Spicy Zucchini Veggie Pasta Bake Recipes

ZUCCHINI PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne pasta, cook for 10 to 12 minutes, until al dente, and drain. Lightly grease a medium casserole dish.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a blender or food processor, thoroughly mix the Parmesan cheese and crackers.
• Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Place the onion in the skillet, and cook and stir until tender. Mix in the zucchini, tomato, and garlic, and season with oregano, basil, celery, salt, and pepper. Continue to cook and stir until the zucchini is tender.
• In the prepared casserole dish, mix the pasta with the vegetable mixture and mozzarella cheese. Top evenly with the Parmesan cheese mixture.
• Bake 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the topping is lightly browned. Allow to sit 5 minutes before serving.

SPICY VEGGIE PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente; drain., Cut squashes and peppers into 1/4-in. julienne strips. In a 12-in. cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, mushrooms and julienned vegetables; cook and stir until crisp-tender, 5-7 minutes. Stir in seasonings. Add marinara sauce and pasta; toss to combine. Top with cheese pearls., Transfer to oven; bake, uncovered, until cheese is melted, 10-15 minutes. If desired, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and basil before serving.

SPICY ZUCCHINI VEGGIE PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375ºF.
• Cook pasta in large saucepan as directed on package, omitting salt.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in large nonstick skillet on medium heat. Add zucchini, mushrooms, peppers and garlic; cook and stir 3 min. Add flour and seasoning; cook and stir 1 min. Stir in broth; cook and stir 2 to 3 min. or until thickened. Add cream cheese spread; cook and stir 2 to 3 min. or until melted.
• Drain pasta; return to pan. Add zucchini mixture, spinach and 1/2 cup shredded cheese; mix lightly. Spoon into 2-qt. casserole sprayed with cooking spray; top with remaining shredded cheese.
• Bake 10 min. or until shredded cheese is melted.

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.

MAMA'S SPICY ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Cut zucchini into 1/2 inch strips. Boil in salted water until tender. Drain.
• Melt butter and saute onion and green pepper in a sauce pan. Add tomatoes and chili powder. Cook for 5 minutes and add zucchini.
• Blend melted butter with cracker crumbs. Layer 1/2 of zucchini mixture, 1/2 of cracker crumbs and 1/2 of cheese.
• Add remaining zucchini mixture, 1/2 of cheese and 1/2 of cracker crumbs.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes in a 340 degree oven.
• Note: Yellow squash may be substituted for zucchini.