22 Satisfying Baked Pasta Recipes

By

Food & Wine Editors

Updated on January 15, 2023

Apres Ski Lasagna — Photo: Victor Protasio

Baked pasta is the ultimate cozy food, a warm and filling dish that can feed many. In this roundup, we share some of our go-to recipes that never get old, including Creamy Baked Pasta with Gruyère and Prosciutto, Pickled Pepper Macaroni and Cheese, and a few takes on fan-favorite lasagna. Read on for even more baked pasta dishes we love.

01 of 22

Vegetarian Lasagna "Bolognese" with Plant-Based Meat

Lasagna Bolognese with Plant-Based Meat — Photo by Ellen Mary Cronin / Food and prop styling by Radin+Croney Collective

This faux lasagna Bolognese delivers all the comforting flavors of the Italian classic, thanks to layers of richly seasoned plant-based meat and a quickly simmered marinara. Cheesy spinach and tender zucchini pack in even more vegetables, which get an extra umami boost from plenty of Parmesan. If you've never cooked with plant-based meat before, trust your instincts and your eyes; it browns as it cooks, just like ground beef.

02 of 22

Mostaccioli

Mostaccioli — © Abby Hocking

A hearty meat sauce and lots of melted cheese make this pasta dish a crowd-pleaser. Mostaccioli, a smooth, tube-shaped pasta with angled ends, is the go-to here, but penne also works well.

03 of 22

Buttermilk Macaroni and Cheese with Baby Kale

Buttermilk Macaroni & Cheese with Baby Kale — Kelly Marshall

A quick sauté renders baby kale leaves perfectly tender, allowing them to almost melt into the buttermilk-enriched béchamel in chef and cookbook author Alexander Smalls' version of mac and cheese. For a smooth sauce, make sure all of the dairy is at room temperature.

04 of 22

Pork and Ricotta-Stuffed Jumbo Shells

Pork-and-Ricotta-Stuffed Jumbo Shells — © Marcus Nilsson

F&W culinary director at large Justin Chapple amps up the filling in stuffed shells by including ground pork. Use your favorite prepared tomato sauce here.

05 of 22

Baked Rigatoni with Broccoli, Green Olives, and Pancetta

Baked Rigatoni with Broccoli, Green Olives and Pancetta — © Christina Holmes

Instead of using tomato sauce, chef Hugh Acheson makes his version of baked ziti with intensely sweet roasted tomatoes.

06 of 22

Kale-Artichoke Stuffed Shells

Kale and Artichoke Stuffed Shells — Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

Cannellini beans add hearty creaminess to these stuffed shells, while mild heat from Calabrian chiles and earthy sweetness from fennel seeds amp up jarred marinara sauce. Cook a few extra pasta shells to have on hand in case some tear during boiling.

07 of 22

Creamy Tuna Noodle Cazuela

Creamy Tuna Noodle Cazuela — © Johnny Miller

Jarred piquillo peppers and imported canned tuna from Spain add an Iberian twist to the classic American tuna casserole.

08 of 22

Vegetable and Ravioli Lasagna

Vegetable-and-Ravioli Lasagna — Rick Poon

Fresh spinach ravioli are a clever shortcut for making lasagna: Each ravioli is already a mini layer of pasta, cheese, and vegetable.

09 of 22

Pumpkin Lasagne

Delicious Pumpkin Recipes — Karen Mordechai

No need to roast fresh pumpkin for this dish (although you certainly could); using canned unseasoned pumpkin puree is much quicker, and it works just fine. Like most lasagnas, this one is easier to cut if left to set for 10 minutes or so before serving.

10 of 22

Baked Orecchiette with Pork Sugo

Baked Orecchiette with Pork Sugo — © Kana Okada

In Italian cuisine, sugo is a gravy or sauce. Here, chef Ethan Stowell prepares a pork sugo by braising pork shoulder until it almost falls apart, shredding it in a food processor, and mixing it with a red wine and tomato sauce. Then he bakes it with orecchiette under a topping of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese for a satisfying meal.

11 of 22

Grandma's Lasagna

Grandma's Lasagna — © Fredrika Stjärne

F&W editors tested three Bolognese-style lasagnas with creamy béchamel sauce before deciding that the definitive lasagna had to have tomato sauce, chunks of meat, shredded mozzarella, and creamy ricotta cheese.

12 of 22

Baked Eggplant Parmesan Penne

Baked Eggplant Parmesan Penne — © Phoebe Lapine

Served over pasta, this deconstructed take on eggplant Parmesan swaps the usual fried eggplant for a sautéed version. Whole-wheat pasta can be used for more fiber.

13 of 22

Cheesy Baked Pasta with Radicchio

Cheesy Baked Pasta with Radicchio Recipe — Greg DuPree

A splash of red wine vinegar balances the richness of this cheesy pasta and magnifies the pink color of the onions and radicchio. Omit the prosciutto to make this a vegetarian main dish.

14 of 22

Creamy Baked Pasta with Gruyère and Prosciutto

Creamy Baked Pasta with Gruyere and Prosciutto — John Kernick

For a simple and ultra-creamy baked pasta, take a cue from chef Ashley Christensen of Poole's Diner: Trade the béchamel for this much easier sauce of heavy cream simmered with plenty of nutmeg and two kinds of cheese.

15 of 22

Crab Macaroni Gratin

Crab Macaroni Gratin — Sarah Crowder

"A glorious amount of crab meat baked with shell-shaped pasta in a three-cheese cream sauce — tangy white cheddar, nutty Gruyère, and sharp Parmigiano-Reggiano — is no-joke delicious and trés riche," F&W Cooks contributor Andrea Slonecker says. "That's where the Champagne comes in. The tingly bubbles give your palate an ultrasonic scrub between each creamy, cheesy, blissful bite."

16 of 22

Shortcut Baked Rigatoni with Meatballs

shortcut-baked-rigatoni-and-meatballs-XL-RECIPE0118 — Con Poulos

Dry pasta and meatballs get baked with mozzarella and marinara in this genius shortcut recipe.

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Pickled Pepper Macaroni and Cheese

Pickled Pepper Macaroni and Cheese — Con Poulos

Crispy panko breadcrumbs add crunch to this rich and cheesy pasta casserole. Serve with extra peppers for even more zip.

18 of 22

Baked Rigatoni with Eggplant, Tomatoes, and Ricotta

baked-rigatoni-with-eggplant-tomatoes-and-ricotta-xl-wnbook2014 — © Fredrika Stjärne

"There is no more comforting food in the world than a bubbly pasta dish straight from the oven," says chef Jonathan Waxman. He replaces the béchamel in this traditional baked pasta with lush eggplant; a bit of pesto provides an extra hit of flavor.

19 of 22

Chicken Tetrazzini

Chicken Tetrazzini — © Abby Hocking

If you don't want to poach chicken breasts for this version of chicken tetrazzini, you can use three to four cups of meat from a rotisserie chicken instead.

20 of 22

Après-Ski Lasagna

Apres Ski Lasagna — Victor Protasio

In this lasagna recipe, Andrea Slonecker says "fresh basil brings brightness, sliced mushrooms lend earthiness and toothsome texture, and ricotta delivers the creaminess between the layers."

21 of 22

Spaghetti Pie with Wild Mushrooms and Spinach

Spaghetti Pie with Wild Mushrooms and Spinach — John Kernick

Gail Simmons has prepared multiple flavor variations of spaghetti pie, and it always makes her guests extremely happy. This version, perfect for fall gatherings, incorporates plenty of wild mushrooms, spinach, and herbs. Add a spoonful of chopped oil-packed black truffles, if desired, as Gail sometimes does.

22 of 22

Crusty Baked Shells and Cauliflower

Crusty Baked Shells & Cauliflower — © Christina Holmes

Even sautéed cauliflower feels decadent in this cheesy-crunchy baked pasta from cookbook author and TV host Ina Garten. Be careful not to overcook your pasta, as it will continue to cook in the oven.

Updated by

Bridget Hallinan

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