Everything is stirred together and then baked, meaning this Rotini Pasta Bake doesn't require any layering or special steps. It's an easy and hearty weeknight dinner. And thanks to this curly rotini pasta, it's super kid and family-friendly!
1tspeach garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning
½tspeach salt and pepper
18-oz packagemozzarella cheese226 g
½cupfresh grated parmesan40 g
Instructions
Pasta: Cook 1 lb rotini pasta according to package instructions, stopping cooking 2 minutes before al dente (pasta will still be a little hard on the inside when you bite into it).Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C).
Stir: In a large bowl, gently fold together drained pasta, 2 cups cottage cheese, 1 24-oz jar marinara sauce, ½ cup pesto, 1 tsp each garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and ½ tsp each salt and pepper, along with half of the 1 8-oz package mozzarella cheese.
Assemble: Lightly grease a 9x13 inch casserole dish. Spoon pasta mixture into the dish. Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese and ½ cup fresh grated parmesan. Cover tightly with aluminum foil.
Bake: Bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil covering, increase temperature to 400°F (204°C), and continue cooking until top is golden in spots and melty, about 10 minutes.