Description
A comforting and easy vegan pasta bake made with tender pasta, rich tomato sauce, vegetables, and creamy dairy-free cheese. This one-pot meal combines simplicity with delicious, hearty flavors, perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Pasta and Sauce
- 300 g pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fusilli recommended)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1 zucchini, diced
- 400 g crushed tomatoes
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Toppings and Garnish
- 1 cup vegan mozzarella, shredded
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast (optional)
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 190°C (375°F) to prepare for baking the pasta later on.
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add diced onion and bell pepper, sautéing for 3–4 minutes until they soften. Then add minced garlic and diced zucchini, cooking for another 2 minutes to build flavor.
- Add Liquids and Seasoning: Stir in crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and black pepper to create the flavorful sauce base.
- Combine Pasta: Add the uncooked pasta into the pot and stir well to ensure the pasta is evenly coated and submerged in the sauce mixture.
- Simmer: Bring the pot to a gentle simmer, cover with a lid, and cook for 8–10 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and to monitor the pasta’s tenderness.
- Add Cheese and Nutritional Yeast: Once pasta is tender and sauce thickened, sprinkle shredded vegan mozzarella and nutritional yeast evenly over the top.
- Bake: Transfer the uncovered pot to the preheated oven and bake for 10–15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown on top.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven, garnish with fresh chopped basil, and serve the vegan pasta bake warm for a comforting meal.
Notes
- Use short pasta such as penne, rigatoni, or fusilli for best results.
- Add mushrooms, spinach, or broccoli to incorporate extra vegetables.
- Monitor pasta during cooking and add a little more vegetable broth if it looks dry or the pasta is not fully covered.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
