Pasta bakes are are the ultimate in comfort food. And cheese and bacon pasta bake is one of my favourite midweek dinners.
That’s not to say that boiled pasta in sauce isn’t delicious, it is, but the crispy crust that you get when making a pasta bake in the oven adds an extra level of tastiness to a regular pasta dish!
Plus, the melted cheese that oozes it’s way through the pasta and sauce makes this pasta bake recipe a winner.
Do you need to cook pasta before pasta bake?
Different recipes will give you different options. I always cook pasta before putting it in the oven, but not fully. Check the instructions on the pasta package and boil it for 2-3 minutes less than directed.
What You Need For Pasta Bake
- Dry Pasta – I used penne but you can use other shapes too (there are so many types of pasta!) Allow about 75g – 100g of dried pasta per person.
- Passata or chopped tomatoes – alternatively a jar of tomato pasta sauce
- Mozzarella or Cheddar Cheese (related – Types of Cheese)
- Bacon – I used bacon lardons but you can use bacon rashers and cut them up
- Herbs – either fresh herbs (basil and oregano work well) or some dried herbs
- Garlic & Onion – sliced/crushed to add to the pasta sauce
Making Pasta Bake
Cook the pasta in a saucepan with boiling water as you normally would – but cook it for 2 to 3 minutes less than the packet instructions. During this time, fry the onion, garlic and bacon in a little oil.
After you’ve drained the water away, stir through the passata/chopped tomatoes/pasta sauce, as well as the cooked bacon, onion, garlic and herbs. It’s easier to do this in the saucepan that you have cooked that pasta in.
Transfer the pasta over to an oven proof dish and add in the shredded or grated Mozzarella (or cheddar cheese).
Place the pasta dish in a preheated oven, sprinkle with some herbs and bake for 15 minutes until the cheese has completely melted and the top of the pasta is golden.
What To Serve With Pasta Bake
Pasta bake can be a complete meal in itself, but it also works well with a green salad and/or some garlic bread.
Cheese and Bacon Pasta Bake
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Ingredients
- 300 g dry pasta allow approx 75g-100g per person
- 2 x tins/cartons chopped tomatoes or passata you can also use a jar of pasta sauce
- 1 onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 100 g bacon sliced (or use lardons)
- 200 g mozzarella shredded (or cheddar cheese works well)
- 1 tsp mixed dried herbs
Instructions
- 1. Preheat oven to 200C/Gas Mark 7
- 2. Place pasta in saucepan with water and bring to the boil. Cook for 2-3 minutes less than recommended on the pasta packet.
- 3. While the pasta is cooking, fry the bacon pieces with the chopped onions and crushed garlic.
- 4. Drain the pasta and stir through the tinned tomatoes/passata/pasta sauce, as well as the cooked bacon, onions, garlic and herbs.
- 5. Transfer the pasta to a suitable oven proof dish.
- 6. Scatter the cheese across the top and sprinkle over a little more dried herbs.
- 7. Place in the oven and cook for 15-20 minutes until the cheese has melted and the top is golden in colour.
- 8. Leave to stand for 5 minutes before dividing up and serving with a green salad and/or some garlic bread.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an estimate.
Gerald Douse
Friday 13th of November 2020
It would be helpful if you could indicate weather dishes are freezable or not as there only two of us. Thanks.
Liana Green
Friday 13th of November 2020
Hi Gerald - thanks for the feedback - I will try and add freezing information to my recipes moving forward, great idea! In the case of this recipe, yes you can freeze it. Leave it to cool first. When you are ready to have it again, defrost it in the fridge overnight. Put some foil over the top of the dish and reheat for about 20 minutes (180C) or until completely hot throughout. Hope that helps :)