake the ziti, covered, until the shrimp are thoroughly cooked (they will become firm and opaque); about 15 minutes. Uncover, and then bake until the cheese and breadcrumbs begin to brown, about 10 minutes.
