Here’s a simple, cheesy, and comforting pasta bake recipe—perfect for family dinners or meal prep:
🍝 Classic Pasta Bake
🛒 Ingredients
- 300 g pasta (penne, fusilli, or rigatoni)
- 2 cups cooked protein (ground beef, chicken, or sausage – optional)
- 2 cups marinara or tomato sauce
- 1 cup vegetables (bell peppers, zucchini, or mushrooms – optional)
- 2 cups shredded cheese (mozzarella or cheddar)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan
- 1 tsp dried Italian herbs (oregano, basil)
- Salt & pepper to taste
👩🍳 Instructions
- Cook pasta:
- Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare sauce:
- In a pan, cook protein (if using) until browned.
- Add vegetables and sauté for a few minutes.
- Stir in tomato sauce, herbs, salt, and pepper.
- Combine pasta and sauce:
- Mix cooked pasta with sauce and half of the shredded cheese.
- Assemble:
- Pour into a greased baking dish.
- Top with remaining cheese and Parmesan.
- Bake:
- Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve:
- Let cool 5 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with fresh herbs if desired.
💡 Tips
- Use leftover pasta or protein to make it quick.
- Add a crunchy topping: mix breadcrumbs with Parmesan and sprinkle on top before baking.
- Swap marinara for Alfredo sauce for a creamy pasta bake.
I can also give you a one-pan skillet pasta bake, chicken Alfredo pasta bake, or spicy desi-style pasta bake if you want 🍝🔥.
Do you want me to do that?
