Best 9 Easy Italian Macaroni Casserole Recipes

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Are you in the mood for a warm, comforting, and delicious meal that is easy to make? Look no further than the classic Italian macaroni casserole. This mouthwatering dish combines tender macaroni pasta, flavorful Italian sauce, and a creamy, cheesy topping, making it a favorite among pasta lovers of all ages. Whether you are looking for a quick weeknight dinner or a dish to serve at a family gathering, our article will guide you through the process of creating the best Italian macaroni casserole that is sure to satisfy your cravings. With just a few simple steps, you can have a delightful and satisfying meal on the table in no time. So gather your ingredients and let's get started!

Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!

EASY MACARONI CASSEROLE



Easy Macaroni Casserole image

Make and share this Easy Macaroni Casserole recipe from Food.com.

Provided by MsBaton

Categories     Cheese

Time 55m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 (8 ounce) package elbow macaroni
1 bell pepper
1 cup celery
1 cup onion
1 cup tomatoes
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup margarine
1 (16 ounce) package of grated cheese

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Cook macaroni and drain.
  • Chop up onion, bell pepper and celery into small pieces.
  • In skillet, melt butter and cook onions, celery, and bell pepper in butter until tender.
  • Then add tomatoes and soup.
  • Cook about three to five minutes longer.
  • In casserole dish put a layer of macaroni, a layer of soup mixture, and a layer of cheese.
  • Repeat layers, ending with cheese on the top.
  • Bake until cheese melts.

ITALIAN BAKED PASTA



Italian Baked Pasta image

Our five-ingredient Italian baked pasta is super easy to make and includes layers of your choice of pasta, three cheeses and marinara sauce.

Provided by Arlene Cummings

Categories     Entree

Time 1h20m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 5

1 package (16 oz) uncooked pasta (such as penne, ziti, rotini or rigatoni)
4 cups marinara sauce (homemade or purchased)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 oz)

Steps:

  • Cook pasta in generously salted water 3 minutes less than recommended on package. Drain.
  • Meanwhile, heat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
  • Pour 2 cups of the marinara sauce into dish. Add half of cooked pasta; toss well. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Spoon half of the ricotta cheese in dollops over top. Sprinkle with 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers ending with mozzarella cheese. Cover lightly with foil, making sure foil is not resting on cheese.
  • Bake 35 minutes. Uncover; bake 10 to 15 minutes longer or until center is bubbly and thoroughly heated. Cool 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 410, Carbohydrate 54 g, Cholesterol 30 mg, Fiber 4 g, Protein 21 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 820 mg, Sugar 9 g, TransFat 0 g

ITALIAN PASTA BAKE



Italian Pasta Bake image

I love to make this pasta bake whenever I need to bring a dish to pass. Fresh tomatoes add a nice touch that's missing from most other meat, pasta and tomato casseroles.-Karla Johnson, East Helena, Montana

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h5m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 pounds ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 jar (24 ounces) spaghetti sauce
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (4 ounces) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
3 cups uncooked medium pasta shells
3 plum tomatoes, sliced
3/4 cup shredded provolone cheese
3/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Steps:

  • In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce, diced tomatoes, mushrooms and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes., Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Add to beef mixture and gently stir in sliced plum tomatoes. , Transfer to an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with cheeses. Bake 25-30 minutes or until bubbly and heated through.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 489 calories, Fat 20g fat (8g saturated fat), Cholesterol 80mg cholesterol, Sodium 702mg sodium, Carbohydrate 45g carbohydrate (10g sugars, Fiber 5g fiber), Protein 32g protein.

ITALIAN PASTA CASSEROLE



Italian Pasta Casserole image

All the traditional flavors abound in this dish reminiscent of lasagna. "This is a zippy and hearty recipe that our family and guests really like."-Denise Rasmussen, Salina, Kansas

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 50m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 16

2 cups uncooked spiral pasta
1/2 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
1/2 pound Italian turkey sausage links, casings removed
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) diced tomatoes, undrained
1/3 cup tomato paste
3/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 ounces sliced turkey pepperoni
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Steps:

  • Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, crumble beef and sausage into a large skillet; add onion. Cook and stir over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes., Drain pasta; stir in meat mixture and pepperoni. Transfer half of the pasta mixture to a 2-qt. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with half of the cheese; repeat layers., Cover and bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 335 calories, Fat 11g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 64mg cholesterol, Sodium 752mg sodium, Carbohydrate 33g carbohydrate (8g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 26g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

EASY ITALIAN PASTA CASSEROLE



Easy Italian Pasta Casserole image

This recipe is so easy and so yummy. We have it often at my house on those busy weeknights when I'm just too tired to get crazy in the kitchen. I usually serve this dish with cottage cheese and garlic bread as sides. It's my 16 year-old, pasta-loving son's favorite! We hope you'll love it too! OPTIONAL: You can add 1 pound of browned and drained hamburger or Italian sausage or throw in some pepperoni slices if your family likes it meaty!

Provided by Sugar Plum

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 1h15m

Yield 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 (26 ounce) jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
1 (26 ounce) sauce jar filled with water (and a splash of red wine if you like)
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
16 ounces ziti pasta or 16 ounces rigatoni pasta, uncooked
2 teaspoons italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground oregano
8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese (Italian-blend is tasty)

Steps:

  • Stir all ingredients, except the cheese, into a sprayed 9 x 13 casserole dish.
  • Cover tightly with foil. Bake at 425°F for 45 minutes.
  • Uncover and bake 10-15 minutes more.
  • Stir in 1/2 the shredded cheese and top with the other 1/2.
  • Return to oven just until the cheese on top is nice and melty.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 503.6, Fat 13.3, SaturatedFat 5.6, Cholesterol 29.9, Sodium 1241.4, Carbohydrate 80.9, Fiber 10, Sugar 15, Protein 17.6

SAUSAGE PASTA CASSEROLE



Sausage Pasta Casserole image

Provided by Nancy Fuller

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h10m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for the baking dish
Kosher salt
1 pound rigatoni
1 pound sweet Italian sausage, removed from the casings
1 medium onion, sliced
1 medium bulb fennel, trimmed, cored and sliced
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 28-ounce can whole tomatoes, crushed by hand
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, coarsely chopped
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 ounces)
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (1 ounce)

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Brush a shallow 3-quart baking dish with olive oil. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until very al dente; you still want it to retain a little bite. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water. Drain well.
  • Meanwhile, in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the sausage and cook and crumble with a wooden spoon until no longer pink, about 4 minutes. Add the onion and fennel; cook until softened, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and season with salt. Bring to a simmer and add the cream. If the sauce is too thick, add a little water from the pasta. Turn up the heat to medium high and simmer rapidly to thicken the sauce and blend the flavors, about 10 minutes.
  • Add the rigatoni and basil and toss to coat the pasta with the sauce. Remove from the heat and stir in half each of the mozzarella and parmesan. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and parmesan. Bake until browned and bubbly, 15 to 20 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes before serving.

ITALIAN-STYLE MACARONI AND CHEESE



Italian-style Macaroni and Cheese image

Provided by Sandra Lee

Time 35m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 3

1 package macaroni and cheese mix
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup Italian-style bread crumbs

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Make macaroni and cheese according to package directions. Transfer to a medium-size baking dish or casserole dish.
  • Melt butter in a medium bowl on low power in the microwave. Add bread crumbs to bowl and toss to combine with butter. Sprinkle bread crumb mixture over top of macaroni and cheese. Place in oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until browned on top.

EASY ITALIAN BAKED PASTA



Easy Italian Baked Pasta image

Combine Parmesan and mozzarella to give this pasta bake its Italian appeal. This Easy Italian Pasta Bake is oven-ready in 20 minutes.

Provided by My Food and Family

Categories     Home

Time 40m

Yield 6 servings, 1-1/3 cups each

Number Of Ingredients 5

1 lb. extra-lean ground beef
3 cups whole grain penne pasta, cooked
1 jar (24 oz.) CLASSICO Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce
1/3 cup KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese, divided
1-1/2 cups KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 375°F.
  • Brown meat in large skillet; drain. Return to skillet. Add pasta, pasta sauce and half the Parmesan; mix well.
  • Spoon into 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; top with remaining cheeses.
  • Bake 20 min. or until heated through.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 420, Fat 11 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 60 mg, Sodium 790 mg, Carbohydrate 0 g, Fiber 4 g, Sugar 0 g, Protein 31 g

ITALIAN CASSEROLE



Italian Casserole image

This was a recipe of my Aunt Ethel's -- egg noodles in a tomato, ground beef sauce. She said, 'It is so good, don't change a thing!' And she was right.

Provided by Norma

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Italian

Time 3h40m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 10

¾ pound lean ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 (28 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, chopped
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon dried parsley
½ teaspoon garlic salt
black pepper to taste
8 ounces wide egg noodles
1 (12 ounce) package process sharp cheddar cheese singles

Steps:

  • In large skillet, brown ground beef and onion. Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, parsley, garlic salt and pepper, and simmer over low heat for 3 hours.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
  • In a 2 quart casserole dish, combine noodles and meat mixture. Top with cheese slices and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 739.5 calories, Carbohydrate 62.1 g, Cholesterol 164.4 mg, Fat 39 g, Fiber 5.9 g, Protein 41.2 g, SaturatedFat 19.7 g, Sodium 2572 mg, Sugar 15.7 g

Tips:

  • Use high-quality ingredients for the best flavor. Fresh vegetables, flavorful cheese, and a good quality pasta will make a big difference in the final dish.
  • Don't overcook the pasta. It should be al dente, or slightly firm to the bite.
  • Use a variety of cheeses to create a rich and complex flavor. A combination of mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan is a classic choice, but you can also experiment with other types of cheeses, such as Asiago, Fontina, or Gruyère.
  • Add some vegetables to the casserole for a healthy and colorful dish. Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and spinach are all good choices.
  • Don't be afraid to experiment with different spices and herbs. Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika are all good choices.
  • Serve the casserole immediately after it comes out of the oven. It will be at its best when it is hot and bubbly.

Conclusion:

Italian macaroni casserole is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It is a versatile dish that can be customized to your liking, so you can be sure to find a version that everyone will enjoy. With its rich and cheesy flavor, Italian macaroni casserole is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.

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