Description
This Simple Cheesy Baked Pasta is a comforting and easy-to-make dish featuring tender pasta coated in a rich tomato and cream cheese sauce, layered with plenty of melty mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Perfect for a hearty family dinner, it can be made with or without ground meat for a vegetarian option.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 pound pasta (Penne, Rotini, Ziti, etc.)
Sauce
- 4 cups tomato pasta sauce (32 ounces)
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 1 pound ground meat (beef, turkey, sausage) (optional – leave out for meatless)
Cheese
- 3 to 4 cups grated mozzarella cheese
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: In a large sauce pot, cook the pasta about 2 minutes less than the package directions state so it stays firm during baking.
- Prepare the sauce and meat: While pasta cooks, brown the ground meat in a separate pan if using. In a pot large enough to mix with pasta, heat the tomato pasta sauce until boiling. Add the cooked meat and then stir in the cream cheese until fully melted and incorporated. Reduce heat and let the sauce simmer gently.
- Grate the cheeses: Grate mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses if not pre-grated to ensure even melting.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Drain the pasta and return it to the cooking pot. Add the sauce mixture and stir until the pasta is evenly coated with the creamy tomato sauce.
- Layer in baking dish: Grease a 3-quart (13×9 inch) baking dish. Spoon half of the pasta mixture into the dish and sprinkle with half of the mozzarella cheese. Add the remaining pasta on top and finish by sprinkling the remaining mozzarella and the Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake: Bake in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and starting to brown.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, omit the ground meat or substitute with plant-based meat alternatives.
- You can use any type of tubular pasta such as penne, rotini, or ziti.
- Make sure not to overcook the pasta initially to prevent it from becoming mushy during baking.
- Leftovers reheat well and can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.
- Using freshly grated cheese results in better melting and flavor compared to pre-shredded cheese.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg
Keywords: baked pasta, cheesy pasta bake, easy pasta recipe, comfort food, pasta casserole
