Easy (Cheesy!) Spinach Casserole + Lemon Herb Bread
Every Saturday afternoon my husband and I plan our menu for the upcoming week, then head off to do the grocery shopping. Usually we’re pretty good about putting all the necessary ingredients on our list, but every now and then one of us forgets. Like we did last week. When I didn’t realize the oversight until five minutes before I had to start cooking our Friday dinner. After I’d already used everything else we’d bought for the meals we’d had earlier that week. Oops!
What to do? I went through the fridge and the cupboard: we had pasta, mozzarella, pasta sauce, bread crumbs, eggs and spinach. And 1/2 a baguette. Not bad, I could work with these. But just to be on the safe side I did a quick internet search and found a promising recipe for a cheesy spinach pasta casserole. With a few tiny modifications I put it all together, served some lemon-herb bread on the side, and we had ourselves a delicious Friday night meal. The best part, however, was how easy it was to make (I’m all about weekday convenience!) – not to mention how much everyone enjoyed it. With eggs, olive oil, bread crumbs, spinach and cheese, this pasta dish is supremely satisfying. I’ve also included instructions for a toasty bread made with lemon zest and tarragon. Both the pasta and the bread are baked at the same temperature so you can toss the bread in the oven when the casserole is almost finished. :yum:
Cheesy Spinach Casserole
Bakeware: 9 x 13 inch baking dish
Items marked with an * have been modified from the original recipe.
- 1 one pound package of pasta. Any type will do, but I like rotini or spaghetti.*
- About 6 oz fresh spinach*
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup olive oil + 1 teaspoon
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs
- 1 jar of your favorite pasta sauce (I like America’s Choice marinara sauce)
- 1 1/2 8 oz packages of mozzarella*
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
* Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to package instructions. While the pasta is cooking add 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil to a small pan and cook the spinach (stems removed, or baby spinach) until the volume has reduced by half and the leaves are slightly wilted. Stir constantly to prevent any of the spinach leaves from burning. About 4 minutes. Remove from heat, roughly chop with a knife and fork, set aside.
In a large bowl whisk together the eggs and oil. When pasta is finished, drain, toss once or twice to remove any excess water, then add to the oil mixture. Add the cooked spinach and bread crumbs, then toss until well combined.
Cover the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish with 1/3 of the pasta sauce. Pour half of the pasta mixture into the baking dish, and cover with another 1/3 of the pasta sauce. Sprinkle with half of the mozzarella. Layer with remaining pasta mixture, and top with remaining sauce. Sprinkle with the rest of the cheese.
Bake 40 minutes, or until bubbly and lightly browned.
Source: Allrecipes.com
Lemon Herb Bread
Bakeware: A baking sheet, tin foil
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- zest of 1 lemon
- 1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon
- coarse salt
- 1 baguette
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
In a small bowl, combine the butter, lemon zest, tarragon and salt. Microwave in 15 second intervals until melted.
Without cutting all the way through your bread, slice the baguette in 1-inch intervals; brush butter mixture between the slices. Wrap in foil and bake until hot, about 15 minutes.
Source: Everyday Food, by Martha Stewart.
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lemon and tarragon is one of my favorite combinations.
and cheese with anything is pretty much wonderful.
so it’s safe to say that I really enjoyed this post! thanks for shareing!
Yay Connie! Another person up at the crack of dawn!
Love the idea of tarragon and lemon with bread. It’s a nice change from the ‘typical’ (but still delicious!
) garlic bread. 
Yum!
I wish we were better about planning a whole week :Z
Great tips and congratulaions on your beautiful blog!!
I’ve already added to my favorite list.
Vivianne
now this is comfy food(!)
indeed great for a weekday supper – simple, quick, hot and steamy, delicious and really satisfying! Yum! =)
Its 7:59am…but after seeing your recipe photos I am already hungry for dinner.
Now ,I’m going to start planning for the week too. My husband and I could only think as far as Monday
. Love the lemon and tarragon … this is one of our fave herbs to use.
Plan a whole week?? Wow, I’m not worthy.
I must say that spinach casserole looks fabulous–just the kind of thing that prevents me from turning vegan. My love affair with cheese knows no bounds.
All my favorite things!!! Definitely adding this to the list for supper this week.
Ari, I just love coming to your site and seeing all these yummy recipes and pictures! I still need to try those popovers.
It does look cheesy…yum.
Dangit! I’m trying to be virtuous and healthy (have started going to the gym and taking pilates lessons)…but how can I resist this cheesy goodness?
*dabs corner of mouth with hanky*
Oh cheesy pasta, how I love thee!
Ariela, this looks so yummy…
I’m a pasta maniac and this recipe is easy, quick and delicious – perfect!
Hey, I think I’ve got all those ingredients too! Will give it a try tonight – thanks, Ariela!
Ellie – I say eat the pasta! It’s totally worth an extra few minutes at the gym. (And yes I do realize that an extra few minutes won’t cancel out a plate of pasta, but when you work out regularly you build muscle, which increases your metabolism, which in my book means cheesy pasta is in!)
I can rationalize anything.
Nikki, Pam – Yay! I’m so happy you’re going to give this recipe a go.
Sher, I know. Cheesy things are so amazingly seductive.
I’ve never been one to resist temptation when it comes to food.
we are always running out of ingriedients and having to do an emergency run to the grocery store.
Wow! The pasta looks delicious! Can I come to your house for dinner on Friday nights?
i cant ever seem to get it together to shop in advance, usually stopping at the market on the way home from work instead for supplies, you guys are good!!! i forgot how delish noodle cheese and spinach is, yum mmmm!!
All your recipes look amazing and mouth watering. I can’t wait to try some out.
Planning a whole weeks menu in advance! Now that is something we used to do when we were students living on an extreme budget… Perhaps it is something I should consider doing again!
Looks so comforting for the cold weather out here right now. I’ve been keeping warm with soups but this would do just as well.
you visited my blog awhile back but your link got lost among my food blogging bookmarks. Glad I finally made it, beautiful inspiring site and recipes.
Oh my gosh. That looks amazing. Must find some whole wheat pasta and give it a go!
wow! that is impressive for a last minute meal idea.
I am going to have to pick up some ingredients to make your lemon herb bread. Yuuummmy! 
anything with that much cheese is ALRIGHT in my book.
Ari, This look amazing. Thanks for the link!
really love to see that dripping melting cheese, how can I resist? You’re so organized! I haven’t thought of the next menu before I shop, yeah, lots of “unnecessary suprise” before cooking…
Gattina, melted cheese is impossible to resist. Impossible!
This looks SUPER delicious! I agree with Ariela that anything with melted cheese on top gets a thumbs up in my book!
You saved me own Friday night dinner! I had all of the ingredients at home so no need to make a trip to the store on a cold Friday just to find something to make a meal out of! I just found your site and I’m so glad I did – great job!
You know, between this post and the most recent ones (chocolate chip muffins and banana bread) I think you’ve planned an entire day of meals for us.
I agree with everyone else, nothing beats cheesy things. Mmm mmm good.