Simple Pasta And Cheese Bake With Veggies For Two 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.

CHEDDAR AND VEGETABLE PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic; cook 2 minutes. Add flour; cook and stir 1 minute. Add milk, salt and pepper sauce. Heat to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in 1 cup cheese until melted.
• Add sauce and vegetables to pasta; toss well. Transfer to a greased medium baking dish or oval casserole. Cover with foil; bake in preheated 375 degrees F oven 15 minutes or until hot. Uncover and sprinkle with remaining cheese; bake 2 minutes more or until cheese is melted.

SIMPLE PASTA AND CHEESE BAKE WITH VEGGIES FOR TWO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Grease a casserole dish.
• Combine everything except the mozzarella cheese.
• Place mixture into a casserole.
• Top with the mozzarella cheese.
• Bake until bubbly and heated through, or microwave until done (about 2 or 3 minutes tops).

CHEESY VEGGIE BAKED PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until the garlic is golden, about 2 minutes. Add both cans of the tomatoes, the cream, and 3/4 cup of water. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat slightly and simmer rapidly, uncovered, until thickened, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in the ricotta and season with salt and pepper.
• While the sauce simmers, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the carrots, zucchini and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the spinach and stir until just wilted. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Cook the penne in the salted boiling water until very al dente, about 2 minutes less than the package directions instructs. Drain the pasta and add it to the bowl with the cooked vegetables.
• Add the tomato sauce, the mozzarella and half of the ricotta salata to the bowl and stir well to combine. Transfer the pasta-vegetable mixture to a 3- to 4-quart baking dish and top with the fontina and the remaining ricotta salata. Bake, uncovered, until browned, about 15 minutes. Let the pasta rest about 10 minutes before serving.

TWO-CHEESE PASTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°. Cook and drain pasta as directed on package.
• Mix pasta and remaining ingredients. Spoon into ungreased rectangular baking dish, 13x9x2 inches.
• Cover and bake about 40 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

BAKED FETA PASTA WITH VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Combine grape tomatoes, asparagus, zucchini, onion, bell pepper, and corn kernels in a baking dish large enough to accommodate all vegetables. Drizzle generously with olive oil and sprinkle with pepper flakes as well as a hit of salt and pepper. Toss to coat and make a well in the center of the dish. Place feta blocks in the well and drizzle with more olive oil. Season feta with salt, pepper, and a pinch of pepper flakes. Nestle thyme sprigs into the veggies around the dish.
• Bake uncovered in the preheated oven until vegetables are soft and feta is lightly browned, about 40 minutes.
• When the vegetables and feta have cooked for 25 minutes, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook rigatoni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water. Set aside.
• When the vegetables and feta are finished cooking, turn the broiler to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C) and broil vegetables for 1 minute for some final browning.
• Squeeze lemon over vegetables and feta and stir in fresh parsley. Stir in rigatoni and reserved pasta water to help feta coat pasta evenly. Season with salt and pepper as needed and sprinkle with Pecorino Romano cheese.

VEGETABLE CHEESE BAKE

Steps:

• Place 1 in. of water in a saucepan; add vegetables. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 5 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Drain. In a saucepan, saute onion in butter until tender. Stir in the flour, salt and pepper until blended. Gradually whisk in milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in cheese until cheese is melted. Stir in vegetables., Transfer to a greased 2-1/2 cup baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly and vegetables are tender. Let stand for 3-5 minutes before serving.

EASY 4-INGREDIENT PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add cavatappi and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, 9 to 10 minutes. Drain.
• While the pasta is cooking, place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned but not yet crisp, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels and then cut into small, bite-sized pieces.
• Mix pasta, bacon, crushed tomatoes, and processed cheese together in a large bowl. Transfer to a baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until hot and bubbly, 30 to 35 minutes.