20 Cheesy and Flavor-Packed Baked Pasta Recipes Everyone Will Love

Baked pasta is the ultimate comfort food, with tender noodles, creamy sauces, melty cheese, and hearty fillings in every bite. This roundup features everything from classic ziti and stuffed shells to inventive twists like buffalo chicken pasta, Mexican spaghetti, and gluten-free mac and cheese. Perfect for weeknight dinners, family meals, or cozy weekends, these recipes make it easy to enjoy a warm, satisfying dish that’s full of flavor and loved by everyone at the table.

Easy Baked Ziti with Spicy Italian Sausage Recipe.

A baked dish in a round brown ceramic bowl, topped with melted cheese and slices of pepperoni. — Easy Baked Ziti with Spicy Italian Sausage Recipe.. Photo credit: The Pasta Project.

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Ziti pasta is mixed with tomato sauce and browned sausage before baking. The sauce thickens as it heats and coats every piece. Cheese melts between the layers and across the top. Each scoop includes pasta, sauce, and bits of sausage.
Get the Recipe: Easy Baked Ziti with Spicy Italian Sausage Recipe.

Homemade Baked Chicken Spaghetti

A close-up of a plate of baked spaghetti topped with a crispy breadcrumb and cheese mixture, with a fork placed on the side. — Homemade Baked Chicken Spaghetti. Photo credit: Sweet And Savory Meals.

Shredded chicken is mixed with spaghetti and creamy sauce. Baking helps the sauce cling to the noodles. Cheese melts through the center and across the surface. Each serving stays soft and filling.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Baked Chicken Spaghetti

Easy Taco Stuffed Shells Recipe

Stuffed pasta shells topped with melted cheese and diced vegetables on a white plate, garnished with herbs; casserole dish and striped towel in background. — Easy Taco Stuffed Shells Recipe. Photo credit: Blogghetti.

Large pasta shells are filled with seasoned meat and sauce. The shells are arranged in rows before baking. Cheese melts over the tops and into the filling. Each shell keeps its shape when lifted from the pan.
Get the Recipe: Easy Taco Stuffed Shells Recipe

Mexican Spaghetti

A fork lifts a serving of cheesy baked spaghetti with ground meat and tomato sauce from a white casserole dish, topped with melted cheese and chopped parsley. — Mexican Spaghetti. Photo credit: Nohing With The Nolands.

Spaghetti is cooked in a tomato based sauce with bold seasoning. The noodles soak up flavor as they simmer and bake. Cheese is often added near the end to thicken the dish. The texture stays saucy but not watery.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Spaghetti

Gluten Free Sweet Potato Mac & Cheese

A fork holds a bite of cheesy casserole with pieces of bacon and chopped green onions. — Gluten Free Sweet Potato Mac & Cheese. Photo credit: The Soccer Mom Blog.

Sweet potatoes are blended into a smooth, thick sauce. Gluten free pasta is coated evenly before baking. The sauce stays creamy as it heats in the oven. The top layer sets with light browning.
Get the Recipe: Gluten Free Sweet Potato Mac & Cheese

Spaghetti Pie with Cottage Cheese and Leftover Spaghetti

A close-up of a baked dish topped with marinara sauce, melted mozzarella cheese, and grated Parmesan cheese in a glass pie dish. — Spaghetti Pie with Cottage Cheese and Leftover Spaghetti. Photo credit: Fluxing Well.

Cooked spaghetti is pressed into a pie shape in the pan. Cottage cheese and sauce are layered over the noodles. Baking firms the base so it slices clean. Each wedge holds together when served.
Get the Recipe: Spaghetti Pie with Cottage Cheese and Leftover Spaghetti

Baked Rigatoni with Country Sausage

Two ceramic dishes filled with baked pasta topped with browned cheese and sausage slices, with a pan of tomato sauce and a pepper grinder in the background. — Baked Rigatoni with Country Sausage. Photo credit: Chef’s Pencil.

Rigatoni is mixed with sausage and tomato sauce. The tubes trap sauce inside as they bake. Cheese melts into the gaps between pasta pieces. The top turns lightly golden before serving.
Get the Recipe: Baked Rigatoni with Country Sausage

Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Stuffed Shells – Homemade In The Kitchen

Three plates of creamy pasta with broccoli and chicken are served on a dark table with forks, next to bowls of grated cheese and black pepper. — Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Stuffed Shells – Homemade In The Kitchen. Photo credit: Chocolate Moosey.

Shells are filled with chicken, broccoli, and creamy sauce. They are placed snugly in a baking dish before adding more sauce. Cheese melts over each shell during baking. The filling stays soft and rich inside the pasta.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Stuffed Shells – Homemade In The Kitchen

Buffalo Chicken Pasta

A bowl of creamy rigatoni pasta topped with chopped green onions and crumbled cheese, with a baking dish and more green onions in the background. — Buffalo Chicken Pasta. Photo credit: My Rad Kitchen.

Chicken is mixed with spicy sauce and pasta before baking. The heat spreads evenly through the dish. Cheese helps balance the bold flavor. The sauce thickens as it cooks in the oven.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Pasta

Beef Stuffed Shells [High Protein Cottage Cheese + Spinach]

Five stuffed pasta shells filled with spinach and ricotta are arranged on tomato sauce, garnished with grated cheese and fresh basil on a rectangular white plate. — Beef Stuffed Shells [High Protein Cottage Cheese + Spinach]. Photo credit: Heavenly Spiced.

Shells are packed with beef, spinach, and cheese filling. Sauce is poured over the top before baking. The shells soften while keeping their shape. Each bite includes pasta, meat, and creamy filling.
Get the Recipe: Beef Stuffed Shells [High Protein Cottage Cheese + Spinach]

Sour Cream Noodle Bake

A plate of pasta with ground meat, tomatoes, and shredded cheese on top, set on a dark wooden table with a striped napkin and fork nearby. — Sour Cream Noodle Bake. Photo credit: My Kitchen Serenity.

Egg noodles are layered with meat sauce and sour cream mixture. Baking blends the layers into a firm casserole. The top stays lightly browned. The inside remains creamy and soft.
Get the Recipe: Sour Cream Noodle Bake

Pasta Rustica with Sausage

Baked penne pasta with sausage, melted cheese, tomato sauce, and fresh basil served on a white plate. — Pasta Rustica with Sausage. Photo credit: Enzas Quail Hollow Kitchen.

This dish combines pasta with sausage, cheese, and thick sauce. Everything is layered in a deep baking dish. Baking brings the mixture together into a unified texture. Slices hold their shape when served.
Get the Recipe: Pasta Rustica with Sausage

Baked Chicken Broccoli Alfredo

A baked casserole dish filled with rotini pasta, pieces of chicken, broccoli florets, and melted cheese on top. — Baked Chicken Broccoli Alfredo. Photo credit: Maria Mixing Bowl.

Chicken and broccoli are folded into creamy Alfredo sauce with pasta. Baking helps the sauce cling to each piece. Cheese melts into the dish and lightly browns on top. The broccoli stays tender with slight bite.
Get the Recipe: Baked Chicken Broccoli Alfredo

Easy Baked Rigatoni with Ground Beef

Baked rigatoni pasta with tomato sauce, ground meat, and melted cheese in a white casserole dish, garnished with fresh basil leaves. — Easy Baked Rigatoni with Ground Beef. Photo credit: Semi Homemade Kitchen.

Ground beef is cooked into tomato sauce before mixing with pasta. The rigatoni holds sauce inside each tube. Cheese melts throughout during baking. The top sets with light browning.
Get the Recipe: Easy Baked Rigatoni with Ground Beef

Mostaccioli

A close-up of a baked pasta dish with penne, tomato sauce, ground meat, and melted cheese, being served with a pink-handled spoon. Fresh herbs garnish the top. — Mostaccioli. Photo credit: XOXO Bella.

Mostaccioli pasta is layered with sauce and cheese. Baking allows the flavors to blend evenly. The pasta stays firm while the sauce thickens. It is easy to cut into squares for serving.
Get the Recipe: Mostaccioli

Baked Ziti with Meatballs

Ziti is layered with sauce and whole meatballs before baking. The pasta absorbs flavor as the sauce thickens in the oven. Meatballs stay tender and spread flavor through the dish. Cheese melts across the top and between the layers.
Get the Recipe: Baked Ziti with Meatballs

Easy Meatless Baked Ziti

A close-up of a cheesy baked pasta dish with tomato sauce and melted cheese being lifted with a fork. — Easy Meatless Baked Ziti. Photo credit: Mandi Of The Mountains.

This version skips meat and leans on rich tomato sauce and cheese. Ziti holds the sauce inside each tube as it bakes. The top layer sets with melted cheese. Each scoop stays hearty without added meat.
Get the Recipe: Easy Meatless Baked Ziti

CREAMY Macarona Bechamel Pasta Recipe (White Sauce Bake)

An oval dish filled with baked shepherd’s pie topped with browned mashed potatoes, placed on a white textured cloth on a marble surface. — CREAMY Macarona Bechamel Pasta Recipe (White Sauce Bake). Photo credit: The Buttery Fairytale.

Pasta is coated in smooth white sauce before going into the oven. The sauce thickens and clings to every noodle. The top develops light browning as it bakes. The inside stays soft and rich.
Get the Recipe: CREAMY Macarona Bechamel Pasta Recipe (White Sauce Bake)

Beef Pasta Casserole

A casserole dish with cheese and meat. — Beef Pasta Casserole. Photo credit: When Salty and Sweet Unite.

Seasoned ground beef is mixed with pasta and tomato sauce. The mixture bakes into a firm but scoopable dish. Cheese binds everything together as it melts. The top sets with light browning.
Get the Recipe: Beef Pasta Casserole

Baked Stuffed Shell Pasta

A baked lasagna in a blue oval dish sits on a wooden surface, topped with melted cheese and chopped herbs. Fresh parsley and a knife are beside the dish. — Baked Stuffed Shell Pasta. Photo credit: Mommy Evolution.

Large shells are filled with cheese or meat mixture and lined in a baking dish. Sauce is poured over the shells before baking. The pasta softens while keeping its shape. Each shell lifts out clean with filling inside.
Get the Recipe: Baked Stuffed Shell Pasta