Best Classic Baked Pasta for Families and Gatherings
Here is a family-favorite classic baked pasta recipe that will be a hit at every gathering. Very simple ingredients – diced tomatoes, onion, garlic, and basil – for the sauce, with mozzarella, bocconcini, and parmesan cheese melted throughout.
This delicious classic baked pasta recipe is on our dinner rotation every month and we make it whenever we have guests over for dinner. Kids and adults alike always come back for seconds! This is a hearty comfort dish that requires only a few simple ingredients and is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser at dinner parties. It is also a great option that can be enjoyed by vegetarians looking for a meatless dish. The kitchen smells absolutely amazing while it bakes in the oven and it goes well with a Caesar salad and garlic bread.
What to have with baked pasta?
How to make baked pasta?
To make baked pasta, fresh basil is a must! We like to use fresh basil from our garden in the summer, but store-bought basil is just as tasty. The basil really gives this dish its sweet and savory aroma and flavor. We also like how this recipe calls for bocconcini cheese, which are essentially small, bite-sized mozzarella balls. Even though this recipe already has mozzarella in it, bocconcini gives this dish an added delicate creamy consistency and taste to it. My husband also loves adding red pepper chili flakes on top of his pasta for an added kick.
One thing to note is that if you don’t have a hand-held immersion blender, you could blend the diced tomatoes in a blender prior to adding it to pan. We used to do this before I got myself a hand-held immersion blender. The end result is the same!
How to store baked pasta?
Another bonus with this easy home-made baked pasta recipe is that it tastes even better the next day as the flavors have the opportunity to blend together even more. To store leftover baked pasta, you can store it in an air-tight container for up to 4 days, making it an easy option to bring for school or work lunches the next day.
Time-saving tips
To save me prep time before a dinner party, I sometimes will prepare the pasta and sauce ahead of time (steps 2 to 4) the day before and keep it in the fridge until I am ready to pop it in the oven about half an hour before guests arrive.
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If you are wondering what to make for dinner, this delicious baked pasta recipe will be sure to impress your family and guests. I have made this recipe countless of times and every time family and friends (including kids!) enjoy every last bite!
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Best Classic Baked Pasta
Ingredients
Sauce Ingredients
- 2 cans 28-oz each diced tomatoes
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium onion
- 4-5 fresh basil leaves
- 4 cloves of garlic minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Pasta Ingredients
- 450 g rigatoni pasta
- 300 g mozzarella cheese diced into 1 inch cubes
- 150 g grated parmesan cheese I use parmigiano reggiano
- 200 g bocconcini diced in half
- 8-10 fresh basil leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Butter for the baking dish
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 3750F and butter a 9” by 13” baking dish.
- In a large deep skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat then add onions. Sautee onions for 3-4 minutes until onions are translucent. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Add tomatoes and puree sauce with a handheld mixer. Add basil leaves and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to boil, lower heat to medium-low and cook uncovered for about 15-20 minutes.
- Cook pasta “al dente”, drain and place back into the pot. Add ½ the sauce and ½ the grated parmesan and toss well.
- Pour the pasta into the buttered baking dish so that it evenly covers the bottom of the dish. Evenly spread the diced mozzarella and bocconcini cheese on top of the pasta. Then layer the sauce evenly on top of the cheese. Sprinkle with grated parmesan and torn basil on top of the sauce.
- Bake in a pre-heated oven at 3750F for 25 minutes. Then broil for a few seconds.
- Remove from oven and rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with more basil leaves and parmesan to serve.