Here's a really simple mozzarella, tomato and spinach pasta bake that doesn't take hundreds of pots and pans to make and looks impressive when served at the dinner table.
A garlicky, cheesy pasta bake with spinach and refreshing bursts of ripe cherry tomatoes.
Here's how to make this mozzarella pasta bake.
Ingredients
- 400 g (14 oz) dried rigatoni
- 25 g (2 tbsp) salted butter plus a little to grease the dish
- 350 g (1¾ cups) fresh cherry tomatoes halved
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1-2 tsp chilli flakes
- 200 g (½ lb) fresh spinach
- 2-3 tbsp olive oil
- 250 g (8 oz) fresh mozzarella vegetarian if required, torn into inch pieces
- 100 g (½+⅓ cups) grated/shredded cheddar cheese vegetarian if required
- 1 pinch salt and black pepper to taste
- 20 g (4 tbsp) fresh breadcrumbs
- 30 g (⅓ cup) Parmesan or vegetarian hard cheese alternative finely grated
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 180C / 355F / 160C fan.
Boil the pasta in plenty of salted, boiling water for just 5 minutes until softening but still very firm. They'll finish cooking in the oven. Drain and set aside.
Put the butter in a large pan over a medium heat and melt.
Add the cherry tomatoes, chilli flakes, garlic and a pinch of pepper and fry for 2 minutes until soft.
Add the fresh spinach and fry for a further 2 minutes until wilted.
Add the semi-cooked pasta.
Add the cheddar and mozzarella and toss together until evenly mixed.
Tip all of the pasta into a greased roasting tin.
In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan and a pinch of pepper.
Sprinkle evenly all over the pasta.
Bake for 10 minutes until lightly golden.
Serve immediately.
Enjoy! What will you serve with your mozzarella pasta bake?
Print this recipe
Here's the recipe for this cherry tomato, spinach and garlic mozzarella pasta bake again in a printable format.
Cherry Tomato, Spinach and Garlic Mozzarella Pasta Bake Recipe
Ingredients
- 400 g (14 oz) dried rigatoni
- 25 g (2 tbsp) salted butter plus a little to grease the dish
- 350 g (1¾ cups) fresh cherry tomatoes halved
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1-2 tsp chilli flakes
- 200 g (½ lb) fresh spinach
- 2-3 tbsp olive oil
- 250 g (8 oz) fresh mozzarella vegetarian if required, torn into inch pieces
- 100 g (½+⅓ cups) grated/shredded cheddar cheese vegetarian if required
- 1 pinch salt and black pepper to taste
- 20 g (4 tbsp) fresh breadcrumbs
- 30 g (⅓ cup) Parmesan or vegetarian hard cheese alternative finely grated
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C / 355F / 160C fan.
- Boil the pasta in plenty of salted, boiling water for just 5 minutes until softening but still very firm. They'll finish cooking in the oven. Drain and set aside.
- Put the butter in a large pan over a medium heat and melt.
- Add the cherry tomatoes, chilli flakes, garlic and a pinch of pepper and fry for 2 minutes until soft.
- Add the fresh spinach and fry for a further 2 minutes until wilted.
- Add the semi-cooked pasta, cheddar and mozzarella and toss together until evenly mixed.
- Tip into a greased roasting tin.
- In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan and a pinch of pepper.
- Sprinkle evenly all over the pasta.
- Bake for 10 minutes until lightly golden.
- Serve immediately.
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Nutrition
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Aimee says
Can this be made in the morning ready to put in the oven at dinner time? Trying to find recipies I can make ahead of time to make life a bit easier with my newborn!
Emily Leary says
Yes, I don't see why not as long as it's cooled, covered, and immediately placed in the refrigerator. The pasta may be softer this way, but it should still be delicious.
Lara says
Made this tonight. Delicious - thank you :)
Lauryna says
Doing this right now. Smells awesome and I think it'll be delicious!
Sophie at Franglaise Cooking says
I love a good pasta bake and you can't beat cherry tomatoes and mozzarella with pasta. Yummy! I'm sure the kids would love this.
Yet Another Blogging Mummy!!! says
Oh I must try this out. #recipeoftheweek
Emmys Mummy says
That looks AMAZING.
I think I'll be trying this next week. Thank you
Kizzy says
Wow this si what I'm having for tea tonight
Kirsty says
There is something so satisfying about a pasta bake. I can almost smell the garlic, melted cheeses and spinach in your post. Your photography always makes food look unbelievably tempting. Have pinned to eat next week :-)
Fritha says
this looks delish! need to make this for my boys sometime, even fussy Wilf would gobble this down! x