5 Ingredient Vegetarian Oven-Baked Pasta

By
Jolinda Hackett
Jolinda Hackett
Jolinda Hackett has written five books about plant-based cooking and has developed hundreds of vegan and vegetarian recipes.
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Updated on 08/6/19
Basic oven baked pasta recipe

The Spruce / Ahlam Raffii 

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 45 mins
Servings: 4 servings

Here's a basic and quick recipe for a vegetarian oven-baked pasta casserole with just five easy ingredients, plus a little salt and pepper. It's ready for the oven in no time and you can personalize it with whatever you have on hand. The variations are endless.

A few suggestions: use a homemade marinara sauce and fresh basil, try a blend of mozzarella and Parmesan, add breadcrumbs, or, for a moister baked pasta, add in one well-beaten egg. Mix in a package of mixed frozen veggies to make it more nutritious. Enjoy—it's foolproof!

Ingredients

  • 1 (16-ounce) package pasta (such as penne, rigatoni, ziti, or medium shells)
  • 1 (15-ounce) container ricotta cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasonings
  • Salt and pepper (to taste)
  • 1 (26-ounce) jar vegetarian marinara sauce
  • 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for oven baked pasta recipe
    The Spruce / Ahlam Raffii

  2. Cook pasta according to package instructions, then drain well. Set aside.

    Cook pasta
    The Spruce / Ahlam Raffii

  3. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, Italian seasonings, a bit of salt and pepper, and half of the marinara pasta sauce. Add cooked pasta, tossing gently to combine well.

    Combine cheese and pasta
    The Spruce / Ahlam Raffii

  4. Preheat oven to 350 F.

  5. Use half of the remaining marinara sauce to cover the bottom of a casserole dish, then spoon pasta and cheese mixture on top in an even layer. Cover with remaining marinara sauce, then sprinkle the top with mozzarella cheese.

    Use marinara sauce
    The Spruce / Ahlam Raffii

  6. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.

    Cover with foil
    The Spruce / Ahlam Raffii

  7. Remove cover and bake for an additional 10 minutes, until golden brown and hot throughout.

    Remove cover
    The Spruce / Ahlam Raffii

  8. Serve and enjoy!

    Serve and enjoy
    The Spruce / Ahlam Raffii
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
722 Calories
19g Fat
103g Carbs
33g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 722
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g 24%
Saturated Fat 10g 48%
Cholesterol 59mg 20%
Sodium 1075mg 47%
Total Carbohydrate 103g 38%
Dietary Fiber 7g 25%
Protein 33g
Calcium 402mg 31%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)