Baked Pasta
When you don’t have a lot of time, baked pasta is a great dish to throw together. You really only need 3 or 4 ingredients. Is there anything more comforting than baked pasta? Pasta, sauce and cheese and then baked. So simple but deep flavors. To make this extra cheesy, cheese is added to each layer as it is built. I guess you could consider this a variation on a lasagna. The key to make this super tasty is good tomato sauce (your own marinara even better) and a variety of cheeses to add depth.
Ingredients:
- 2 packages Rigatoni
- 1 cup each shredded Cheddar and Mozzarella Cheese
- 1 – 28 oz can of Italian Style Tomatoes
Directions:
In a big pot, boil water. Add salt and then the pasta noodles. Cook according to the box instructions. Should be about 10 – 12 minutes. Do not overcook because they will cook some more when baked.
Pull out a good size baking dish and begin to layer the pasta. Start with just a little sauce on the bottom. Then, put a full layer of the pasta
and generously spread each of the cheeses over all the pasta.
Keep repeating until the noodles are gone. Finish with a generous layer of cheese. For appearance, alternate the cheeses so you can get a variation in the colors. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25 – 30 minutes. Finish, by placing under the low broiler for 2 or 3 minutes to get the cheese bubbly and a little char.
Serve and enjoy!
The Recipe
Baked Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 Lbs Rigatoni
- 1 Cup Shredded cheddar cheese & mozzarella
- 29 Ounce Jarred Italian tomato sauce
Instructions
- In a big pot, boil water. Add salt and then the pasta noodles. Cook according to the box instructions. Should be about 10 – 12 minutes. Do not overcook because they will cook some more when baked.Pull out a good size baking dish and begin to layer the pasta. Start with just a little sauce on the bottom. Then, put a full layer of the pasta followed by the Italian tomato sauce and some of each cheese.Keep repeating until the noodles are gone. Finish with a generous layer of cheese. For appearance, alternate the cheeses so you can get a variation in the colors. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25 – 30 minutes. Finish, by placing under the low broiler for 2 or 3 minutes to get the cheese bubbly and a little char.Serve and enjoy!
Responses
comments – I answer every one.
Oh, Peter, you are KILLING ME! That looks so good – but my family has just begun a “cleanse”. Save me some, ok?
A cleanse. Oh no. What are you cooking for your cleanse? At least you are all doing it together. That should make it easier.
AMAZING RECIPE!!. I ADDED GROUND BEEF AND ALL GONE. THANKS
So cool. I really like your change up. I am glad you liked it!
With this recipe can I add Atalian sausage, my family are meat lovers.
Absolutely Johnnie.
2 boxes? Is that 1 1/2 lb pasta? Only 28 oz tomatoes & 2 cups cheese doesn’t seem enough. Looks like a 9 x 13″ casserole.
Diane, it was a 2 boxes of pasta – each being a lb. And yes that is all the cheese and tomatoes used. It is a very light dish. Not exactly sure on the size of the dish but I too would guess that it is 9 x 13.
Tomatoes OR tomato sauce.
It was sauce. Thx for stopping by.
Hi Peter, On April 7th I asked if it was tomatoes or sauce, your email to me said tomatoes. Now you state “sauce”, so which is it?
Laurie, I am sorry. I looked back at my own recipe to get it right. I used Italian style tomatoes that you find in the can pasta aisle in the grocery story.
It says Italian style tomatoes………..not sauce!
I think you are right. It looks like tomato sauce. You could certainly use diced tomatoes too.
In Italy, it is called sauce that is put on the pasta noodles.
I wrote a post a while back that I researched the gravy or sauce idea. I smiled at your comment.
This is a perfect “feel good” meal for our cold northern Alberta winters. Could you please verify for me if you are using a can of “Italian Stewed Tomatoes”, or a store bought jar of spaghetti sauce, the ingredients say “tomatoes, and the method states “sauce”. thank you. I can’t wait to get this on the table.
This looks delicious and simple to make too! Pasta dishes are great for feeding a crowd.
I married into an Italian family and “macaroni and sauce” is THE Sunday dinner. The only thing that makes it better is bubbly, browned cheese!
You are generous relating this to your Italian family. Any self respecting Italian would tell me this is mac ‘n cheese out of the box. LOL!
This looks so good and I love how easy this is to throw together! I love having a few go-to meals I can whip up really fast. Pinning this 🙂
Ashley, especially if you need to keep the kids happy!
Holy cow, there’s nothing I love more than a good ol’ blanket of bubbling cheese atop pasta! And so easy too.
And when you are done with the bubbly cheese; add more cheese 🙂