20 Irresistible Vegetarian Pasta Bakes (2024 edition)
- Updated on Oct 27, 2022
Pasta bakes are such a treat and the possibilities are endless for vegetarian pasta bakes. These hearty, warming dishes are the perfect comfort food for the whole family and make weeknight dinners look a lot more exciting!
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Pasta dishes always go down a storm. There’s something so irresistible about a bit bowl of hot, cheesy pasta. Even better when it’s healthy and piled with veggies too! The pasta bakes we have here range from mac and cheese, to bean and pasta casserole to lasagne, so hopefully there is something for everyone.
Some of them take a bit of time, but that’s because with pasta bake recipes, the majority of the time is baking time.
So don’t be put off by hour long ‘cooking times’! For most of those recipes, you’ll spend maybe 20 minutes actively cooking and for the rest, all you have to do is pop it in the oven and leave it to do its thing. Super low effort!
All these pasta bakes are vegetarian (of course!), but some are also vegan. What’s also cool about pasta bakes is that they are super easy to make gluten-free.
There are so many gluten free pasta options out there, most of the time all you have to do is switch out normal pasta for gluten-free pasta and follow the package directions to cook.
Vegetarian Pasta Bake Recipes
I hope you’ll enjoy trying these new recipes. They are some of the best pasta bakes in my opinion!
1. Roasted Vegetable Pasta Bake
Protein: 11g
Calories: 208 kcal
Ready in: 1 hour
Recipe by: TheRusticFoodie
Bonus: creamy, flavorful
This gluten free Roasted Vegetable Pasta Bake recipe is made with roasted broccoli, yellow peppers , olives, and ricotta cheese. An easy cheesy vegetable pasta bake! Add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for extra zing.
2. Cauliflower Baked Ziti
Protein: 14 g
Calories: 372 kcal
Ready in: 45 minutes
Recipe by: ASimplePalate
Bonus: cheesy, rich
The whole family will love this cheesy cauliflower baked ziti! Every bite is filled with pasta noodles coated in melted cheddar cheese, fresh herbs, and roasted cauliflower for a healthy twist. Plus you can cook it all in one large skillet!
3. Baked Rigatoni with Vegetables
Protein: 29g
Calories: 634 kcal
Ready in: 1 hour 5 minutes
Recipe by: ASimplePalate
Bonus: full of veggies, adaptable
This baked rigatoni is the ultimate pasta dinner! Thick pasta noodles layered with a blend of melted cheeses and tossed with a medley of delicious roasted vegetables, including bell peppers, carrots and tomatoes. Seasoned with Italian seasoning!
4. Vegetable Lasagna
Protein: 21.2g
Calories: 374 kcal
Ready in: 1 hour 10 minutes
Recipe by: ASimplePalate
Bonus: no ricotta, comfort food
Learn how to make this delicious vegetable lasagna without ricotta cheese! It’s layered with rich marinara, roasted carrots & red bell pepper, mushrooms, and spinach. A healthier version of one of my all-time favorite meals!
5. Baked Feta Pasta
Protein: 17g
Calories: 548 kcal
Ready in: 35 minutes
Recipe by: LittleSunnyKitchen
Bonus: creamy, simple
Tiktok’s popular baked feta pasta is perfect for a quick and easy weeknight vegetarian meal! Made with just a handful of ingredients, this baked feta pasta is so creamy and flavorful. A large bowl of this will set you right!
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6. Vegan Cannelloni
Protein: 12g
Calories: 596 kcal
Ready in: 60 minutes
Recipe by: VeganPunks
Bonus: vegan, rich
This simple vegan cannelloni with macadamia ricotta is a crowd-pleaser. It only takes 60 minutes to make. It features a dreamy creamy vegan ricotta filling and an irresistibly rich marinara pasta sauce!
7. Red Lentil Lasagne
Protein: 25g
Calories: 461kcal
Ready in: 40 minutes
Recipe by: NeilsHealthyMeals
Bonus: satisfying, tasty
Red lentil lasagne is a delicious easy and satisfying vegetarian pasta dish that the whole family, including meat eaters, are sure to enjoy!
8. Broccoli Pasta Bake
Protein: 33g
Calories: 896 kcal
Ready in: 50 minutes
Recipe by: TheBellaVita
Bonus: filling, creamy
This Broccoli Pasta Bake is a very tasty and homemade first course. The broccoli with its unique pungent flavor is sweetened by the presence of the béchamel sauce and cheese. An oven pasta that is easy and quick to make. 100% Meatless and so delicious!
9. Italian Basil Pesto Lasagne
Protein: 31g
Calories: 781 kcal
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: ThePastaProject
Bonus: flavorful, authentic
This Italian basil pesto lasagna can be made really quickly with store bought basil pesto, béchamel sauce and lasagne sheets. Or, you can make everything yourself.
10. Pasta Bake with Veggie Meatballs
Protein: 18g
Calories: 436 kcal
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: SplashOfTaste
Bonus: simple, tasty
This delicious vegetarian pasta bake with veggie meatballs is loaded full of flavor, with a creamy chopped tomatoes sauce, mozzarella cheese, and homemade veggie meatballs that are like flavor bombs in your mouth, this is a ‘must make’ dish.
11. Veggie Pasta Bake
Protein: 22g
Calories: 539 kcal
Ready in: 1 hour
Recipe by: KitchenSanctuary
Bonus: filling, hearty
A veggie packed dinner that even the meat-eaters will devour – this vegetable pasta bake is tasty, filling comfort food.
12. Butternut Squash Pasta Bake
Protein: 8g
Calories: 407kcal
Ready in: 1 hour
Recipe by: ThroughTheFibroFog
Bonus: low histamine, perfect for fall
This butternut squash pasta bake is the cosiest dinner for the fall and winter months, and will be a hit with kids and adults alike. It combines the pasta with fresh mozzarella cheese and squash, but is made without tomatoes for those who aren’t able to tolerate.
13. Roasted Vegetable Pasta
Protein: 5g
Calories: 593 kcal
Ready in: 1 hour
Recipe by: GardenInTheKitchen
Bonus: summer flavours,
This easy Roasted Vegetable Pasta screams summer! Tender roasted tomatoes, garlic, and zucchini are mixed with gluten free pasta to create a juicy, saucy, and herbaceous weeknight dinner.
14. Spinach Parmesan Tortellini Bake
Protein: 25g
Calories: 490 kcal
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: WholesomeMadeEasy
Bonus: simple, few ingredients
This easy Spinach Parmesan Tortellini Bake is a satisfying meatless meal for a busy weeknight. It has only four ingredients and takes just minutes to put together. A simple but effective pasta recipe.
15. Mushroom Spinach Pasta Bake
Protein: 18g
Calories: 361 kcal
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: JarOfLemons
Bonus: comfort food, healthy
When homestyle cooking, comfort food, and healthy ingredients come together like this Mushroom & Spinach Pasta Bake did, it’s a total celebration in our household!
16. Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells
Protein: 25g
Calories: 419 kcal
Ready in: 45 minutes
Recipe by: ChefSavvy
Bonus: tender, creamy
Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells. Jumbo pasta shells stuffed with mozzarella, ricotta and parmesan cheese. Topped with marinara and baked until tender and gooey. Served with fresh basil! This dinner is ready in 45 minutes or less and is vegetarian!
17. Creamy Pesto Baked Pasta
Protein: 23g
Calories: 711 kcal
Ready in: 35 minutes
Recipe by: MyCookingJourney
Bonus: fresh herbs, simple recipe
End of the summer abundance of basil and cherry tomatoes from the backyard garden is put into good use with this delicious recipe. This baked pesto pasta is perfect for lunch or dinner and is loved by all.
18. Vegan Mac and Cheese
Protein: 8g
Calories: 324 kcal
Ready in: 50 minutes
Recipe by: VeggiesDon’tBite
Bonus: vegan, gluten-free
This veggie mac and cheese is so creamy and delicious, the perfect cheesy pasta bake! You will have no idea it is healthy, vegan and gluten-free.
19. Goat Cheese Mac and Cheese
Protein: 16.5g
Calories: 543 kcal
Ready in: 55 minutes
Recipe by: TheLittlestCrumb
Bonus: creamy, rich flavor
This creamy goat cheese mac and cheese is a delicious variation of the classic comfort food. Macaroni coated in a thick, melted goat cheese sauce with herbs. Topped with a crispy bread crumb and parmesan cheese layer. A great way to end a busy day.
20. Bean and Pasta Casserole
Bonus: dump and bake, vegan
A dump and bake dish that will please everyone, this bean and pasta vegetarian casserole makes a perfect healthy dinner. Check out the recipe card and make it now!
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil (divided)
- 3 cloves garlic
- 4 oz wholegrain pasta (short, like farfalle)
- 1 cup white beans (canned)
- 1 ¼ cup vegetable broth (concentrated and seasoned)
- ½ tsp thyme, dried
- ½ tsp chili flakes
- 4 oz kale (torn into leaves)
- 12 cherry tomatoes
- 2 tbsp parsley, fresh (finely chopped)
- 1 cup basil, fresh (torn into pieces)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 230C/ 450 F.
- In a stove top and oven proof medium sized casserole dish add the chopped garlic cloves and half the olive oil.3 cloves garlic, 2 tbsp olive oil
- Cook the garlic on the stove until it begins to turn golden brown around the edges. Take off the heat. If you don’t have a casserole dish to fry your garlic in, just use a small pan and transfer, when the garlic is ready.
- Add the white beans, whole wheat pasta, vegetable broth, kale, chili flakes, thyme and salt to the casserole dish. Mix everything together. Make sure the pasta is in contact with the broth.4 oz wholegrain pasta, 1 cup white beans, 1 ¼ cup vegetable broth, ½ tsp chili flakes, 4 oz kale, ½ tsp thyme, dried
- Spread out the cherry tomatoes into the mix.12 cherry tomatoes
- Bake for 35-40 minutes.
- Halfway through the bake mix the casserole with a spatula to ensure all of the ingredients have an equal bake. At the end the pasta should be soft and cooked, and the broth almost completely evaporated.
- Top casserole with parsley, basil and remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Season with pepper and salt to taste and enjoy.2 tbsp parsley, fresh, 1 cup basil, fresh, Salt and pepper to taste
Nutrition
Vegetarian Pasta Bakes FAQs
If you have any questions about making, storing or eating a veggie pasta bake, I hope I have answered them here.
Is veggie pasta healthy?
If you use healthy ingredients then yes! Use lots of fresh vegetables, cook with a healthy fat like olive oil, and try to include a veggie protein source like lentils or beans.
How about cooking with whole grain pasta, or even another alternative pasta like lentil pasta? Both are less processed and more nutritious than white cooked pasta.
What do you eat with pasta bake?
A pasta bake is a full meal in itself and doesn’t need a side! If you fancy a healthy side, why not go for a salad?
If you want to treat yourself, homemade garlic bread is a delicious accompaniment. Just mix garlic cloves with butter, spread in a baguette and toast.
Can you freeze vegetable pasta bake?
Yes, you can freeze a pasta bake for a couple of months. Depending on how you want to serve it, you can either freeze the whole thing, or in smaller pieces.
If you only want to defrost a portion at a time, say for your lunch box, then portion it up before you freeze it and place each portion in it’s own tupperware or plastic bag. If you plan to reheat it all at once, it can go in in one tray.
Can you make vegetable pasta bake ahead?
Yes! If you freeze it, you can keep it for up to 3 months and eat it when you like. You could also make it the day before a dinner party and reheat it, though in that scenario, fresh will always taste a little bit better.
How do I store vegetable pasta bake?
In the fridge, short term. Let it cool, then cover and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Long term, it can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Again, it is important to let it cool down first!
I hope you enjoyed trying these amazing vegetarian recipes for pasta bakes! Let me know which vegetarian pasta bakes you enjoyed most in the comments below!
Dave Bell
I’m not a foodie, although I do love eating. I believe food should serve us and our goals, not hinder. Taking control and responsibility for what I eat is important to me. Lots of veggie protein is my way forward.
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2 comments
This is such a great round-up, I cannot wait to try a few recipes from here. Thanks so much!
Really glad you like the round up, Silvia!!