Baked Pasta with Tomato Sauce & Four Cheeses
A rich and comforting pasta dish, baked to cheesy perfection with a homemade tomato sauce, crispy bacon, and layers of melty mozzarella, parmesan, and kasseri.
A rich and comforting pasta dish, baked to cheesy perfection with a homemade tomato sauce, crispy bacon, and layers of melty mozzarella, parmesan, and kasseri.
Info
Prep Time:
20mCook Time:
30mDifficulty Level:
Ingredients
Ingredients
For the Pasta:
- 500g bow-tie pasta (farfalle) or rigatoni
- 3 balls of fresh mozzarella, sliced
- 1 cup grated parmesan
- 1 cup grated kasseri cheese
- 1 cup grated graviera cheese
For the Tomato Sauce:
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 4 slices bacon, finely chopped
- 4 cans whole peeled tomatoes
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- Salt & freshly ground pepper
- Fresh basil leaves
Directions
Make the Tomato Sauce
Heat olive oil in a pan and sauté the bacon until slightly crispy.
Add the onion and garlic, cooking until softened.
Pour in the canned tomatoes, crushing them with a spoon.
Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
Season with salt, pepper, and stir in fresh basil leaves.
Cook the Pasta
Boil the pasta in salted water until al dente.
Drain and return to the pot.
Mix in 2-3 tbsp of the tomato sauce and half of the parmesan.
Assemble the Dish
Preheat the oven to 200°C (390°F).
Grease a baking dish and spread half of the pasta inside.
Top with half of the tomato sauce, half of the cheeses, and fresh basil leaves.
Repeat layers: pasta → sauce → cheese.
Finish with sliced mozzarella and more basil leaves.
Bake & Serve
Bake for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbly.
Serve hot and enjoy the gooey, cheesy goodness!
Recipe Tips
For extra flavor, let the baked pasta rest for 5 minutes before serving—this allows the sauce to set slightly and the flavors to meld beautifully.