Best 6 Meatless Italian Macaroni Bake Recipes

EASY VEGETABLE BAKED PASTA

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. If you have an oven-safe 12-inch deep skillet, you can cook the veggies and bake the pasta in it. If you do not, prepare a 3-quart baking dish by lightly greasing with olive oil.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, and then cook the pasta. Check the package for cook time, but cook the pasta two minutes less than what is recommend on the box (it will continue to cook in the oven). Before draining the pasta, reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
• While the pasta cooks, prepare the vegetables. Slice the onions and bell peppers into 1/4-inch thick slices.
• Using a damp paper towel, brush all dirt from mushrooms. Cut away and discard any hard stems. Chop into 1/4-inch slices or, if there are larger mushrooms like portobello, cut into 1/4-inch cubes.
• Heat a wide skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil then add the mushrooms, in one layer, and cook until browned on one side, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir then add the onions and peppers. Cook another 3 to 5 minutes or until the veggies are starting to soften and have some browned edges. Season to taste with salt and black pepper (I usually add 1/4 teaspoon of each).
• Stir the fennel, marinara sauce, and basil into the vegetables. If your skillet is large enough, toss in the pasta and if the mixture seems dry, add a splash of the reserved pasta water. If the skillet is too small, combine the sauce and pasta in a bowl. Adjust with pasta water, and then add to a baking dish.
• Taste the pasta and adjust with more salt and pepper. Tuck spoonfuls of ricotta around the pasta, and then top with the mozzarella cheese. Bake the pasta, uncovered, until the cheese melts and is bubbling, 20 to 25 minutes.

MEATLESS ITALIAN MACARONI BAKE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350º F.
• 2. In a 3-quart saucepan, cook the macaroni in boiling water until tender. Drain well. (If you decide to use Rotini pasta in place of the elbow macaroni, be sure to use at least 2-1/2 cups, and cook the pasta for 10 minutes.)
• 3. Add the drained macaroni back into the pan, then add in the mayonnaise, stewed tomatoes, a 3/4 cup of shredded mozzarella, and the Italian seasoning; stir the ingredients.
• 4. Pour the mixture into a 2-quart baking dish.
• 5. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella over the casserole, and bake uncovered in the oven for 20 minutes.
• 6. Before serving, I lightly sprinkle a bit of dried parsley flakes on top the casserole. Also, you'll notice this recipe doesn't state to add any salt or pepper. I add those spices to my plate when seated at the table.
• 7. *Note: When making this casserole, you can substitute another type of pasta for the macaroni. Sometimes I'll use Radiatore Pasta, or even Rotini. (I do however, cook the Radiatore Pasta for 10 minutes.) I have also prepared this meatless casserole using a four cheese blend, instead of the mozzarella cheese. Surprisingly it turned out to be quite good. (See additional photos which I added.) One more thing, you can also substitute a can of diced tomatoes (which has basil, garlic & oregano in it), for the stewed tomatoes.

CLASSIC MEATLESS BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
• Cook the penne pasta according to package directions.
• Drain the pasta in a colander.
• In a large bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup parmesan
• cheese, eggs, garlic, parsley and Italian seasoning to a large bowl and stir to combine well
• In a 9x13 baking dish, add half of the sauce and spread evenly all around the dish.
• Add the cooked/ drained pasta to cheese mixture and toss well to coat
• Add the pasta mixture to the baking dish spread evenly.
• Top with remaining sauce, then the other 1 cup mozzarella and 1/2 cup parmesan cheese.
• Bake in the oven for 35 minutes until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is melted and slightly brown.
• Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes

MEATLESS ITALIAN MACARONI BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a large mixing bowl combine the cooked marcaroni, stewed tomatoes, 1/2 cup of the mozzarella, italian seasoning and mayonnaise --.
• Spoon the mixture into a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish; Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese --.
• Bake in the preheated 350°F oven for approximately 20 min (your time may vary) until warm and all cheese is melted --.
• Note:Do NOT substitute anything else for the mayonnaise, i.e. NO salad dressing, NO Miracle Whip, as the recipe is specifically tailored to the result that is created by the use of mayonnaise --.
• Variation: Use a different pasta such as rotini or penne rigati.

ITALIAN PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce, diced tomatoes, mushrooms and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes., Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Add to beef mixture and gently stir in sliced plum tomatoes. , Transfer to an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with cheeses. Bake 25-30 minutes or until bubbly and heated through.

ITALIAN BAKED PASTA

Steps:

• Cook pasta in generously salted water 3 minutes less than recommended on package. Drain.
• Meanwhile, heat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
• Pour 2 cups of the marinara sauce into dish. Add half of cooked pasta; toss well. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Spoon half of the ricotta cheese in dollops over top. Sprinkle with 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers ending with mozzarella cheese. Cover lightly with foil, making sure foil is not resting on cheese.
• Bake 35 minutes. Uncover; bake 10 to 15 minutes longer or until center is bubbly and thoroughly heated. Cool 10 to 15 minutes before serving.