Easy Cheesy Pasta Bake

This easy cheesy pasta bake recipe is a quick weeknight dinner for the family! The cheesy pasta uses mostly pantry ingredients and whips up in less than 20 minutes. Perfect for those busy nights. You can use ziti, penne, farfalle, spaghetti, or even tortellini in this cheesy baked pasta.

Ever have nights where you have no time? You just want dinner on the table. Maybe something comforting and filling. Something you almost always have the ingredients for. Something you can customize to what you have in the house. Something absolutely delicious.

Enter this easy, cheesy pasta bake. It's seriously one of the easiest dinners you can ever make. A delicious stress-free meal. Simply boil pasta, toss with a can of tomato sauce, add some herbs if you want, top with cheese, and stick it under the broiler.

This easy cheesy pasta bake recipe uses the simplest of ingredients too. Ones I always have around, and you probably do too. And if you don't? Easy to switch stuff out and customize!

Ingredients

• Dried pasta
• Tomato Sauce
• Shredded mozzarella cheese - (can use fresh if you have it)
• Any herbs and spices you want
• Salt and pepper (if desired)

Substitutions and additions

• Pasta - I used farfalle pasta (the kind that's shaped like bowties!) But you can use whatever you have around. Ziti, penne pasta, even spaghetti. They can all be used here. Stay away from something tiny like orzo, but otherwise go wild!
• Tomato sauce - I like to use just a can of plain old tomato sauce. But if you have a jarred pasta sauce, feel free to use that.
• Cheese - I love how mozzarella melts on this pasta. But honestly? I've used cheddar on this. I've used a shredded Mexican cheese blend from the store. Use what you've got. Within reason of course. I think Brie cheese would be weird on this haha. But any basic cheese will do. You can also top with some fresh parmesan cheese at the end if you like!
• Herbs and spices - I typically use dried oregano. But you can use an Italian Blend, or leave it out all together. Want to make it a little spicy? Throw some red pepper flakes in.
• Meatballs - I like to keep this simple. But you can always add things if you like! Cook up some meatballs, cut them up, and add them.
• Chicken - This would be delicious with diced chicken! We've definitely done that before.
• Diced pepperoni - We've made this many times in the past by dicing up some pepperoni cubes and adding them in. It adds a wonderful texture and flavor!
• Italian sausage or ground beef - Cook up some Italian sausage or ground beef and stir in!
• Fresh veggies - You can always add whatever fresh veggies you want! Diced tomatoes, red onion, mushrooms, etc. Go crazy! Just remember some things may need to be cooked prior to baking so that they are hot and cooked through.

Can you use refrigerated or fresh pasta?

You can also use refrigerated tortellini or pasta, but keep in mind refrigerated or fresh pasta will take a much shorter time to cook. So this will actually speed up your cooking time!

I actually love using refrigerated tortellini when I make this cheesy pasta bake.

Recipe tips

• If you're adding extra ingredients like Italian sausage, fresh veggies, etc., please note that some items may need to be cooked prior to baking the dish in the oven. This will add to the cooking time.
• All ovens cook differently. Keep a close eye on the pasta bake while it's under the broiler.
• If you serve immediately, the tomato sauce should be warmed. If you're concerned about the tomato sauce not getting hot enough under the broiler, you can first bake the dish for 5 minutes at 350 degrees F before broiling the cheese.

How to make the cheesy pasta bake

Step one. Boil pasta according to the package directions.

Then, take out an oven-safe baking dish. I use an 8x11 casserole dish, but you can use a 9x13 too. Pour a little tomato sauce into the bottom. Turn on the broiler so it's hot and ready!

Once the pasta is done cooking, drain and then pour the cooked pasta into the dish. Add the rest of the tomato sauce, and any seasonings.

Stir to combine and to make sure the tomato sauce is well-distributed.

Sprinkle your cheese over the top of the cooked pasta.

Then stick under the broiler and watch carefully. Every oven is different, and the time in the oven depends on how your oven operates and also how close your dish is to the broiler.

Once it's done, remove from the oven and enjoy the easy cheesy pasta bake!