best pasta bakes

This meatball pasta bake is a super-easy family meal that uses a small amount meat but lots of veg. Swap the homemade meatballs for ready-made if you like.


Mini meatball pasta bake 

beef mince (around 15% fat)

grams/1¾oz breadcrumbs

oregano

olive oil

onion, finely chopped

150 grams/5½oz button mushrooms, halved

courgette,

garlic cloves, crushed

can chopped tomatoes

tomato purée

400 milliliters/14fl oz vegetable stock,

bay leaf

225 grams/8 ounces dried pasta shapes,

grams/3½oz cheddar, grated

salt and black pepper

Pastitsio is a Greek-style pasta bake with a rich topping, great for a relaxed family get-together. In Greece it is usually made with beef, while in Cyprus pork is used. I prefer pork, or a blend of the two.

Pastitsio

tbsp olive oil, plus extra for the pasta

onions, finely chopped

garlic cloves, finely chopped

tomato purée

pork mince or beef mince

cinnamon

150 milliliters/5fl oz red wine

tomatoes

250 milliliters/9fl oz beef stock

350 grams/12 ounces long hollow pasta,

parsley,

free-range egg, beaten

grams/3½oz halloumi or kefalotyri, finely grated

butter

160 grams/5¾oz plain flour

1.6 litres/2¾ pints milk

nutmeg

free-range eggs, beaten

sea salt and black pepper

Someone I met in Palermo once told me that the secret of good Italian dishes is ‘esagera’ – put more of everything in – and so it is with this mac & cheese recipe. There’s masses of cheese and plenty of smoked bacon.

Equipment: you will need a 35x20cm/14x8in ovenproof dish.

Mac & cheese

grams/3½oz butter,

grams/3½oz plain flour

Dijon mustard

1.2 litres/2 pints full-fat milk

75 milliliters/2½fl oz double cream

cheddar,

macaroni

100 grams/3½oz smoked bacon lardons or smoked pancetta cubes

60 grams/2¼oz white breadcrumbs

grams/1¾oz Parmesan, grated

Mary Berry's aubergine lasagne is filled with flavour and oozy, cheesy goodness. Serve with garlic bread or a simple green salad.

Mary Berry's melanzane pasta bake

lasagne

grams/1¾oz plain flour

568 milliliters/1 pint milk, warmed

grams/3½oz Parmesan (or

500 milliliters/18fl oz passata

basil,

tsp caster sugar

Don’t be modishly alarmed by the double-carb combo: it can be an alcohol-sopping salve, much appreciated at this time of year. Besides, it is important to remember that the original predates central heating.

Top 5 best pasta bakes recipes from across the web

The most viewed best pasta bakes recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine

Top Tags

Mini meatball pasta bake

Pastitsio

Mac & cheese

Mary Berry's melanzane pasta bake

Hearty wholewheat pasta with Brusse...

Top 5 best pasta bakes recipes from across the web

The most viewed best pasta bakes recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

Mini meatball pasta bake

Pastitsio

Mac & cheese

Mary Berry's melanzane pasta bake

Hearty wholewheat pasta with Brusse...

The most viewed best pasta bakes recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine