Our Cheesiest, Most Satisfying Lasagna and Baked Pasta Recipes

By Kelly Vaughan
Updated November 25, 2020
Credit: Justin Walker

From weeknight dinners to holiday entertaining, our favorite recipes are loaded with melted cheese and couldn't be more comforting.

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Credit: Justin Walker

Lasagna and its baked pasta kin are ideal for everything from weeknight dinners to holiday entertaining. Not only do they feed a crowd, but the leftovers also reheat beautifully. From meat fillings to vegetable versions that will leave you satisfied, we're sharing our most comforting, delicious, and family-friendly lasagna and baked pasta recipes to enjoy any night of the week.

Start with a staple, such as Lasagna with Meat Sauce. When you're looking for the classic, meaty lasagna, this is the recipe to make. It's easier than you expect because we use no-boil lasagna noodles, so all you need to do is layer them with marinara sauce, our three-cheese blend, and meat filling and bake the entire casserole in the oven. Each layer becomes piping hot and the noodles turn al dente by the time it finishes cooking. We also have several vegetarian lasagna and baked pasta recipes. Our Mushroom-Eggplant Lasagna makes use of easy to find produce that add plenty of might to the dish. Or try our super easy Very Vegetable Lasagna, which calls for frozen chopped spinach, zucchini, and no-boil lasagna noodles. It only requires 30 minutes of prep work, too.

When you're craving a no-fuss, humble meal, try our take on a classic—Tuna-Noodle Casserole with Cauliflower or its more innovative comrade, Salmon Noodle Casserole. Both are simple, easy to prepare, and will surely satisfy your family.

From macaroni and cheese to lasagna, manicotti to meatballs, these lasagna and baked pasta recipes are easy to love.

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Mushroom-Eggplant Lasagna

Credit: Bryan Gardner
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The vegetable base for this hearty lasagna starts with sautéed cremini mushrooms and eggplant, followed by a traditional blend of onions, carrots, celery, and plenty of garlic.

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Baked Mac and Cheese with Broiled Tomatoes

Credit: Armando Rafael
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Stovetop macaroni and cheese becomes even more spectacular when topped with more cheese, breadcrumbs, and, in this case, broiled Roma tomatoes. Baked until golden brown and bubbling, it simply cannot be beat.

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Lasagna with Meat Sauce

Credit: Justin Walker
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Looking for a go-to lasagna recipe? This one is a total classic. The meaty filling is made with a combination of lean ground beef and sweet Italian sausage, and a trio of cheese make for super creamy layers throughout.

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Sausage-and-Kale Stuffed Shells

Credit: Justin Walker
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We're declaring this the ultimate winter comfort food recipe. The filling, which is tucked into large pasta shells, is made from browned sausage, sautéed kale, and three cheeses—ricotta cheese, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and mozzarella.

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Baked Pasta with Cauliflower and Swiss Chard

Credit: Julia Gartland
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A baked pasta recipe is nothing without a super creamy sauce. This one is made with sour cream and Gruyère cheese, which hugs twirly campanelle pasta and hearty vegetables.

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Salmon Noodle Casserole

Credit: Bryan Gardner
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This twist on the classic tuna noodle casserole is made with omega-3-rich salmon for a pop of color in a comforting baked pasta dish.

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Baked Rigatoni with Sausage

Credit: Julia Gartland
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An assortment of vegetables—butternut squash, cherry tomatoes, and shallots—team up with spicy sausage in this basked pasta recipe. Hearty rigatoni is the perfect vessel for the mixture.

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Tuna-Noodle Casserole with Cauliflower

Credit: Linda Pugliese
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We love using a wide noodle such as pappardelle for this baked pasta dish that's just as good as Mom's. The healthy addition of cauliflower brings texture to the creamy meal.

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Susan's Manicotti

Credit: Bryan Gardner
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This recipe is courtesy of food and entertaining director Sarah Carey's mom. Sarah explains why she likes it so much: "It can be made for lots of people, and with lots of people helping to mix the filling and stuff the shells. It's what my mom makes for parties and potlucks. I've altered her recipe slightly, but I think it's still just as delicious."

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Very Vegetable Lasagna

Credit: Anson Smart
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You won't miss the meat in this vegetable lasagna, we promise. Zucchini and spinach, plus three different kinds of cheese—ricotta, Parmesan, and mozzarella—are more than enough to fill you up.

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Baked Rigatoni with Mini Meatballs

Credit: Yunhee Kim
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The trick to instant meatballs? Italian sausage! All you have to do is remove the casings and roll.

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Basil and Ricotta Cannelloni

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We love this cannelloni's beautiful zucchini blossom topping, but it's the filling that really wins us over. It teams fresh ricotta with spring onion, basil, egg yolks, lemon zest, and Pecorino Romano.

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Squash Lasagna with Spinach

Credit: David Prince
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You can make the components of this recipe, including the roasted squash, bechamel, and filling up to two days in advance.

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Swiss-Chard Lasagna

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Hardy greens like Swiss chard stand up well in baked pasta dishes. In this lasagna, it's sautéed with onions until tender, then layered with tomato sauce, noodles, and mozzarella.

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Matzo Spinach Lasagna

Credit: Burca Avsar
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No leavening allowed? No problem! Matzo stands in for the noodles in this Passover-friendly lasagna and gets jazzed up with a flavorful spinach and ricotta filling.

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Pepperoni Pasta Bake

Credit: Romulo Yanes
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These baked shells are a guaranteed kid-pleaser, even with the grated zucchini we've sneaked into the filling.

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Baked Shells and Broccoli with Ham and Cheesy-Creamy Cauliflower Sauce

Credit: Chris Testani
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A whole head of cauliflower and a full bunch of broccoli go into this cheesy casserole. Skim milk, multigrain pasta, and whole-wheat panko also keep it on the healthier side.

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Chicken-and-Broccolini Mac and Cheese

Credit: David Malosh
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The secret behind the velvety white sauce in this mac and cheese recipe is cream cheese. Shredded chicken gives the dish heft, and tender Broccolini cuts the richness.

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Baked Tortellini with Bacon

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Store-bought tortellini means you can get this dish on the table in just 35 minutes. A simple white sauce, crispy bacon, and a generous amount of Parmesan cheese make it a surefire crowd-pleaser.

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Three-Cheese Skillet Lasagna

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Ricotta, fresh mozzarella, and pecorino form the trifecta of cheeses in this speedy skillet supper.

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Spinach Manicotti in Creamy Tomato Sauce

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A manicotti recipe that only requires 30 minutes of prep? Store-bought shells and marinara sauce, plus frozen spinach, make it possible.

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Sausage, Mozzarella, and Broccoli Rabe with Shells

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Spicy Italian sausage, tender broccoli rabe, and gooey mozzarella are an unbeatable combination in this baked pasta dish.

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Bacon Macaroni and Cheese

Credit: Bryan Gardner
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It doesn't get more decadent than this bacon-studded, three-cheese mac! We love the combination of Parmesan, gouda, and Gruyere.

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Baked Penne with Chicken and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

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Sun-dried tomatoes add a much-needed pop of color, not to mention lots of bright flavor, to this creamy, cheesy casserole.

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Chicken and Kale Casserole

Credit: Anna Williams
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Using the meat from a rotisserie chicken is the key to getting this healthy baked pasta dish on the table in a flash.

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By Kelly Vaughan