Feeding a group can drain both energy and a grocery budget, but pasta bakes make it easy to stretch ingredients and keep everyone full. A big pan of noodles, sauce, and cheese delivers comfort and plenty of portions without complicated steps. These recipes range from classic ziti to creative spins with vegetables, chicken, or sausage, all built to hold their own on a busy weeknight or a weekend get-together.

A baked lasagna in a rectangular dish, topped with melted cheese and fresh parsley. A wooden spoon is serving a piece, revealing layers of pasta, meat, and sauce. Bowls of grated cheese and chopped herbs are nearby.
Photo credit: The Yummy Bowl.
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Ground Beef Pasta Skillet

Ground beef pasta skillet garnished with parsley.
Ground Beef Pasta Skillet. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Ground beef simmers with onions, garlic, and tomato sauce before being mixed with pasta and cheese. The flavors meld as it bakes, creating a hearty dish that tastes like it cooked all day while staying easy on the budget.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef Pasta Skillet

Taco Lasagna

Taco Lasagna. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Layers of tortillas, seasoned beef, cheese, and creamy sauce bake together into a Mexican-inspired lasagna. The stacked layers hold their shape and flavor, making it a fun, shareable meal that can feed a group without extra effort.
Get the Recipe: Taco Lasagna

Lasagna Rollups

Lasagna Rollups. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Sheets of pasta are filled with chicken, spinach, and a creamy butternut squash sauce, then rolled up and baked. Each roll holds generous flavor, and arranging them side by side in a casserole dish makes it easy to serve many guests at once.
Get the Recipe: Lasagna Rollups

Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole

Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole. Photo credit: The Cookin Chicks.

Layers of spaghetti, hearty meat sauce, and plenty of cheese bake together until bubbly and golden. The rich tomato flavor and creamy texture make this a go-to dinner when you need something that feels generous without spending a lot. Serve it with salad or bread to stretch it even further for a hungry crowd.
Get the Recipe: Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole

Creamy Baked Ziti

Creamy Baked Ziti. Photo credit: The Cookin Chicks.

Ziti pasta is mixed with a velvety cream sauce and marinara, then blanketed in cheese and baked until the edges are lightly browned. The combination of creaminess and tangy tomato sauce makes this a hit at family dinners or potlucks. It’s a budget-conscious way to feed many while keeping the flavor big.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Baked Ziti

Cheese Mac and Cheese

Cheese Mac and Cheese. Photo credit: Little Nonni.

A blend of six cheeses melts into a rich sauce that coats every piece of pasta before being topped with buttery breadcrumbs and baked. This version of mac and cheese is deeply cheesy and comforting, making it a dependable crowd-pleaser for gatherings and weeknights alike.
Get the Recipe: Cheese Mac and Cheese

Chicken Chickpea Pasta Bake

Chicken Chickpea Pasta Bake. Photo credit: Skinny Fitalicious.

Cooked chicken, chickpeas, and pasta come together in a tomato-based sauce with a layer of melted cheese. The chickpeas add extra protein and a hearty texture, turning this dish into a complete meal that stretches ingredients to feed a large table without extra cost.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Chickpea Pasta Bake

Cheesy And Saucy Baked Spinach Cannelloni

Cheesy And Saucy Baked Spinach Cannelloni. Photo credit: Thriving In Parenting.

Pasta tubes are stuffed with a seasoned spinach and cheese mixture, covered with tomato sauce, and baked until the cheese melts. The greens give this dish substance and color, and the layers of sauce and cheese make it satisfying enough to anchor a family dinner or group meal.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy And Saucy Baked Spinach Cannelloni

Homemade Spaghetti Casserole

Homemade Spaghetti Casserole. Photo credit: Thriving In Parenting.

Spaghetti is tossed with a simple tomato sauce, topped with cheese, and baked until bubbly. The familiar flavors of garlic and herbs come together in a dish that works well for busy nights when you need a filling meal that pleases everyone.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Spaghetti Casserole

Baked Rigatoni

Baked Rigatoni. Photo credit: The Feathered Nester.

Rigatoni pasta and sausage are baked in a tomato sauce with mozzarella and parmesan until hot and melty. The hearty combination of pasta and sausage makes this a great dish to serve at parties or family gatherings where you want big portions without a big price tag.
Get the Recipe: Baked Rigatoni

Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Casserole

Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Casserole. Photo credit: Dishes With Dad.

Pieces of tender chicken and fresh broccoli are mixed with pasta and a creamy sauce, then topped with cheese and baked. The vegetables add texture and balance, creating a complete meal in one dish that’s easy to prepare for a large group.
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Casserole

Cheesy Tortellini Bake

Cheesy Tortellini Bake. Photo credit: GypsyPlate.

Cheese-filled tortellini is mixed with a flavorful tomato sauce, covered with more cheese, and baked until bubbly. The stuffed pasta makes the dish extra hearty, and it can easily feed a table of friends or family without requiring expensive ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Tortellini Bake

Ground Turkey Pasta Bake

Ground Turkey Pasta Bake. Photo credit: GypsyPlate.

Ground turkey is browned with onions and garlic, then mixed with pasta, vegetables, and tomato sauce before being baked with a thick layer of cheese. The turkey keeps the dish light but filling, making it an excellent choice when you need an affordable meal that still feels substantial.
Get the Recipe: Ground Turkey Pasta Bake

Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Pasta

Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Pasta. Photo credit: Belle of the Kitchen.

Chicken and mushrooms are cooked in a creamy sauce and combined with pasta, then topped with cheese and baked until golden. The mushrooms deepen the flavor, and the rich sauce clings to every bite of pasta, creating a dish that feels special enough for company but simple enough for a weeknight.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Pasta

Nonna’s Pasta al Forno

Nonna’s Pasta al Forno. Photo credit: Enza’s Quail Hollow Kitchen.

Pasta is layered with a rich meat sauce, zucchini, and mushrooms, then blanketed in mozzarella and baked. The slow-simmered sauce infuses the dish with deep flavor, and the vegetables add substance, making it a perfect choice for feeding a big family meal.
Get the Recipe: Nonna’s Pasta al Forno

Pasta Rustica with Sausage

Pasta Rustica with Sausage. Photo credit: Enza’s Quail Hollow Kitchen.

Short pasta is tossed with a tomato and sausage sauce and baked with three cheeses until it forms a bubbling crust. The sausage brings a hearty richness that pairs with the cheese for a dish that fills plates generously without stretching the budget.
Get the Recipe: Pasta Rustica with Sausage

Frittata di Pasta

Frittata di Pasta. Photo credit: Chef Denise.

Leftover cooked pasta is mixed with eggs, cheese, and herbs, then baked into a thick, sliceable frittata. This recipe is a smart way to use what you already have while creating a meal that works as lunch, dinner, or part of a larger spread.
Get the Recipe: Frittata di Pasta

Chicken Alfredo Baked Ravioli

Chicken Alfredo Baked Ravioli. Photo credit: Pumpkin ‘N Spice.

Cheese ravioli and pieces of chicken are coated in creamy alfredo sauce and baked until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens. The rich flavors and soft texture make it an easy recipe to double when you need to feed several people at once.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Alfredo Baked Ravioli

Chicken Alfredo Pasta Bake

Chicken Alfredo Pasta Bake. Photo credit: Pumpkin ‘N Spice.

Cooked pasta and chunks of chicken are combined with a homemade alfredo sauce and a blanket of cheese before baking. The creamy sauce holds everything together and turns into a dish that keeps its flavor and texture even if made ahead for a crowd.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Alfredo Pasta Bake

Viral Baked Tiktok Pasta

Viral Baked Tiktok Pasta. Photo credit: Basics With Bails.

Pasta bakes with a block of Boursin cheese, cherry tomatoes, and garlic until the cheese melts into a creamy sauce. A quick stir brings everything together into a rich and flavorful meal that easily stretches to feed several people.
Get the Recipe: Viral Baked Tiktok Pasta

Cheesy Baked Ziti

Cheesy Baked Ziti. Photo credit: Our Home Made Easy.

Ziti pasta is mixed with alfredo, Boursin, and marinara sauces, then baked under a thick layer of mozzarella and parmesan. The result is a hearty pasta bake that can handle a large table and still leave leftovers for another meal.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Baked Ziti

Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake

Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake. Photo credit: It’s Not Complicated Recipes.

Cooked chicken and broccoli florets are combined with pasta and a creamy cheese sauce, topped with breadcrumbs, and baked until golden. The mix of protein, vegetables, and pasta makes it a complete meal that can fill a large casserole dish and feed a crowd.
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake

Creamy Ham Pasta Bake

Creamy Ham Pasta Bake. Photo credit: It’s Not Complicated Recipes.

Cubes of ham, broccoli florets, and pasta are coated in a cheesy cream sauce, topped with breadcrumbs, and baked until crisp on top. It’s a filling and balanced dish that uses everyday ingredients and stretches easily to serve many people.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Ham Pasta Bake

Founder and Writer at  | About

Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.

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