Our Cheesiest, Most Satisfying Lasagna and Baked Pasta Recipes

By Frances Kim
Anson Smart
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. Our favorite recipes are chock-full of melted cheese and couldn't be more comforting.
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Very Vegetable Lasagna

Anson Smart
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You won’t miss the meat in this veggie 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

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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Swiss-Chard Lasagna

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

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Manicotti

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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Squash Lasagna with Spinach

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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Baked Spaghetti and Mozzarella

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A quick homemade tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and plenty of basil are all you need to transform spaghetti into a crispy, gooey casserole.

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Matzo Spinach Lasagna

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

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

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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Baked Gnocchi with Ricotta and Marinara

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Homemade potato gnocchi doesn’t need much to shine. Your favorite marinara sauce, ricotta, and Parmesan, plus a quick turn under the broiler, work a treat.

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Chicken-and-Broccolini Mac and Cheese

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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Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Shells

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The surprise ingredient in this stuffed shells recipe? Bulgur! The whole grain lends a wonderful nutty flavor to the ricotta and spinach filling.

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Sausage, Chard, and Lemon Lasagna

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Lemons in lasagna??! Thin slices add a bright, refreshing note to this hearty baked pasta stuffed with sweet Italian sausage and Swiss chard.

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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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Mediterranean Macaroni and Cheese

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Treat mac and cheese to a Mediterranean makeover by adding tomatoes, Kalamata olives, oregano, and feta.

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Roasted Butternut Squash Lasagna

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While this dish is definitely a project, especially if you make the pasta from scratch, it’s so worth the effort. Our favorite part is the amaretti cookies in the filling -- they add a subtly sweet note.

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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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Escarole, Kale, White Bean, and Tomato Lasagna

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A creamy cannellini bean puree stands in for the noodles in this meat-and-gluten-free lasagna. It’s layered with sauteed cremini mushrooms, wilted kale and escarole, spicy tomato sauce, and plenty of Parmesan.

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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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Tomato, Pasta, and Potato Bake

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This one-pot pasta dish relies on an interesting technique. Rigatoni, tomatoes, Yukon Golds, and onion are layered in a baking dish, uncooked, then covered with hot water and baked until the liquid is absorbed and everything is tender.

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Bacon Macaroni and Cheese

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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Stuffed Shells

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Having a stash of these shells in the freezer is a lifesaver. You can assemble them up to a month in advance.

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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

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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