23 Baked Pasta Recipes for the Ultimate Warm and Cozy Dinner (2024)

Cozy up to a bubbly pasta bake hot out of the oven. With easy weeknight recipes as well as global baked pasta dishes that bring the flavors of Italy, Greece, and beyond to your dinner table, there's a comforting recipe here for any occasion. So grab your fork and knife— these baked pasta casseroles won't last long!

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Baked Ziti with Three Cheeses

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A classic midweek meal, baked ziti pasta gains complex flavor from fire-roasted tomatoes, a white wine cream sauce, and a trio of gooey cheeses. Even better, the pasta bake can be prepared a few days in advance so all you have to do is pop it in the oven.

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Tortellini Emilia

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Filled with prosciutto and topped with a sprinkle of Gruyère cheese, this impressive oven-baked pasta is named after Italy's Emilia-Romagna region. Don't have any prosciutto or pancetta on hand? Throw in leftover cubed ham.

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Turkey Manicotti

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Use cooked turkey instead of ground beef for this delicious make-ahead manicotti. It also saves on the calorie count while still keeping you satisfied thanks to its 30 grams of protein per serving.

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Orzo, Pancetta, and Provolone Bake with Turkey Meatballs

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Stuffed with orzo, pancetta, roasted sweet peppers, and juicy turkey meatballs, this delicious pasta bake has it all. For a crunchy finish, top with bread crumbs and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

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Mexican Rigatoni and Cheese

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Black beans, chorizo sausage, and pobano chile pepper transform this baked pasta recipe into a dinnertime fiesta. A topping of cilantro and pico de gallo finishes the delicious pasta bake.

23 Must-Try Mexican Recipes to Spice Up Your Weekly Menu

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Bolognese Lasagna with Porcini-Ricotta Filling

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Update your classic lasagna recipe with a mouthwatering porcini-ricotta filling. The cheesy mushroom mix melds perfectly with a trio of fresh veggies and spicy Italian sausage for an undeniable pasta bake dinner.

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Classic Chicken Tetrazzini

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It doesn't get much better than chicken and noodles in a creamy, buttery sauce. Add this classic pasta bake to the menu any time you need a comforting dinner. You can easily make this pasta casserole recipe a little more filling by using our veggie variation with asparagus or broccoli added to the mix.

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Four-Cheese Butternut Spaghetti Pie

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This delicious pasta bake comes together in a single pot by starting on the stove top and finishing in the oven. The four kinds of cheese include provolone, feta, Parmesan, and cottage cheese to bring the ultimate combo of tangy, nutty, and creamy. Butternut squash adds distinct fall flavor and a healthy boost of vitamins A and C.

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Stuffed Manicotti

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Cheese-lovers, rejoice! Kids and adults alike will love this customizable stuffed pasta bake. Choose between our Test Kitchen's delish cheesy ricotta or spinach-pancetta filling for your stuffed manicotti shells. From there, top with a homemade meat sauce or parmesan sauce.

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Asparagus-Tuna Casserole

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Give tuna casserole a spring update with the help of fresh asparagus, Kalamata olives, and tiny new potatoes. A hint of lemon peel adds light, citrusy flavor to the baked penne pasta.

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals

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Chicken Florentine Artichoke Bake

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This pasta bake is like a filling, meaty version of spinach artichoke dip. It's got cheesy, buttery goodness with an irresistible bread crumb topping. Use purchased rotisserie chicken to get the pasta casserole recipe on the table faster.

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Ham and Spinach Two-Cheese Pasta

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These miniature pasta bakes are the perfect meal for two. Smothered in a rich cheese sauce, spinach and ham blend with whole grain pasta, which adds fiber to the easy pasta dish that's ready in just 40 minutes. This is also a great recipe to use up the leftover ham in the fridge.

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Creamy Corn and Macaroni Bake

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If mac and cheese is a go-to potluck dish for you, the guests will swoon for this baked pasta dish. White cheddar and Parmesan cheese go into the creamy sauce that's loaded with golden corn, pancetta, and green onions. Shred blocks of cheese by hand so you get the perfect melty consistency you want. The pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking agents that make it harder to melt.

These Top Mac and Cheese Recipes Are Gooey Perfection

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Baked Ziti with Sausage and Pumpkin Tomato Sauce

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This comforting baked ziti pasta includes fire-roasted tomatoes and pumpkin, making it perfect for a fall dinner. Cream and white wine add richness to the pasta bake. Add some crushed red pepper to give a bit of heat to every bite.

Quick and Easy Fall Dinner Recipes Ready in 20 Minutes Flat

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Tortellini and Garden Vegetable Bake

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Filled with bright garden veggies, this fresh and flavorful tortellini bake is a spring staple. A cream cheese sauce coats the pasta bake, which is a healthy choice for both potlucks and weeknight dinner.

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Mile-High Meatless Lasagna Pie

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Serve this grandiose stacked pasta bake at your next dinner party for a seriously impressive main dish. The vegetarian lasagna is loaded with so many fresh veggies and rich ricotta cheese, you'll hardly miss the meat.

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Cheesy Bacon and Leek Pasta Bake

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Only six ingredients are required to make this decadent pasta casserole recipe. Leeks add the perfect amount of mild onion flavor while crispy bacon adds a salty crunch. Add some extra richness to the pasta bake by sprinkling extra cheese after it's out of the oven.

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Chicken Enchilada Pasta

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Chicken enchiladas and pasta? It doesn't get much better than this mouthwatering combination. A mix of chicken, peppers, onion, jalapeño, and refried beans stuffs jumbo shells, which are then topped with shredded cheese and baked to perfection.

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Hamburger Cheese Bake

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Ditch the bun and bake up this potluck-ready hamburger pasta casserole recipe. Complete with a dreamy blend of cream cheese, sour cream, and cottage cheese, you won't believe the baked pasta is only 311 calories per serving.

Test Kitchen Tip: For an even easier weeknight dinner, prepare the meal 24 hours in advance and bake when ready to serve.

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Inside-Out Spaghetti Pie

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Who says you can't play with your food? The entire family will love this fun take on classic spaghetti in which traditional Italian meatballs serve as a crust to a yummy pasta and tomato sauce filling.

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Cheesy Italian Meatball Casserole

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Enjoy all the flavors of lasagna minus the effort by making this delicious baked pasta dish for dinner tonight. Frozen meatballs combine with your choice of a tomato-sauced penne or ziti pasta along with dollops of a Parmesan-ricotta cheese mixture. Serve with crusty bread for sopping up the sauce.

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Easy Baked Cavatelli

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For an easy cheesy pasta bake ready in under an hour, look no further than this baked cavatelli. Add a sprinkle of basil leaves before serving for a fresh herbal boost of flavor. Bonus: this entire baked pasta dish comes together in a skillet (just make sure it's oven-safe!).

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Beef Stroganoff Casserole

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Turn a classic comfort food into a baked pasta casserole. The beefy, mushroom-filled baked pasta dish has a rich sauce built from beef broth, Worcestershire, smoked paprika, and sour cream. Purchased beef roast helps keep the prep time down.

23 Baked Pasta Recipes for the Ultimate Warm and Cozy Dinner (2024)

FAQs

Why is baked pasta so good? ›

The baking adds a crispy crust that is such a delicious contrast to the tender goodness of the dish. The challenge is to how to get the pasta to turn out just right. Most baked pasta recipes instruct you to boil the noodles until cooked halfway before baking them.

What is a good substitute for baked ziti? ›

Yes, you can substitute rigatoni for ziti in most recipes. Both are tubular-shaped pasta, but rigatoni is larger and has ridges, while ziti is smooth.

How to make pasta amazing? ›

How To Cook Pasta: 10 Tips And Tricks
  1. DON'T put oil in your water or on your pasta. ...
  2. Fill your pot properly. ...
  3. Salt your water like the sea. ...
  4. Bring water to a rapid boil before adding the pasta. ...
  5. Drop and stir. ...
  6. Check the package for timing. ...
  7. Always save some cooking water. ...
  8. Drain don't dry.
Oct 20, 2023

Why is my baked ziti so watery? ›

Why is my pasta bake watery? There are a couple of reasons why your pasta bake might be runny. Sauce that is thick at room temperature or from the fridge will thin out in the hot oven. It is better to have a thicker sauce at the beginning, so it will be the right consistency after cooking.

How to keep baked pasta moist? ›

Be Generous with the sauce… mix the pasta in with the sauce before layering it, add more sauce between your layers…also do not bake it with the cover off… put aluminum foil on it, bake at 350 for an hour until mozzarella is melted. this will keep your pasta moist and not dry.

Should baked ziti be covered when baking? ›

Should I cover Baked Ziti while it's baking? Yes. Cover loosely with foil so it doesn't stick to the cheese, then bake for 20 minutes. Then remove the foil so the cheese can go bubbly and golden!

Do Italians eat baked ziti? ›

Baked Ziti is a popular Italian-American dish that is not commonly found in Italy.

How do you keep baked ziti warm without drying it out? ›

Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil in order to keep all the moisture. This will keep the pasta from drying out. Another tip is to add around ¼ cup of water to the dish to help prevent a dried out baked ziti.

What can I add to pasta to make it more interesting? ›

Here are my favorite ways to make canned spaghetti sauce more exciting!
  1. 1 - Extra virgin olive oil. Adding a good amount of a flavorful olive oil will go a long way in infusing flavor into your sauce. ...
  2. 2 - Fresh garlic. ...
  3. 3 - Meat. ...
  4. 4 - Hot pepper flakes. ...
  5. 5 - Red wine. ...
  6. 6 - Fresh or dried herbs. ...
  7. 7 - Cheese. ...
  8. 8 - Cream and/or butter.
Feb 26, 2018

What seasoning is nice in pasta? ›

We've combined basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme and sage to provide a typically Italian touch. Whether you're making a salad, lasagne, cream sauce, bruschetta or colourful oven-roasted vegetables, you'll enjoy delicious dishes that are reminiscent of your favourite Italian restaurant.

What can I add to pasta to make it nicer? ›

These delicious flavorings will bring beneficial plant compounds to your meal.
  1. Basil. Basil is a flavorful herb and a mainstay in many Italian dishes, including pasta. ...
  2. Oregano. Oregano is a culinary herb known for its peppery and pungent taste. ...
  3. Rosemary. ...
  4. Red pepper flakes. ...
  5. Garlic powder.
Apr 11, 2022

Should you cover a pasta bake? ›

The sauce and tomatoes in this Italian recipe provide enough moisture to bake it uncovered. Some pasta bake recipes may require covering to retain adequate moisture and prevent drying.

Do you need to boil pasta before baking? ›

Most pasta bake recipes require you to pre-boil your pasta until it's not quite cooked through and then finish it in the oven. But for days when you can't face another pot to wash up or just need something delicious and comforting but minimal effort…well this is the recipe for you!

Why is homemade pasta so good? ›

The only way to be sure of the quality and freshness of the ingredients is when you buy them yourself. From the start to the end, you know what you have put in your dough, in the filling, and that the nutritional value of your food is mostly preserved. Only for this reason, making pasta from scratch is worth a try.

What makes pasta so delicious? ›

The tangy, salty, spicy and sometimes a tad sweet taste is just mouthwatering. There is little that that could go wrong with this delicacy. You can even add other things as in meatballs, lasagna etc that blends in with pasta just perfectly. The flavor and aroma of pasta are what makes it so popular among people.

Why does homemade pasta taste better? ›

When making homemade pasta, you are using fresher and healthier ingredients without preservatives. This offers better nourishment, and it reflects in the texture and taste.

What's the difference between lasagna and baked pasta? ›

Lasagna and baked pasta are both baked Italian dishes, but they have some key differences: Noodles: Lasagna typically uses wide, flat lasagna noodles made from wheat flour and eggs. Baked pasta can use various types of pasta, such as penne, rigatoni, or spaghetti.

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