Baked Mostaccioli Con Ricotta Recipe – Easy Cheesy Pasta
This post for the mostaccioli con ricotta recipe was initially published on the 17th of July, 2023.
If you are after an easy-baked dish for special occasions or comfort food for a weeknight dinner, you can’t miss this baked mostaccioli con ricotta recipe. An Italian American dish that will be the perfect weeknight comfort dinner with a tasty homemade meat sauce and cheesy filling. Or to use as a delicious food recipe for any big occasion and party! This easy baked mostaccioli con ricotta recipe will be the best add-on to your easy dinner recipes, rest assured!
You know we love a good pasta recipe and can never have enough. Like our scarpariello pasta, our pasta alla cenere, gnocchi sardi and ciriole to mention some. But Italy is also home to plenty of pasta bakes from North to South and these dishes have been booming in the Italian American tradition, so we decided to share our take on one and that’s how these baked mostaccioli con ricotta came to be!
What is mostaccioli pasta? What’s the difference between mostaccioli pasta and penne pasta?
Mostaccioli are a type of tubular pasta, also widely known as penne lisce. This pasta shape is similar to ziti pasta for its smooth texture and can be considered a variant of penne rigate. They are quite a popular option mostly for pasta bakes that take their roots in the Italian American tradition.
What’s the difference between baked mostaccioli and mostaccioli?
Baked mostaccioli con ricotta recipe like this recipe are a pasta bake dish popular of the Italian American tradition. Mostaccioli are a typical dessert from Campania that is served during Christmas time. They are covered in chocolate and filled with honey paste. There are plenty of different versions from around Italy. (Wikipedia)
What ingredients do I need for this baked mostaccioli con ricotta recipe?
For this recipe, you will need mostaccioli, Italian sausage, minced garlic, italian seasoning, olive oil, salt, black pepper and tomato sauce to start off the base of this pasta bake. Then you will need ricotta cheese, mozzarella, chilli flakes, oregano, rosemary and 1 egg for the filling. For your topping, you will need more mozzarella and grated parmesan cheese. Everything is easy to find in any pantry or grocery shop for a delicious casserole.
Can I substitute anything in this mostaccioli con ricotta recipe?
You can indeed find substitutes for almost all of the ingredients required in this mostaccioli con ricotta recipe.
- mostaccioli: you can use ziti, penne rigate, manicotti shells;
- Italian sausages: you can substitute for ground beef, ground pork, chicken or any ground meat you prefer;
- ricotta: you could use any soft crumbly cheese, like cottage cheese or only use shredded mozzarella if you have picky eaters;
- mozzarella: you can substitute it for provolone cheese or something that can melt well in the oven;
- parmesan cheese: if you want a stronger flavour, you could use pecorino romano cheese;
- tomato passata: you can use a white sauce instead or a creamy sauce, your favourite red sauce or marinara sauce, even store brought ones;
- garlic cloves: you can use garlic powder instead, just make sure you add enough or to taste;
- Italian seasonings & spices: if you are not a fan of red pepper flakes you can avoid them, instead of Italian seasoning you could use fresh basil or any seasoning you prefer and works well with meat and cheese.
What equipment will I need for this mostaccioli con ricotta recipe?
All you will need for this easy pasta recipe is a large casserole dish, a large pot to cook the pasta, a large skillet or Dutch oven, a wooden spoon and a large bowl to make your filling and mix your mostaccioli pasta. And lastly an oven!
How to make the mostaccioli con ricotta recipe step-by-step instructions
Start by cooking the sauce in a large skillet. Pour the oil and the minced garlic and cook for a minute. Add the Italian sausage and brown it over medium heat for a couple of minutes. Add the tomato passata to the skillet, the Italian seasoning and salt and pepper to taste. Let it cook for 15 minutes stirring occasionally.
In the meantime, cook al dente the uncooked mostaccioli in a large pot of salted water following the package instructions. Drain the pasta water and set the cooked pasta aside. Preheat the oven to 190C.
When the pasta sauce and pasta are ready, add the cooked sausage mixture to the pasta pot and mix well with a wooden spoon and set aside. In a large bowl, mix the ricotta, seasoning, shredded mozzarella cheese and egg together and combine. In a large prepared baking dish, spoon half of the pasta mixture and spread in a layer. Add the ricotta mixture on top and spread in a layer. Then add the remaining pasta mixture on top.
Lastly, spread the parmesan and shredded mozzarella on the pasta and cover with foil. Cook the mostaccioli con ricotta recipe in a preheated oven for 35 minutes. Then take the foil off and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Serve hot and enjoy!
How long will this pasta keep? Can I freeze this pasta dish?
You absolutely can! That’s the magic about baked pasta dishes, they are easy to make in advance. You can keep the baked mostaccioli con ricotta recipe refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3-5 days. You can easily warm it up in the microwave when needed or in the oven, all you have to do is get your portion and leave the remaining pasta refrigerated.
This pasta bake can be frozen either before or after you bake them. You will store it in a freezer-safe baking dish wrapped in aluminium foil or closed with a lid for up to two months, either baked or unbaked first. If you are going for the unbaked version, just prep everything as normal and then allow everything to be cool before freezing it. If you decide to only freeze any leftovers, allow them to cool completely to room temperature. Put them in a freezer-safe dish wrapped in foil or closed with a lid, just remember to add a date on them.
When you need to bake them, allow an extra 20 to 30 minutes for them as they come from the freezer. You will get an easy dinner for the whole family in no time. Add more mozzarella cheese if you love it extra cheesy!
Do you have more Italian comfort food recipes?
We have so many italian comfort food recipes, some of our favourite pasta recipes and more:
- cannelloni bolognese – nothing beats a classic and one that you can freeze to have when you just need it;
- pistachio lasagna – think lasagna, but even better, because this pistachio one tops anything;
- ricotta agnolotti recipe – filled pasta with spinach and ricotta, perfect when you need a bit of joy during the day;
- zuppa di fagioli – nothing beats something heartwarming and rustic right?
- eggplant rolls – delicious, easy and quick to make for some comfort just on your plate;
- montebianco chestnut dessert – who said comfort is just pasta? This chestnut dessert is ready to hug you this winter;
- scrippelle – what broth dreams are made of with thin cheesy crepes;
- leftover lasagna recipes – we are obsessed with lasagna, and leftovers are even better;
- pumpkin ricotta ravioli – what is life without fresh pasta? If you want to learn more on how to make it, check this semolina pasta post and how to make pasta without a machine.
Baked Mostaccioli Con Ricotta Recipe – Easy Cheesy Pasta
Ingredients
- Pasta & Sauce
- 500 g mostaccioli pasta
- 500 g ground Italian sausage
- 5 cloves of minced garlic
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 300 g tomato passata
- 3 tsp salt
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- Filling
- 450 g ricotta cheese
- 500 g shredded mozzarella
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp chilli flakes
- 1 tsp dry oregano
- 1 tsp dry rosemary
- Cheesy Crust Topping
- 100 g shredded mozzarella
- 100 g grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Start by cooking the sauce in a large skillet. Pour the oil and the minced garlic and cook for a minute. Add the ground Italian sausage and brown it over medium-high heat for a couple of minutes. Add the tomato passata to the skillet, the Italian seasoning and salt and pepper. Let it cook for 15 minutes stirring occasionally.
- In the meantime, cook al dente the uncooked mostaccioli in a large pot of salted water following the package instructions. Drain the pasta water and set the cooked pasta aside.
- Preheat the oven to 190°C.
- When the pasta sauce and pasta are ready, add the cooked sausage mixture to the pasta pot and mix well with a wooden spoon and set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix the ricotta, seasoning, shredded mozzarella cheese and egg together and combine.
- In a large prepared baking dish, spoon half of the pasta mixture and spread it in a layer. Add the ricotta mixture on top and spread in a layer too. Then add the remaining pasta mixture on top.
- Sprinkle the parmesan and shredded mozzarella on the pasta and cover with foil.
- Cook the mostaccioli con ricotta recipe in a preheated oven for 35 minutes. Then take the foil off and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Serve hot and enjoy!
Shop the mostaccioli con ricotta recipe
Hope enjoyed this baked mostaccioli con ricotta recipe! Have you ever made baked mostaccioli pasta? Will you try this Italian American comfort food dish? Let me know in the comments!
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