Zucchini and mozzarella baked pasta is a delectable dish that combines the vibrant flavors of summer zucchini, rich mozzarella cheese, and aromatic herbs with the comforting texture of pasta. This vegetarian delight is not only easy to prepare but also versatile enough to accommodate various dietary preferences. The recipe offers three variations: a classic version with béchamel sauce, a lighter version with a tangy tomato sauce, and a vegan version that uses dairy-free alternatives. Each variation promises a unique flavor profile, catering to different tastes and dietary restrictions. Whether you're a vegetarian seeking a hearty and flavorful meal or a culinary enthusiast looking to explore new and exciting dishes, this baked pasta with zucchini and mozzarella is sure to become a favorite.
Let's cook with our recipes!
EGGPLANT, TOMATO AND MOZZARELLA PASTA BAKE
Provided by Katie Lee Biegel
Categories main-dish
Time 1h25m
Yield to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season aggressively with salt. Add the rigatoni and cook 3 minutes less than the package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water and drain.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Toss the eggplant and tomatoes with 3 tablespoons olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Spread on the baking sheet and roast until the eggplant is golden brown and tomatoes are tender, 25 to 30 minutes. (Leave the oven on.)
- Toss the rigatoni with the eggplant, tomatoes, about 1/4 cup pasta water and the marinara sauce in a large bowl. If it looks dry, add the remaining pasta water. Stir in 1 cup mozzarella.
- Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray. Transfer the pasta to the baking dish and top with the remaining cup mozzarella and the Parmesan and drizzle with the remaining tablespoon olive oil. Bake until the cheese is melted and golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. (Turn the broiler on at the end if you want the cheese to brown more.) Garnish with additional Parmesan and the chopped basil and serve.
CHEESY BAKED PASTA WITH SAUSAGE AND RICOTTA
Like a cross between baked ziti and sausage lasagna, this mozzarella-topped pasta is rich with ricotta and crushed tomatoes - and cooks entirely in one pan, including the pasta. The Italian sausage adds meaty depth to the sauce, but vegetarians can leave it out or use their favorite plant-based sausage instead.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories easy, weekday, pastas, main course
Time 45m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Heat oven to 425 degrees. Heat oil in a 12-inch ovenproof skillet over medium-high. Crumble sausage into skillet, using a spoon to break it into small pieces. Cook until starting to brown, stirring occasionally, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in garlic, oregano, fennel seeds and red-pepper flakes (if using), and cook another 1 to 2 minutes.
- Stir in whole tomatoes and their juice, using a spoon to break them up. Add crushed tomatoes, bay leaves and 2 teaspoons salt, and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Stir in pasta and 1 cup water and return to a simmer. Continue to simmer for 2 minutes, stirring frequently to make sure pasta doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan. Remove from heat, pluck out the bay leaves, and fold in about a third of the mozzarella.
- Top pasta with remaining mozzarella and dollops of ricotta. Sprinkle with Parmesan, then transfer to oven. Bake until pasta is tender when poked with a fork, and cheese is bubbly and lightly golden, 18 to 22 minutes. (If you'd like a more deeply browned topping, run the pan under the broiler for 1 or 2 minutes.) Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving. Top with basil, plenty of black pepper, and more red-pepper flakes, if you like.
BAKED PASTA WITH ZUCCHINI AND MOZZARELLA
Make and share this Baked Pasta with Zucchini and Mozzarella recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Barb G.
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 50m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large frying pan, heat oil.
- Saute Zucchini until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Transfer to an oiled shallow casserole dish.
- Cook pasta in boiling salted water, when pasta is almost cooked, drain and add to Zucchini.
- Add tomatoes, olives, Parmesan, rosemary and 1/2 of the mozzarella.
- Sprinkle with a little more salt and pepper; if desired.
- Gently mix together.
- Cover with the remaining mozzarella.
- Bake until cheese is melted and the top is slightly browned, about 15 minutes.
ZUCCHINI PASTA BAKE
The crunchy Parmesan on top and the gooey melted mozzarella mixed throughout make this baked pasta dish a real treat! It's great at the height of summer when the tomatoes and zucchini come straight from the garden!
Provided by RUTH GOOCH
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 45m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne pasta, cook for 10 to 12 minutes, until al dente, and drain. Lightly grease a medium casserole dish.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a blender or food processor, thoroughly mix the Parmesan cheese and crackers.
- Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Place the onion in the skillet, and cook and stir until tender. Mix in the zucchini, tomato, and garlic, and season with oregano, basil, celery, salt, and pepper. Continue to cook and stir until the zucchini is tender.
- In the prepared casserole dish, mix the pasta with the vegetable mixture and mozzarella cheese. Top evenly with the Parmesan cheese mixture.
- Bake 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the topping is lightly browned. Allow to sit 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 271.1 calories, Carbohydrate 37.2 g, Cholesterol 15 mg, Fat 7.9 g, Fiber 2.8 g, Protein 12.7 g, SaturatedFat 3.1 g, Sodium 336.1 mg, Sugar 2.4 g
BAKED PENNE WITH ROASTED VEGETABLES
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Categories main-dish
Time 1h5m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
- On a baking sheet, toss the peppers, zucchini, squash, mushrooms, and onions with olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and dried herbs. Roast until tender, about 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook for about 6 minutes. Since you will be cooking the pasta a second time in the oven, you want to make sure the inside is still hard. Drain in a colander.
- In a large bowl, toss the drained pasta with the roasted vegetables, marinara sauce, cheeses, peas, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Using a wooden spoon, gently mix, until all the pasta is coated with the sauce and the ingredients are combined.
- Pour the pasta into a greased 9 by 13-inch pan. Top with the remaining 1/3 cup Parmesan and butter pieces. Bake until top is golden and cheese melts, about 25 minutes.
ZUCCHINI PASTA BAKE
My husband is a gardener in our family, and I love to create new recipes with produce. I developed this dish during an especially bountiful zucchini harvest.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 30m
Yield 2 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In a small skillet, saute vegetables in oil until tender, about 7 minutes. Stir in the bread crumbs, salt and pepper; cook for 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in pasta. Pour into a greased 1-qt. baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese topping. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 10 minutes or until heated through.
Nutrition Facts :
ZUCCHINI LASAGNA
I plant zucchini every year, and we always seem to have more than we can use! This recipe is a particularly delicious way I use our abundant crop. -Charlotte McDaniel, Williamsville, Illinois
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h
Yield 6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375°. In large skillet, cook and crumble beef with onion over medium-high heat until no longer pink, 5-7 minutes. Stir in seasonings and tomato sauce. Bring to a boil; simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes. In a bowl, mix egg and cottage cheese., Trim ends of zucchini; cut lengthwise into 1/4-in.-thick slices. Layer half the slices in a 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray; dust with half the flour. Top with cottage cheese mixture and half the meat sauce. Add remaining zucchini; dust with remaining flour. Spread with remaining meat sauce; sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella cheese., Bake, uncovered, until heated through, about 40 minutes. If desired, sprinkle with additional cheese. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 273 calories, Fat 13g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 92mg cholesterol, Sodium 725mg sodium, Carbohydrate 14g carbohydrate (6g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 27g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
CREAMY ZUCCHINI AND SPINACH PASTA BAKE
Enjoy Italian fare at home with our Creamy Zucchini and Spinach Pasta Bake! You'll love the taste of this spinach pasta bake and how easy it is to make.
Provided by My Food and Family
Categories Home
Time 1h
Yield 12 servings, about 1 cup each
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Heat oven to 375°F.
- Cook pasta in large saucepan as directed on package, omitting salt.
- Meanwhile, cook and stir onions in large nonstick skillet on medium heat 3 to 4 min. or until crisp-tender. Add zucchini and mushrooms; cook 3 to 4 min. or until zucchini is crisp-tender, stirring frequently. Add half the spinach; cook 2 to 3 min. or just until wilted. Repeat with remaining spinach. Remove from heat.
- Drain pasta. Add to vegetable mixture in skillet along with the pasta sauce, ricotta, Italian seasoning and 1 cup mozzarella; mix lightly.
- Spoon into 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; top with remaining mozzarella.
- Bake 20 to 25 min. or until casserole is heated through and mozzarella is melted.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 230, Fat 10 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 30 mg, Sodium 320 mg, Carbohydrate 0 g, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 0 g, Protein 13 g
Tips:
- Choose the right zucchini: Look for firm, deep green zucchini that are about 6 to 8 inches long. Avoid zucchini that are too large, as they may be tough.
- Slice the zucchini thinly: This will help them cook evenly and quickly.
- Use a good quality olive oil: This will add flavor and richness to the dish.
- Don't overcook the zucchini: It should be tender but still slightly crisp.
- Use fresh mozzarella cheese: It will melt beautifully and add a delicious flavor to the dish.
- Add some herbs to the dish: This will give it a fresh and flavorful taste. Basil, oregano, and thyme are all good choices.
- Serve the dish immediately: This will ensure that the pasta is hot and the cheese is melted.
Conclusion:
Baked pasta with zucchini and mozzarella is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It is also a great way to use up leftover zucchini. The combination of zucchini, mozzarella, and tomatoes is a classic Italian flavor combination that is sure to please everyone. So next time you are looking for a quick and easy meal, give this baked pasta recipe a try.
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