Food and Recipes Quick and Easy Dinners 45 Baked Pasta Dishes That'll Feed A Crowd If you're looking for just the right baked pasta dish for your special occasion or impromptu dinner, look no further. By Lisa Cericola Lisa Cericola Lisa Cericola has been on staff at Southern Living since 2015. As Deputy Editor, Lisa manages the food and travel departments and edits those sections of each issue, as well as digital content. Previously, she was the features editor at Food Network Magazine and has more than 15 years of experience writing, editing, and managing photo shoots for print and digital lifestyle brands. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on February 21, 2024 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Photography and Styling: Caitlin Bensel These hearty baked pasta recipes are the perfect crowd-pleasing meal. Bake a melty masterpiece to enjoy right away, or stock up the freezer with these tasty make-ahead options. Pasta tastes perfect fresh out of the pot, but these easy, baked pasta recipes show you how simple it is to savor pasta fresh out of the oven. When you need a make-ahead meal, you'll appreciate a Southern staple like our Chicken Spaghetti Casserole, Baked Ziti with Sausage, the Classic Chicken Tetrazzini, or any of our many other baked pasta recipes. Scrumptious Baked Smokin' Macaroni and Cheese is light on both butter and cheese and ideal for add-ins: think sweet peas and prosciutto or ham and broccoli. For a mouthwatering lasagna, a fresh new approach to your favorite mac 'n' cheese, or a new way to enjoy vegetable casseroles, preheat your ovens and prepare to delight in one of these fantastic baked pasta recipes. 01 of 45 Baked Ziti Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Because ziti is a hollow tubed-shaped pasta, it can easily hold onto all the creamy ricotta mixture and meaty marinara sauce in this comforting recipe. Topped with a generous layer of cheese and baked until golden, this classic baked ziti recipe will surely satisfy a crowd. Get The Recipe 02 of 45 Chicken And Broccoli Pasta Bake Photography and Styling: Caitlin Bensel With just 15 minutes of hands-on time, you can get this family friendly dinner on the table. This recipe delivers on all the important fronts: simple and satisfying ingredients, quick prep time, and easy clean-up. Plus, one-pot meals and skillet suppers can go directly from the stovetop or oven to the table. Get The Recipe 03 of 45 Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole Greg DuPree This simple pasta bake recipe is the perfect example of dressing up a jar of pasta sauce at suppertime. In less than an hour you can have a hot, cheesy, pasta and chicken dish ready. Add a tossed green salad and warm crusty bread, and your family will leave what they were doing and crowd around the table for a great family meal. Get The Recipe 04 of 45 Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole Southern Living This recipe makes great use of ingredients that you may already have in the cupboard. We know there's a package of ground beef sitting in your freezer right now—here's what to do with it. Prep this dish over the weekend and pop it in the freezer until the night before you're ready to serve. Get The Recipe 05 of 45 Baked Ziti With Chicken Photographer: Will Dickey Prop Stylist: Missie Crawford Food Stylist: Erin Merhar While baked ziti recipes usually call on ground beef, this version uses rotisserie chicken. Simply shred and throw into the dish for a filling protein that tends to appeal to even the pickiest of eaters. When you consider that the homemade sauce in this tasty offering makes all the difference, you've got a winner. Get The Recipe 06 of 45 Baked Linguine With Spicy Tomato Cream Sauce Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall What if we told you it's possible to create this pretty dish in just 20 minutes? Fresh refrigerated linguine has a shorter cook time than dry pasta and it cooks directly with the sauce. Broil in the oven, top with seasoned cherry tomatoes, and supper is ready. Get The Recipe 07 of 45 Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole Alison Miksch Three words that make any dinner a hit? Chicken, bacon, and ranch. The bacon adds a salty crunch to the incredibly rich, creamy casserole, while the penne pasta is the hearty, chewy component you'll keep dreaming about afterwards. Get The Recipe 08 of 45 Ravioli Lasagna Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Kelly; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee This recipe brings two classic pasta dishes together in one skillet. It is just as cheesy and saucy as a traditional recipe with the help of a few shortcuts like refrigerated ravioli and a jar of marinara sauce. You'll have to keep this ample main pasta dish in your regular rotation. Get The Recipe 09 of 45 Baked Ziti With Meatballs Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Convenience items like frozen meatballs and jarred marinara sauce help this hearty dinner come together in just 30 minutes. The night before preparing this ziti and meatball bake, put your frozen meatballs in the refrigerator so they can thaw. Prepare the pasta according to package instructions, then add everything together in the baking dish. Get The Recipe 10 of 45 Baked Rigatoni With Zucchini And Mozzarella Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox Think of this baked rigatoni as an easy take on lasagna that comes together in a springform pan. The visual texture is almost as delightful as the taste. Making a "pasta cake" such as this one will only make you more friends. Get The Recipe 11 of 45 Skillet Baked Ziti With Andouille, Tomatoes, And Peppers Hector Manuel Sanchez Andouille is sold ready-to-eat, with or without heating. Andouille can be used in place of any spicy sausage. You'll know this skillet pasta bake is ready to come out of the oven when it's bubbling and golden brown on top. Get The Recipe 12 of 45 Fusilli Pasta With Spinach, Tomato, And Bacon Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos We love using our sheet pan for easy one-dish dinners, but did you know you can use it for pasta night, too? Meet the cheesy recipe you'll make on repeat. And if you bring it to a gathering, be sure to have the recipe source at the ready. Get The Recipe 13 of 45 Beefy Baked Ravioli With Spinach And Cheese Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox We prepared this 30-minute recipe with ground beef, but you can also use ground turkey or chicken if you prefer. Buying ravioli from the refrigerated section is another step in getting through prep with efficiency. This all comes together so nicely and easily, you'll simply have to do it again. Get The Recipe 14 of 45 Meatball Pasta Bake Photo: Hector Sanchez Orange juice and fennel give this quick supper bright, fresh flavor. Chop fennel as you would an onion, or omit it, if desired. Fennel has a very mild anise flavor that can be enhanced or sweetened depending on how it is cooked. When diced and sautéed with onions as one of the first steps when making a soup or stew, fennel becomes very sweet. Get The Recipe 15 of 45 Chicken And Broccoli Skillet Pasta Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall You pop this skillet supper under the broiler to be sure the cheese gets nice and melty. Once tried by your closest crowd, you'll find this baked pasta dish has universal appeal. Why not roll it out at the next office potluck? Get The Recipe 16 of 45 Baked Ziti With Summer Vegetables Alison Miksch Keep in mind the key to the best pasta is using the cooking water. When the pasta is cooked, reserve a couple of cups of cooking water before draining the pasta. The salty, starchy liquid seasons your homemade sauce, gives it a silky texture and helps it cling to the noodles. Get The Recipe 17 of 45 Baked Tortellini Alfredo With Mushrooms Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall We can't count how many times a package of refrigerated tortellini has saved us from a boring dinner. For a rich, thick sauce, use a mixture of heavy cream and whole milk for added richness. Pre-shredded Parmesan cheese is convenient, but the best results always come from shredding your own. Get The Recipe 18 of 45 Smoked Pork Stuffed Pasta Shells Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Pick up smoked barbecue from your favorite local spot for this super-easy supper. Should you avoid pork, you could use an equal amount of smoked chicken instead. The recipe includes directions for baking right away or freezing and baking later for busy weeks. Get The Recipe 19 of 45 Chicken Spaghetti Casserole Hector Sanchez This recipe brings together cooked chicken, cooked spaghetti, and sautéed vegetables, plus cream of mushroom soup and shredded cheese. Everything bakes together to hot and gooey level of perfection. Cooking the spaghetti in the chicken broth will give you an even stronger, more savory flavor. Get The Recipe 20 of 45 Creamy Kale And Pasta Bake Hector Manuel Sanchez Reviewers rave about this comforting pasta bake that sneaks in good-for-you kale (even kids love it!). Best of all, the dish comes together in 30 minutes or less. Buy pre-chopped, pre-washed bagged kale and pre-shredded cheese to save prep time. Get The Recipe 21 of 45 Healthy Turkey Lasagna Hector Manuel Sanchez Our favorite recipe from the Cooking Light column, this lightened-up lasagna tastes every bit as flavorful as the traditional version. Most of your work is simply stacking layers of a saucy ground turkey mixture with a wonderfully cheesy spinach, Parmesan, and cottage cheese combination. Waiting for your dinner to bake while warm, Italian smells waft from your kitchen might be the most challenging part of this recipe. Get The Recipe 22 of 45 Pasta Chicken Broccoli Bake Iain Bagwell Cheese-filled tortellini and a chopped pecan topping add extra flavor to this kid-friendly Pasta Chicken Broccoli Bake, while broccoli and red bell pepper contribute pops of color throughout this one-dish meal. The hardest part of this chicken and broccoli casserole just might be portion control. Get The Recipe 23 of 45 Baked Ziti With Sausage Southern Living Pancetta, or cured pork belly, is the same thing as bacon without the smoke. Find it in the deli case of most supermarkets. Native to Italy, San Marzano tomatoes are known for their sweet flavor. Consider trying them in place of regular crushed tomatoes in the sauce. Get The Recipe 24 of 45 Mac And Cheese With Ham Beth Dreiling Hontzas This delicious mac and cheese is light on butter and cheese yet still melts in your mouth. Change the flavor profile of the recipe with combinations such as sweet peas and proscuitto or ham and broccoli. This is one of those baked pasta dishes that needs to be on repeat, Get The Recipe 25 of 45 Pizza Casserole Deluxe Photo: Greg Dupree Win over all of the kids and grown-ups in your house with this new instant classic that feeds more than two everything pizzas. Fresh and packaged mozzarella give it the best melty consistency. You will definitely be the winner of the dinner club night. Get The Recipe 26 of 45 Fresh Vegetable Lasagna Photo: Jennifer Davick This vegetable lasagna showcases a plethora of fresh veggies from zucchini, to mushrooms, to red and yellow bell peppers. Head to your next potluck with this updated twist on a classic main and all the guests will want to learn how to make vegetarian lasagna. Get The Recipe 27 of 45 King Ranch Chicken Mac And Cheese Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner All the flavors of a favorite casserole come together in the comfort of mac and cheese. If you're really short on time, consider picking up a rotisserie chicken and buying pre-shredded cheese also. Freeze this hearty, cheesy favorite in lidded bakeware for easy transport between oven, freezer, and fridge. Get The Recipe 28 of 45 New Tuna Casserole Greg Dupree Our take on the classic hits the high notes: creamy, cheesy, fresh, and crunchy. Resist digging into the casserole right out of the oven. Letting it stand for 10 minutes allows it to firm up to the perfect consistency. Once tried, this dish will be a regular part of your dinner plans. Get The Recipe 29 of 45 Crispy Chicken Thighs With Pasta And Pesto Photo: Greg Dupree This stovetop-to-oven method yields crisp, dark-golden skin and juicy, tender meat. The homemade arugula pesto takes the flavor to an elevated level, and your kitchen skills just got a boost with the inclusion of this irresistible condiment. You will be serving this on the regular. Get The Recipe 30 of 45 Lasagna Roll Ups Hector Sanchez These lasagna rolls are the perfect meal to freeze individually and thaw according to your dinnertime head count. You can substitute sautéed mushrooms or spinach for the recipe's canned artichokes, though we enjoy the heft they have in the lasagna filling. This bake and serve pasta dish is satisfying and delicious. Get The Recipe 31 of 45 Vanessa's Make Ahead Beefy Lasagna Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford This is one of those make ahead meals that keeps on giving. A container of refrigerated pesto adds distinctive flavor to this basic beef-and-cheese lasagna, and the unbaked lasagna can be frozen for up to three months. You will never be unprepared for dinner guests with this baked pasta dish hiding in your freezer. Get The Recipe 32 of 45 Turkey Noodle Poppy Seed Casserole Hector Manuel Sanchez This recipe came from the pages of the November 1990 issue of Southern Living, and it has undoubtedly stood the test of time. A tried and true combination of flavors, there's a reason why this is a favorite. Ditch your plans to make the dish you always bring to the Sunday potluck, and give this a try. Get The Recipe 33 of 45 Butternut Squash Lasagna Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This fall version of lasagna is the ideal hearty dinner for a chilly night. The joy of cooking often comes in the sharing, and this dish will satisfy everyone at the table. Don't resist the temptation to share the recipe. Get The Recipe 34 of 45 Ham And Noodle Casserole Jen Causey This retro casserole is just the thing to have sitting in your freezer for Sunday suppers or busy weeknights. These ingredients have broad appeal, and even the pickiest of eaters will be asking for seconds. This is your perpetual dinner back-up plan. Get The Recipe 35 of 45 Italian Casserole Hector Manuel Sanchez This has been a Southern Living standby for decades of holidays. You can assemble it a day ahead and chill overnight. Pair this casserole with a green salad and some warm bread, and you have a savory and satisfying meal. It's always ready in the freezer for drop-by guests! Get The Recipe 36 of 45 Pizza Spaghetti Casserole Beth Dreiling; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey You can freeze this casserole unbaked for up to a month for nights when you're in need of a kid-friendly dinner that no one will whine about. Future you will be so grateful that you thought to make this ahead for the perfect go-to timesaver. We guarantee this will be a dinner favorite. Get The Recipe 37 of 45 Greek Baked Ziti Greg Dupree Give the family or friend circle a dose of the comfort food they are craving. The combination of Greek spices will make your pasta supper feel special. Choose fresh ingredients for a side salad, and you'll be making meal memories in no time. Get The Recipe 38 of 45 Leftover Turkey Casserole Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Torie Cox; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Your day-after Thanksgiving leftovers just got so much tastier than a turkey sandwich. This casserole is easy to pull off, and will ensure your holiday guests don't get bored of the turkey you labored over for the holiday. And of course, this baked pasta dish should not be relegated to a holiday weekend. Get The Recipe 39 of 45 Homemade Baked Lasagna Southern Living Consider this your go-to, no-frills lasagna recipe. With lasagna noodles galore, this recipe truly has it all. The first time you make it surely won't be your last. If you need another reason to add this recipe to your list of favorites, here it is: This is a great make-ahead dish. Get The Recipe 40 of 45 Spinach Ravioli Lasagna SL Van Chaplin Store-bought sauces and frozen ravioli meet in this extra-creamy twist on lasagna. This is one of those surprisingly easy, yet tasty meals that will satisfy everyone at the table. Depending on the size of your group, this also performs well as a side. Get The Recipe 41 of 45 Three Cheese Pasta Bake This grown-up version of mac and cheese is just as delicious as the classic recipe. So elevated, this take may just serve well at a dinner club event alongside prime rib. Use a sprinkling of fresh herbs on each serving to dress it up even more. Get The Recipe 42 of 45 Spinach And Herb Pastatta Melina Hammer This cross between a frittata and your usual pasta night dinner is pretty enough for Mama's visit. This is also the perfect brunch item for a crowd that is easy to please. Include a signature cocktail to top off the proceedings, and your get-together just became memorable. Get The Recipe 43 of 45 Classic Chicken Tetrazzini Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas Freshly-grated Parmesan adds the cheesy flavor to this casserole. This recipe is great for making ahead and freezing. It's considered a classic chicken dish for a reason, and should be on repeat for both family gatherings and potlucks. Get The Recipe 44 of 45 Sausage Pimiento Cheese Pasta Rollups Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Pimiento cheese isn't just for snacking. It gives this pasta rollup recipe a delicious flavor. Using pimiento cheese outside of the appetizer course is so satisfying. We recommend using chicken (not pork) sausage in this recipe because it has less fat and will keep the sauce from being greasy. Get The Recipe 45 of 45 Creamy Spring Pasta Bake Hector Manuel Sanchez Baked pasta gets a spring spin with baby sweet peas and ham. We love the crunchy, savory topping made with croutons and Parmesan cheese. This would be perfect for an Easter brunch spread, or for a neighborhood get-together. You won't be going home with any leftovers. Get The Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit