A pasta bake is a wonderful thing. You make it for dinner one night and can enjoy the leftovers for lunches and quick meals during the entire following week. Any odds and ends from the fridge can be folded into the casserole and are all the better for it. And baking one on a chilly night makes the kitchen a warm and cozy place, drawing everyone in the house with its mouthwatering aromas and promise of a very good dinner.
Pasta casseroles have a reputation for being indulgent cheese-laden comfort foods, but this doesn't necessarily have to be the case. In fact, a casserole like this is a great place to pack in a lot of vegetables, like our Double-Spinach Pasta Casserole or the Pumpkin and Ricotta Pasta Casserole. Also, check out the Big Hearted Macaroni and Cheese for a clever way to add creaminess with a few onces of silken tofu.
This said, cheese really does make a pasta casserole what it is. We won't tell if you add an extra handful of cheddar or sprinkle a little more Parmesan over the top.
Here are our ten most favorite pasta bakes, full of everything from goat cheese and chard to prosciutto and mozzarella. If what you have in your fridge doesn't quite match up with any of them, try your hand at making your own free-form fridge-clearing pasta bake:
TOP ROW
• 1 Chicken and Swiss Chard Pasta Bake
• 2 Double Spinach Pasta Casserole with Pesto & Asiago Cheese
• 3 Tomato, Broccoli and Mozzarella Pasta Casserole
• 4 Goat Cheese and Swiss Chard Pasta Casserole
• 5 Big Hearted Macaroni and Cheese with Artichokes
BOTTOM ROW
• 6 Chicken and Tomato No-Boil Pasta Bake
• 7 Pumpkin and Ricotta Pasta Casserole
• 8 Easy Pasta Bake with Prosciutto, Tomato Sauce & Mozzarella
• 9 Grown-Up Tuna Noodle Casserole
• 10 Lighter Stuffed Pasta Shells
Related: Meatless Meals: 15 Hearty Vegetarian Recipes
(Images: See linked recipes for full image credits)
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LOVVVVE casseroles! One of my favorites is an easy, soup-less Mexican chicken and rice casserole (I call it "Nacho Mamma's Rice Casserole".) Mix up leftover chicken, rice, salsa and reduced fat sour cream (plus beans or frozen corn), top with grated cheese and bake. Most of the creaminess comes from the sour cream, though I agree that cheese is always a good thing in casseroles.
pasta bake is the perfect idea for these semi-cold days. I have some vegan cheez I want to use and see how it fares in this mileu.
These casseroles are going on my "to try" list. I also can't wait to try the "Nacho Mamma's Rice Casserole". I almost always have those things on hand!
Wow, these all look great - especially the Goat Cheese & Swiss Chard casserole. It looks creamy, hearty, and salty (in a good way!). I've also been working on clearing out my fridge and pantry - a daunting task!:
http://www.foxeslovelemons.com/2013/02/the-food-hoard-shrimp-grits-i-thought.html
Love this type of food! Can eat it for days in a row.
Yum!
This is called Pasta Someway at our house. Just like Chicken Someway. When asked what is for dinner I just reply 'Pasta Someway, not sure how but someway". Uses up lots of leftovers that way.
I've made the chicken and chard casserole before and we really enjoyed it! Plus it's easily adaptable for any green you may have on hand. One of my favorite casseroles is an old church potluck favorite only known as Company Casserole. It's just pasta, jarred spaghetti sauce, ground beef, and a mixture of sour cream, cottage cheese, and cream cheese (plus some mozzarella for the type). Health it is not, but boy is it full of creamy, comforty deliciousness! With some fresh mushrooms and italian sausage added in, it's weeknight dinner perfection!
Just made the Chicken and Tomato No-Boil Pasta Bake this evening. The whole family loved it! Everyone please go make it immediately! Game changer! :)