One-Pot Cheesy Pasta Bake (Printable)

Comforting one-pot pasta with melted cheese and rich tomato sauce, ideal for easy family dinners.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 ounces short pasta such as penne, fusilli, or rigatoni

→ Sauce

02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 28 ounces canned crushed tomatoes
06 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
07 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
08 - ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
09 - 1 teaspoon salt
10 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
11 - 2 cups vegetable broth or water

→ Cheeses

12 - 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
13 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
14 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

→ Garnish

15 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or basil

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat oven to 400°F.
02 - In a large oven-safe pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add the crushed tomatoes, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes if using, salt, and black pepper. Stir to combine thoroughly.
04 - Add the uncooked pasta and vegetable broth. Stir well, ensuring the pasta is fully submerged in the liquid.
05 - Bring the mixture to a simmer. Cover and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta reaches al dente texture.
06 - Remove from heat. Stir in half of the mozzarella and cheddar cheeses until fully combined.
07 - Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella, cheddar, and all of the Parmesan cheese evenly over the top of the pasta mixture.
08 - Transfer the pot to the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the cheese is golden and bubbling.
09 - Allow to rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley or basil before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything happens in one pot, which means less scrubbing and more time actually enjoying dinner.
  • The cheese melts right into the pasta while it cooks, so every bite tastes rich without any fussy layering.
  • It's foolproof enough for a weeknight but impressive enough to set on the table without apologies.
02 -
  • Don't skip the resting time—it's the difference between a soupy dish and one with actual structure that holds together on the plate.
  • Make sure your pot is truly oven-safe before you bake; a pot with a plastic handle will melt, and I learned this the hard way by watching a friend's Wednesday night turn into a kitchen emergency.
  • The pasta finishes cooking in the oven, so aim for just-barely-al-dente when it comes off the stovetop, not fully tender yet.
03 -
  • Use a Dutch oven if you have one—the thick walls heat evenly and your dish bakes more consistently than in a regular metal pot.
  • Don't be shy with the black pepper; it adds complexity and keeps the cheese from tasting one-note or cloying.
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