40 Comforting Baked Pasta Recipes For Special Occasions, Weeknights & Everything In Between (2024)

Step away from the stovetop.

By Camille Lowder
40 Comforting Baked Pasta Recipes For Special Occasions, Weeknights & Everything In Between (1)

We’ll never say no to pasta for dinner, especially recipes where your oven (and not the stovetop) does most of the work, like these 40 baked pasta dinners. They’re comforting, cheesy, and delightfully carb-y, and we almost don’t think they could get any better... but wait, there’s more! The best part about these baked pasta recipes is how truly versatile they are. They’re fancy enough to share with guests (seriously, who wouldn’t be pleased to be served Boursin baked ziti?), and cozy and hearty enough to feed your whole crew on a weeknight.

Looking for something easy peasy that you can whip up without much effort? Our 4-cheese gnocchi bake, our no-boil baked chicken pasta, and our Bolognese baked tortellini are all recipes that don’t even require a pot for boiling your noodles before baking. Okay with an extra step, but still don’t want to be stuck in the kitchen for hours? Our , our primavera baked orzo, and our pasta moussaka perfectly fit the bill.

Many of these recipes are also incredible for picky eaters, especially those who are in that phase where they only want to eat one thing. If that thing is pizza, you’re in luck; we’ve got 5 recipes here inspired by it, from a pasta-filled pizza casserole to . Trust us, kids (and adults who just feel like ones) are going to flip.

Craving pasta, but want to really impress? You’ve gotta try one of our classic Italian baked pasta recipes like our baked ziti or classic lasagna. They do take a bit more effort than, say, our shortcut versions, like our ravioli lasagna or our lasagna roll-ups, but they are so worth it. Bonus: we’ve got tons of tips to getting them just right that will be invaluable for all the pasta recipes you make from here on out.

Want even more pasta in your life? Check out our favorite , our top Italian pastas, and our best gnocchi and orzo recipes too.

1

Homemade Lasagna

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Based on the traditional lasagna alla Bolognese from the Emilia-Romagna province in Italy, we grabbed what we loved most about the timeless, classic recipe and simplified it to make it weeknight-friendly.

Get the Homemade Lasagna recipe.

2

Pizza Casserole

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From the realms of cheesy pizza and bubbling baked pasta comes a new family favorite: pizza casserole. Loaded with sausage, veggies, and plenty of cheese, this easy weeknight dinner has all of the cheesy, tomato-filled goodness of our favorite take-out pizza, neatly packaged in a 13"x9" pan.

Get the Pizza Casserole recipe.

3

No-Boil Baked Chicken Pasta

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Pasta dinners have a reputation for being quick, but let's be honest: Bringing a pot of water to a boil takes forever. Enter this clever no-boil baked chicken pasta, which allows the oven to do the work.

Get the No-Boil Baked Chicken Pasta recipe.

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4

Baked Ziti

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After 5 rounds of testing, we finally found the ideal combination of flavors and effort for this baked ziti—it’s got rich ricotta and a meaty, tomato-based sauce, thrown together in a dish and baked with your pasta.

Get the Baked Ziti recipe.

5

Baked Spaghetti

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This casserole is what comfort food is all about—cheesy, hearty, and completely versatile to whatever you have on hand. Ready in around an hour, this is the simplest and most satisfying dish when you're looking to truly please, without heaps of extra effort.

Get the Baked Spaghetti recipe.

6

Creamy Pesto Baked Gnocchi & Chicken Skillet

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Pesto is a sauce that turns any dish into kitchen gold, especially this totally comforting and delicious gnocchi and chicken bake. For the perfect touch, stir a dollop into the tomato mixture to coat everything, then dollop the top with more right out of the oven for a fresh finish.

Get the .

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7

Chicken Alfredo Bake

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Think of this as a creamier baked ziti. Penne tossed with creamy Alfredo sauce, chicken, and (a lot) of mozzarella—need we say more?

Get the Chicken Alfredo Bake recipe.

8

Baked Mostaccioli

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Mostaccioli is a hearty baked pasta that's perfect for a weeknight dinner. It's essentially an easier version of lasagna, made with penne. Top it with plenty of cheese, and you'll soon have a new favorite to add to the rotation.

Get the Baked Mostaccioli recipe.

9

Primavera Baked Orzo

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This one-pan dinner is inspired by classic baked ziti, but with a spring-y twist. Paired with al dente orzo and a light cream sauce, this hearty dinner is the perfect way to celebrate the return of longer days and warmer temperatures.

Get the Primavera Baked Orzo recipe.

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10

Vegetarian Baked Ziti

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Wanna pack this baked ziti with even MORE veggies? Try throwing in some chopped red peppers, sliced zucchini, or swap the spinach for kale! Just because it's carb-y and cheesy doesn't mean it has to be totally void of veggies.

Get the Vegetarian Baked Ziti recipe.

11

Baked Mac & Cheese

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Baked has a bad reputation for being gummy, soggy, and downright inedible. This is the recipe to fix all of that.

Get the .

12

Creamy Kale & Gnocchi Bake

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Fans of creamed spinach will absolutely love this hearty bake that puts the classic side dish front-and-center on your plate with gnocchi as the main attraction. It's quick to put together since the gnocchi cook right in the sauce, making them extra creamy and delicious.

Get the .

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13

Ravioli Lasagna

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Pasta night is better when your two favorites—ravioli and lasagna—combine. Italian food will never be the same.

Get the Ravioli Lasagna recipe.

14

Stuffed Rigatoni

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When we first found out "stuffed rigatoni" was a popular search term, we were stumped. Why not just buy ravioli? Then we tried it ourselves. There's something incredible about the way the ridges soak up the sauce, and the fact that the lemony ricotta-Parm mixture bursts a little with each bite.

Get the Stuffed Rigatoni recipe.

15

Pasta Moussaka

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This labor of love marries classic Greek eggplant moussaka with baked ziti, turning it into an eye-catching beauty of a pasta dinner that's easy enough for weeknights, but special enough for guests too.

Get the Pasta Moussaka recipe.

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16

Pizza Rigatoni Pie

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The noodles in this stunning dish—also known as honeycomb pasta—get filled with ricotta and bake standing up in a springform pan for some serious WOW factor.

Get the Pizza Rigatoni Pie recipe.

17

Vegan Lasagna

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Tofu replaces ricotta in this vegan version of classic lasagna. Add that to a béchamel-inspired white sauce, and you've got a vegan dinner that won't make you feel at all deprived.

Get the Vegan Lasagna recipe.

18

Boursin Baked Ziti

40 Comforting Baked Pasta Recipes For Special Occasions, Weeknights & Everything In Between (20)

Many white baked ziti recipes call for swapping out the marinara for béchamel sauce, but a mixture of Boursin, ricotta, and heavy cream is much simpler—and super-delicious. The Boursin, which is packed with garlic and herbs, adds instant flavor to the sauce, and it melts like a dream.

Get the Boursin Baked Ziti recipe.

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19

Cheese Manicotti

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These manicotti are the epitome of comfort food. When you're craving cheese and carbs, there's really nothing better.

Get the Cheese Manicotti recipe.

20

Pastit*io

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Derived from the Italian word pasticcio, which means “mix” or “hodgepodge,” pastit*io is a classic Greek casserole best described as a cross between lasagna and moussaka. Rich and hearty, creamy and comforting, it’s well worth the extra effort it takes to put together.

Get the Pastit*io recipe.

40 Comforting Baked Pasta Recipes For Special Occasions, Weeknights & Everything In Between (2024)

FAQs

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

Baked ziti is tossed with an extruder style, dried pasta similar to a penne, and then tossed with marinara sauce, ricotta and mozzarella cheeses, and then baked in the oven. Lasagna is made by layering pasta sheets, often fresh pasta sheets, marinara sauce, ricotta cheese and mozzarella, and then baked.

What is a baked pasta dish called? ›

Pastit*io, oven macaroni, or bechamel macaroni, in Greek, Cypriot, Egyptian, and Maltese cuisine. Baked ziti in Italian-American cuisine. Giouvetsi in Greek cuisine. Johnny Marzetti, a Midwestern American dish. Kugel, an Ashkenazi Jewish dish.

When making a pasta bake do you cook pasta first? ›

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.

Why is baked pasta better? ›

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.

Is baked ziti the same as pasta bake? ›

Baked Ziti is so much more than just a Bolognese pasta bake…. It's a big, juicy baked pasta that's loaded with flavour from a healthy dose of seasonings and topped with a generous amount of cheese. Cosy food that's easy enough for midweek yet worthy of company. Bonus: perfect freezer friendly meal!

Is baked ziti easier than lasagna? ›

It's a lot like a classic lasagna casserole, but easier to make and without lots of layers or broken noodles. It makes for a perfect midweek or weekend meal, or a hot dish to bring to a potluck. Make extra and freeze for later.

What is the difference between baked ziti and baked penne pasta? ›

Texture: Ziti almost always has a smooth texture, though you can occasionally find ridged versions of the tubular pasta. On the other hand, penne can be either ridged or smooth (though ridged is the most widely available in North American grocery stores). Width: In general, ziti noodles are larger than penne noodles.

What is the difference between baked ziti and baked rigatoni? ›

Rigatoni pasta noodles are medium size tubes with ridges. In comparison, ziti noodles are a bit longer, skinnier, and don't have ridges down the side. They're similar, but we like to use rigatoni for its ability to hold onto the sauce! You can always swap out ziti for rigatoni but make sure you check the cooking times.

What is a 4 letter baked pasta dish? ›

How many letters do the solutions for Baked pasta dish contain? The shortest crossword solution for Baked pasta dish is 4 letters long and is called ZITI. The longest solution is eleven letters long and is called RIGATONIPIE. How can I suggest additional solutions for Baked pasta dish ?

What must be done to pasta before baking it? ›

Dried pasta needs to be par-boiled, then drained before using it in baked dishes. Just boil for half the time specified on the package. There is a type of dried no-boil lasagna sheets that don't require par-boiling, but they need extra water added to the sauce.

Do you bake pasta with lid on or off? ›

Baked macaroni and cheese, for example, is typically fully cooked before it's spread out in the pan. All you're doing is heating it and browning the top, so you don't usually need a lid. For casserole recipes that start in the oven with a lid, at some point, you'll need to uncover it and let the steam out.

Should you rinse pasta before baking? ›

Do Not Rinse. Pasta should never, ever be rinsed for a warm dish. The starch in the water is what helps the sauce adhere to your pasta. The only time you should ever rinse your pasta is when you are going to use it in a cold dish like a pasta salad or when you are not going to use it immediately.

What is the best pasta shape for bake? ›

Penne is a good choice for baked pasta dishes, it holds up well in the oven and is the perfectly sized mouthful. Try using this pasta in a carbonara pasta bake with meat and vegetables. Rigatoni is a large tube noodle that is wider than penne and cut short and straight.

How do you keep baked pasta moist? ›

You need to cover the pasta somehow. One way is to put a lid (or foil) over the top .. the other is to cover the past with a layer of grated cheese. Otherwise the moisture in the food will dry out and the top layer will be hard. How do I keep pasta from sticking after cooking?

Can you put uncooked pasta in the oven? ›

you can bake uncooked spaghetti in the oven? Just toss it with olive oil, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Then add bell peppers, onions, canned diced tomatoes, water, and marinara. Give it another toss, cover it and bake it for 40 minutes.

What is the difference between oven ready lasagna and regular lasagna? ›

Then I did a little bit of research, and I realized that the only difference between regular lasagna noodles and no-boil lasagna noodles is that no-boil lasagna noodles are pre-boiled for a bit before drying — otherwise, they are exactly the same.

Is lasagna pasta the same as pasta? ›

Lasagne is actually a form of pasta itself. It is a traditional Italian dish made with layers of pasta, meat or vegetables, and cheese, typically served with a tomato-based sauce. Lasagne can even be made with different types of pasta, including traditional pasta sheets, fresh egg noodles, penne, or even ravioli.

Is lasagna cooked or baked? ›

Bake the Lasagna

Turn the oven on to 350ºF so it can preheat while you're assembling the lasagna. Once the lasagna is ready, cover the pan with a layer of aluminum foil. Place the pan in the oven and allow it to bake for 30 minutes, then remove the foil so the cheese can brown.

What is the difference between lasagna and lasagne? ›

In Italian, lasagna is the singular form of the noun, referring to a single flat sheet of the pasta, while lasagne is the plural form and thus the go-to word for the whole dish, which is made up of many sheets of pasta.

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