Looking for a weeknight dinner that practically makes itself? 🍝 This easy no-boil pasta bake is your new go-to! Forget boiling water - just layer uncooked pasta with sauce, cheese, and your favorite add-ins in one casserole dish and bake. Say goodbye to pots and hello to effortless, cheesy goodness!
Quick Look: Easy No-Boil Pasta Bake
- ⏱ Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🔥 Cook Time: 12 minutes
- 🍽️ Servings: 8 servings
- ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe: Because it's a cheesy pasta bake that is made in one pot, and no boiling pasta is required!
- 🍪 Main Ingredients: Penne, Marinara, Mozzerella, Water and Meatballs if desired.
- 👌 Difficulty: Easy
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Why this Recipe
✔️ No pre-boiling pasta
✔️ One baking dish
✔️ Sauce thickens naturally while baking
✔️ Perfect pasta texture - not mushy
✔️ Great make-ahead freezer meal
You may want to serve it with my fabulous Mixed Greens Salad with Balsamic Dressing.
🧑🍳 Key Ingredients
- Penne pasta (uncooked): no need to pre-cook the penne because it cooks in the marinara and water while it bakes in the oven.
- Marinara sauce: be sure your jar size is 24 or 25 ounces to ensure your pasta cooks through.
- Mozzarella: tried to use black mozzarella and shredded it yourself because it melts much better because it doesn't have the anti-clumping agent that the pre-shredded cheese has.
- Parmesan: Look for Parmesan Reggiano on the label because if the Reggiano isn't on the label, you can't be guaranteed that it's real Parmesan. Again great at yourself if possible.
- Frozen meatballs are uncooked: be sure to thaw the meatballs before adding them to the casserole, but there's no need to cook the sausage. It will cook in the penne pasta bake.
- If you like sausage, see my One-pot sausage pasta bake.
SUBSTITUTIONS / ADDITIONS
- Add spinach or mushrooms
- Substitute penne pasta for rigatoni.
- Add red pepper flakes for heat
- If you like Ravioli, check out my one-pan Ravioli with Marinara or even my Creamy Orzo Risotto recipe.
✅ HOW TO MAKE THE BEST CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE RECIPE
- Add pasta, marinara, garlic salt and water to a 9×13-inch casserole dish
- Stir to combine.
- Add meatballs on top of the pasta. Do not stir.
- Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake. Remove from the oven and uncover. Sprinkle mozzarella over the top and bake uncovered for 5-10 more minutes.
Penne Pasta Bake FAQ
Do you really not boil pasta first?
No. The pasta cooks in the sauce while baking.
Why is my baked pasta dry?
The foil wasn't tight enough, or not enough sauce or water. If you uncover, and it looks dry, add more water or sauce, cover, and return to the oven to continue cooking.
Can I freeze sausage pasta bake?
Yes - assemble before baking and freeze up to 2 months.
I really add uncooked sausage to the pasta bake?
Yes, the sausage cooks while the pasta is cooking
Common Mistakes & Expert Tips
- Not sealing foil tightly
- Using too little sauce
- Overbaking uncovered
- Using a shallow dish
- These mistakes affect texture in any penne pasta bake.
Penne Pasta Bake Storage
- Place in an airtight container, or if using the original baking dish, cover it tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil for 3 to 4 days
- Reheating Oven: Cover the dish with foil and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until hot. Add a bit more water if it looks dry.
- Microwave: Reheat individual portions in the microwave, optionally adding a splash of water or extra sauce to prevent the pasta from drying out.
You may also like these other one-pot pasta dishes!
If you make No-Boil Pasta Bake, I'd love to know what variation you tried! Leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @Lauren_Lane_Culinarian - I always reshare your creations.
No Boil Pasta Bake
Looking for a weeknight dinner that practically makes itself? 🍝 This easy no-boil pasta bake is your new go-to! Forget boiling water - just layer uncooked pasta with sauce, cheese, and your favorite add-ins in one casserole dish and bake. Cleanup is a breeze, and the flavors are cozy and comforting. You can easily make this into a baked pasta and sausage simply by adding sausage.
Ingredients
- 1 16-ounce package of uncooked penne pasta
- 1 24 or 25 ounces jar marinara sauce
- 3 cups water
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 26-ounce package of fully-cooked meatballs (if using frozen meatballs, make sure that they are completely thawed before using)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- Optional: Parmesan cheese and fresh chopped herbs such as basil, oregano, and parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Add pasta, marinara, garlic salt and water to a 9×13-inch casserole dish. Stir to combine.
- Add meatballs on top of pasta. Do not stir.
- Cover tightly with aluminum foil.
- Place on the middle rack of the oven. Bake for 40 minutes.
- Uncover and test for doneness. Test to be sure that it is al dente (firm but just about finished cooking). If it's still not cooked through, cover the dish and return to the oven until pasta is al dente. Then move on to the next step.
- Remove from the oven and uncover. Sprinkle mozzarella over the top and bake uncovered for 5-10 more minutes (or until cheese is melted and pasta is tender)
Notes
- If your pasta is sticking up above the sauce level, it isn't going to cook. Push all the pasta down under the liquid. Add a little more water, if necessary.
- Thaw frozen meatballs in the refrigerator before adding them to the casserole.
Pick a high-quality, flavorful marinara sauce. I prefer Rao's brand, but any similar variety will work. - Store in an airtight container, or if using the original baking dish, cover it tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil for 3 to 4 days. If the pasta looks dry, add water when reheating, because the pasta will continue to absorb sauce.
- Serve with garlic French bread and salad.
Nutrition
Calories: 713kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 52gFat: 53gSaturated Fat: 31gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 187mgSodium: 3778mgPotassium: 216mgFiber: 0.04gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 1520IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 1156mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Lauren Lane says
This is always a crowd favorite! And couldn't be easier to put together. And no boiling pasta? Heck yes! Hope you love it.