No Boil Pasta Bake

Name: No Boil Pasta Bake Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 50 min
Ingredients: 16 ounce ricotta cheese (✅); 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (✅); 1 teaspoon garlic powder (✅); 2 1/5 cups dry gluten-free elbow pasta; 28 ounces diced tomatoes (✅); 24 ounce marinara sauce (✅); 8 ounces mozzarella cheese (✅)

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Our no-boil pasta bake is quick and simple and will become a family favorite. Made with gluten-free pasta, diced tomatoes, ricotta cheese, and marinara sauce baked into a cheesy casserole kids love.

This easy pasta bake is made with less than 10 ingredients, one dish and without boiling noodles. Even better, it comes with a 5-star review from the family every time. What more could you need in a pasta recipe!

For more no-boil recipes, find step-by-step instructions for our No Boil Crockpot Mac and Cheese and No-Boil Lasagna.

You can’t go wrong serving pasta for dinner. Both kids and parents love to indulge in a savory pasta recipe. Especially, a pasta bake!

Pasta bakes eliminate the need to boil pasta and instead combine the ingredients all in one pan to create a cheesy recipe.

We cannot wait for you to try our newest one! With minimal mess and excellent reviews from everyone at home, we know you’ll be making this no-boil recipe frequently.

This meatless baked pasta can be made the day of or in advance just like our Dairy Free Chicken Pot Pie, Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole, and Make Ahead Roasted Potatoes.

To get started, gather the equipment and ingredients then follow the written instructions or printable recipe card. Enjoy!

Ingredients

16 ounce ricotta cheese ✅
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning ✅
1 teaspoon garlic powder ✅
2 1/5 cups dry gluten-free elbow pasta
28 ounces diced tomatoes ✅
24 ounce marinara sauce ✅
8 ounces mozzarella cheese ✅

Gluten-Free Guide: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten.

How To Make

To prepare this delicious and comforting pasta bake, start by preheating the oven to 400°F and preparing your baking pan. Give the pan a light coat of nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.

In a mixing bowl, combine a 16-ounce portion of creamy ricotta cheese with a teaspoon each of Italian seasoning and garlic powder. Stir these ingredients together until they’re well blended and set the mixture aside.

Assemble the layers of the casserole. Begin by spreading 2 1/5 cups of dry gluten-free elbow pasta evenly across the bottom of a 9×13 baking pan. Then, incorporate a can of undrained diced tomatoes into the pasta, gently mixing them together. Now, take the prepared ricotta mixture and spread it evenly over the pasta. You have the choice to either leave the layers distinct or gently blend them together. After this, pour 24 ounces of marinara sauce on top of the ricotta layer, ensuring an even distribution. For optimal cooking, cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil.

Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 40 minutes, keeping it covered. Once the timer goes off, remove the pan and sprinkle 8 ounces of shredded mozzarella cheese over the top. Return the uncovered pan to the oven for an additional 10 minutes, or until the mozzarella cheese has melted and is golden brown.

When the dish is ready, allow it to cool for about 5-10 minutes to let the flavors settle and the dish to firm up slightly.

Kids In The Kitchen

Cooking tips and suggestions for kids making this recipe.

Spray aluminum foil with nonstick cooking spray prior to covering to prevent ingredients from sticking to the foil. You can do this for casserole dishes too!
You wait to add the mozzarella cheese, so it does not burn.
Add fresh basil to the top after baking as a flavorful and colorful garnish.
Ask someone at home to help you pack leftovers in a thermos to take to school and enjoy at lunch.

hand sprinkling mozzarella cheese on pasta bake

How To Serve Baked Pasta

Serve alongside any source of protein or keep the entire meal meatless by pairing with vegetarian side dishes.

For chicken, we find Italian Chicken Thighs, Air Fry Frozen Chicken Breasts, and Boiled Chicken Tenders are great options. Fish, pork, Italian sausage and beef recipes also come highly recommended. Especially our Air Fry Frozen Fish Fillets!

For side dishes, there are just so many possibilities. If we had to narrow it down to our top 5 favorites, it would be Roasted Frozen Brussels Sprouts, Roasted Broccoli and Carrots, Gluten Free Dinner Rolls, Italian Zucchini Tots and Air Fryer Asparagus.

Of course, you could also serve pasta bakes with both meat and veggie side dishes if looking to offer a larger spread on your dinner table.

Tips and Tricks

Cooking Times: Keep an eye on the cooking times, as oven temperatures can vary. The goal is to cook the pasta until it’s al dente and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Al Dente Pasta: Since the pasta will continue cooking in the oven, cook it to a slightly firmer texture than usual. This will prevent it from becoming overly soft during baking.
Spices and Seasonings: Feel free to customize the seasonings to your taste. You can add dried basil, oregano, or red pepper flakes for extra flavor.
Cheese Choice: While mozzarella is a classic choice, you can experiment with other cheeses like cheddar, Parmesan, or a cheese blend for added complexity.
Covering with Foil: Covering the casserole with foil during baking helps trap steam and cook the pasta evenly. Just be cautious when removing the foil, as the steam can be very hot.
Nonstick Spray: Applying nonstick cooking spray to the pan helps prevent sticking, especially when using gluten-free pasta which can be more delicate.
Fresh Ingredients: Whenever possible, use fresh, high-quality ingredients like ricotta cheese, tomatoes, and herbs. This can significantly enhance the overall flavor of the dish.
Resting Time: Allowing the casserole to rest for a few minutes after baking lets the flavors meld and makes it easier to slice and serve.
Garnish: Consider topping the baked casserole with fresh chopped herbs like basil or parsley just before serving for a burst of color and freshness.
Make Ahead: You can prepare the casserole in advance and refrigerate it before baking. Just increase the baking time slightly if baking directly from the refrigerator.
Variations: Get creative with add-ins! You can incorporate cooked and crumbled sausage, sautéed vegetables, or even spinach for extra nutritional value.

FAQ

How long to cook pasta?

This no-boil recipes takes approximately 50 minutes to cook the pasta. Since ovens cook differently, you may need to adjust the cooking time by 5-10 minutes depending how you prefer pasta cooked.

Can you add vegetables?

Absolutely! Add any chopped veggies such as bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, onions, mushrooms, zucchini or fresh spinach.

How to add meat to this dish?

You can add shredded, chopped, diced or ground chicken, beef or pork to this recipe before baking. You will want to cook the meat prior to layering on the pasta. You can also opt to serve the pasta on top or next to your choice of protein. This is a great option if looking to pair with a fish filet such as haddock, tilapia or salmon.

What can you use in place of ricotta cheese?

16 ounces of cottage cheese can replace ricotta cheese if preferred.

Storage & Reheating Instructions

Another great thing about pasta bakes is leftovers store extremely well and are easy to reheat. Just like casserole dishes.

Let leftovers cool completely then store in the baking dish or divide individual portions between containers. Store in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer with a label for up to 3 months.

If you store in individual portions, you can easily reheat in the oven or the microwave with the exact amount you need. It makes dinner super simple on busy nights.

You can reheat from frozen or leave in the fridge overnight to thaw then heat.

If reheating a large portion in the baking dish, recover with aluminum foil to prevent the cheese from burning.

More Easy Pasta Recipes

CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.

The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.

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