Vegan Baked Pasta
This past weekend I was scrolling through my old blog posts and looking at all of the recipes I used to frequently post on here. I realized that no matter how busy things have been lately, this outlet has always been a place for me to de-stress and share some recipes and restaurants that make me happy. I started this blog during my senior year of high school at one of the busiest times of my life, so it only feels fitting that I continue it as a senior in college, eager for the next stage of life.
Nevertheless, here is one of my favorite weeknight recipes! I typically make it towards the beginning of the week and then eat leftovers from it as the week goes on. It really is one of the best dishes to meal prep! Set the frozen food aside for the week and let this vegan baked pasta be your new go-to. :)
Ingredients:
12 oz of uncooked pasta (I used the brown rice rotini from Trader Joe’s)
One 24 oz can of marinara sauce
Gardein Frozen Veggie Meatballs
Dairy-Free shredded cheese (I used Trader Joe’s Almond Mozzarella but you can also sub with regular cheese)
Dried or fresh herbs (optional)
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Cook the pasta per package instructions.
Pour the sauce into a medium-sized saucepan at medium heat. Once the sauce has been simmering for a couple of minutes, add approximately 7-8 veggie meatballs to the simmering sauce. Cover and continue to simmer for 15-20 minutes.
Once both the pasta and the sauce are finished, add both to an 8 X 11 baking dish. Anything around this size will work. Loosely up the meatballs within the mixture as you combine the pasta and sauce.
Ensure that the pasta, meatball, and sauce mixture is spread evenly throughout the pan. Then, add a generous amount of your dairy-free cheese to the top.
Place the dish in the oven and bake the pasta for approximately 15 minutes. Be sure to check the pan every couple of minutes to ensure the pasta on the edges is not getting too crunchy.
Once the dish is out of the oven, add some fresh or dried herbs and enjoy! I also loved serving mine with a kale side salad.
Hope you enjoy! If you make this recipe, be sure to DM or tag me on Instagram (@granolagrrl)!
