59 Baked Pasta Recipes That Make For The Most Comforting Dinners
Step away from the stovetop.
We’ll never say no to pasta for dinner, especially recipes where your oven (and not the stovetop) does most of the work, like these 58 baked pasta dinners. They’re comforting, cheesy, and delightfully carb-y, and we almost don’t think they could get any better... but wait, there’s more! The best part about these baked pasta recipes is how truly versatile they are. They’re fancy enough to share with guests (seriously, who wouldn’t be pleased to be served Boursin baked ziti?), and cozy and hearty enough to feed your whole crew on a weeknight.
Looking for something easy peasy that you can whip up without much effort? Our taco gnocchi bake, our Tuscan tortellini skillet bake, and our enchilada stuffed shells all use store-bought ingredients to make things extra easy on you. Okay with an extra step or two, but still don’t want to be stuck in the kitchen for hours? Our cheeseburger casserole, our French onion mac & cheese, and our garlicky shrimp Alfredo bake all perfectly fit the bill.
Many of these recipes are also incredible for picky eaters, especially those who are in that phase where they only want to eat one thing. If that thing is pizza, you’re in luck; we’ve got 5 recipes here inspired by it, from a pasta-filled pizza casserole to pizza mac & cheese. Trust us, kids (and adults who just feel like ones) are going to flip.
Craving pasta, but want to really impress? You’ve gotta try one of our classic Italian baked pasta recipes like our baked ziti, our classic lasagna, or our million-dollar mac & cheese. They do take a bit more effort than, say, our shortcut versions, like our ravioli lasagna or our queso mac & cheese, but they are so worth it. Bonus: we’ve got tons of tips to getting them just right that will be invaluable for all the pasta recipes you make from here on out.
Want even more pasta in your life? Check out our favorite chicken & pasta recipes, our top Italian pastas, and our best gnocchi and orzo recipes too.
Beef Noodle Casserole
What's a weeknight dinner without beef, noodles, and melty cheese, right? This version of beef noodle casserole combines a shelf-stable favorite—cream of mushroom soup—along with tomato sauce, lots of garlic, sweet onion, and sharp cheddar cheese. It’s a combination of everything you want in a comforting cold-weather meal.
Get the Beef Noodle Casserole recipe.
Cheeseburger Casserole
Ever find yourself standing in front of the fridge, trying to decide what you want to make for dinner? You could make some cheeseburgers (always a crowd-pleaser) or whip up some mac & cheese (also a fan favorite), OR you could make the most wonderful, happy combination instead: this cheeseburger casserole.
Get the Cheeseburger Casserole recipe.
Enchilada Stuffed Shells
We know what you may be thinking: enchiladas + pasta? Before you toss the idea aside, hear us out. Taco spaghetti is a classic weeknight dinner for us at Delish, which inspired this genius dinner hack.
Get the Enchilada Stuffed Shells recipe.
Pizza Spaghetti
Pizza and spaghetti are two weeknight dinner favorites for very good reason. Saucy, cheesy, and reliable, we turn to these staples again and again when I need comfort food to satisfy. That being said, when we just can't decide between the two, we turn to this incredible mashup.
Get the Pizza Spaghetti recipe.
Homemade Mac & Cheese
Here at Delish, our best-ever mac & cheese is perfect for any occasion, from family weeknight dinners to holiday spreads. In our book, the perfect macaroni and cheese recipe has to be three things: extra creamy, plenty cheesy, and paired with a golden, crunchy topping. This one nails all three!
Get the Homemade Mac & Cheese recipe.
Garlicky Alfredo Shrimp Bake
For this casserole, shrimp is tossed in an easy from-scratch Alfredo and cooked penne and baked until you have cheesy goodness.
Get the Garlicky Alfredo Shrimp Bake recipe.
Homemade Lasagna
Based on the traditional lasagna alla Bolognese from the Emilia-Romagna province in Italy, we grabbed what we loved most about the timeless, classic recipe and simplified it to make it weeknight-friendly.
Get the Homemade Lasagna recipe.
Pizza Casserole
From the realms of cheesy pizza and bubbling baked pasta comes a new family favorite: pizza casserole. Loaded with sausage, veggies, and plenty of cheese, this easy weeknight dinner has all of the cheesy, tomato-filled goodness of our favorite take-out pizza, neatly packaged in a 13"x9" pan.
Get the Pizza Casserole recipe.
Tuscan Tortellini Skillet Bake
We’ve developed more Tuscan butter recipes than we care to count, but this new spin on our old favorite flavors is sure to earn a spot at the top of your weekly dinner rotation. Savory pancetta, sun-dried tomatoes, and tortellini are all topped with fresh mozzarella, and broiled to creamy, melty, just-slightly-browned perfection.
Baked Spaghetti
This casserole is what comfort food is all about—cheesy, hearty, and completely versatile to whatever you have on hand. Ready in around an hour, this is the simplest and most satisfying dish when you're looking to truly please, without heaps of extra effort.
Get the Baked Spaghetti recipe.
Queso Mac & Cheese
Get ready for a fiesta in your mouth with this creamy, spicy mac & cheese. It's a surefire crowd-pleaser that'll have you contemplating reaching for the tortilla chips to scoop up every delicious bite.
Get the Queso Mac & Cheese recipe.
Chicken, Spinach, & Artichoke Lasagna
We love spinach–artichoke anything. While we’ve already paired these flavors with gnocchi, tortellini, pasta shells, and more, making a super-cheesy chicken, spinach, and artichoke lasagna just had to happen.
Baked Ziti
After 5 rounds of testing, we finally found the ideal combination of flavors and effort for this baked ziti—it’s got rich ricotta and a meaty, tomato-based sauce, thrown together in a dish and baked with your pasta.
Get the Baked Ziti recipe.
Stuffed Shells
Imagine lasagna being turned inside out to form cute pockets stuffed with creamy, garlicky ricotta and cream cheese, which are then slathered in tomato sauce. Sounds dreamy, right? This baked dinner is one you're going to want to keep in your back pocket, whether it's for a Friday night dinner or a make-ahead mid-week meal.
Get the Stuffed Shells recipe.
Bacon & Pimento Mac & Cheese
To give a new spin on the superior comfort food, we decided to give it a kick that makes you say, “Maybe I can go for seconds—or thirds!” From the kick of the pimento peppers and tabasco to the bacon crumble in the sauce and the breadcrumbs, this jacked-up variation keeps every bite interesting.
Get the Bacon & Pimento Mac & Cheese recipe.
Hamburger Casserole
It can be hard to replicate the perfection of a restaurant-quality burger, but this casserole captures the same magic in the form of an easy weeknight dinner. Bonus: no flipping patties over a hot grill!
Get the Hamburger Casserole recipe.
No-Boil Baked Chicken Pasta
Pasta dinners have a reputation for being quick, but let's be honest: Bringing a pot of water to a boil takes forever. Enter this clever no-boil baked chicken pasta, which allows the oven to do the work.
Get the No-Boil Baked Chicken Pasta recipe.
Taco Gnocchi Bake
In this recipe, gnocchi gets the taco treatment for a simple weeknight meal. Along with some ground beef, black beans, and plenty of cheddar cheese, it’s a fun twist on the potato-based pasta.
Get the Taco Gnocchi Bake recipe.
Chicken Alfredo Bake
Think of this as a creamier baked ziti. Penne tossed with creamy Alfredo sauce, chicken, and (a lot) of mozzarella—need we say more?
Get the Chicken Alfredo Bake recipe.
Ravioli Lasagna
Pasta night is better when your two favorites—ravioli and lasagna—combine. Italian food will never be the same.
Get the Ravioli Lasagna recipe.
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