This Bolognese Pasta Bake is a delicious alternative to spaghetti bolognese with a tasty creamy cheese sauce on top. The ultimate in family home cooking!
As the weather is starting to cool as we go into Autumn, hearty comfort food is most definitely back on my menu!
I made this Bolognese Pasta Bake on a whim last week. I had all the ingredients for Spaghetti Bolognese but fancied something a little bit different.
So I turned it into a pasta bake instead and made a creamy sauce to top it. The end result was this wonderfully cheesy bolognese pasta bake.
What Ingredients Will I need For Bolognese Sauce?
- olive oil (you can use other oils, but I prefer olive oil when making a pasta dish)
- onion
- garlic (I have used fresh garlic here but you could also use the pre-chopped frozen kind)
- bacon lardons
- carrots
- celery
- beef mince or ground beef
- tinned chopped tomatoes
- beef stock
- tomato purée or tomato paste
- Worcester Sauce
Once I'd made the classic bolognese sauce, I added it to a large ovenproof dish and topped it with cooked pasta.
What's The Best Type of Pasta To Use For Pasta Bake Recipes?
Whilst there aren't any set rules to what shape of pasta is best to use for a pasta bake recipe, you want your pasta to be the perfect size for a mouthful and you also want one that will hold as much of your bolognese sauce as possible!
And one that will stand up to being in the oven after it is cooked on the hob. So avoid thin noodle type pastas that could end up becoming overcooked easily.
I have used spirelli pasta this time because it is what I had handy, but pasta shells like conchiglie would work well.
As would rigatoni or penne pasta! Anything with ridges is also great for trapping all that lovely meat sauce!
Just cook your pasta according to the packet instructions and you can't go too far wrong!
How To Make A Really Easy White Sauce
You'll probably know by now that I like to keep my recipes simple and this pasta bolognese bake is no exception!
I didn't want the faff of making a roux and then having to spend ages standing by the stove gradually adding milk to it!
So, for the white sauce I simply mixed together creme fraiche and milk, poured it on top and then finally added some grated cheddar cheese.
Super easy and a healthier option too!
For the complete ingredient list and amounts required, check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
It all then goes into the oven for 15 minutes where the cheese will melt and brown giving a lovely crispy top to the pasta.
This really is perfect comfort food for the whole family!
What I Serve With This Bolognese Recipe
Because pasta can be such a filling dish, you don't need a lot to accompany it! I've served mine here with a really simple tomato salad on the side for a bit of freshness.
Garlic bread is always a big crowd pleaser for this type of meal and I know the kids will never say no to garlic bread!
If you are looking for a slightly healthier option for the grown ups, then try it with a lovely fresh green salad on the side.
If you try my Bolognese Pasta Bake recipe please do leave me a comment in the comments section and a star rating below.
You can also share your pictures with me on Instagram. I always love to see your creations!
If your family loves pasta, then we have loads of Easy Pasta Recipes for you to check out.
All our pasta recipes are easy to make and quick too, so perfect for those busy weeknights when you need a delicious meal on the table fast!
Storing & Freezing The Bolognese Pasta Bake
My recipe serves 5 so perfect for a large family.
But if you are a family of less than 5, then you can always keep whatever isn't eaten for another time.
Leftovers can be kept in a sealed air tight container in the fridge for up to 48 hours. Reheat thoroughly on the hob or in the microwave.
This recipe can also be frozen and defrosted overnight in the fridge. Reheat as above.
If you enjoyed this recipe, then you might also like:
Slow Cooker Hidden Veg Pasta Sauce
Make up a big batch of this super easy hidden veggie pasta sauce to have on hand for busy days!
Serve it up with some freshly cooked pasta and top with melty mozzarella or a sprinkling of parmesan cheese.
A really quick but hearty and nutritionally balanced meal for the kids! Even the fussy ones!
Bolognese Pasta Bake
- Prep Time: 6 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 41 minutes
- Yield: 5 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian
Description
This Bolognese Pasta Bake is a delicious alternative to spaghetti bolognese with a tasty creamy cheese sauce on top. The ultimate in family home cooking!
Ingredients
- 0.5 tbsp oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 100g bacon lardons
- 2 carrots, diced
- 1 celery stalk, diced
- 500g beef mince
- 1 tin chopped tomatoes
- 250ml beef stock
- 2 tbsp tomato puree
- 2 tsp Worcester Sauce
- 0.5 tsp dried oregano
- 350g pasta
- 200ml creme fraiche
- 150ml milk
- 50g grated cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Add the oil, onion and garlic to a large frying pan and fry for 2 minutes.
- Add the bacon lardons and fry for another 1 minute before adding the carrots and celery and frying for another 2 minutes.
- Add the beef mince and cook for a couple of minutes until it has browned.
- Add the tinned tomatoes, beef stock, tomato puree, Worcester Sauce and oregano and mix well.
- Bring to the boil and then cook on a high simmer for 20 minutes.
- In the meantime cook the pasta in a saucepan according to the package instructions. When ready, drain.
- Preheat the oven to 180c.
- When the bolognese is ready, add it to a large baking dish. Then add the pasta on top.
- Mix the creme fraiche and milk together in a jug or mug and pour this over the top of the pasta.
- Finally, sprinkle on the grated cheese.
- Bake in the oven for 15 minutes until golden brown on top.
Notes
Leftovers can be kept in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 48 hours. Reheat thoroughly on the hob or in the microwave.
This recipe can also be frozen and defrosted overnight in the fridge. Reheat as above.
Lisa says
I have made too much. Can I freeze it before cooking it?
Vicky says
Hi Lisa, unfortunately this recipe can only be frozen once cooked.Leftovers can be kept in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 48 hours. Reheat thoroughly on the hob or in the microwave.
This recipe can also be frozen and defrosted overnight in the fridge. Reheat as above.
We hope this helps. Enjoy.
Rhiain Cooper says
Very nice variation of spag Bol. I use about half the amount of pasta recommended as I thought 350g was too much. Other than that, it was lovely. It took 20 mins in the oven to brown but all ovens vary.
Sam says
I loved making this, it tasted delicious and was a lovely change from spaghetti!
melissa says
we all loved this recipe we added about 1 handful of mushroom cut really little I also added half red, half yellow capsicum and after i had put the sauce in i reduced the heat to low and let simmer found about 30ish mins IT WAS SOOOO TASTY