5 ingredients are all you need to make this Easy Baked Rotini Pasta! This Easy Pasta Bake is a cheesy, gooey, kid-friendly casserole that can feed a large crowd on a budget.
Looking for more recipes that use rotini noodles? Check out my recipes for Antipasto Pasta Salad, Instant Pot Creamy Italian Pasta, and Creamy Cajun Pasta.
Easy Baked Rotini Pasta
If you are looking for a meal that is cheap, kid-approved, easy to make, and delicious---you can stop searching!
This simple Pasta Bake checks all those boxes!
Made with only 5 ingredients and minimal prep time, Baked Rotini is not only a meal your family will love, but it is an EASY meal to make.
From the tender rotini noodles to the creamy cottage cheese, to the marinara sauce, to the layer of melted cheese, this simple pasta dish is pure comfort!
And because it comes together within minutes with simple ingredients you probably already have on hand--this pasta bake makes you look like a rock star without a lot of effort! Making it a perfect recipe for busy weeknights or lazy weekends.
5 Ingredients for Easy Baked Pasta
- Rotini Noodles--You can use rigatoni or penne noodles if you like instead of rotini noodles, but the rotini noodles grasp the sauce perfectly and stay soft during baking. Use Gluten-Free Pasta to make this a Gluten-Free Baked Pasta.
- Spaghetti Sauce--Use your favorite jarred sauce or Homemade Tomato Sauce, just be sure it is one with really good flavor.
- Cottage Cheese--Cottage cheese makes this pasta bake creamy and hearty while adding a bit of protein to each serving. If you don't have cottage cheese, feel free to use ricotta cheese in place of the cottage cheese.
- Egg--The egg helps to bind the pasta together, but can easily be omitted for an Egg-Free Pasta Bake--just be sure your noodles are egg-free as well!
- Cheese--Cheese is the finishing touch to create a gooey, cheesy pasta dish that makes everyone beg for seconds! Use shredded mozzarella cheese or an Italian cheese blend.
How to Make Baked Rotini
Step One: Cook Rotini Noodles
- Cook pasta in heavily salted water for 1-2 minutes less than the package suggests.
- Drain pasta, reserving ½ cup cooking water.
Pro Tip: While pasta is cooking, use that time to prep a side salad or homemade garlic bread to serve with the pasta bake.
Step Two: Prepare Pasta Bake
- Mix cooked rotini noodles with tomato sauce, reserved cooking liquid, egg, cottage cheese, and sauce. The reserved cooking liquid will help bind the sauce evenly and coat the rotini noodles.
- Pour into 9x13 pan or 2 quart casserole.
- Top evenly with shredded cheese.
Step Three: Bake Rotini Dish
- Bake the pasta bake, uncovered, until the cheese melts and the pasta is warmed through about 30 minutes. If you prepped the garlic bread, pop into the oven for the last 10-15 minutes of the baking time.
- Serve baked pasta with Homemade Garlic Toast and a tossed salad with balsamic dressing for a meal everyone will sing your praises for!
Storing/Freezing Pasta Bake
This easy pasta bake is almost always found stashed in my freezer. It makes a great go-to meal for busy nights for my family, but it is also a great meal to take to a friend or family in need of a comforting home-cooked meal.
- How to Freeze Baked Rotini: To prepare pasta in advance, assemble pasta bake it up to baking, and place it in a freezer-safe baking dish. Cover well with 2 layers of foil and freeze for up to two months. To bake from frozen, bake at 350 degrees F for 60 minutes covered, then uncover and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through and cheese is melted.
- How to Assemble Up to 3 Days in Advance: If you plan to bake this rotini casserole within 3 days of assembling, there is no need to freeze it. Simply prepare the casserole up to baking. Place the prepared rotini in a baking dish, cover it with plastic wrap, and refrigerate it for up to 3 days. When ready to bake, remove the baking dish from the fridge while the oven is preheating, remove the plastic wrap, and bake at 350 degrees F for 45-50 minutes or until warmed through.
More Easy Pasta Recipes
5 Ingredient Baked Rotini
Ingredients
- 16 ounces rotini noodles or ziti, rigatoni, etc
- ½ cup reserved pasta liquid
- 4 cups homemade or jarred spaghetti sauce
- 2 cups cottage cheese
- 1 egg whisked
- 2 cups shredded cheese mozzarella, cheddar, Parmesan or a mixture
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉.
- Cook the pasta for 1-2 minutes less than the package directions state in salted boiling water. Drain pasta, reserving ½ cup cooking liquid.
- Mix the cooked pasta and reserved cooking liquid together with the sauce, cottage cheese, egg, and 1 cup of shredded cheese.
- Pour into a large 9x13 pan or casserole dish and top with remaining cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and the casserole is warmed through.
- Alternatively, you can prep this dish up to baking. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days before baking. Add 20 minutes to baking time if coming from fridge.
Notes
- Whole wheat, regular, or gluten-free noodles can be used.
- Feel free to add ground beef, sausage, or even pepperoni to this baked rotini for a heartier dish.
- DO NOT USE FAT-FREE Cottage cheese--it will not bake up the same.
- In place of cottage cheese, ricotta cheese can be used.
- Omit the egg if you need this to be an egg-free pasta bake (just be sure to check your noodles for eggs as well!)
- Pasta Bake can be assembled up to baking and frozen for up to 2 months. To bake from frozen, bake covered with foil at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Remove foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until warmed through.
Bethany Tucker
This was super delicious! I used low fat cottage cheese and reduced fat shredded cheese. Each serving was 380 calories. This is definitely a new family favorite.
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad your family enjoyed Bethany!
Dolores
Thank you for this recipe! I am a vegetarian, who unfortunately doesn’t have a lot of skills in the kitchen, and this recipe was so easy to make. I omitted the egg and still loved this pasta!
Kristen Chidsey
I love hearing that this was easy and enjoyable for you Dolores!
Christin
Making this tonight and cannot wait! However, you used “sauce” when you meant “reserved liquid”:
Mix cooked pasta and reserved sauce together with sauce,
Kristen Chidsey
Fixing now. Thanks for the catch 🙂 And enjoy the rotini!
Cody Black
I made this last night for the family. My 4 picky kids ate it great and asked for seconds. This recipe is definitely a keeper. It is a simple and easy one to throw together and is made with staples that we always have. Thanks for the recipe! As someone close to the CF world, I hope you and your family stay safe and healthy during this crazy time.
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad your family enjoyed Cody! And thank you for your wishes for my family! I hope yours stays well too.
Brooke
Hi I premade and put in the freezer, do I need to thaw out in the fridge before I bake in the oven? Or can you bake directly from being frozen?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Brooke. You can bake right from the freezer. From freezer, bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes covered, and then uncovered for 15 additional minutes. And YAY for a stocked freezer!
Rachel
Could you add ground beef/chicken to this? If so how much would you recommend and would this change baking time?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Rachel! Ground beef, chicken or sausage would be a great addition. I would use anywhere from half a pound to full pound. Just brown up the meat in a skillet and then mix in with remaining ingredients. Bake time will remain the same. Enjoy 🙂
Melissa Palumbo
can you just put the noodles in without cooking them? won't they cook in the sauce?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Melissa, It is POSSIBLE to cook this casserole without pre-cooking the noodles, but it will change the directions drastically. You would need to add water to the sauce, cover TIGHTLY with foil, bake longer and even then the noodles will not be as soft. So I just do not recommend that. Sorry.
Emily
I know I'm late to the game, but curious if you could use Greek yogurt in this dish instead of the cottage cheese? Just don't feel like running to the store, and that is what I have! 😀
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Emily! You are never late to ask questions 🙂 And, as long as it is plain Greek yogurt it should work fine. I am all about using what you have on hand to save yourself time and money!
Cath
Do I bake this dish covered or uncovered?
Kristen Chidsey
I bake uncovered Cath, as I like the cheese to bubble up and the pasta to have crisper edges. However, you can bake covered with foil if you would like a more "moist" pasta and then just uncover last 10 minutes for cheese to fully melt. Enjoy!
Cath
Thanks for the quick reply. This is Ash Wednesday, so no meat here. This was so easy to assemble. Add a salad and garlic bread and voila there’s a rear meal even if it isn’t the beginning of Lent.😉
Cath
Real!!!
Kristen Chidsey
YAY!!!! That is exactly why I love this recipe so much--quick and easy! So glad you enjoyed!
Cindy Brown
Wow ! What a great tasty and easy recipe ! It takes pasta to the next level...if l could give it more than 5 stars l would ! I used grated marble cheese and the combination of ingredients was so creamy . It filled the small oval roast pan (no lid) that Ibaked it in . Served it with a side salad . It fed 4 hungry adults , 2 of which had seconds , and had enough leftovers for another sitting...so economical ! Rave reviews from everyone ! Thank you , thank you , thank you !! 😃
Kristen Chidsey
This makes me so happy!!! We actually had it for dinner tonight too Cindy. I have one in my freezer at all times and I had been at a doctor's appointment all day. It was the perfect answer.
April
Can u use something other than cottage cheese
Kristen Chidsey
Absolutely April--ricotta cheese, cream cheese, or even crumbled tofu.
Rebecca
I'm going to make this tonight for this weekend at the campground. It's a great make ahead dinner that I can easily heat in our dreadful camper oven! 🙂 I am however going to use ricotta since I have someone who won't eat the cottage. Great idea to mix it in. I myself am avid cook.. never really thought of that.
Thank you
Kristen Chidsey
YAY!! I have used ricotta as well and it works great. And yes, this bumps up creaminess and protein all at once.
Platt College
I really enjoy Italian food and this is super easy. Thanks for the recipe.
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction
Love easy meals like this! Perfect for busy weeknights!
Kristen Chidsey
Exactly!!
Alex Gaskill
I love that you put cottage cheese in this! Talk about an extra protein boost. So good, Kristen! I'll be making this for Alex and I soon. <3
Kristen Chidsey
I hope you love it!
Ally's Sweet & Savory Eats
Love easy meals like this girl! I am sharing on my FB page today.
On a side note - I've been thinking about you! Praying for healing and comfort from Iowa!
Kristen Chidsey
Ah thank you so so much Ally--for the prayers and facebook share!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan
Kristen - forgetting to set the slow cooker is the story of ma life! So, spa quick meals like this are my jam! This baked rotini with cottage cheese is one I'm sure my daughter would LOVE - this is definitely going on my to-make list! Thanks so much, happy Monday and yay for storybook neighborhoods! 🙂
Kristen Chidsey
Yes, LOVE quick meals and my wonderful neighborhood!
Eleonora
I love it ! easy , fast and delicious! My second time making it 🙂 thanks for sharing