This rich and aromatic Bolognese pasta bake is perfect for busy weeknights or feeding a crowd as it can easily be made in bulk and frozen.
Pasta bakes are a fantastic way to save time, money and effort. Whether it’s a simple family dinner or feeding a crowd, pasta bakes are one of my fail-safe recipes and always a crowd pleaser. This delectable Bolognese pasta bake is no different.
Everyone needs to know how to make Bolognese sauce and my easy Bolognese sauce recipe is pretty classic. I keep it simple by flavoring the beef mince/ground beef with tomatoes, onions, carrots, celery and garlic. I like to cook it low and slow to allow all the flavors to marry and for the beef to get super tender. The Bolognese is just dreamy served over spaghetti but there are so many more ways to use it.
This oven baked pasta Bolognese is just one of many ideas. It’s the kind of comfort food you associate with your mom and home. Warm and rich and absolutely delicious and pretty much a lazy quick version of lasagna. It’s also the kind of thing I love making in bulk and freezing for nights when I’m just too lazy or tired to stand in the kitchen for more than 10 minutes.z
Can you freeze pasta bake
If you want to freeze this recipe, I would suggest letting it cool down completely at room temperature. Press a piece of baking paper onto the surface then wrap well with foil and plastic wrap before placing in the freezer. When it comes to baking, simply remove all the wrapping and baking paper and place on a rimmed baking sheet before baking for 1-1½ hours or until hot and bubbly throughout. It’s the simplest, most delicious dinner you can make.
What to serve with pasta bake
Pasta bake recipes
Bolognese pasta bake
Ingredients
- 3 cups Bolognese sauce
- 2 cups Bechamel sauce
- 500 g (1lb) pasta of your choice, cooked al dente (reserve 1 cup cooking water)
- 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 200ºc.
- Combine the bolognese, bechamel and cooked pasta and mix well. Add a little of the pasta cooking water to loosen the consistency, if necessary.
- Transfer half of the pasta to an oven-proof casserole dish then sprinkle over half of the cheese.
- Add the remaining pasta and top with the rest of the cheese.
- Place in the oven and bake until bubbling and the top is golden.
- Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Could this be made with an Alfredo sauce in place of the bechamel?
Yes, absolutely!
Made this the other night and it was loved by both households (I made one for hubby and our picky toddler who also devoured it! And one for my parents’ place) and it was a huge hit!
Making another big batch now to pop in the freezer while I have all the fresh ingredients on hand.
My qurstion though – I’ve assembled it all in the baking dish ready to pop in the oven. Do I cook it then let it cool and freeze it to reheat when I want to have it for dinner another night? OR do I pop the assembled but unbaked dish in the freezer to cook through completely when I want to have it on the day?
Hope i make sense, and hopefully get a response soon so I know what to do 😀
Thanks again, i LOVE your recipes xx
I freeze before I bake it but you can do it either way. 🙂
can you add meat to this?
The bolognese is a meat sauce so this recipe already contains meat.
I mix the bechemal sauce with my bolognaise sauce?
Will the taste of the bechemal not just get lost??
The purpose of the bechamel is to add creaminess to the pasta bake, you can definitely layer it instead if you wish.
My Mum used to make this quite often and called it “pasta al forno” or “maccheroni al forno”. We loved it especially the crusty bits on the top. I’ve never used mozzarella in it but rather grated Parmigiano , especially on top which gives a beautiful crust over the bechamel. Will add mozzarella to make it even more cheesy. Thank you for your lovely recipe.
The crusty bits are the best!
Your bechamel sauce is my favorite, I’ve made this recipe a ton of times. I love that I can freeze a few ‘bakkies’ and whip one out when I don’t have to make dinner for hubby.
It’s perfect for making ahead and freezing. So happy you like it. 🙂
Looks Yummy – does the bologense need to be warmed through with the bechamel?
You can warm it through if you prefer but it will be warmed through when baking as well.
I made a huge batch of this for lunch and froze a lot to stock up my mother’s freezer (with your instructions written on for the carers.) It is so delicious! Once again a winning recipe from you. My favourite go to is still your Mexican chicken soup!
Thank you
I’m so pleased to hear that, it’s definitely a winner for those days where you’re stuck and have nothing to cook/can’t be bothered and I’m so glad your mom has a freezer full of delicious food now. 🙂
Alida,my mouth is watering every time I see your beautiful photos! Love this recipe! 🙂
Thanks so much Julia!
This is so true that Pasta bakes are a fantastic way to save time, money and effort. I just bookmarked your recipe as it looks so tempting to try.
This looks like the perfect comfort food dish. I know my family would be all over this. I love making HUGE batches since I am already in the kitchen. More food for later works well for me.
Cooking ahead is always a good idea!
This sure looks so good. I just love the cheesey goodness! Looks awesome!
Thanks so much Claudia.
Oh goodness, I need to make this! Not sure why I’ve never thought to put Bolognese sauce with Bechamel…but YUMMMM! This sure wouldn’t last long in our house. Pinned and saving…thanks for the recipe inspiration!
Thanks so much Traci. It sure is a goodie. 🙂
Having make-ahead freezer friendly meals like this in your back pocket are so helpful!
Totally!!
Pasta bakes make for the ultimate comfort meal! This looks amazing and the photos are gorgeous!
Thanks so much Vicky!
Can’t seem to access link to bechamel or Bolognese recipes! Arrghhh
I am so sorry about that Di. I fixed the links! Thanks for letting me know.
Such a heart and tummy warming recipe for this time of year. Love pasta and all of your recipes, it’s the way your write them , thank you .
What a wonderful compliment, thank you Beverley!
That cheese! My goodness, THIS is comfort food if I ever saw it!
Right? Everybody loves a cheesy-pull shot, don’t they? 😉
You simply can’t go wrong with pasta and Bolognese sauce. Have you ever made the sauce with milk? OMG it is so creamy and delicious! Your pasta recipe would be perfect for my busy, hungry family.
Oooh I definitely will the next time I make it!
This pasta bake would be perfect for company over the holidays Alida! I love the added bechamel!
Thanks Mary Ann! The bechamel just adds that yummy creaminess.