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Rotini pasta bake in a casserole dish.
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5 from 8 ratings

Rotini Pasta Bake Casserole (High Protein)

This rotini pasta bake is your one-pan ticket to a hearty, cozy weeknight dinner. With curly rotini pasta trapping all that saucy goodness (and a sneaky protein hack), it's great for the whole fam and ridiculously easy to make—stir, bake, and dig in!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Main Dishes, Pastas, Side Dishes
Cuisine: American, Italian, Mediterranean
Diet: Halal, Hindu, Kosher, Low Calorie, Vegetarian
Keyword: pasta bake, pasta casserole, rotini pasta
Diet: Vegetarian
Occasion: Birthdays, Christmas, Game Day, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day
Time: 45 minutes or less
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Sarah Bond

Ingredients

  • 1 lb rotini pasta 453 g
  • 2 cups cottage cheese 450 g
  • 1 24-oz jar marinara sauce 680 g
  • ½ cup pesto
  • 1 tsp each garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning
  • ½ tsp each salt and pepper
  • 1 8-oz package mozzarella cheese 226 g
  • ½ cup fresh grated Parmesan 40 g

Instructions

  • Pasta: Cook 1 lb rotini pasta according to package instructions, stopping 2 minutes before al dente (pasta will still be a little hard on the inside when you bite it).
    Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C).
    A stainless steel pot filled with perfectly cooked rotini pasta, ready to be served.
  • 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 8-oz package mozzarella cheese.
    Ingredients for rotini bake in a bowl.
  • Assemble: Lightly grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish. Spoon the pasta mixture into the dish. Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese and ½ cup fresh grated Parmesan. Cover tightly with aluminum foil.
    Uncooked rotini pasta bake in a casserole dish.
  • Bake: Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil covering, increase the temperature to 400°F (204°C), and continue cooking until the top is golden in spots and melty, about 10 minutes.
    Rotini pasta bake in a casserole dish.

Video

Notes

Leftovers will last up to 5 days in an airtight container in the fridge. You can also freeze this dish for up to a month—just let it thaw before baking.
To make it ahead, assemble your pasta bake, wrap or cover it, and stick it in the fridge overnight. When you're ready, remove it from the fridge and bake as directed.
To make a gluten-free pasta bake, use any gluten-free pasta instead of the rotini.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 495kcal | Carbohydrates: 58.7g | Protein: 30.8g | Fat: 14.2g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 1111mg | Potassium: 109mg | Fiber: 3.4g | Sugar: 7.6g | Calcium: 456mg | Iron: 3mg
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