Description
A rich, creamy, ultra-cheesy pasta bake loaded with tender pasta, marinara sauce, and three types of cheese. This easy comfort food bakes to golden perfection with a bubbly, melted cheese topping that everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta Bake:
- 1 pound penne or rigatoni pasta
- 3 cups marinara sauce (about 24 oz jar)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
For the Cheese:
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente (usually 1-2 minutes less than the package suggests for fully cooked pasta). The pasta will continue cooking in the oven, so you want it slightly firm. Drain well in a colander and set aside.
- Make the Sauce: While pasta cooks, melt butter in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30-60 seconds until fragrant but not browned—burned garlic tastes bitter. Pour in the marinara sauce and heavy cream, stirring to combine completely. Add Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is smooth and slightly thickened.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained pasta to the sauce and toss gently to coat every piece thoroughly. Remove from heat. Stir in 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and ½ cup of Parmesan cheese, mixing until the cheese begins to melt into the sauce. This creates extra creaminess and helps bind everything together.
- Layer the Ricotta: Spoon half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly. Drop spoonfuls of ricotta cheese over this layer, distributing it evenly across the surface. Top with the remaining pasta mixture, spreading to create an even layer.
- Add the Cheese Topping: Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese evenly over the top, followed by the remaining ¼ cup of Parmesan cheese. This creates that irresistible golden, bubbly top layer.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil (spray the underside with cooking spray to prevent cheese from sticking). Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. This allows the pasta to heat through and the flavors to meld without over-browning the cheese.
- Finish Uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10-15 minutes, until the cheese on top is melted, bubbly, and golden brown in spots. If you want extra browning, turn on the broiler for the last 2-3 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from the oven and let the pasta bake rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This allows the sauce to thicken slightly and makes serving much easier. Garnish with fresh chopped basil if desired. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
- Pasta Shape: Any short, tubular pasta works well. Penne, rigatoni, ziti, shells, or even rotini all hold sauce beautifully.
- Make it Meaty: Add 1 pound cooked ground beef, Italian sausage, or shredded chicken to the sauce before combining with pasta.
- Add Vegetables: Stir in 2 cups of cooked vegetables like spinach, mushrooms, bell peppers, or zucchini for extra nutrition.
- Cheese Variations: Try a blend of mozzarella, provolone, and fontina for different flavor profiles.
- Avoid Watery Pasta Bake: Drain pasta well and don’t oversauce. Too much liquid makes it soupy.
- Storage: Refrigerate leftovers covered for up to 4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or entire dish covered in a 350°F oven.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1½ cups
- Calories: 485
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 68mg