Quick Weeknight Baked Pasta

made with Gluten Free pasta

Our Quick Weeknight Baked Pasta is a slam dunk for weeknight dinners. Made quicker by adding our Quick and Easy Weeknight Pasta Sauce that was in the freezer. Let’s face it, weeknights are tough. You want yum, without the fuss and you want it on the table fast. I used Gluten Free pasta, I like Barilla and it’s readily available, but you can certainly use any regular tubular pasta of your choice.

Also, since we are home a bit more these days, I used the cheese I had in the fridge. So cheese is your choice. This is a delicious, no fuss pasta bake. You can substitute the spinach and add sausage to this. You can also add more onion and garlic if you like. I use a roasted garlic pasta sauce if I don’t have any in the freezer. This is a versatile bake pasta. Make it your own.

I cook the pasta and cook it for 2-3 minutes before the package suggested cooking time. This will allow your pasta bake to finish cooking in the oven without getting mushy. This is especially true with gluten free pasta…it has a tendency to be unforgiving if overcooked. Note: Use corn based gluten free pasta, not solely brown rice pasta. Brown rice pasta doesn’t hold up well in the baking process.

I then place everything in a large bowl and toss gently until everything is evenly coated.

Place everything in a casserole and then top with a little more cheese and the parsley leaves are optional.

I used Gluten free pasta for this, which is 12 oz package, you can use regular pasta 16 oz, and the recipe is adjusted below. Conversely, if you are making a smaller portion, like 6 oz, cut the recipe in half and just bake in small dish. The photo below is 12 oz of gluten free pasta before baking.

Bake at 375 for about 30 – 40 minutes or until your cheese is melted and is throughly heated through.

Easy Weeknight Baked Pasta

Ana | Claudia’s Table

Versatile baked pasta that can be enjoyed with or without meat. Great for picky eaters.

4 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Total Time 50 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Italian

Servings 8

Calories 431 kcal

Equipment

• casserole dish

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

For 1 – 12oz package of Gluten free pasta

• 12 oz pasta gluten free or regular
• 1/2 package spinach frozen
• 16 oz Easy Weeknight Pasta Sauce
• 1 8oz Ricotta whole milk
• 2 cup shredded cheese any meltable cheese will do
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese grated
• pinch salt
• pepper

For 1 – 1 lb package of regular pasta

• 1 lb pasta tube shaped
• 3/4 package spinach frozed
• 24 oz Easy Weeknight Pasta Sauce or jarred pasta sauce (1 1/2 jars)
• 1 8oz Ricotta whole milk
• 3 cups cheese any meltable cheese will do
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
• pinch salt
• pepper

Instructions

 

For Pasta

• Cook 2-3 minutes under suggested time. If package says 10 minutes, cook 7-8 minutes.
• 2 minutes before pasta is done, add frozen spinach. The spinach cooks in about 2 minutes.
• Remove pasta and spinach and add to the casserole with sauce in it.

For the rest of ingredients

• Place sauce in casserole or baking pan
• Add drained pasta and spinach
• Add Ricotta, 2/3 of the cheeses and gently combine.
• Top with cheeses
• Bake for 45 minutes.

Notes

For Gluten Free Pasta:

 

For Regular Pasta:

 

Note: Use corn based gluten free pasta, not solely brown rice pasta. Brown rice pasta doesn’t hold up well in the baking process.

 

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 431kcal

Nutritional information is calculated online and should be used as a guide.

Keyword baked casserole, baked pasta, pasta, vegetarian, weeknight dinner

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