Description
This Simple Baked Spinach Casserole is a creamy, flavorful dish combining fresh spinach, ricotta, and Parmesan cheese with a crispy breadcrumb topping. Perfect as a comforting vegetarian side or light main, it’s easy to make with sautéed vegetables and baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 4 cups Fresh Spinach (Roughly chopped)
- 1 medium Onion (Finely chopped)
- 2 cloves Garlic (Minced)
Dairy & Eggs
- 1 cup Ricotta Cheese (Adds creaminess)
- 2 large Eggs (Binding agent for the casserole)
- 0.5 cup Parmesan Cheese (Grated, for flavor and crust)
Other
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil (For sautéing)
- 0.5 cup Breadcrumbs (For topping)
- Salt (To taste, for seasoning)
- Pepper (To taste, for seasoning)
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Sauté onion: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add garlic: Add minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Wilt spinach: Add the roughly chopped spinach to the skillet and cook, stirring, until wilted, about 3-4 minutes.
- Cool mixture: Remove the skillet from heat and allow the spinach and onion mixture to cool slightly to avoid curdling the cheese mixture.
- Mix cheeses and eggs: In a bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, eggs, and grated Parmesan cheese, mixing until smooth and creamy.
- Season mixture: Add salt and pepper to taste, adjusting for flavor.
- Combine spinach mixture: Gently stir the wilted spinach mixture into the ricotta mixture until evenly combined.
- Transfer to baking dish: Pour the combined mixture into a greased 9×9-inch baking dish and smooth out the top with a spatula.
- Add breadcrumb topping: Sprinkle the breadcrumbs evenly over the top to create a crispy crust while baking.
- Bake casserole: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes until the top turns golden brown and the casserole is set.
- Cool and serve: Let the casserole cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving to help it set fully.
Notes
- Fresh spinach is preferable for best flavor and texture, but frozen spinach can be used if thoroughly thawed and drained.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for better melting and flavor compared to pre-grated varieties.
- Breadcrumbs can be substituted with crushed crackers or gluten-free breadcrumbs if needed.
- If you want a richer casserole, a bit of shredded mozzarella or cheddar can be added.
- Ensure the spinach mixture cools before mixing with eggs to prevent scrambling.
