Build Your Own Pasta Bake
Mix it. Bake it. Love it!
You'll Need
- 300g pasta
- 500g passata or tomato pasta sauce
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- Pinch of sugar
- Salt & black pepper
- 150g grated cheese
Optional Extras
TunaLeftover cooked mince or chickenSweetcornPeppersMushroomsSpinach
Make It Your Own
Use whatever you've got in the fridge or freezer — this is designed to use up leftovers.
Serve With
Garlic bread and raw sugar snap peas
Let's Cook
- Soften the onion for 5 minutes, then add the garlic for 1 minute.
- Stir in the passata, a pinch of sugar and salt and pepper to taste, and simmer 5 minutes.
- Cook pasta until it starts to soften but still isn't cooked all the way through, then mix with the sauce and chosen fillings.
- Pour into an ovenproof dish and top with cheese.
- Bake at 200°C for 15–20 mins until golden and bubbling.
🎯 Family Challenge: Everyone picks one filling — can you fit them all in?
Little Helpers
3–5: Sprinkle cheese.
6–9: Measure pasta.
10+: Help mix the filling, supervised.
Top Tips
💙 A great way to use up small amounts of veg.💰 Built to use leftovers, so cost varies — base recipe is very cheap.♻️ Freezes well before baking.
Healthy Highlights
- Flexible way to add vegetables
- Calcium from cheese
- Great way to reduce food waste