0 from 66 votes
Pasta al Forno (Oven Baked Pasta)
A quality Italian recipe for baked pasta. No premade jars of sauce, "Italian Seasoning or fake cheese involved.
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 369 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Italian
Ingredients
- 1 lb pasta (high quality, I used orecchiette, short penne or mezzi rigatoni also work well)
- 1 recipe of tomato sauce made with mini-meatballs (or tomato sauce and mini-meatballs, or omit for vegetarian - recipe links in NOTES)
- 6 oz mozzarella cheese (diced)
- 1 Tbsp Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (or Pecorino Romano, grated, to taste)
- ½ Meatball Recipe (see notes - optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the directions on the box, but drain the water, reserving at least 1 ½ cups (355 ml), 4 minutes before the end of the suggested cooking time (for example, the orechiette cooking time was 11 minutes and I cooked them for 7 minutes).
- Add some sauce and meatballs and some of the pasta water and mix well.
- Continue to add the sauce and water until it is no longer dry, and has a good amount of sauce (I added over one cup of water; remember the pasta is still undercooked and will absorb quite a bit of liquid).
- Toss in the diced mozzarella, stir well and put into a baking dish.
- Bake in a preheated 400℉/ 200℃ degree oven for 20 minutes, covered with a lid.
- Remove the lid, sprinkle with grated cheese, and continue to bake for another 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how crispy you want the top of the pasta.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly, then serve.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- When making the meatballs, I like to use a combination of meat: I used organic ground beef, ground pork and ground chicken. Recipe on my blog, as well as homemade tomato sauce recipe.
- mini meatball recipe
- pasta sauce recipe
Nutrition Information
Serving
1
Calories
369kcal
(18%)
Carbohydrates
57g
(19%)
Protein
16g
(32%)
Fat
8g
(12%)
Saturated Fat
4g
(20%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
2g
Cholesterol
23mg
(8%)
Sodium
196mg
(8%)
Potassium
191mg
(5%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
2g
(4%)
Vitamin A
198IU
(4%)
Calcium
169mg
(17%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 369
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 | |
| Calories | 369kcal | 18% |
| Carbohydrates | 57g | 19% |
| Protein | 16g | 32% |
| Fat | 8g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 23mg | 8% |
| Sodium | 196mg | 8% |
| Potassium | 191mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 198IU | 4% |
| Calcium | 169mg | 17% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.