Cauliflower Baked Pasta with Marinara

cauliflower baked ziti in a white oval baking dish

4.12 from 9 votes

Cauliflower Baked Pasta with Marinara

Tender cauliflower florets melt into marinara sauce in this baked pasta with a hidden vegetable boost. It makes a cozy cheesy baked pasta that you can assemble up to a day ahead and bake whenever you’re ready.

Prep Time40

Cook Time10

Total Time50

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: baked pasta, family friendly, kid-friendly recipe, make ahead baked pasta, vegetarian casserole, vegetarian meal

Servings:

Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef

Cost: $8.00

Equipment

9x13 Baking Dish
Stockpot
Saucepan

Ingredients

2 18-ounce jars marinara sauce (use your favorite)
1 pound dried pasta, like medium shells, ,ziti, rigatoni, or penne
1 head cauliflower, chopped into small florets (or 16 ounces of frozen cauliflower florets)
4 ounces cream cheese, cubed
8 ounces mozzarella, shredded (about 2 cups)
1/2 + 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 450°F / 232°C. Rub a 9x13 baking dish with oil or spray it with nonstick cooking spray.
Take a minute to chop the cauliflower into small florets that are about the same size as the pieces of pasta. If you bought frozen cauliflower or are using pre-chopped florets, they'll likely need to be chopped down into smaller bite-sized pieces.
Fill a large pot with water and season it generously with salt. Boil the pasta according to package directions. (Set a time to be sure it is just al dente and not too soft.) If using fresh cauliflower, add it to the pasta in the last 5 minutes of cooking. If using frozen cauliflower, add it in the last 2 minutes of cooking. Drain the pasta and cauliflower.
Stir 3 cups of sauce, the cream cheese, and 1/2 cup of parmesan into the pasta and cauliflower.
Spread 1/2 cup of sauce out into the bottom of the baking dish. Top with half of the shredded mozzarella and then all of the pasta and cauliflower.
Finish with the remaining 1/2 cup of the sauce and the remaining mozzarella and then gently stir everything together in the pan to combine it. Top the pasta with the 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese.
Bake until the pasta is bubbly and the cheese is golden and melty, 20 to 25 minutes.

Notes

Make ahead - The pasta can be assembled up to a day ahead of time. Let it come to room temperature before baking according to recipe (it may take a few minutes longer to warm through).

Nutrition