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

Pastitsio

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Derived from the Italian word pasticcio, which means “mix” or “hodgepodge,” pastitsio 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 Pastitsio recipe.

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Camille Lowder

Digital Food Producer

Camille Lowder is the digital food producer at Delish, otherwise known as our resident queen of recipe galleries. Previously, she attended the Natural Gourmet Institute for culinary school and worked at/managed a number of New York restaurants. She loves anything vegan, foods masquerading as other foods (hello, cauliflower), and a well-used Oxford comma.

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

FAQs

What is the difference between pasta and pasta bake? ›

How is a pasta bake different from regular pasta dishes? A pasta bake differs from regular pasta dishes in that it is assembled and then baked in the oven, often with a layer of cheese on top. This gives it a crispy, golden crust and a creamy, gooey interior, making it a comforting and hearty dish.

How to jazz up boring pasta? ›

Simply cook chopped garlic cloves in a bit of warm olive oil (not hot!), and add cooked spaghetti (reserve some of the cooking water to add later if necessary). Stir to combine and finish off with a handful of fresh chopped parsley, and grated parmesan cheese. Easy peasy and so delicious!

How to make pasta for party? ›

Steps to Cook Pasta for a Party
  1. Cook your pasta ahead of time, in a very large pot, with a lot of salt in the water, not oil. ...
  2. Save some of the pasta water. ...
  3. Cook your pasta to almost al dente. ...
  4. Drain your pasta under cold running water and pull it through the water until its cool. ...
  5. Once cool, portion out onto a sheet pan.
Dec 16, 2016

What is Italy's number 1 pasta? ›

According to a survey conducted in September 2023, 19 percent of Italian respondents reported Barilla as they favorite brand of pasta. Rummo followed, chosen by 18 percent of respondents, while De Cecco had a following of 12 percent of Italians.

What is the most eaten pasta in Italy? ›

Spaghetti is the most popular pasta in Italy–at least according to a July 2021 poll by the Unione Italiana Food ranking the country's top ten pasta shapes. Spaghetti nabbing the number one spot will hardly come as a shock; it's undoubtedly the pasta shape most strongly associated with Italian cuisine.

What to put in pasta to make it taste better? ›

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

What to put on pasta when you have no sauce? ›

Cheese is an excellent way to add flavor to your pasta without having to rely on sauce. Try mixing your angel hair pasta with goat cheese, and toss in sun-dried tomatoes to make an amazing meal with just a few ingredients. Garlic butter is a terrific way to season all types of noodles.

How do you pimp up pasta? ›

Garnish your pasta with a grating of lemon zest, some crunchy breadcrumbs or even a crumble of crispy bacon to add texture and taste. Herb it up. Experiment with lots of fresh herbs in your pasta dishes.

What do you put on a pasta buffet? ›

Choose five to six of these options to serve on your pasta bar:
  1. Italian sausage.
  2. Meatballs.
  3. Chicken.
  4. Vegan crumble or vegan sausages.
  5. Sautéed spinach or greens.
  6. Broccoli.
  7. Sun-dried tomatoes.
  8. Roasted peppers.

How far ahead of time can you make pasta for a party? ›

You can prepare pasta up to 24 hours in advance. To do so, follow these instructions: Cook it for half the time recommended in the package instructions. Then, drain the pasta and spread it out on a cooking sheet and allow it to cool.

What are the 4 main pasta dishes? ›

There are four classic Roman pasta dishes: carbonara, cacio e pepe, amatriciana, and alla Gricia. Each uses slightly different techniques and ingredients and has its own place in the canon of Italian food. Here is a brief breakdown of these iconic Italian pasta dishes. 1.

What is the most sold pasta in the US? ›

Spaghetti – You just can't beat this classical shape, and it shouldn't be any surprise that it's at the top of the list.

What is the rarest pasta dish? ›

Su filindeu—literally “threads of God” in Sardo—is unfathomably intricate. It's made by only three women on Earth, all of whom live on Sardinia. And they make it only for the biannual Feast of San Francesco. It's been this way for the last 200 years.

What is the most popular spaghetti in the world? ›

Pasta Alla Bolognese: This is one of the best-known Italian dishes, though the traditional version varies somewhat to international variations of this dish. Traditionally, the sauce is made from tomatoes, garlic, olive oil and minced pork. It is the most popular in the world.

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