5. Cheesy Baked Pasta
For pure comfort food, it is hard to beat bubbling baked pasta covered with melted cheese.
This recipe combines pasta, tomato sauce, ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan before everything is baked until the center is hot and the top develops delicious golden spots.
It is also an excellent make-ahead dinner for families.
Recipe Overview
| Recipe Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Prep Time | 20 minutes |
| Bake Time | 25 minutes |
| Total Time | 45 minutes |
| Servings | 6 |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Best For | Family dinner / meal prep |
Ingredients
- 1 lb / 450 g rigatoni, ziti, or penne
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- ½ cup grated Parmesan
- 1 egg
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil
- Salt and black pepper
Instructions
1. Heat the oven
Preheat the oven to 375°F / 190°C.
Lightly grease a large baking dish.
2. Partially cook the pasta
Boil the pasta until it is approximately 1–2 minutes firmer than normal al dente.
The pasta will continue cooking in the oven.
Drain well.
3. Prepare the cheese mixture
Combine ricotta, egg, half of the Parmesan, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper in a mixing bowl.
4. Assemble
Spread a thin layer of marinara across the bottom of the baking dish.
Combine pasta with remaining marinara.
Add half of the pasta to the dish.
Spoon small portions of the ricotta mixture throughout the pasta and sprinkle with mozzarella.
Add the remaining pasta.
Finish with the rest of the mozzarella and Parmesan.
5. Bake
Cover loosely with foil and bake for approximately 15 minutes.
Remove the foil and continue baking for another 10–15 minutes until the cheese is bubbling.
For additional browning, place the dish under the broiler briefly at the end.
6. Rest before serving
Allow the baked pasta to rest for approximately 5–10 minutes.
Finish with fresh basil before serving.
Make-Ahead Option
Assemble the entire dish earlier in the day, cover it tightly and refrigerate.
When ready to eat, bake until the center is completely heated through and the cheese is melted.
Storage
| Storage Method | Recommended Time |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 3–4 days |
| Freezer | Up to 2–3 months |
| Reheat | Oven or microwave |
Easy Additions
Layer in cooked ground beef, Italian-style sausage, mushrooms, spinach, roasted vegetables or additional mozzarella.
Which Pasta Should You Make Tonight?
If you want something fast and creamy, choose Garlic Parmesan Pasta. For bold flavor, make the Spicy Tomato Penne. Pesto Pasta is ideal when you want something fresh, while Mushroom Fettuccine delivers rich comfort-food flavor.
And when you want a family-style dinner that can feed several people, the Cheesy Baked Pasta is the winner.
Quick Comparison
| Pasta Recipe | Total Time | Flavor | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garlic Parmesan Pasta | 25 min | Creamy & cheesy | Easy |
| Spicy Tomato Penne | 35 min | Tomato & spicy | Easy |
| Basil Pesto Pasta | 22 min | Fresh & herby | Easy |
| Mushroom Fettuccine | 30 min | Creamy & savory | Easy |
| Cheesy Baked Pasta | 45 min | Rich & cheesy | Easy |