I just love pasta casserole! Not only is it tasty and comforting, but it’s one of those fix it and forget it dishes that anyone can make.
So, with that in mind, I began scouring the internet for the best pasta casserole recipes around, and I tried them out for myself. And now I can’t wait to share my findings with you.
I’m going to introduce you to what I believe are the best pasta casserole recipes out there.
Then I’m going to be super helpful, and add a section where I answer some of your most frequently asked questions on the subject of pasta casserole.
So, if you fancy trying out a new, yet comforting, easy to make, pasta casserole recipe, why not have a quick browse through my shortlist of recipes, to see if there’s anything you like the sound of.
Who knows, you might even find a new family favorite recipe to make every week!
Get those taste buds ready, because here we go!
1. Homemade Mac And Cheese Casserole Recipe From Spend With Pennies
Let’s kick things off with a classic! Who doesn’t love mac and cheese, am I right?
This pasta casserole is rich and creamy, and what makes it really special is that it uses a classic roux based cheese sauce, which makes it velvety smooth.
And if you wish, you can add in some optional cheddar cheese soup and/or make a bread crumb topping.
2. Overnight Million Dollar Chicken Pasta Recipe From Plain Chicken
OMG, you’re going to love this dish! This creamy chicken pasta loaded with four types of cheeses is perfect comfort food.
All you have to do is dump everything in the dish and refrigerate overnight before baking the next day.
The pasta will soften overnight and be cooked to perfection in the finished dish.
3. 5 Ingredient Taco Pasta Casserole Recipe From Mighty Mrs
When I saw this recipe, I just knew I had to try it out and put it on my shortlist! It’s quick and easy to make, perfect for a busy weeknight, and it only needs 5 ingredients total.
All you need is pasta, ground beef, a Mexican cheese blend, taco seasoning, and your favorite salsa. If you wish, you can also throw in some sour cream or cream cheese.
4. Best Ever Baked Ziti Recipe From Baker By Nature
Let me tell you, this is no ordinary baked ziti dish! This particular pasta casserole recipe will give you perfectly cooked noodles, a delicious homemade sauce, and yummy golden brown gooey cheese pockets.
The secret ingredient is half a cup of red wine!
5. Lazy Lasagna Casserole Recipe From Valerie’s Kitchen
If, like me, you’re a big fan of lasagna, then you should definitely check out this recipe! And, unlike traditional lasagna, it’s really quick to put together.
And you can either bake it right after putting it together, or you can freeze it and save it for a busy weeknight.
6. Penne Ground Turkey Pasta Casserole Recipe From Ready Set Eat
While there are a lot of pasta casserole dishes out there with ground beef, how about a healthier white meat such as turkey, as per this recipe?
It only takes 45 minutes to make, serves up to 6 people, and has a wonderfully meaty sauce.
7. Cheesy Baked Pasta With Sausage And Ricotta Recipe From New York Times Cooking
This delicious main course is kinda like a cross between sausage lasagna and baked ziti. It is topped with stretchy mozzarella and features creamy ricotta cheese, which really contrasts with the flavor of the crushed tomatoes.
And if you need to accommodate vegetarians, all you have to do is swap out the Italian sausage for vegetarian ones.
8. Southern Chicken Spaghetti With RoTel Recipe From Restless Chipotle
This delicious recipe is ready to eat in just 30 minutes if you cook it in the oven, or if you prefer, you can also do it in the slow cooker.
It features easy to source ingredients, and a key ingredient is RoTel, which is a blend of vine-ripened tomatoes, zesty green chilies and a savory mixture of secret spices.
9. Butternut Squash And Spinach Lasagna Recipe From Julia’s Album
This wonderful vegetarian dish features soft layers of sweet butternut squash, healthy spinach leaves, and a decadently cheesy sauce.
And not only is it vegetarian, but it’s also gluten-free too. It has plenty of spices, Italian seasoning, nutmeg, basil, and paprika, and it’s only 400 calories per serving!
10. Dump And Bake Chicken Alfredo Pasta Casserole Recipe From The Seasoned Mom
Now if this isn’t a crowd pleaser, then I don’t know what is! It’s easy, cheesy comfort food that the whole family will enjoy.
And if you use store bought Alfredo sauce and leftover chicken, it will be one of the quickest meals you ever prepare!
11. Crockpot Pizza Casserole Recipe From Real Housemoms
OMG, I just love this dish! All those wonderful flavors you get in a pizza, and you can just set it and forget it, and tuck in as soon as it’s ready.
This particular recipe features ground beef, pepperoni, Italian seasoning, garlic, onions, mozzarella, and more.
12. Creamy Shells With Tuna And Spinach Recipe From Martha Stewart
This pasta casserole dish is basically a fun twist on the traditional tuna casserole, but with fun shaped pasta shells, and healthy greens in the form of spinach.
It features yummy, easy to source ingredients, including pasta shells, canned tuna, Italian seasoning, milk, flour, onion, Parmesan cheese, and hamburger buns.
13. Meatball Pasta Bake Recipe From Southern Living
It’s great how this dish combines wonderfully meaty meatballs in marinara sauce with soft cooked pasta.
And it has other flavorful ingredients, including the likes of fennel, sweet onion, orange juice and zest, and fresh basil leaves.
And you can make it in just three simple steps.
14. Baked Gnocchi Alfredo Recipe From The Pioneer Woman
For those of you who don’t already know, gnocchi is basically a type of Italian pasta, much like a dumpling, with a soft, potato-like texture.
This dish is super comforting, and features ingredients like grated cheeses, garlic, heavy cream, butter, and fresh basil leaves.
15. Chili Macaroni Casserole Recipe From Taste Of Home
I think you’re gonna love this recipe! If you like chili, and you like mac and cheese, well this recipe is for you, giving you the best of both worlds.
It’s got elbow macaroni, ground beef, cumin, green chilies, tomatoes, kidney beans, and is topped with a Mexican cheese blend.
16. Baked Ziti With Summer Vegetables Recipe From Southern Living
If you’re anything like me, you like to make the most of seasonal vegetables when they are available and on offer.
And this baked ziti dish features some great summer vegetables, like yellow squash and zucchini, and combines them with marinara sauce, various cheeses, white wine vinegar, and fresh basil leaves.
17. Sour Cream Noodle Bake Recipe From The Pioneer Woman
If you wanted to try something comforting, yet different, then this is the pasta casserole recipe I would recommend.
It features alternative ingredients, like sour cream, cottage cheese, and green onions, combined with regular pasta casserole ingredients like egg noodles, tomato sauce and cheddar cheese.
18. Angel Hair Shrimp Bake Recipe From Taste Of Home
If you’re a pasta lover who wants to incorporate more fish into their diet, then I would definitely check out this recipe!
It features delectable pieces of shrimp, combined with angel hair pasta, various herbs (dried and fresh), chunky salsa, and three kinds of cheeses.
19. Turkey, Spinach And Mushrooms Tetrazzini Recipe From Southern Living
For those of you who don’t already know, Tetrazzini is an American dish made with diced poultry (or seafood) and mushroom in a butter/cream and cheese sauce. And this is my favorite version…
It features easy to source and flavorful ingredients like soft cheese, milk, leftover cooked turkey, stuffing, dry white wine and rotini pasta.
20. Baked Spinach Ravioli With Pesto Cream Sauce Recipe From The Pioneer Woman
Now, this recipe might sound super fancy, but it’s actually ready to eat in less than an hour. What’s more, it tastes absolutely delicious!
In addition to store bought spinach ravioli, you add extra spinach, and make a creamy sauce featuring 2 cheeses and pesto. I love to use homemade pesto because I like it extra garlicky.
21. Chicken Curry Lasagna Recipe From Taste Of Home
Curry in a pasta dish? I bet you thought it was impossible. Well, I’m pleased to report that not only is it possible, but it tastes amazing.
This recipe features flavorful easy to source ingredients, like lasagna noodles, shredded rotisserie chicken, curry powder, cheeses, and more.
22. Sloppy Joe Casserole Recipe From Southern Living
Trust me, if you’re a fan of sloppy Joe’s, you’re gonna just love this recipe!
It’s got all those sloppy Joe flavors we all know and love, like beef, onion, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce and even hamburger buns.
Plus it’s also got elbow macaroni, garlic, sugar, mustard, and more. And it’s finished off with a breaded crumb!
23. Spaghetti Pie Recipe From All Recipes
Despite the recipe title, this dish is not a pie in the traditional sense of the word. It has all the wonderful Italian flavors of a traditional spaghetti bolognese, but it’s assembled very differently.
It features a layer of spaghetti, followed by cottage cheese, and finally a ground beef and tomato sauce mixture. Yum!
24. Baked Lemon Pasta Recipe From The Pioneer Woman
Who says pasta casseroles can’t be refreshing? It features simple, easy to source ingredients, including the likes of lemon zest and juice, sour cream minced garlic, grated Parmesan cheese, and more.
And, let me tell you, the garlic pairs perfectly with the lemon!
25. White Seafood Lasagna Recipe From Taste Of Home
This seafood lasagna recipe includes such foods as shrimp, crab meat, bay scallops, and white wine.
And it has layers of lasagna noodles, cheese sauce and ricotta sauce, and is topped with a sprinkle of both mozzarella and Parmesan cheese – delicious!
26. Ham And Broccoli Pasta Bake Recipe From Inside Brucrew Life
The great thing about this recipe is that it has the same sort of flavors as a traditional homemade mac and cheese, but it also incorporates protein in the form of ham, and veg in the form of broccoli.
It’s excellent comfort food and very satisfying.
27. Fiesta Chicken Casserole Recipe From Immaculate Bites
I just love this dish – it’s packed with Southwestern flavors and spices, corn, beans, cheese, salsa, and pasta shapes, and is a great way of using up leftover chicken.
It requires less than 10 minutes of prep time and is ready to eat in less than an hour.
28. Baked Penne Alla Vodka Recipe From The Modern Proper
Now, this is an excellent date night recipe! It’s got ingredients like Italian sausage, red onion, garlic, pancetta, tomatoes, heavy cream, cheese and vodka.
The alcohol brings out the sweetness from the tomatoes and helps to make the sauce creamy and thick.
29. Baked Linguine With Spicy Tomato-Cream Sauce Recipe From Southern Living
I think you’re gonna love this dish! It’s got fire roasted tomatoes, crushed red pepper, whipping cream, cheese, fresh basil leaves, and more. And it’s super simple to make.
30. Cheese Manicotti Recipe From Taste Of Home
This recipe features manicotti pasta tubes filled with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, topped with a lovely marinara sauce – it’s simply delicious!
Answers To Your Most Frequently Asked Questions
Most pasta casserole recipes tell you to boil pasta until it’s al dente before putting the pasta in the oven to finish cooking as it bathes in the sauce.
However, it’s worth noting at this point that you can cook raw pasta in the oven, provided there’s enough liquid.
It may interest you to know that not everyone calls it a pasta casserole, and a lot of people refer to the dish as a pasta bake.
The simplest thing to do with leftover pasta is to put it in a nice, fresh, healthy side. It’s super simple to do, tastes refreshing and delicious, and can help you lose weight too.
Alternatively, if you prefer your meals warm, you can use pasta instead of noodles to make a healthy, and flavorful stir-fry dish.
Wrap Up
I hope you’ve enjoyed browsing through my shortlist of pasta casserole recipes, and more so, I hope that you’ve spotted one or two that you want to try.
I also trust that you’ve found the FAQ section handy too. Happy cooking and bon appétit!
Cooking is great for your mental, physical, and emotional health. What’s the worst that could happen? Find a recipe that you like the sound of and cook it along with me. You might even unlock a new passion!
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