My mother in law showed me this festive 4 ingredient meal and it brings everyone running to the table.

This oven baked 4-ingredients Irish flag baked ziti is one of those cozy, no-fuss dinners that makes everyone drift into the kitchen to see what smells so good. My mother-in-law showed me this festive trick years ago, and I’ve been making it for family dinners ever since. The green spinach, white ricotta, and orange cheddar line up like the Irish flag over tender pasta, all baked together in a simple foil tray. It’s perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or any night you want something fun, colorful, and comforting without a long ingredient list or complicated steps.

Serve this Irish flag baked ziti straight from the foil tray with a big green salad or simple steamed veggies to balance the richness. Warm garlic bread or buttered rolls are wonderful for scooping up any cheesy bits left in the pan. A side of roasted carrots or broccoli adds color and crunch, and if you like a little heat, keep red pepper flakes on the table so everyone can season their own portion. For a cozy family night, I like to slice some apples or pears and put them out in a bowl for a fresh, sweet finish.

Servings: 6

1 pound (16 oz) dried ziti or other short tube pasta

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Set a rack in the center of the oven. Place a disposable foil 9x13-inch baking pan (or a regular pan lined with foil) on a baking sheet for easy handling.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ziti and cook until just shy of al dente, about 1–2 minutes less than the package directions. You want the pasta to still have a little bite since it will finish cooking in the oven.

Drain the pasta very well and return it to the warm pot. Give it a gentle stir so it doesn’t clump together while you get the other ingredients ready. (No need to add oil or sauce—this recipe stays true to the simple four ingredients.)

Spread the plain cooked ziti evenly in the bottom of the foil baking pan, making as flat a layer as you can. This will be your base and the backdrop for the Irish flag colors on top.

Pat the thawed spinach with paper towels or a clean dish towel to remove as much extra moisture as possible. This helps keep the top from getting watery and keeps the green nice and vibrant.

With the pan positioned so the long sides run left to right in front of you, gently spoon the spinach over the left third of the pasta, making a solid green strip from top to bottom. Use the back of a spoon or clean fingers to spread it into an even layer without mixing it too much into the pasta.

Spoon the ricotta cheese over the middle third of the pasta, right next to the spinach strip. Spread it gently into an even white strip from top to bottom. It’s okay if some pasta peeks through, but aim for a solid white band so the “flag” is easy to see after baking.

Sprinkle the shredded orange cheddar cheese evenly over the right third of the pasta, forming the final bright orange strip of your flag. Try to keep the three colors in their own lanes so the design stays clear once melted.

Cover the pan loosely with foil, tenting it slightly so it doesn’t press down into the cheese. Bake for 15 minutes, then carefully remove the top foil.

Continue baking uncovered for another 10–15 minutes, or until the cheddar is fully melted, bubbling around the edges, and the ricotta is warmed through. If you like a little extra color on the cheese, you can switch the oven to broil for 1–2 minutes at the end—just watch closely so it doesn’t burn.

Remove the pan from the oven and let the baked ziti rest for 5–10 minutes. This short rest helps the layers settle so it’s easier to scoop without everything sliding together.

Bring the foil tray right to the table and serve family-style, making sure everyone gets some of each “flag” color in their scoop. The pattern will get a little messy as you serve, but that’s part of the fun and charm of this simple family meal.

For picky eaters, you can keep the spinach on just a smaller corner instead of a full strip, then let kids scoop from the cheesy and ricotta sections only. If your family prefers milder flavors, use a mild orange cheddar instead of sharp. You can also swap in small shells or penne if that’s what you have on hand—just keep the total amount of pasta about the same. To add a little more seasoning without adding extra ingredients, cook the pasta in well-salted water and be generous with the salt there; that alone boosts the final flavor. If you want to sneak in more veggies while staying close to the original idea, finely chop a handful of extra spinach and tuck it under the green strip so it’s less noticeable. For a slightly creamier texture, stir a few spoonfuls of ricotta into a portion of the pasta before spreading it in the pan, then still reserve enough ricotta to make your middle white stripe. Leftovers reheat well in the oven, covered with foil at 350°F (175°C) until warmed through, or in the microwave in short bursts; if it seems a little dry, sprinkle a teaspoon or two of water over the portion before reheating to loosen the cheese and pasta.