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Nothing will get your family to the table quicker than a tray of hot, cheesy, and bubbly pasta! Whether it's a golden lasagna or comforting stuffed shells, you can guarantee that these baked pasta recipes will be your family favorites. But why are baked pastas so irresistible, you might ask? For starters they're made with gooey, melty cheese! Just look at the baked feta pasta that’s made with an entire block of feta. Or, check out the one pot French onion pasta that's made with not one, but three types of melty cheese: cream cheese, mozzarella, and gruyère. Then, there's the classic Italian dinners like baked ziti that get those crispy, cheesy edges you know and love. It's no wonder pasta is one of Ree Drummond's all-time favorite foods.
"If I were stranded on a desert island and could choose only one category of food to eat the rest of my life, I'd pick pasta—hands down," she says. That’s why Ree has plenty of baked pasta recipes, like pepperoni pizza lasagna roll-ups and sour cream noodle bake. You'll love that some of these baked pastas fall in the ground beef casserole category, but you'll also find plenty of vegetarian options and chicken pasta recipes, too. Best of all, these Sunday dinner ideas are perfect for making ahead. You can assemble them in advance, then bake them off come dinnertime. Serve them up with a simple salad or side dish, and you'll have an easy dinner on the table in no time!
1
One-Pot French Onion Pasta
Caitlin Bensel
This recipe turns French onion soup into a comforting pasta dish! It's savory, saucy, and even has that layer of crisp bread croutons blanketed by a topping of melted cheese.
If you've never had manicotti before, you're in for one cheesy delight! It's similar to stuffed shells, but made with a tube-shaped pasta that's filled with a four-cheese mixture and topped with a homemade meat sauce, and of course, more cheese.
Inspired by the popular TikTok recipe, this cheesy pasta starts off with baking an entire block of feta along with cherry tomatoes, onions, and spices to create a decadent sauce. Our version also adds a bit of cream cheese for even more gooeyness!
Store-bought frozen ravioli are they key to making this easy pasta casserole. It cooks up quickly in boiling water first, then gets tossed with the meat sauce before it's baked. Feel free to switch out the ground beef for ground turkey or even chicken if you prefer it.
This recipe combines some of The Pioneer Woman's favorite ingredients: pasta, chicken, bacon, ranch seasoning, and cheese! Best of all—it'll be on the table in less than an hour!
If you're a fan of chicken parmesan, then you'll love this variation in lasagna form. The layers of noodles, sauce, cheese, and chopped rotisserie chicken make it easy, yet delicious.
Baked Pasta with Sausage, Kale, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Ralph Smith
You can feel good about serving this hearty pasta recipe to your family. It's loaded with comfort thanks to the pasta and cheese, but it also has protein-packed sausage and nutritious kale.
Looking for a special date night dinner? You can't go wrong with lobster mac and cheese! It's an elevated take on the golden baked mac and cheese you know and love.
Wide egg noodles are a classic choice for this traditional baked dish. Add tuna, green peas, a creamy sauce, and potato chips on top for the ultimate crowd-pleaser.
Instead of your typical lasagna noodles, this white sauce lasagna uses packaged ravioli instead. It's a fun and cheesy way to switch up your weeknight dinner.
Creamy baked noodles are even better when they're layered with a hearty meat sauce. You can use any ground beef, but ground chuck will take the flavor to the next level.
One of Ree's favorite ingredients for transforming pasta dishes is pesto. It's herby, fresh, and so easy—especially when you find a favorite brand in the grocery store.
Rich, creamy, and hearty—these stuffed shells are the ultimate comfort food. Assemble the casserole ahead of time, then keep it in the refrigerator until it's time to bake.
This lasagna is a Drummond family favorite. Ree's mom used to make it for potlucks and now she shares it with just about anybody! Everyone can agree it's earned its name as, "Best-Ever."
While some people prefer stove top mac and cheese, there's something wonderful about the crispy layer of cheese from this baked variation. Best of all—it comes together in just 30 minutes!