Cheesy Pasta Bake
This cheesy pasta bake recipe is the ultimate comfort food to whip up any day of the week. It’s simple to make, it’s budget-friendly, and it’s something the whole family can enjoy. The grated mozzarella is the perfect finishing touch that becomes deliciously creamy and gooey once baked in the oven.
At a Glance
Servings:
4
Difficulty:
Easy
Prep Time:
10 minutes
Cooking Time:
45 minutes
There are a few simple ways to batch cook this recipe. You can either make and freeze the sauce separately and cook the pasta as and when you’d like a portion. Or you can follow all the steps below without fully baking before freezing to keep the pasta and the cheese fresh. Then, when the time comes, you’ll bake in the oven for an hour.
What you'll need:
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 medium white onion
350g penne pasta
3 garlic cloves
400g chopped tomatoes
1 tablespoon tomato purée
½ teaspoon dried chilli flakes or a pinch of black pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt to taste
250g grated mozzarella
Fresh parsley for garnish
Method:
- Preheat your oven to gas mark 6/180 °C fan/200 °C.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. Add your penne pasta and cook for 1-2 minutes less than the package instructions so it’ll be slightly underdone. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a saucepan over a medium heat. Finely chop the onion and sauté for 5-7 minutes until soft and translucent. Mince the garlic, add it to the pan and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in the chopped tomato and tomato purée, oregano, chilli and pepper along with a pinch of salt.
- Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for a further 10-12 minutes. You’ll notice the sauce thicken slightly as the flavours develop. Taste and adjust your seasoning.
- Mix the drained pasta with the tomato sauce and stir until the pasta is evenly coated.
- Transfer half of the pasta and sauce mixture into the baking dish. Sprinkle half of the grated mozzarella. Add the remaining pasta, then finish with the rest of the mozzarella on top.
- Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese has melted and turned lightly golden on top.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley to finish.
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