Easy Vegan Pasta Bake with Pesto Recipe
This Easy Vegan Pasta Bake with Pesto is a comforting, flavorful, and wholesome dish perfect for weeknight dinners. Combining al dente pasta, vibrant pumpkin seed pesto, fresh spinach, and savory pasta sauce, it is then baked to perfection and topped with melted vegan mozzarella for a delightful cheesy finish, all while being 100% plant-based and gluten-free if desired.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Vegan
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
Pasta
- 16 ounces dry penne pasta (or medium shaped pasta of choice; gluten-free if desired)
Sauce & Pesto
- 1 cup pumpkin seed pesto (or your favorite vegan pesto)
- 32 ounces pasta sauce (your favorite variety)
Vegetables
- 2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
Cheese
- 3/4 - 1 cup Miyoko's Liquid Mozzarella (or your favorite vegan shredded cheese)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the pasta dish.
- Cook Pasta: Boil pasta in well-salted water, cooking it 2 to 3 minutes less than package instructions to ensure it is slightly undercooked and will finish cooking in the oven. Drain well to remove excess water.
- Combine Ingredients: Return the drained pasta to the pot, stirring in the pumpkin seed pesto, roughly chopped fresh spinach, and pasta sauce until thoroughly combined.
- Transfer and Bake: Pour the pasta mixture into a 9x13 inch baking dish and cover. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes to meld flavors and allow the spinach to wilt.
- Add Vegan Cheese: Remove the dish from the oven and evenly drizzle or spread Miyoko's Liquid Mozzarella over the top of the baked pasta mixture.
- Broil Cheese: Place the baking dish under the broiler for 3 to 4 minutes until the vegan cheese is melted, set, and lightly golden, watch carefully to prevent burning.
- Serve: Serve the vegan pasta bake immediately while hot and cheesy for a delightful meal.
Notes
- You can substitute penne with any medium-shaped pasta and use gluten-free pasta if necessary to make this dish gluten-free.
- Adjust the amount of vegan cheese according to your preference for cheesiness and creaminess.
- Keep an eye on the broiler step as vegan cheeses can brown quickly.
- Use fresh pesto or store-bought to simplify preparation.
- The spinach wilts during baking, but you can add other vegetables such as mushrooms or bell peppers for added nutrition.
