Baked Pasta is a delicious dish made by combining cooked pasta with layering vegetables, sauces, cheese and baking it until cheese is bubbly and golden. This Baked Pasta is a must try at home and our family favorite too. Learn to make super easy Baked Pasta with step by step pictures and video.
Baked Pasta with onion, bell pepper along with red sauce and cheese. This Pasta Bake tastes so good that it is irresistible with the goodness of vegetables and cheese.
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What is Baked Pasta?
Baked Pasta is made by first cooking pasta then layering it along with vegetables or meat along with sauces, cheese and baking it until cheese is bubbly and golden. It is a very versatile dish that can be customized to one’s liking and preference.
Baked Pasta is an extra delicious meal with the flavor of pasta baking in red sauce and cheese. Pasta absorbs the sauce while baking so make sure to add more sauce or pasta cooked water to make a juicy pasta bake.
This Pasta Bake is very comforting and perfect for weekend dinner. No one can go wrong with the Classic Italian dish so it is for beginners too. This meatless pasta is best for vegetarian option. The vegetables used can be changed according to your liking and season availability.
Hubby loves pasta and I have seen him enjoy white sauce pasta at restaurants but I love spicy tomato based pasta though we don’t order pasta often when we dine out. Its just the pasta we have a taste in the buffet menu. My kids are fond of this Baked Pasta so I make it once in a while.
I have already tried and posted Baked Mac and Cheese which we love the most. Last time when I made Arrabiata Sauce I had little leftover so made a pasta bake and we loved it so thought I should make it again and post it.
Last weekend we dined at a new restaurant and hubby wanted to order pasta but since it was late night dinner he held back and went ahead with our usual South Indian menu. I thought to surprise my man with his favorite pasta. Yesterday I made this pasta bake and served him, He just loved it so much that he even forgot to tell how it was, he was silently happily digging in but I could sense it from his happy content face.
Secret to Moist Baked Pasta
While cooking pasta make sure to reserve half a cup of pasta cooked water. Make the sauce little goey, add reserved pasta cooked water then add pasta and toss well. Adding pasta cooked water does the trick of keeping the paste moist even after baking. Recently found this trick so thought to update here.
Baked Pasta Video
How to make Baked Pasta
To begin with first cook pasta in water along with salt and little oil. Drain and set aside. Heat butter in a pan – add onion, garlic saute until golden then add bell pepper saute for few seconds then add chili flakes, pasta sauce and required salt. Preheat oven while you make this. Then spoon the pasta in a baking dish, cover it up with mozzarella cheese and bake for 10-12 mins. I usually grill it for the last 2 mins to get the crusty tip but this is optional.
Baking without oven
You can use a kadai place a stand on it and place the tray inside. Cook covered for 10 mins or until the cheese melts and is goey. But the crusted top can be attained only through baking/grilling.
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Baked Pasta Ingredients
- Pasta – You can use any pasta variety of your choice. I used fusilli whole wheat pasta.
- Cheese – Use mozzarella cheese for topping as it spreads easily. Or you can even use a combination of Parmesan cheese along with mozzarella cheese.
- Pasta Sauce – I used homemade pasta sauce, you can use store bought ones too.
- Vegetables – I have used garlic, onion and bell pepper. You can add vegetables like corn, mushroom, carrots, peas etc.
- Herbs & Spices – Oregano and chili flakes are the main spices used here.
How to make Baked Pasta Step by Step
1.To begin with first add 4 cups water.
2.Boil well add salt and few drops of oil.
3.Add 1 cup pasta. I used durum wheat pasta.
4.Cook well. It takes at least 7-10 mins to cook, depends on pasta variety too.
5.Keep an eye and keep checking.
6.Check by cutting it with a spoon or fork. If it cuts through easily then pasta is done. Switch off.
7.Drain immediately. Rinse with cold water to prevent further cooking. Set aside.
8.Preheat oven at 200 deg C for 10 mins. Meanwhile heat 1 tablespoon butter in a pan – add 1 teaspoon garlic saute for few seconds then add 1/4 cup chopped onion.
9.Saute until golden.
10.Then add 1/4 cup chopped bell pepper along with 1 teaspoon chilli flakes.
11.Saute for a minute.
12.Add 1/2 cup pasta sauce along with required salt to taste. I used homemade pasta sauce.
13.Mix well and cook for a minute.
14.Add cooked pasta.
15.Mix it well.
16.Spoon it into the baking tray.
17.1
18.Bake in preheated oven at 200 deg for 10-12 mins. I usually grill it for the last 2 mins to get the crusty tip but this is optional. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon oregano and enjoy hot!
Enjoy hot pasta!
Expert Tips
- Do not bake for long as the pasta may become very hard and chewy to eat.
- The cooked pasta should be juicy and not dry so add pasta sauce accordingly.
- Reserve 1/2 cup cooked pasta water, you can add it to sauce while cooking – this keeps pasta juicer for a long time.
- You can use either store bought pasta sauce or use homemade pasta sauce.
- I liked the idea of baking in individual portions especially if your kids like pasta then its easy to serve individually.
- Use only oven proof dish for baking.
- I used onion and bell pepper alone, you can add any veggies of your choice. You can add mushroom, corn, carrot or any veggie of your choice.
- Adjust spice level according to your preference.
Variations
- I have used only mozzarella cheese. You can use a combination of Parmesan cheese with mozzarella cheese too.
- If you like spicy pasta then add 1 tablespoon schezwan sauce while cooking.
- You can add a tablespoon of mayo if you like the mild sweetness.
- Add vegetables like corn, mushrooms, carrot or as per your liking.
Serving and Storage
Serve it with any bread toast or it can be had as such too. I would recommend to consume it fresh. In case you want to store, make the sauce separately store in fridge then mix it with pasta, assemble and bake it. Baked Pasta tastes best when it is hot.
FAQS
1.Do we need to cover pasta while baking?
No need to cover. As we are grilling for the last few minutes it is better to keep it open. But if you want you can wrap it with a aluminium foil and bake.
2.How to make moist baked pasta?
Add pasta cooked water along with pasta and vegetables which helps in keeping pasta moist. Also if you want it more moist then do not grill it, just bake it.
3.Can I bake pasta after cooking it?
Yes you can bake pasta after cooking it. Note that the timing should be very less just for the cheese to melt and sauces to blend with pasta. If you bake cooked pasta for a long time then it may become too dry and rubbery.
If you have any more questions about this Baked Pasta Recipe do mail me at sharmispassions@gmail.com. In addition, follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest ,Youtube and Twitter .
Tried this Baked Pasta Recipe? Do let me know how you liked it. Also tag us on Instagram @sharmispassions and hash tag it on #sharmispassions.
📖 Recipe Card
Baked Pasta Recipe | Pasta Bake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup pasta
- 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic finely chopped
- 1/4 cup onion finely chopped
- 1/4 cup bell pepper
- 1 teaspoon chilli flakes
- 1/2 cup pasta sauce
- 1/2 cup mozarella cheese
- 1 teaspoon oregano for garnish
- 3 to 4 cups water to cook pasta
- salt to taste
Instructions
- To begin with first add 4 cups water.
- Boil well add salt and few drops of oil.
- Add 1 cup pasta. I used durum wheat pasta.
- Cook well. It takes at least 7-10 mins to cook, depends on pasta variety too.
- Keep an eye and keep checking.
- Check by cutting it with a spoon or fork. If it cuts through easily then pasta is done. Switch off.
- Drain immediately. Rinse with cold water to prevent further cooking. Set aside.
- Preheat oven at 200 deg C for 10 mins. Meanwhile heat 1 tablespoon butter in a pan – add 1 teaspoon garlic saute for few seconds then add 1/4 cup chopped onion.
- Saute until golden.
- Then add 1/4 cup chopped bell pepper along with 1 teaspoon chili flakes.
- Saute for a minute.
- Add 1/2 cup pasta sauce along with required salt to taste. I used homemade pasta sauce.
- Mix well and cook for a minute.
- Add cooked pasta.
- Mix it well.
- Spoon it into the baking tray.
- Add 1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese.
- Bake in preheated oven at 200 deg for 10-12 mins. I usually grill it for the last 2 mins to get the crusty tip but this is optional. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon oregano and enjoy hot!
- Enjoy hot pasta!
Video
Notes
- Do not bake for long as the pasta may become very hard and chewy to eat.
- The cooked pasta should be juicy and not dry so add pasta sauce accordingly.
- Reserve 1/2 cup cooked pasta water, you can add it to sauce while cooking – this keeps pasta juicer for a long time.
- You can use either store bought pasta sauce or use homemade pasta sauce.
- I liked the idea of baking in individual portions especially if your kids like pasta then its easy to serve individually.
- Use only oven proof dish for baking.
- I used onion and bell pepper alone, you can add any veggies of your choice. You can add mushroom, corn, carrot or any veggie of your choice.
- Adjust spice level according to your preference.
Variations
- I have used only mozzarella cheese. You can use a combination of Parmesan cheese with mozzarella cheese too.
- If you like spicy pasta then add 1 tablespoon schezwan sauce while cooking.
- You can add a tablespoon of mayo if you like the mild sweetness.
- Add vegetables like corn, mushrooms, carrot or as per your liking.
Durga Karthik.
wow no wonder your hubby forgot the world.Recipe and photos convey it.Will try soon.
Veena Theagarajan
yummy so tempting
Mahalakshmi
Yaa…tempting to eat n also to bake …?
renuka sundar
Can u tell us how to make the pasta sauce at hone?
Div
Wow sharmili.. Such detailed information.
I will definitely try it.. Looks yummy ?
LittleCookingTips Panos-Mirella
Wow! The colors of this recipe are staggering! And the taste….no doubt must be staggering too:) Loved the idea, thank you Sharmilee!
Deepika
This recipe looks awesome!!
Shobana
Tried this recipe a couple of times now. It is awesome. My son loves it so much keeps asking me to make it every week. 😊 Thanks for the recipe. Your blog is very good.
Shobana Franklin