Three Easy, Cheesy Pasta Bakes Your Kids Will Love

By Lily F
Photo by Jonathan Pielmayer on Unsplash

Is there anything more comforting and delicious than a good pasta bake? Beloved by kids and adults alike, this is a great option for the whole family. Check out these three recipes, each of which offers all of that hearty goodness with a different vegetable twist.

Pea, Leek, and Cheese

Ingredients (to serve 4):

  • 1 cup of dried pasta
  • 2 cups of milk
  • 1/4 cup of plain flour
  • 1/4 cup of butter
  • 2 cups of grated cheese
  • 2 leeks
  • 1 cup of frozen peas

Instructions:

  1. First, make the bechamel sauce. Heat the milk in a pan, then let it cool.
  2. Melt the butter in a separate pan, once it’s liquid add the flour, stir well to form a paste, and cook for two minutes.
  3. Gradually add the milk, stirring continuously until it is all added and the bechamel sauce is smooth and relatively thick.
  4. Stir the cheese through the sauce until it has melted in.
  5. In a separate pan, fry the leek in a little oil or butter until softened.
  6. In a separate pan, cook the pasta according to packet instructions.
  7. Once the pasta is cooked, drain it, and then stir through the bechamel sauce. Add the cooked leeks and frozen peas, transfer to an oven dish, and bake at 350°F for half an hour.

Tomato, Mozzarella and Bean

Ingredients (to serve 4):

  • 1 tin of tomatoes
  • 1 ball of mozzarella
  • 1 tin of white beans
  • 1 cup of dried pasta
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 1/2 cup of grated cheese

Instructions:

  1. Cook the pasta according to packet instructions.
  2. Once the pasta is cooked, drain and add the tomatoes to the pan.
  3. Stir through the beans and olive oil, tear the mozzarella into chunks, and add that too.
  4. Transfer to an oven dish, top with the grated cheese, and bake in the oven at 350°F for half an hour.

Pesto, Broccoli, and Cheese

Ingredients (to serve 4):

  • 1 head of broccoli
  • 1 cup of grated cheese
  • 4 tablespoons of basil pesto
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 1 cup of dried pasta

Instructions:

  1. Cook the pasta according to packet instructions.
  2. Once the pasta is done, drain and then stir through the pesto, chopped broccoli, and chopped mozzarella.
  3. Transfer to an oven dish, drizzle with the olive oil, and bake in an oven heated to 350°F for half an hour.